Tuesday's With Dave

  A Generational Experience Olympia Sports Camp, family, teaching, and basketball have all been a part of the journey of Kelsie James (nee McEwan) since birth. Born in the basketball hotbed of Sarnia, Ontario, Kelsie attended St Christopher’s high school before attending Wilfrid Laurier University for her undergrad and the University of Windsor for teacher’s college. She also coached at Lambton College and now teaches grade 5 in Sarnia. An Olympian at a very early age, Kelsie came to camp because of her grandfather, Barry Howson, who was a member of the 1964 Canadian Olympic basketball team and is a member of the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame. She loved being at Olympia with her family, but she also loved the opportunity to play against boys.   “I was a coach’s kid with my grandpa week 2, and I started in session when I was 8 years old. There was only boys’ basketball that week, so I played with the boys, and I think that made me a better, more aggressive player. “ There’s the rub o

Olympia is great people- people like Mere Bawks   I saw this posting on Facebook and had to ask Mere if I could steal it. Not only is it a great thought on the people of Olympia Sports Camp but it also gave me a great idea…. I have the title: A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp; I know what the cover of the book will be… but what about the back of the book? .... Most books get quotes from high profile people to say how good the book is. In this case the book isn’t the story; the people are. I’m now searching for three or four testimonials to put on the back. Words like Mere’s.         “The people at Olympia are some of the greatest and most inspiring people I have ever met. Every summer, I witness staff members and campers become a better version of themselves. Olympia facilitates their development into amazing leaders, teammates, and citizens of society by giving them the self-confidence and the right environment to step out of their comfort zone and g

One of the chapters in A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp is called the Soul of Olympia, where we have solicited personal Olympia stories from Olympians. This week we meet Zach Thomas, one of the great people you get to meet at Olympia.  Thanks for the support Zach.  I’m not sure if I hold the record for the earliest debut at Olympia Sports Camp but I was born on April 11, 1999, and was at Olympia week 5 of that year. My mom, Dani Hawkins, and my dad Dave Thomas both have worked as counsellors and coached at Olympia for a long time, they even got married on Oxbow, and I was born a coach’s kid.   I am now 20 and have been at Olympia every year of my life. I am studying Human Geography and Environmental Science at McMaster University and play rugby. When I was 17, I wasn’t sure if any of this was possible, but Olympia stepped in and gave me direction.   My family is filled with high achievers. My mom and dad have been successful teachers and coaches, my g

The Writing Journey Amazes   When I wrote Can’t Miss: The Kevin Pangos Story, I had the title and didn’t write a word for a year. I just finalized the title for my second book, even though the writing process has been more than two years. The book will be called A Hero’s Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp. I thank my brother Steve Dooley for the wisdom to help me with the title.   The title honours Olympia founder and camp director Dave Grace and his lifelong journey to help all of us see the hero within. It honours the adage that Olympia “is a place where, it’s a people who.” It also deals with the historic beauty of the Norwegian Air Force using these very grounds to train and recuperate in their effort to defeat Nazi Germany in WW ll. The picture shows life on the waterfront in the 1940’s.    Beyond is the key word in the title. Dave Grace always explores life beyond the ego-driven societal report card that for some defines success and happiness. He has shown us t