The Olympia Tree of connections 

Rob Simmons and I never worked at Olympia together. We knew of each other but never really got to know each other until I had the good fortune to interview Rob and good friend Kevin O'Reilly in the M unit one afternoon for my upcoming book A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp. His story of the bat off the shoulder and leadership in education is inspirational. The Olympia 50th reunion weekend  brought Rob, along with friends Matt Akler, Brian McMahon, the Petrushchak sisters, and others to Olympia to celebrate Olympia's 50th Anniversary and our Olympia connection was cemented over a great weekend of memories and stories.

Last week Rob and I decided to go to Western for an OUA semi final basketball game between the Mustangs and the Brock Badgers. We connected with another Olympia alum (and Rob's sister in law) Christine Stapleton, the Athletic Director at Western, to get primo seats. I've always been proud of the path that Christine has followed and prouder still to see what she is at the helm of at this fine display of USports basketball.

 Added to this aspect of the Olympia connections is that we saw Jackson Kingshot, who I have seen grow through many years of week 5. When Jackson was a young coach's kid he had role models like Kevin Pangos and Daniel Dooley, and now he's a grad of Laurentian and working in the athletics department of Western. He's on his journey! When we saw each other a handshake wasn't going to do and we shared an Olympia hug.

But the truly great part of the experience was when Rob ran into Chris Clayton. Rob and Chris ( nee Harris) worked at Olympia together from 1986-88 and to see the true enthusiasm when they saw each other was awesome. Rob grew up in and around Stratford while Chris was raised in Georgetown. Rob's coach gave him a pamphlet from Olympia, and Chris was encouraged to go to camp by Olympia veteran Gary Southworth and other teachers at her middle school.  Through the efforts of these adults both went to camp and eventually were hired on staff, where they learned of their own hero's journey. They became educators and coaches, inspiring the next generation to experience their own journeys. Their varied paths took them to different places but here they were meeting again at a basketball game. 

It is quite amazing when you think about it but as Olympia alumni we have a hard time going into any gym and not seeing and connecting with others who are part of the Olympia story and legacy. 

The Olympia Tree

Like branches of a tree, the alumni of Olympia Sports Camp spread far and wide, literally the world over. 

There is a group of people who are in the process of creating an Olympia Alumni Association, like Rob and Chris and the hundreds and hundreds of people who have Olympia memories and stories to share. 

 If you are reading this we'd like you to go to the following link to register for the Olympia Alumni Association (OAA).

.https://forms.gle/woWsggqM7zpUyHge9

We also hope that you share this link with people within your Olympia circle. Each of us are a branch with many connections. It will take literally a moment to register. This will help create a database of alumni through which we can share information and create another layer of legacy of the history of the people of the camp. 

We know that the stories captured in The Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp just scratch the surface of the amazing people who have walked the land of Interlaken and we envision the OAA as a way to share many more hero's journeys and for all alumni to have a vehicle to stay in touch.

The journey of this blog and the connection to Olympia Sports Camp alumni continues to evolve. If you have someone who you feel is a hero of their journey and who the Olympia community would like to hear about connect with me at coachdools71@gmail.com.  Within a community of everyday heroes there are many stories that people would love to read about, stories I would love to write about. 

Copies of A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp are available at The Different Drummer Book Store on Locust St in Burlington. Or if you live in the Hamilton/ Halton area etransfer $30 with your address and I'll deliver it to your door.

Online copies are available at aherosjourney.ca

Audiobook version is available at Audible, Amazon, or iTunes 

If you would like us to come to your town for a book event, email me at coachdools71@gmail.com

If you or your favourite camper are looking to get to camp in the summer of 2024 check out the website at 
olympiasportscamp.com. A week when you will meet so many great people. A week when you'll learn a lot about what you are made of.

 



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