The Alumni We Meet on our Journey


One amazing truth about the journey of writing A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp and then continuing on the journey with this blog is that there is a multitude of people who have walked the grounds of Interlaken. Their stories are inspiring examples of what Olympia has been all about for 50 years. The Hero's Journey. Of Dave Grace. Of all of us.


There is a movement afoot to establish a database of Olympia alumni staff, coaches, campers, and parents. If you are reading this please click on the following link to register for the Olympia Alumni Association:


.https://forms.gle/woWsggqM7zpUyHge9


Olympia has created an App that will allow Alumni to connect with the camp events, read content about some amazing Olympia people, and maybe sign your child or grandchild up for the week of their lives. The greatest part of the Olympia story is that the Olympia experience  has now become generational.  The return ( stage 12) of the Hero's journey calls for the sharing of our talents and experiences to help the next generation benefit as they go after their journey. 


That's what makes this story so fun to tell. Alumni like George and Harper Dudas.


This entry's process started with George writing Greg Rogers a heartfelt letter. Greg forwarded to me and I am honoured to share it here. Thanks George and Greg for making this happen.


Greg … thanks so much for your note! Proud to continue to support Olympia. 

For reference, my time dates back to 1982/83, with Jasper Naus as my basketball camp counselor. Terry Tyler was one of many NBA guests and I think I may still have my orange, mesh Olympia basketball top somewhere! That week, I made friends with a young lady named Jill Steffelmeyer, who’s brother I would go on to play against, when I was at Queen’s. My friend Al Overwijk, whom I also played against, also seems to be a mainstay at Olympia, as a Coach. Small world and all things that continue to leave a positive lasting memory.

 

FYI - I returned to Olympia for the first time, in July 2021, for weekend family camp coming out of covid (great idea btw), where I could revisit some great memories and expose our daughter to the magic of Olympia. After that, she was hooked and we are now going on summer #3 of her as a camper. Two weeks now, this summer, in the gymnastics/dance programs (week 5 & 6). My only regret … not returning as a camp counselor myself, in the 80s. 

 

I did ensure I said THANK YOU to Dave over the past two summers, and I will again. I actually got a bit emotional when speaking to him, as I was so overwhelmed at the thought of Harper completing yet another fun-filled, independent week, at the camp that I grew up admiring (and still do). Warms my heart. Seeing her so happy and gaining such valuable experiences is absolutely priceless. Pretty sure there are many people feeling similarly. Getting a bit emotional as I write this too ! ðŸ˜Š

 

50+ years is amazing and wishing you many more …! You and your staff are incredible. Keep doing what you are doing – it is making a huge difference in Harper and so many other kids’ lives, who are fortunate enough to get this experience. Wishing you the best for the coming summer. See you in late July for drop off (sob) ! 

 

Sincerely

GD



When I read this beautiful note I thought that this is the story of a father who loved his experience at Olympia so much that he could hardly wait for his daughter Harper to get to experience the same thing. Now that's love. Love of Harper. Love of Olympia. The note captures the reverence a father has for Olympia and what the camp experience is doing for his daughter. As George said, absolutely priceless.

Harper makes it three generations of the family at camp. Her grandfather Rick Petch coached in the 80's and her uncle Jason attended the football camp. It's great to hear what Olympia has come to  mean to Harper. We wish her well on her journey. 


The note also shows, again, what a small world we live in, and how close-knit the Olympia community of heroes is.  I coached Jill Stiefelmeyer on a provincial team and watched her brother John win a National  Championship at Western. Jasper Naus played at Mac when I was an assistant coach with the women's team there in the 80's, roughly the same years he helped inspire George to after his goals.  Jasper's son Kieran played basketball at Guelph with my son Daniel. Al Overwijk and I were "mainstays" of week 5 for years that I cherish for the non stop laughter amid a staff that was so engrossed in giving their all for the good of the campers.


The six degrees of separation gets deeper. George went to Queens and one of his classmates was Lisa McCoy. I coached Kyle Rysdale in junior football at Queen Elizabeth Park High School in Oakville. Lisa and Kyle got married and raised two boys before, in a loss that shook the Olympia family, Lisa succumbed to cancer on May 24, 2016. 


It's  like somehow in the universe we are all connected. Through the power of email George showed me an experience that he and I shared.  When he played JDP basketball for the East Region I was coaching the women's team in the Central Region of the Ontario Championships. He even sent me a copy of the rosters. His high school years were after I had moved away from Ottawa but I knew all the coaches and a lot of the players he played with. Very cool to reminisce. Thanks George. And thanks for writing something that many other parents can relate to.



Are you and Olympia alumni? Have you registered for the Olympia Alumni Association yet? Here again is the link:


.https://forms.gle/woWsggqM7zpUyHge9


We also hope that you share this link with people within your Olympia circle.  It will take literally a moment to register. This will help create a database of alumni 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 of Olympia 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 can be ordered through Indigo.ca and 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 or get copies into your favourite bookstore , 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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