I'm writing this from beautiful Miramichi New Brunswick. On the banks of the Mighty Chi as they say. I'm writing from a little cafe called Creative Grounds. A great coffee shop, it is a place to spend quiet moments to reflect, enjoy company, or, in my case, write my book A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp. In Chapter 12: The Return, I wrote about some of the inspiring places I got to write. Creative Grounds gave me the energy, and mindset, to get a lot done. It was a setting in which I had planned to write more than just that one summer but plans changed by something called COVID and I never got back to my east coast lifestyle coffee shop before book deadlines had to be met. A full-circle moment for sure, It feels great to be here again, reflecting on Olympia and its impact on people. 

People like Mere Bawks.

I knew Mere as a long time athletic therapy staff at Olympia and I especially remember sharing a great discussion over lunch, each at separate picnic tables, with her and Brendo when the camp was shut down by COVID and it felt like we were the only people at camp. She's one of those people, and there are hundreds of them, that could be a poster child for everything Olympia. She loves Olympia.

After a couple of years away from camp, taking the bat off her shoulder and getting her teaching degree while travelling the world to do so, Mere came back to camp this summer in a new role as a Week 7 coach. She spent the recent Olympics putting out a daily Facebook link to what was going on in Paris and she did an excellent job. Here is what she is quoted on Facebook about her experience at Olympia 2024.


" Turns out the best cure for Olympic Withdrawal is a week at Olympia Sports Camp. Coached the best athletes ( who only tipped me in a canoe once) Put the Trivia team back together and won, and enjoyed some sunset swims. There is no place like Olympia."

Dave Talk back in the day used to involve " The Echo" and Mere's words last week gave me an echo to a quote of hers that I saw in 2021. At the time I was musing as to what I would put on the back cover and Mere's beautiful words inspired me to gather a few other quotes of the impact of Olympia that people could read and get a real sense of what the camp was about, and maybe what the book was about. 

" 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 grow. Getting to work and contribute to this team environment while forming special relationships and bonds has changed my life. It motivates me every day to be better and is why I kept coming back every summer."

Meredith Bawks, 2021 Head Athletic Therapist

I find it inspiring that Mere wrote those words 3 years ago, has been on a life-changing journey, and then writes last week, showing that you may be able to take a person away from Olympia, but you can't take Olympia away from the person.

Thanks Mere, and I wish you continued success as you embrace the journey and inspire others to do the same.


ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

The OAA needs your help.  If you are an Olympia Sports Camp Alumni we need you to register for the OAA and get those in your circle of Olympia contacts to do the same. The link is at:

 https://forms.gle/woWsggqM7zpUyHge9

OLYMPIA HAS AN APP! 


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. Simply use this QR code to get to the App and all it offers. It will take you to the Olympia website and so much more!




Why should I buy a book?

- See the 12 steps of the hero's journey come alive

- Learn a lot about yourself by reading about the journey of others.

-Learn about the land of Interlaken, from its indigenous beginnings, to the European migration, to the Norwegians during the second world war, to the launch of Olympia Sports Camp.

- Learn about the Community of Olympia that spans over 50 years.

- Learn that Olympia is a Community of Everyday Heroes

- Learn that you, too, are a hero of your own journey

How can I buy a book

-available for order through Amazon and Indigo.ca

-available at Indigo, Burlington Brant Street location.

- available at The Different Drummer Book Store on Locust Street in Burlington\

- available at Cedar Canoe Books on Main St in Huntsville

- available at the Olympia Tuck and Pro Shop

- Etransfer me $30 and I'll drive it to your house ! 

- available online at aherosjourney.ca

- audiobook version is available at Audible, Amazon, and 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. We travel well.




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