Year Number 52... Year Number 30

With pre-camp ( staff development week) happening this week I thought I'd send out a good luck to all the staff, especially those in their first year of a job some have been dreaming about doing for several years now. You'll be awesome.

I also want to wish continued success to Dave Grace, whose willingness to "Take the bat off the shoulder" has allowed hundreds to enjoy life at Interlaken over the years. Also to Greg Rogers, who is celebrating his 30th summer of being the Associate Director of Olympia Sports Camp.

The start of another summer for Dave and Greg conjures up an amazing story in chapter 2 of A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp of how these two great leaders met and formed a relationship that has benefited the camp on so many levels for such a long time. 

The reason that this is entitled Year Number 52... Year Number 30 is to recognize this relationship. The camp is in it's 52nd year, and the arrival of Greg Rogers as AD in 1996 is a pivotal moment in the history of the camp.

I share that story now.

 Greg Rogers' introduction to Olympia, and eventual connection to Dave Grace, came about in 1991 when Greg was the acting vice-principal at St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic High School in Toronto. The school had doubled in size inside of two years, and Greg was asked to come up with an idea to get almost 200 grade nines to buy in to what Brebeuf was all about. Greg knew the team-building value of camp and thought that taking the students away for a three-day camp adventure would be a great way to accomplish this. Greg had been at the school for 10 years and was the rugby coach, so he had a bevy of senior students who could help make this happen. The senior would also benefit with the chance to mentor the younger kids and build up the Brebeuf community. It was suggested to Greg that Olympia Sports Camp in Huntsville would be big enough to handle the event. He got school and board approval and took the 200 grade nines and his senior leadership group up to Oxbow Lake. Greg added a unique twist to the experience.

 

“We had a great weekend where the grade nines were divided into families, where a couple of senior leaders would have nine or ten students in a cabin, with high energy challenges, games and activities.” Greg says. “There was this guy following me around all weekend, not saying much but observing everything. On that last day, he told me how impressed he was and asked me where I learned all this stuff. I didn’t even know who this guy was, but it turned out to be Dave Grace.”

 

That initial meeting concluded with Coach Grace asking Greg if he wanted to run a rugby camp at Olympia. He ran his first in 1992. Not knowing Olympia or the philosophy at all, Greg was a natural. His main belief was to teach rugby, yes, but also to coach the campers on how to be good human beings. Right out of the Olympia playbook. 

 

The sense that Greg Rogers was an Olympian before he knew anything about Olympia is real. His 10 years of being director of Camp Ekon in Toronto gave him the experience, but it’s in his DNA to help others and promote growth. His leadership style is a genuine part of who he is. He wants to engage kids and meet them where they are so that the students feel part of the discussion, thus empowering the kids to become the best versions of themselves. His leadership and commitment to students was noticed by the Toronto Catholic District School Board and he was seconded by the board for a one-year term to lead and develop student leadership initiatives. That one year? It lasted till he retired 26 years later.

Coach Grace knew he had a gem and hired Greg in 1996 as assistant, then associate director. Greg reflects on his years at  Olympia.

 

 “I’ve been blessed to be at Olympia for so long. Dave is a true mentor and friend and he empowers me as he empowers everyone. That in itself is inspiring. I’m also surrounded by laughter and fun all summer long. The passion and energy of the counsellors keeps me young. Connecting to them keeps me current and emotionally young. Play is one of the best ways to build relationships and that is what Olympia is all about. I feel like I’m dancing through life.”

 

Thanks Dave and Greg. Two allies along the journey. The Hero's Journey. Good luck in year 52, and Year 30.

A Hero’s Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp chronicles the people that make up the history of Olympia, but it does far more than that. It serves as an inspirational guidebook for readers to become the hero of their own path. In order to do this the book examines the history of the land on which the camp has been built, from its indigenous origins to the European settlement process of the 1800’s. and the use of the land by the Royal Norwegian Air Force during WWll. The book is built on a collection of stories related to mentorship, sports psychology, and community building. This book honours the 50-year history of the camp while giving us all a window into seeing a deeper level of understanding of the world and our place in it.

Books Available at: 

-  Tuck and Pro at Olympia ( ask about the coach's deal)

 - Amazon and Indigo.ca

-  Indigo, Burlington Brant Street location.

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

- Cedar Canoe Books on Main St in Huntsville

- 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.