61% of Camp Ondessonk employees are women, while 39% are men. Led by a desire for a permanent location for a Catholic youth camp, Monsignor Robert DeGasperi oversaw the effort to gain leases of the land that would become Camp Ondessonk.[3]. Campers spend their nights in either Chiwatenwha or Aonnetta with staff trained to take on the challenges of younger campers experiencing their first week-long sleepaway camp stay. take care of myself and recognize my personal needs so I can be the best counselor I can be. [17] Participants experience the highlights of Southern Illinois rock climbing while taking on progressively more challenging routes. As much as my world has changed, its refreshing that Camp Ondessonk is much the same today as it was when I was a kid. Call well in advance to schedule meals and/or programs. A stream near the spillway. Everywhere we go! Not only did I do and learn things I never thought I would, it also made me a better Christian and brought me closer to God. CIT program recruitment, selection, and training is made on the basis of qualifications that meet the needs of Camp Ondessonk, and not to discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, or any other categories protected by Federal, State, or local law. "1959-2008." Background: Dans history with Camp Ondessonk began in 1981, his first year as a camper. Search for: Recent Posts. Drumroll and cheer-off please.big winner announced at 9:15am in the comments! refrain from the use of profane or abusive language in the presence of campers or where campers may hear or see. has made his way into thousands of campers' hearts. Courtesy of Camp Ondessonk / Thousands of children across Illinois missed out on outdoor opportunities through summer camp last year, when COVID-19 caused the cancellation of hundreds of camps and activities in 2020. Since 1959, Camp Ondessonks summer camp programs have provided an experience that encourages campers to have fun, nurture spiritually, make friends, grow in self-confidence and promote important traditional values. In the meantime, we have one last present for you. If you are not confident with your resume, do not worry we will work on it as part of the CIT program. Camp Ondessonk. The cross represents a world dedicated to Christ. The units give campers the chance to bond more closely with their cabin mates as well as the 30 or so other campers in their unit. take full advantage of their natural surroundings. The other seven are represented with stars on the camp symbol. The highlight of their stay was an overnight canoe trip to Lake of Egypt. Ow! Parishes from various parts of Southern Illinois provided funds and volunteer builders. [14] In the evenings campers are part all-camp activities including campfires, a variation of flashlight tag, an overnight campout, and a Native American ceremony. Education: B.S. Camp Ondessonk is the Premier Adventure Destination of the Midwest. You look at every building here at camp, old and new, and you know it was largely done by a team of volunteers coming together, Werner said. They are co-ed camp, girls camp, and boys camp. On a typical day at camp chants ring through the dining hall, cheers sail across the field, and songs embrace the campfire. [4] Omar's Bikini Club near East St. Louis advertised a bear for sale after it failed as a dancing attraction. A new registration process was added in 1988, which allowed campers to indicate a unit preference in their applications. Black! Hi-ho!ScientistAcid! All cabin units have fire pits, benches, picnic tables, a potable water spigot, an outhouse, and are within a short walk to a shower house. Campers in Teondecoren lived off the land, and made the unit a popular visiting spot for other units on the Wednesday night overnight. If you have not registered yet, hop on over to our online registration on camps website and keep those forms coming. Gala Care Package Sneak Peak #2: Handmade "Heepwah" clay charms! He ended up giving his life to this task when he was tortured and later martyred. It is looking like it will turn out to be a great summer, we have already received over 1100 camper registration forms! As Tommy's fate was being decided, campers and staff fought to save him. They visited four different countries along the way. Please check our events calendar for weekends open during the school year. Stocked with first aid and a wide variety of other medical equipment, covering multiple possible emergencies, this building is equipped and ready for all of the campers, staff, and volunteers Ondessonk hosts throughout the year. New Positions for Ondessonk Summer Staff Promote Positivity and Success . A camp favorite was added in 1975 with the addition of the Friday Marathon. Rock Adventure is an intermediate adventure open to campers ages 1316. It makes the perfect pre-meal, pre-activity, or post-nap energizer. They are intentionally designed and located to maximize visitors experience of tranquility and inspiration of nature. The dining hall is a modern facility that can serve all of camp at one time. All individuals working at Ondessonk choose the job because of a strong desire to serve others. The dining hall had air conditioning installed for the summer of 2013. The first major building of the camp was established with the pouring of the foundation for the dining hall. Most meals are served family style. Hard to be cool when you are 10 years old and scared. There are two advanced adventures offered, Horse Expedition and River Adventure. Camp Ondessonk states their mission to be "to provide an environment that inspires physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth for individuals and groups through the appreciation and stewardship of nature. He joined the Seasonal Program Staff shortly thereafter. Two new units were added for the 1960 season, and 1,804 campers attended during the seven-week season. The early 1970s brought the addition of the Frontier Units to camp programming. All cabin units have fire pits, benches, picnic tables, a potable water spigot, an outhouse, and are within a short walk to a shower house. Ive always had a fear of bridges. Ondessonk also offers lodging, camping, group retreats, horseback trail rides, corporate retreats, and outdoor education programs for scouts and school groups. Flush it! As part of their unique personalities, each unit is represented by a color and spirit animal. Where else can you do that?. Plus, eagle watching, an art exhibit and a home & garden show. All rights reserved. 9:00-12:00 pm. Most nights of the program are spent camping out under the stars in the babackcountryIntermediate adventures give participants the chance to receive more advanced instruction and develop their skills to a greater level. Specialties: Camp Ondessonk is a residential youth camp that provides summer camp programs for children ages 8-17 years old. Backcountry Medicineincluding the assessment and treatment of common medical problems. Because the trips left from Camp, dorms were built on the north end of the parking lot to house participants the night before leaving on their trips. He offers some advice to every adult who once went to Camp Ondessonk: Theres an opportunity to reconnect with your past through Camp Ondessonk, he told me. During an intermediate adventure, campers spend more time away from the main area of camp in the natural areas surrounding Ondessonk. Teondecoren was located at Pine Lake and consisted of Conestoga wagons of the Old West that had been donated to camp. Kids give a "Heepwah" cheer at Camp Ondessonk located in the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. Evan Coulson. Camp ONDESSONK has provided children and children AT heart the opportunity to experience first hand the beauty of God's creation. I loved that everyone is so kind to each other. Ozark, IL 62972. This led to the camper's parents to worry that their son may have contracted rabies from the bear. Unit Cheers - Chabanel by Camp Ondessonk published on 2022-06-10T21:16:02Z. As the first week of June approached, none of the units were complete yet. Offering a more advanced approach to rock climbing, campers on Rock Adventure take the basic climbing skills covered in Rock Camp and spend more time on the natural sandstone rocks in the area further enhancing their climbing skills. All rights reserved. Need some teamwork training? There was a great big mooseHe liked to drink a lot of juiceThere was a great big mooseAnd he drank a lot of juiceChorus:Singing oh way oh!Way oh, way oh, way oh, way ohWAAYYY oh, way oh!Way oh, way oh, way oh, way ohThe moose's name was FredHe liked to drink his juice in bedThe moose's name was FredAnd he drank his juice in bed ChorusHe liked to drink his juice with careBut he spilled it in his hairHe drank his juice with careBut he spilled it EVERYWHEREChorusNow there's a sticky mooseAll covered in juiceOn the LOOOOOSE. Businesses can utilize conference and retreat facilities. The adventure programs are divided into three levels based on the challenge offered and skill required by each program. Search. During the day they would hike around the area and swim in Pine Lake as they learned valuable survival skills. Most people like to go to the lower part of the . 11-55. To RSVP contact Linda at linda.scruggs@ondessonk.com. Bad aim. Rocks that have split to the point when campers are taken through some on their all day hikes. However, they were still used in overbooking situations or for special circumstances. Hometown: Villa Grove, Illinois Shower houses are located near each unit and multiple units share shower house facilities. TRADITIONAL CAMP (3rd-8th gr): $120 - REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. SoundCloud Unit Cheers by Camp Ondessonk published on 2022-08-04T16:52:35Z. Camp Ondessonk is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Belleville and has been offering summer camp experience since 1959, the same year I was born. Allow this song to get quieter and slower as you move through the verses. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Press Copyright Contact us Creators Dan King Many of the units adopted their three-sided look in the late 1970s through the mid-1980s based on the inspiration of a Polynesian design discovered on a trip to Walt Disney World. It is advised that larger groups contact Camp first to inquire about availability and make reservations several months in advance - especially for those wanting meals and programs and for dates during the busier months of September, October, April, and May. In May 1968, Lake Echon was completed giving campers a separate lake for boating and swimming. I liked the hikes to natural lakes and rock dwellings like Fat Mans Misery. My heart always went out to the chubby kids because they were teased about not being able to fit through the tight squeeze between rocks. Some weekends are open for lodging only. [17] Although campers do return to main camp at the end of the week to participate in the final all-camp activities, most days and nights are spent on the trail in the back-country. 3rd-8th grade. As new administration was brought in and summer programming went through changes, the Frontier units were phased out so only one trip to Utah was left by 1986. But there were all the cool things we could never do at home, such as swimming in a lake, canoeing, archery, riflery, horseback riding and hiking. The star on the top right represents St. Jean de Lalande. Camp Ondessonk is a rustic, outdoor, Catholic youth camp run by the Belleville Diocese. I learned that Camp isnt all about winning and that I should focus on having fun. [17] The main areas of focus are horsemanship, rock climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, and canoeing. : School Annual Publishing Company, 2009. Kick em in the butt! Throughout the early 2000s various camp activities were introduced and different adventure programs were tried for brief periods. By 1965, the summer enrollment reached 4,380 campers with 120 staff members. refrain from intimate displays of affection with anyone else. Camp Ondessonk's campers love to show their camp spirit with unit cheers. This required some reorganization as a boys and girls side of the lake was designated, separate bathhouses were issued, and brother/sister units were developed. With your [body part]Repeat, adding in these body parts with stirring motions:Right hand Left hand Right leg Left legHeadBottom. Distance: About .6 miles each way from Pakentuck Road. I understand that acceptance of an offer of a counselor in training does not create a contractual obligation uponCamp Ondessonkto employ me in the future. Hope to see you there! Hurst says people should pay before coming, to cut down on person to person contact., and the bathrooms and shower houses are cleaned twice a day. See if I can hit a target with an arrow. See what Ondessonk has to offer you! Each summer, the camps were staffed by seminarians and college students all under the direction of Monsignor John T. Fournie. in Leisure Science with an emphasis in therapeutic and outdoor recreation from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Some activities are modified to account for the difference in age of mini campers from traditional campers. The 1971 trip took participants on an Iberian tour through Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. The two stars on the top left represent St. Jean de Brbeuf and St. Gabriel Lalemant. Members of the primitive units came back into camp to participate in activities such as horsemanship and riflery, as well as the Tuesday and Thursday evening activities. Phone: (618) 695-2485. treat campers, CITs, and staff of all races, religions, cultures, and backgrounds with respect, dignity, and consideration. CHAs certification process has been continually monitored and refined for more than 40 years, in order to meet the needs of a changing horse industry. One of the most memorable Lodge trips was in 1968 and went to Italy and Switzerland. New activities and programs continue to be added as camp evolves with the changing times around it in the real world.. It was later moved to a location near the main area of camp and even to a position along Camp Road for a time. Although campers spend most of their time away from main camp, they do return at the end of the week to participate in the all-camp activities on Friday. The well-known Camp Ondessonk has re-opened, with COVID-19 safety measures. When it rains campers in this unit are able to enjoy a natural waterfall, however, the nature of the unit's location causes campers to experience permanent dampness in all of their gear. The name "Ondessonk" is the Huron word for "Bird of Prey." One week most summers, we left our neighborhood and headed south to camp. During fall, winter and spring, there are outdoor educational programs available to schools and youth programs. Pioneer sessions were introduced in 1965. in Cleveland, OH. The program was open to all high school students and brought in an additional 2000 campers per summer to Ondessonk. [10] The cabins are rustic style lodging without electricity generally consisting of three-walled structures open on the front. I was better at games that included a ball. In the late 1970s the Silver and Golden Frontier Program was added. Wednesday was hump day. Allow this song to get quieter and slower as you move through the verses. It is the name that the Huron gave to St. Isaac Jogues when he was serving among them as a Jesuit missionary, because of his black robe. Phone: 618.695.2489 x102 Education: B.S. The 1970 trip scheduled to tour the Middle East was canceled due to conflict in the region. There are also many areas at Camp to pitch a tent, or for those who dont wish to rough it, rent a hostel-style room in our St. Noel Center. Surrounded by other areas of stream that are great for catching crawdads and skipping rocks. They also spent New Year's Eve in Venice. The dining hall is air conditioned, and has windows on all sides to allow for ventilation. Campers carried all their food and gear in the canoes with them. The building is heptagonal and has a fireplace in the center. My babys gotta live! Hometown: Johnston City, Illinois. Director of Marketing Or someone was too gassy. There are challenge and high rope courses, and a variety of special interest weekends and open houses. Caught a few toads in the bushes. As children and parents arrived on opening day, volunteers scrambled to finish building the last of the bunks in the cabins. "Last summer at Camp Ondessonk I learned that I dont have to act a certain way and that its okay to be myself. (618) 695-2489. camp@ondessonk.com [19] Induction into Lodge is the greatest honor for any camper. Camp Ondessonk. By my parent's car, it was . This trip included the group attending Christmas Mass with the Pope during which the group was privileged to sit in ambassador seats just 20 feet from the Pope. Wound Managementincluding open fractures, lacerations, burns and blisters. express dissent quietly, thoughtfully, respectfully, and never with campers present. For more information contact Evan at evan.coulson@ondessonk.com. Jogues came to this country from France in the early 17th century in an effort to bring the Gospel to the American Indians. The first camp infirmary was located on a rock near the back end of the original dining hall. The Pioneer sessions were an early experiment for camp with trips away from camp. Killed mosquitoes. Instructors are evaluated in five areas: safety, horsemanship knowledge and ability, teaching technique, group control, and responsibility and professionalism. At the time, families lined up hours early at the beginning of each session to register campers for the most popular cabin units. Dan was an Ondessonk Counselor in Training in 1986. I was a bit nervous at first but once I got settled and realized what an amazing place it is, I never wanted to leave. Campers must be a member of the Loyal Lodge of Ondessonk and Tekakwitha in order to be eligible to attend. Each of the units at Camp Ondessonk consist of a group of four or five camper cabins and one staff cabin. The Primitive Units were used to accommodate higher volumes of campers as more than 4,000 campers were attending each summer. Mini camp explorers is for more adventurous 8 and 9-year-olds who feel capable of spending the entire week at camp. The program is open to campers meeting this requirement ages 1116. Cook a hobo dinner in a campfire. N.p. All rights reserved. Maybe check out Fat Mans Misery. Camping Services Director Nolan Hurst says families staying at the camp are urged to stay at their own cabin site. There are also many areas at Camp to pitch a tent, or for those who dont wish to rough it, rent a hostel-style room in our St. Noel. This allowed campers the chance to stay two weeks and participate in extra activities such as the climbing wall and teams course. fill: "none" Print. Couture never had a permanent location in camp on either side of the lake and was more of a "floating" tent unit used whenever and wherever was necessary. ", "I loved it. Kids traveled to Camp Ondessonk from as far as Chicago, Bloomington and Evansville, Ind. Each unit also has its own water spigot, outhouse, and campfire ring.