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Here are some old Staff Bios to inspire your creativity!
Autumn
Devin
Isaac
If camp was short one maniac
Before they found him, they’re on track
By now, ‘tis sure, for there’s no lack
Of energy around Isaac.
He loves to talk of thoughtful things
And when he feels like it, he sings.
The trees he climbs! The discs he flings!
The flying leaps he takes from swings!
He’s pretty tall, ’bout six foot four:
His legs are long, to reach the floor.
He runs and plays, then runs some more.
He knows what fun is, and what for.
The footsteps he leaves start in New York State
And take him thence to California’s land
To read and write a lot there, ain’t it grand?
But further travels yet were still his fate.
He took two terms among Sierran hills
And later sent his boots across the sea
To find his fun in the New Land of Zee
And everywhere he learned adventure skills.
Two summers found him working where kids are:
At camp where days were long and hard and hot
Where dull routine was missing, joy was not
In camp days in the land of the Lone Star.
When he was finished loving life at school
He found a life and place on foreign soil
Where teaching children English was no toil
And Russia was, in several senses, cool.
Now he looks forward to another stage
On which to find and play his eager part.
To have fun, hard, all day with all his heart
And thus to write another joyous page.
There once was a dude from New York
A smiling excitable dork
He lived with a grin
Counted trying a win
And ate his ice cream with a fork.
In no real order, here’s some pics
Of times and ways he gets his kicks.
He’s walking through the park in snow
He’s winding up a frisbee throw
He holds a tree, a tree holds him
Over, under, limb by limb.
In class, he’s laughing at a joke
He’s on a mountain, drinking Coke.
Castle walls in the Old Town
Abandoned tow truck that he found
Behold! the dreadful Silver Terror
To face him solo were an error
With books and pics, he’ll go hang loose
Out in the woods, on a caboose.
Now what is this thing? Have no fears!
A friendly beast with fuzzy ears.
He has a nephew and a niece
They built a tower, piece by piece
His favorites have smiling mugs
And joyful hearts. He gives them hugs
There on the whiteboard, Syntax Thor
Makes grammar workshops seem no chore.
Good clean fun with mud is nice
He builds a castle on the ice
The minton’s bad out on the beach
If he jumps, nothing’s out of reach
From what his students thought and knew
They grabbed their crayons and they drew.
He sits out with a football crowd
In his class, park days are allowed.
He is the outlaw some call Paint
Have you heard of him? Guess you ain’t.
He’s lumberjacking, don’t you know,
He’s down for Dino Rodeo
He climbs church roofs and stands ‘mid spires
He runs and dives through giant tires.
He builds a snow cave home with pride
Then he goes backward down the slide.
He is outstanding in the wood
Where joy is free and life is good
Isaac appears of adult years, but sometimes he’s still six
When he plays games and makes up names and pulls his silly tricks.
He makes no sense, he gets intense with the serious work of play —
In his defense, it’s fun immense gets him carried away.
He often shows the things he knows, and then he’ll want to find
What you love learning, what sets burning passion in your mind.
He hopes that you will try to do what you said you could not
And go from here with half the fear, more able than you thought.
Come on and try him: what’s the highest number you can figure?
If you’re inclined, he’ll blow your mind and show you one that’s bigger.
Bring all your doubts, can’t-figure-outs: he hopes that you will see
That all your dreams can burst the seams of possibility.
This fearless leader waits in Cedar for all most curious eyes.
‘Twould be a crime to waste the time — Wish, Wonder, and Surprise!
Margaret
Marty
Natalie Jo
Hallo, Hallo from Camp Augusta!
My name is Natalie and you can call me Nat – this is my second year at Camp Augusta (having spent the first Summer as a counselor) and I have the privilege of coming back in the Village Leader role for Manzi.
Fun facts:
- I live and travel the USA in my big blue van – Van Halen. I’ve visited more than 20 National Parks in the last year.
- I have developed a recent obsession with rock climbing and I have been challenging my fear of heights. It’s been super empowering learning to do something I previously thought I could not do!
- I am Wilderness First Responder certified as well as Lifeguard certified.
- My favorite mantras are: “Stop, breathe and believe,” and “pretend you are already good at it.”
- I love to write poetry and my favorite poet is Mary Oliver. Here’s a poem I wrote at camp last year:
In the woods, under the big trees, by a lake called Vera is a place that already feels like home.
All sorts of lovely languages, food fairies, smiles, ninjas in the pines, dancers in the air, fire spinners, jugglers, artists, writers, creativity galore and of course Lazy Dog.
Caution flying children, this is a good sign and have you seen our octopus?
Yes and…no is the beginning of a conversation. So many possibilities.
Walls of cool shattering with every new character, skit, imagineering. Magic. Flow, rhythm, movement and hula hoop twirling.
“Don’t forget your water bottle and stay hydrated y’all” and “WHERE is my water bottle”??
Leaning into vulnerability, dancing with tears and fears – swirling, twisting, turning, burning – doing the robot with tears and fears. Emotions! Emotions. EMOTIONS.
The best kind of awkward, silliness, getting lost and found in the woods – eyes adjusting to the darkness and light and I still haven’t figured out what I want to be when I grow up.
Difficult conversations and deep talks on short walks. Growth. Attachment and loosening my grip on expectations.
And, don’t forget to take time to look up at the trees.
An incredibly special community – a family I’m choosing to choose. Opening to a sort of love I’ve never known. Not yet. My heart is breaking wide open. Lots of self compassion in practice. Tender. Tender. Tender.
Sunsets, evening glow and the golden hour. Days long stretched with a desire to linger. I can’t wait to linger a little longer here with you.
Some things I adore:
- Dogs: Soft puppy bellies – specifically, dachshund puppies.
- Words: Specifically, the word “stoked”.
- Dancing: Preferably, awkwardly.
- Open, honest and clear communication: Specifically, Non Violent Communication and the work of Marshall Rosenberg.
- Pushing my challenge zones: I’m a big fan of Carol Dweck and her work on Mindset – I like to think I’ve got a growth mindset, because I’m SIX feet tall 🙂 (I also LOVE dad jokes)
- Podcasts: I love listening to podcasts and some of my favorites are: Invisibilia, Super Soul Sundays, OnBeing and Brian Johnson’s Optimize podcast.
- Books: My current favorite books are – Radical Candor by Kim Scott, Emotional Agility by Susan David, Harry Potter!, The Four Agreements, poetry books (Mary Oliver, Rupi Kaur), My Friend Fear: Finding Magic in the Unknown.
The TOP ten things I’m excited about for Summer 2018 (exclamation marks reduced – add 3 or 4 more):
- Woodchips between my toes and up my nose!
- Meeting all the Manzi, Cedar, Oak and Pine campers!
- Dancing during EP’s!
- Playing ancient witches and other mystical creatures daily!
- THE FOOD AT CAMP! It’s organic, lovely and incredibly delicious!
- The Manzi hammocks 🙂
- Singing at campfire!
- Swimming in the lake!
- Feeding baby goats!
- Finally – living in a community full of people with different view points, backgrounds and strengths!
See you soon in the woodchips 🙂
<3 Nat
Nic
Hello everyone!
This is it! It’s finally here! For the first and only time in history… Camp Augusta in 2011. It’s never happened before and may never happen again (unless time proves to be cyclical but that’s a topic for later) so we had best make the most of it.
My name is Nic and I’ve experienced a 2008, 2009 and a 2010 Camp Augusta. They were all pretty awesome and I believe that each was better than the one before it. That could only mean that this year is bound to be the most exciting yet (until next year but lets stay focused on the present).
This year I’m camp’s design and media hero. That means I get to design and make all kinds of things around camp. I studied spatial and graphic design at university and have always loved creating things with my hands (via drawing tablet, pencil or cutting board). Here’s a fun fact: The typeface on the new camp shirts (Neuropol) is the same one that’s on the NASA Space Shuttle Owners’ Workshop Manual! How cool is that?
Getting to design stuff for camp doesn’t mean being cooped up in the office all day so I’ll be seeing you high up in the trees, dangling from the aerial silks or dashing through the dining area enemy flag in hand. Speaking of flags, we have some amazing new evening programs to play this year. I’m so excited to have the forest transformed into dozen different worlds and to hear the sounds of battle, discovery and joy echoing between the trees.
What I love most about camp is the way it continues to evolve over time as people come and share all their amazing ideas. So I can’t wait to witness what you all bring to camp this year and just how it will unfold. One thing for sure, it’s going to be like no other summer any of us have had before!
Bear
Roo
Pronounces name RUu-uuu–uuu
… and also joining us at camp this summer is, KUMARA !
Her name means sweet potato, and she is exactly that! Sweet, golden, gooey, mushy goodness nobody can resist. She goes by KUMA for short.
She’s 7 years young, and loves to cuddle big people, little people, dogs, and cats!
We found each other almost a year and a half ago. I highly suspect her breed is part wolf, part teddy bear, and part Wookiee.
She loves playing in the woods, rolling in the snow, and chasing squirrels. Although she never catches anything, she always does her best and never gives up; and she ALWAYS has fun trying : )
I’m excited to say this is my first summer at Camp Augusta, and I will be celebrating with the joyful campers of Manzi village!!!
It is going to be the most special of summers thanks to all of you!
What am I excited about you may ask?!!?!?!?
For starters, I get to spend my whole summer playing, dancing, frolicking, climbing, yoga-ing, cartwheeling, crafting, growing, creating, and LEARNING from all of you beautiful souls.
Whether I’m hanging upside down on silks, getting dog piled in mud, or taking care of our little green friends in the garden, come say hello and tell me what makes you feel alive! I’d love to hear your dreams and help make them come true!
It’s going to be a magical time and I hope you can’t wait for it to start too!
Since I’m turning 25 this summer,
let me tell you 25 things about my life!
1. I’m originally from Kansas.
2. I’ve backpacked through 25 different countries, on 6 continents.
3. Now I live near Los Angeles.
4. My favorite color is brown… like poo.
5. I dream of living in a hobbit home one day.
6. One of my biggest passions in life is sustainable farming.
7. I absolutely ADORE farmer’s markets.
8. I love aerial silks and all things circus.
9. One of my goals in life is to join a circus.
10. You’ll always find me in the kitchen! It’s my favorite place in my home.
11. I’m a FRUIT NUT! Sometimes when I’m bored, I go on a hunt to find a fruit I’ve never tried before.
12. My favorite person in the world is my little sister, Alice.
now back when I was a wee fat baldy…
13. Favorite Book: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Favorite TV Show: Firefly. Favorite Movie: Princess Mononoke.
14. I want to be a professional MMA fighter at some point in life.
15. I have the soul of an old lady, the appetite of an obese woman, and the spirit energy of a manic child.
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16. I’m a certified advanced scuba diver.
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17. I also love photography.
18. I studied Wildlife Biology and Conservation in college.
19. That POOF sound when you delete something off a mac computer always makes me smile.
20. I used to be terrified of heights, so I learned how to rock climb! I’m still terrified, but I love it.
21. Fruits and veggies have emotions too!
22. Some day I want to give a TED Talk. What about? Let’s come up with some ideas this summer!
23. One time I got squirted in the face with fresh goat milk.
24. I love the smell of fresh worm poo.
25. Oh, and I LOVE costumes.
That’s all for now folks! I can’t wait to get to know each of you wonders very soon!
Chris
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Tracklist
Who Are You?
Hold On
Fortunate Son
Home
Long Distance Run Around
Going To California
Band on the Run
Ramble On
Golden Slumber / Carry That Weight / The End
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Who Are You
(The Who, 1978)
Hello hellooooooooo!! Chris here back in action for my tenth summer at Camp Augusta!!
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Hold On
(Alabama Shakes, 2012)
“Wait, what?” you may be asking yourself. “Tenth summer? How can it be that be?”
A perfectly valid question — to be answered with the next song.
Fortunate Son
(Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1969)
Having the opportunity to return to Augusta for the tenth time is absolutely a blessing. First introduced to the enchanting woods that I now call home as a camper back in 2008, the beauty of the Augustan experience has called me back ever since. Having spent six years as a camper, a year as a CIRCLEr, and two years as a junior counselor, I am thrilled to be a part of the Augusta community as a full time staff member this summer. From the minute I stepped off the bus that first summer ten years ago, the wish, wonder, and surprise that serves at the basis of the Augustan magic filled me with inspiration. As I continued to come back year after year, my love for this place and this community grew and grew. Though I could never fully articulate the ineffable quality that makes Augusta what it is, I knew that what I had experienced as a camper was poignant, powerful and meaningful, and I knew that I wanted to play a role in creating that experience for others. In my journey to staffdom, my affinity for Augusta has only continued to grow. Not only did I have the opportunity to begin to give back to the place that has given me so much, I developed as a human being far more than I could have ever imagined. I cannot express how grateful I am to continue to serve and grow at a new capacity this summer!
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Home
(Brian Eno and David Byrne, 2008)
On July, 5, 1998, I was born as Christopher James Machle. 19 years later (or 18 for all you pre-July 5 readers), all I can think about is how much of a blessing it is to be alive.
For the first 18 years of my life, I lived in Piedmont, California, with my parents (Jeff and Tracy), my younger siblings (Sarah and Jason), and my Ridgeback pup. Growing up on a steady diet of interpersonal connection, classic rock, spiritual development, sports galore, friendly competition, and home-cooked meals served with love, I was given the foundational support I needed by my loving family while provided the freedom to make sense of the world on my own. With music and sports fueling my passions, my walk with God framing my perspective, and an ambitious appetite for knowledge rounding out the rest, I learned to be thoughtful, self regulating, and hard working with “A Little Help From My Friends” (but mostly my parents).
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We’re Going To Be Friends
(White Stripes, 2001)
Because I have lived in a small town for the vast majority of my life, the friendships that I have are built to last lifetimes. Literally – I have known my best friend for the duration of my life. I cannot express how grateful I am to have grown up with the same group of guys over the years. Through hours of sports practices, pick up games, shenanigans, highlights, lowlights, lunch traditions, mistakes, shared struggles, and straight up buffoonery at times, we have created a bond that will never be severed. And, as life-giving it has been to have a core group of people I have grown up with, it has been equally as important for me to build lifelong connections out of new friendships whether at camp, the fraternity house, or the residence hall. Through establishing connection, support systems, and memories, my friends have helped me to find so much meaning in my life – I do not know where I’d be without them!
Long Distance Runaround
(Yes, 1972)
As early as I can remember, sports have been a huge part of my life – as soon as I could walk, I was running, as soon as I could read I was memorizing baseball card statistics, and as soon as I learned basic rhetorical strategies I was debating sports topics. In fact, throughout all of elementary school, my entire conceptualization of the term “fun” was rooted in physical activity. And, though I have learned to have fun in a variety of ways that have nothing to do with sports, being physically active remains an incredibly important part of my life.
At the end of the high school soccer season my freshman year, I abandoned my initial plan to play tennis, opting to give track a try in a spur of the moment decision. While the start of the season was slow, my entire attitude towards running was forever changed after my first trail run. Though the run began just as any other training run I had been on, the ending was magical. As I chased my speeding teammate down the winding trail (who had just launched into what I now affectionately know as a “surprise tempo”), everything melted away, leaving me focused solely on the rhythmic drawing of my breath, the soft pattering of my feet against the padded dirt floor, and the flashing column of trees zooming behind me – all I was thinking about was running. From that moment on, I was completely hooked. As I had experienced that day, running for me has become a mental reset button, a meditative practice that grounds me by living purely in the moment Even though I no longer train at the same capacity as I did in high school, the state of profound being I find through running will continue to help me establish emotional balance in my life.
(Also, note how glamorous the last leg of a sub 2 minute 800 meter race looks, as depicted by me in the bottom right)
Going to California
(Led Zeppelin, 1971)
After graduating high school last June, I packed up my things and headed off to college …. fifteen minutes down the road at UC Berkeley! Growing up, I was practically weaned off of Cal football, and developed a very naïve expectation that I was without a doubt going to study at Berkeley. In fact, I was so convinced that I would eventually be a Cal student that I emphatically declared in my fifth grade yearbook that after high school, “I’m going to go to Cal (but everyone knows that)”. Looking back, I think this boastful remark was mostly a reference to my rampant Cal fanaticism and my insistence on perpetually donning my decrepit and decaying Cal hat. Nevertheless, quite a statement for a fifth grader to be making!
Even though I apparently took it for granted that I would be attending UC Berkeley, being a Cal student has been a surreal experience. In only two semesters, I have already explored academic fields and topics that I previously could not have imagined diving into, including data science, a history of prisons and mass incarceration, and a comprehensive analysis of the biology of human variation. While it is tempting for me to try a little of everything, I plan to major in cognitive science, an interdisciplinary blend of psychology, neuroscience, and the study of consciousness. And, though I have no clue what aspect of CogSci I plan to pursue, the prospect of researching the influence of educational systems on childhood development seems to be incredibly interesting at the moment. But then again, anything to do with the way the mind works happens to be incredibly interesting at the moments. Fortunately, I have three more years (and then some) to figure it all out.
Band on the Run
(Paul McCartney, 1990)
If you can’t tell, I am a huge music nerd. Huge. And it’s mostly thanks to my parents, who flooded my ears with classic rock from the minute I was born. By the age of three, I was singing along to Jeff Buckley; by fourth grade, I had a full on Beatles haircut; by middle school, I was deeply in love with everything Led Zeppelin. And though I absolutely loved listening to music throughout my life, it wasn’t until I took an a cappella class in high school that I became involved with making music. At first, I was incredibly hesitant to try singing. But, as soon as the class started, my zeal for music was born anew. Not only did I have a newfound pathway for emotional expression, I began to enjoy styles of music I never would have considered listening to before. And, with some very basic music theory training and a Whole Lotta Love (for Zeppelin, John Paul Jones’s bass grooves, music in general, etc.), I began teaching myself how to play bass. What started as an uncertain attempt to fulfill my high school arts requirement has blossomed into a passion, building from my preexisting love for classic rock. Though I’ve only been playing bass for a handful of years, I’ve already come across some interesting opportunities with my newly formed band. Who knows what will happen with that, but it a gift to be able to make and appreciate music!
Ramble On
(Led Zeppelin, 1970)
How could I make a tracklist and not include my favorite song of all time? And there is still so much about myself I want to share with you… so in the words of Robert Plant, “I guess I’ll keep on rambling”!
Some things have not yet talked about but still love:
- Hiking – whether in the mountains, the coast, or the east-bay hills. (Ask me about that one time I climbed Cloud’s Rest, as captured in one of the photos below)
- Science fiction, especially Dune by Frank Herbert
- Statistical Journalism – go check out the website fivethirtyeight if you don’t know what I am talking about!
- Food – eating it, preparing it, talking about it, sharing it, growing it
- Settlers of Catan – the greatest board game ever invented
- Looking out at the Golden Gate Bridge from the base of the Camponile in Berkeley
- Driving along the California coastline
- The Greek Theatre
- Pondering my purpose in life
Golden Slumber / Carry That Weight / The End
(The Beatles, 1969)
Well, that’s all I got for ya! Can’t wait to meet you all!
Debbie
Welcome to the Alphabet of Debbie the Great!! Here you will learn your ABCs along with some fun facts about moi! Enjoy!!
A is for Adrenaline
I have dabbled in my fair share of extreme activities over the years, enjoying the world’s largest bridge bungee jump in South Africa, a skydive in local Sacramento, a helicopter ride in Australia and some crazy long ziplines in Costa Rica.
B is for Boots
Not the pretty, high heeled type, but the sturdy hiking type! I LOVE to hike. I can walk for miles and do most of my big thinking and life planning while walking around. I am a firm believer that everything feels better after a good walk (except your blisters)! I currently own 6 pairs of hiking boots/shoes! I love to hike to places with a vista, so I can look down on a view. My favorite thing to do is to find a trail and follow it to see where it leads. I recently just completed the 19 km Tongariro Alpine crossing in New Zealand in -7C weather and 70km winds.
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C is for Camp!
Camp Augusta has been my life for the best part of 6 years. This summer will be my 7th, and this winter marked my 4th year as a year round staff member. I am usually one of the elves emailing parents about summer camp and family camp and so know most of you by name already. Don’t be freaked out if, after telling me your first name, I can tell you your last name and the names of all your family. Try me! While at camp I can be found in the office, goofing off in the dining area, singing songs in the campfire circle or in a harness in a tree somewhere.
D is for Donuts
Ok, I have to confess, I have the sweetest tooth of anyone I have ever met! I love to eat sweet things and seem to have no limit to the amount of chocolate I can eat. Donuts in particular are a favorite of mine :P.
E is for England
My home country! I grew on the outskirts of a large industrial city called Birmingham which is pretty much in the middle of England. Known for its coal, steel and glass work, though I appreciate where I live for its job creation and creativity, I much prefer the fresh air and rolling hills of the country side. Fun fact about my home town: we built the anchor for the Titanic and hey, there was nothing wrong with that anchor!
F is for First Aid
I volunteered for 3 years as a first responder getting to attend big events such as Wimbledon (where I met the Queen and Andy Murray), the London Marathon (where I technically ran a quarter mile of it in order to get to a patient) and the Six Nations Rugby Union Championship. Though I no longer have the time to volunteer here, my training has never left me and I still love a good injury to bandage up. You could say I am the right person to have around in an emergency :).
G is for Games
One of my favorite things to do with friends to have a games night. Board games, word games you name it! Though I am pretty terrible at most games I play and tend to lose, I still love the participation 😀
H is for Hopes
My hope is to one day be able to lead some wilderness therapy weekends with children in my home country. Though this stuff is out there, in the UK it has not yet become popular. One day, I hope to be a part of a program that helps change children’s lives in my home country.
I is for Indian Food
Or food in general. I love a good, hearty meal and Indian food is my favorite. My town does some of the best Indian food in the country and I used to live within walking distance of 8 different Indian restaurants mm mmmm.
J is for Junior Counselors (JCs)
One role I have at camp is that of the JC Mentor. I work with our 17 and 18 year old potential counselors providing support and feedback to help them grow and improve in order to become strong counselors in future years. This program is one of my key passions at Camp Augusta and I find an incredible amount of joy seeing JCs become capable counselors.
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K is for Knitting
Like my mother, I love to knit. I love to knit hats and gloves mostly so if you need to keep warm this summer, let me know ;).
L is for Lord of the Rings
My one true love in life and only obsession. I adore the world of Middle Earth and secretly curse the universe that I wasn’t born a hobbit. This year, I lived my childhood dream by visiting New Zealand and seeing many of the filming locations including the famous Hobbiton :D.
M is for Movies
Sitting in the movies and watching a good film is also something I find a lot of joy in. I mostly enjoy fantasy type movies where I can appreciate the creation of whole new worlds. I also love a good tear jerker.
N is for Nephews
I have two nephews whom I love with all my heart. One is 2 years old and his brother is 3. Most my spare time at home is spent playing with them and, sorry parents, but they are the two people I miss the most each summer.
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O is for Outdoors
Despite growing up in the UKs second largest city, I love being outdoors surrounded by nature. I love the smell of pine trees in the rain, the feel of sun on my skin and sleeping under the stars. I am a firm believer that the outdoors is the best medicine for the human soul and since living and working at Camp Augusta, I get my perfect dose of the outdoors. Along with hiking, I also love to camp, having camped in pouring rain, high winds, snow and freezing temperatures over the years – none of which were ever planned for :P…
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P is for Puns
Know any good ones? If so, lay them on me! Having a father who practically invented the phrase ‘dad jokes’, no pun is too cheesy or too lame to crack a smile or a laugh out of me! My brother and I frequently have pun-wars where you can only say something if there is a pun in there somewhere. I am a huge lover of puns!
Q is for Quigleys!
The Quigley family is quite unique, we are a huge family, with both my parents being one of 5 children (giving me 10 aunts, 10 uncles, around 30 cousins and 15 2nd cousins so far) and with me also being one of 5 children, our family gatherings are really something to behold. I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers and I am bang smack in the middle of that. We all grew up in a small house together with all 7 of us sharing just one bathroom! My two sisters and I shared a bedroom until I was 18 when I went to University. Despite growing up on top of each other, we are still very close now, all living within a 30 minute drive of one another (except, of course, when I am at camp which is a little longer than 30 minutes away…). People say we all look alike, but I can’t see it – can you?
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R is for Reading
I LOVE to read. I worked in a bookstore for 3 years and loved it there! The smell and feel of a book excites me so much. Despite my love for books, my bookshelf is small. I don’t believe in keeping books unless you are certain you will read them again – books are for reading, not for keeping on a shelf. I usually hand off my books to friends, family or book swaps once I am done so more may experience the joy of the read. Some books I do keep however, in fact I own two copies of Shakespeare’s full works :D.
S is for Scared…
I am terrified of spiders! I am very uncomfortable if I am in the dark alone and cucumber really creeps me out.
T is for Travel
I have been trotting around the globe now for almost 7 years, never being in any place longer than 6 months at a time. I have ridden elephants in South Africa, road tripped to over 25 States of America, climbed volcanoes in Costa Rica, gotten lost in Venice, spent 5 days at the Dutch festival of Carnival, snorkelled the great barrier reef, and marvelled at the beauty of the mountains in New Zealand. In the last 7 years, I have taken over 80 flights around the world! I just came back from a trip in Australia and New Zealand where I spent three months backpacking. To date, this last trip down under has been my absolute favorite. Places I want to still see are Peru, Brazil, Canada, Thailand and Indonesia.
U is for University
Many years ago, I studied Drama at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and I LOVED it there. Mainly studying Shakespeare (hence the two copies of his works that I own) and stage management, I finished my degree with memories that will last a lifetime and an honors of the highest grade. Wales will always hold a huge part of my heart.
W is for Water
I am a terrible swimmer! Seriously! When I swim in the lake I usually request my own personal lifeguard because I get so convinced I will drown. Despite the picture above (of which, it took about half an hour of coaxing to get into the water despite the fact I was wearing a life jacket!), water parks are my nightmare and while I love the beach, it is the ‘beach’ part never the ‘sea’ section that you will find me on.
X is for X-ray
Fun fact – I have never broken a bone! Well, except my nose which has been broken twice now, once in a scuffle with my sister as kids and the second time at camp while climbing a tree – I dropped a piece of gear on my face about 30 feet into a climb – needless to say, I never look directly up when I have gear in my hands now :D.
Y is for Years
I am 27 years young and will be celebrating my 7th birthday at camp this summer during Session 5!!
Z is for ZIPLINE!
You can usually find me in the trees at camp, zipping above you. I officially hold the title for most High Zips ever done and was one of the first people trained on our new Canopy Zip tour. Come and join me up in the trees this summer – I’ll see you up there! ‘Climb on!’
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Hansel
HANSEL
A New Musical in Two Acts
-Act 1-
Scene 1 ∙ Tempe, Arizona ∙18 December 1984
Matthew ‘Hansel’ Helmers is born. During his early years he goes to elementary school, loves dinosaurs and has a desire to become the world’s first singing palaeontologist.
Song ∙ “Did Dinosaurs Sing?”
Performed by Young Hansel and Company
Hansel quickly discovers that the life of a palaeontologist does not necessarily involve much singing, nor is it like the book Jurassic Park. However, he discovers that the book Jurassic Park is a LOT like the book Jurassic Park; and so his love affair with the written word is born.
Scene 2 ∙ Corona del Sol High School Library ∙ 2003
Song- “Chaucer, Shakespeare, Cervantes and Stephen King!”
Performed by– Hansel and the Librarian
Hansel continues to pursue his love of English, though also finding much joy in history, philosophy and even biology. At the end of senior year Hansel applies to Arizona State University for a degree in English Literature. He’s accepted, and the next Fall moves out of his house, saying good-bye to his Mom, Dad, Sister and two cats…and moves 15 minutes up the road!
Song ∙ “I’m Moving Out, but Will be Home on the Weekends!”
Performed by Hansel and Family
Scene 3 ∙ Manchester, England ∙ 2007
Hansel, having completed his undergraduate degree, develops a love for rock-climbing, learns fire-dart, hones his Improv comedy skills with the Barren Mind Improv, defends a Thesis on English teaching, and begins a love-affair with deep-dish pepperoni pizza. He decides to get his Masters degree (in English…not singing palaeontology) in Manchester, England and so packs up his life and flies across the ocean.
Song- “Why Does It Take 17 Hours to Fly to England?!!!”
Performed by- Hansel, the Flight Attendant Kick-line, and the Passengers
In less than a year, Hansel learns to love never seeing the sun, working 12 hours a day, continual typing, drinking his weight in tea, and a dish called Bubbles n’ Squeak. Maintaining his sanity becomes a challenge, but with a positive attitude, and remembering how much he loves English Literature, he excels and earns his Masters. (Plus, who wants to be sane?! Booorrrriinnnggg).
Act 1 Finale ∙ “You Never See the Sun, but the People are always Sunny!
Performed by Hansel, the University of Manchester, and 61 Million UK residents
-Act 2-
Scene 1 ∙ Camp Augusta, Nevada City ∙ 2007
Song- “On a Lake Called Vera”
Performed by- Hansel and all of Camp Augusta 2007
We go back to before Hansel received his Masters degree to learn the story of his first summer at Camp. As the bright-eyed and adventurous counsellor of Cedar 3, Hansel has absolutely no idea what is in store for him. Soon enough, throwing knives, fire-spinning, acting, singing, dancing, special-wake-ups, philosophic evening embers, Pop-up Story Book, CAPTURE THE FLAG, Gypsy Falls and overnights to Sunset Point weave into his life a tapestry of joy, surprise, wonder, and happiness.
Song ∙ “Cedar 3 Set Things on Fire…and that’s just fine by me”
Performed by Hansel, Cedar 3 and the Nevada City Fire Department
At the end of the summer, Hansel flies from Sacramento, through Tempe, back to Manchester to start his Masters degree. But he’s got his wood cookie, and memories to last a lifetime.
Scene 2 ∙ Camp Augusta, Nevada City ∙ 2009
Song- “The Cat (and Hansel) Came Back”
Performed by – Hansel and Camp Augusta…with a didgeridoo solo by Randy
Hansel missed Camp Augusta 2008. Missed it emotionally, and missed it as in he wasn’t there because he had to stay in England and write-up his Masters Dissertation. But in 2009, Hansel returned as the Cedar Village Leader, ready to make the summer even more magical than the ones he remembered. He arrives at Camp, moves into Pine 6 (and makes a HUGE sign) and his life fills with remembered faces, new friends, and new adventures (including many a run-in with meat bees). He loves everything about Cedar Village and is passionate about all the amazing Camp Augusta Pride Projects, the brand-new Boy’s Campfire, and of course, getting to chill in the grotto with all the campers!
Instrumental Interlude
Hansel and the Cedar Village Campers
playing guitars, singing, banging on the junkyard drum kit, and just generally yelling very loudly
Scene 3 ∙ Manchester, England ∙April 2010
Hansel, seated in the Ph.D. study room at the University of Manchester, is frantically tying to finish his most recent chapter on the appropriation of Greek Mythology within Psychoanalytic Theory. But he can’t stop looking out the window, because finally, in England, the sun has come out. Everywhere people are in shorts and t-shirts, leaving their winter coats at home. The smell of summer is in the air, and for Hansel that means the distant call of Camp Augusta fills every moment of his day. He’s sitting here thinking about what will happen this summer when he returns to Camp for his 3rd year and his 2nd stint as Cedar Village Leader. What cabin activities are going to happen? What are the new Evening Programs? What are the new clinics and new songs? Will he get better at his archery skills this summer? Will he finally learn how to paper marble? What campers are returning? And what new friends will he make?! Concentrating on the pages of his dissertation become ever more difficult until he finally snaps, stands-up on his desk and begins singing at the top of his voice…
Song ∙ “On a Lake Called Vera”
Performed by just Hansel…for now
Scene 4 ∙ Camp Augusta, Nevada City ∙ Summer 2010
The two big yellow busses come around the corner. Everyone is singing, and the excitement in the air is palpable. Hansel is yelling and waving the Cedar sign. The other Cedar counsellors are dressed in outrageous costumes and dancing and singing as loud as they can. Cars pull up, doors fly open and campers rush out. Finally, the bus doors open and all of the campers arrive to the loudest, most exciting, most magical, most wonderful summer Camp Augusta has ever produced.
Finale ∙ “It’s Only the Beginning”
Performed by ∙ Camp Augusta 2010
