1 May

High School Volunteer Program at Fraser a win-win

Posted by TheFraserExperience in Camp program, Leadership, The Value of Camp. Tagged: , , .

After a successful first year, we believe that the Volunteer Program at Fraser is just such a program.  By formalizing our process and intentionally building into our campers, we believe the Volunteer Program is an great way for high school students to get a) transferrable job skills, b) leadership training, and c) well over their 40 required volunteer hours.

On the flip side, the camp wins as well.  Necessary jobs around camp are getting done quickly and efficiently, and it gives us an opportunity to see potential future staff onsite and on the job.  This year, 5 participants from the Volunteer Program in 2011 have applied to be part of our Counsellor In Training program.

Do you know a high school student who is hard working, loves camp, has a positive attitude, needs volunteer hours for high school, and is looking for a something new and challenging?

30 Apr

Creativity

Posted by TheFraserExperience in Leadership, The Value of Camp. Tagged: , .

Creativity is just connecting things.  When you ask a creative person how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it; they just saw something.  It seemed obvious to them after a while.  That’s because they are able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesized new things.

~ Steve Jobs

27 Apr

Do words matter?

Posted by TheFraserExperience in Leadership. Tagged: , .

While it probably seemed like a good idea to advertise the availability of New and Used antiques, a quick moment of thought should have been taken here.  Sure, you can acquire an antique that is new to you, but by definition, a new antique would be quite the feat.

Words matter.  Take a moment – whether you’re crafting store signs, emails, formal letters…even tweets – and get them right.  It’ll save us all a lot of confusion!

27 Apr

15th Annual Fundraiser – Friday, May 11th, 7 pm

Posted by TheFraserExperience in Camp program, Community. Tagged: , , .

The details for the annual fundraiser are being finalized!  A new format for the evening is being tried out, as we look to put on an Art’s Night theme.  The focal points of the evening will be a One Act play performed by Theatre of the Beat members Kimberlee Walker and Rebecca Steiner.  Also, Jazz/gospel/Latin artist Cassandra Sommers will also be performing.

For tickets to the event ($25) you can contact the Nineteen on the Park box office:

www.nineteenonthepark.ca/fraserlake

or

905-640-2322

19 Apr

Earth Day “Re-purposing” Indoor Yard Sale at Willowgrove: Sat April 28

Posted by TheFraserExperience in Community, Social Consciousness. Tagged: , .

One of the best ways for all of us to take care of the Earth and our environment is to follow an old Mennonite axiom:

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without

So in the spirit of ‘use it up’ and ‘make it do’, Willowgrove is hosting a giant, multi-family, INDOOR  yard sale on Saturday, April 28.  A wide variety of items will be on sale, from antique furniture, to restaurant equipment, to office furniture, to housewares, to collectables, and more.

You can participate in three ways!

1.  Come browse and buy

2. Donate items to be sold.  Drop off at Willowgrove by 7 pm Friday.  Proceeds will go to Wilowgrove.

3. Man your own table and sell your own items for $10.

Hope to see you there!

29 Feb

Once Every Four Years…

Posted by TheFraserExperience in Leadership, Social Consciousness. Tagged: , , , .

A good challenge, an easy call to action (from a blogger much more famous than we’ll ever be!)

Leap year meditation

Once in four years, just once, perhaps we could:

Forgive, forget, relax, care, stand out, speak up, contribute, embrace, create, make a ruckus, give credit, skip, smile, speak truth and refuse to compromise–more than we usually do. Pick just one or two and start there.

Hey, it’s just one day.

Careful, though, it might become a habit

~ Seth Godin

 

There you go!  Like he says, pick one (or come up with your own) and start there.

Happy Leap Year Day!

8 Feb

Are you getting the most for one gallon?

Posted by TheFraserExperience in Leadership, Social Consciousness. Tagged: , .

Ever remember seeing a stat that you just couldn’t believe?

A Big 3 company recently began a campaign boasting how their truck has the best mileage in its class.  A remarkable 32 miles to the gallon! (or there abouts).  Apparently that’s pretty good for a truck.

Now, if I asked you what the best fuel milage for a car is, what would you guess?

70…80…maybe around a 100 mpg for some out-there-specialty-bicycle-wheeled contraption?

Would you have a hard time believing 800?  Crazy thing is, that’s not even close.

Here’s an ad from Shell, the giant oil company, talking about how they participate in researching fuel efficient cars.  This little number clocks in at a mere 8,870 miles to the gallon (or, a mere 14,100 km’s for us non-imperialists).  Not two, three or four times better than the best current option – but a 100x better!

How far is 14,000 km?  It is the equivalent of driving the circumference of the continent of Australia, staying as close to the shoreline as you can.  On. One. Gallon.  Not sure there’s a a ton of trunk space or a kickin’ stereo included, but if that kind of efficiency is possible, it does give hope that one day, soon, vehicles with much much higher efficiency ratings will become commonplace.

 

Here’s the trick – you may not be looking for fuel efficiency in your life, but how about getting better with your time efficiency?  How you spend?  How you lead others?  Perhaps you’re setting the bar too low.  You’re trying to figure out where in your life you can attain twice the productivity / efficiency / advancement that you currently have, when much, much more is possible.

19 Jan

2012 Registration Now Open

Posted by TheFraserExperience in Camp program. Tagged: .

Registrations for 2012 have begun.

Session Dates, leadership program applications and links to online registration can be found here.

 

Price increases are being held off until January 31st, so register today!

16 Jan

Influence that crosses borders – Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr

Posted by TheFraserExperience in Community, Leadership, Social Consciousness. Tagged: , , , , .

Dr. King's words and actions pointed forwards to a better reality

While we don’t officially celebrate this day the same way our southern neighbours do, we would be remiss to let this day pass without remembering the legacy of this great man.  Truly a person who’s influence transcended national borders and who’s legacy has impacted millions upon millions.

Three fantastic and timeless quotes from Dr. King:

“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.”

 

“On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, “Is it safe?” Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?” And Vanity comes along and asks the question, “Is it popular?” But Conscience asks the question “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right.”

 

“We must rapidly begin the shift from a “thing-oriented” society to a “person-oriented” society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

13 Jan

A leader should be an entrepreneur

Posted by TheFraserExperience in Leadership. Tagged: , , , , .

Pursing opportunity puts you ahead of the crowd

What do you think of when you hear the word entrepreneur?  Often ‘risky’, ‘outgoing’, ‘creative’ and other such desriptions come to mind.

But here’s how Harvard Business School professor Howard Stevenson described it:

“Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled“

Pursuing opportunities without having all the ducks in a row, the full picture, or even enough capital… It is an excercise in recognizing potential, or ‘what could be’ and deciding it is worth going after even though it is not currently possible.

 

Isn’t that also what a leader should be doing?  Recognizing that ‘what is’ isn’t good enough and taking others towards ‘what can be’ even if the resources needed are currently not in hand?  It’s not a desire for risk, but an understanding that it would  be riskier to hold to the status quo.

In what area of your life – work or home – right now can you see opportunity... but have not pursued because of a lack of resources?  Entrepreneurs, and leaders, pursue anyways.

Go ahead!  We’re counting on you to take us there!

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