"My Special Place"

There’s only one place that can make my heart skip a beat, one place that can bring me to tears, and only one place that can possess so much meaning and yet be something so simple - camp.

Outside the sprawling city of Sudbury lies a small piece of land that holds big dreams. Driving down the narrow road that leads to my favourite place is like the beginning of a new journey. I see the field with all the murals standing tall on their posts displaying so much history. Just a bit ahead, I see the dusty red Caboose, the small train car that is the headquarters for all things ‘tripping’ where you are told to ‘abandon all hope’. If you walk past the signpost that lies in the centre of camp and go by the staff tents all lined up with no entry to campers and then scramble up the steep rocks, you come to my special place within camp.

On top of the rock the air is crisp and the wind blows the beautiful smell of the cool lake water and the swaying trees into your face. It sends shivers all through your body making the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. When everything becomes too crazy, standing up here makes me see how everything is so small and it’s really nothing to worry about. I could sit there for hours watching boats go by on the water or picking blueberries that grow in small bushes all over the rock. Here I am nowhere near my crazy city life. I am surrounded by nature, so peaceful and so serene.

On the last night of camp we all make the uneasy trip of climbing up just to spend a few hours soaking in the last bit of darkness before the sun comes up. Everything is quiet and the world seems calm. The only sounds are the birds and the animals all around not bothering to disturb us. Even in the darkness everything is beautiful. Looking down on the camp from above is a view that is ever engraved into my mind. Up here I can see the entire place where I have grown and found myself. On the way up, written on the rocks are the names of all the incredible staff going back to the 60’s when it all first started. Off to the side in an inconvenient place is my mother’s name. It is where I hope to one day paint my name after being staff for 4 years or maybe more, right on top of my special place.

Every time I’m up there, regardless of who I’m with, I always take a second to breathe very deeply and look out onto our little piece of land outside of the sprawling city of Sudbury that has made all my dreams come true.

- Marissa Kachuck, Post 2012

Six Weeks.

Six weeks consists of 42 days. That’s 1,008 hours. Or 60,480 minutes. 3,628,800 seconds - give or take a few. No matter how big the numbers get as you begin to consider six weeks in terms of small measurements of time, six weeks will always be too short, and go by too fast.

Six weeks ago our summer was just finishing, we were back in Toronto. We were sitting alone in our rooms, wondering how once again we were going to make it through the next ten months of our year. As solelimnicks, we stumble absentmindedly through home, school, and all the in between. We live ten months just to make it to those six weeks of camp.

As I sit here in my room, I am contemplating the notion of time. It has been six weeks since we got off the buses sad and scared of what the months to come would have in store for us. Terrified because we had just left our little bubble of safety, our heaven. We had spent six weeks forgetting what the real world was like, how to act in it, and now we were thrust back into it, attempting to adjust as though we had stepped out of the darkness into the bright light. We had gotten used to those little nuances that are Camp Solelim. We forgot what it was like to be alone. We never once had to shower by ourselves. A simple boring part of personal hygiene at home becomes a time filled with singing and talking at camp. We slept bed touching bed with some of our best friends. If we woke up in the middle of the night, we had but to simply roll over and find that there was no reason to be afraid, that a friend was there for you if you needed them. It was completely acceptable to wear pajama pants in public every day if you felt that’s what you wanted. Showing up at breakfast when you still hadn’t brushed your hair or your teeth didn’t make you any different from at least half the table you chose to sit with.

It has been six weeks since I can remember watching the sunrise for the first time in my four years at Solelim. Since stepping off the buses and watching everyone disperse as slowly as possible to find their parents, or as fast as they could for that shoulder to cry on. Six weeks since we loaded up the car with our trunks, drawers and duffels, bringing them home to be emptied. Camp sheets and towels packed back into the trunk that would not move from its spot in the basement for another ten months. Drawers filled with those netted laundry bags, the shoes I knew I wouldn’t wear until camp, my dry sack, and a couple of power-bars. My paddle has been hung up in its holder on the wall. From my bed, I can faintly see the scratches that I know most of which came from Killarney this past summer. My Iton is on the shelf with all the others I have from my camping career. The songs of the summer have been downloaded, played, and replayed on my iTunes and my iPod. My bracelets have slowly but surely been removed one at a time from my wrists, but a few still hang on. Any colour I might have had is fading, and freckles are beginning to disappear from their place on my skin.

Six weeks goes by fast, and a lot happens in such a short amount of time. Six weeks from now the weather will have changed. The temperature will be considerably lower than it is right now. The trees will be almost, if not completely through their process of shedding their leaves. Summer will truly be just a distant memory. But hey, there are only six-and-a-half more six week periods until camp… 

Medium Canoe Trip

The participants of the Medium Canoe Trip of 2012 had an amazing time! From July 15th-17th, 11 campers and 4 staff spent three days and two nights of their precious summer break away from the camp they call home. On the morning of July 15th we packed our bags, and boarded a bus headed out of Sudbury. After a very bumpy ride, we arrived in Killarney Provincial Park, stunned by the majestic beauty of the park's lakes and mountains. We loaded up our canoes, and headed into the wilderness.

Over the next three days, we had the time of our lives. From crystal-clear lakes, to setting up tents, to back-breaking (but fun) portages, every moment spent on the canoe trip was one to remember. Although we were prohibited from making campfires, our group still managed to bond well together. All in all, everybody on the trip had a fantastic time, and both campers and staff had an experience they will never forget.

Looking forward to another great time next year!

Jacob Brown, Rookie 2012

July 16: Jets Vs. Panthers

Today during menucha, two rivals, the Carolina Panthers and the reigning SFL champions, the New York Jets faced off in an exciting game. Although the score was four to nothing in the Panthers favor, the game was still worthwhile. First of all, the rivalry between these two teams is steadily growing. Past outcomes have increased the importance of this game. Additionally, there were very key moments during the game that ultimately forced the final score. To add on, there were key players that drastically affected the outcome of the game. No matter the final score, this game was definitely a great one.

            This budding rivalry has roots going all the way back to the 2009 SFL season. In that year, the Carolina Panthers reigned supreme over the SFL as champions. However, last year, the New York Jets, led by active co-coaches Josh ‘Ziggy’ Zigler and Kyle Ungerman took the title of SFL champs. The speculation behind this game is enormous. Both teams felt like they had something to prove to the rest of the league. Panthers co-coach Jonathan Gottesman, a two-time SFL champion as a coach proclaimed “ It is good to have beat two great coaches and show that we can beat the defending champs”. He also declared that the two teams would meet again in the playoffs. Jets co-coach Josh ‘Ziggy’ Zigler agreed that there is a “Strong Possibility” that the two teams will play again. However, the Jet’s coach thinks that his team will be “Better prepared” for the ball game. Even though this is a regular season game, it means a lot to both teams and coaches.

            In every game, there are some key moments that ultimately change the fate of the game. In this game, there were a few crucial turning points that drastically affected how the game went. First, early in the game, the Jets were on the verge of scoring a touchdown and tying the game up at one. The Jets were a mere five yards from scoring, when they turned the ball over. Jets receiver Josh Aber caught the ball but was forced out of bounds only one yard short of the end zone. Additionally, the Panthers had two very key plays that gave them their victory. First, quarterback Jason Sacke threw a touchdown strike to receiver Josh Maker that gave them an early 1-0 lead. Shortly after, Jets quarterback Ethan Cohen threw his first interception of the game to Panthers defender Josh Maker (players can play offence and defense). This interception lead to the Panthers second touchdown. The Panthers never looked back from there. These plays proved to be the turning points in the game.

            In every game, the referees recruit a stat keeper. Obviously, their job is to record all of the major statistics during the game. In total, there were four touchdown passes thrown and two interceptions thrown. Panther’s receiver Josh Maker caught two touchdown passes along with his fellow teammates, Zach Brill and Ben Rabvogal each catching one touchdown pass. Panther’s defender Sam Baranek intercepted one of Jet’s quarterback Ethan Cohen’s passes as well as his teammate Josh Maker. Of course, everyone played great, but in each game there is also a player of the game. This player not only plays well statistically, but also takes on a leadership role and has great sportsmanship. This game’s P.O.G. (Player Of Game) was Panther’s quarterback Jason Sacke. Jason threw four touchdown passes and made key flag pulls on defense. This game was very full of statistics, sportsmanship and leadership.

            In all, this was a very fun game to watch as well as to play. Both teams played great and had a lot of fun doing it! Now that this game is over, the SFL can leap into week four! The season is young and very promising! The schedule is not yet revealed but we are in for another round of great games! Come back next time for another article on the next game being played. As Jets co-coach Josh ‘Ziggy’ Zigler exclaimed “The next time we face, it’s going to be a fight to the death!” Thanks for reading and look for our next article coming your way soon! Don’t forget, Visitors day is fast approaching, see you there!

By: Jesse Burrows, Solelim Sports Journalist, Rookie

The Solelim Cup

Fire – Bravery

Jackie Robinson, Mordecai Anielewicz, Aaron Ralston

The first team in the Solelim Cup is hotter than hot, and has the power to consume everything around it. The ancient Greeks say that Fire was stolen from the Gods and given to man by the great Prometheus. Fire has always been an important part of all cultures and religions and was vital to the development of civilization.

            Fire has provided a means for communication, and an ability to signal warning. Furthermore, just as darkness is a symbol for evil and emptiness, the ability of fire to illuminate its surroundings is a symbol for passion and bravery. Fire, and the bravery that it represents, allows people to better themselves. Just as Prometheus took a risk to better humankind when he stole fire from the Gods, so too does risk taking and bravery allow human society to progress. It is the bravery within each and every one of us that allows us to achieve greatness.

Three Champions of Fire:

Jackie Robinson:

The first player to break the colour barrier in Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson was much more than just an athlete. Robinson was a leader and symbol for the Black Civil Rights movement in the United States. On and off the field he received death threats and racial slurs, yet his bravery and the fire that burned within, allowed him to continue playing and end up in the hall of fame.

Mordecai Anielewicz:

The leader of the Warsaw ghetto uprising, Mordecai Anielewicz is a prime example of bravery. During the Holocaust Anielewicz lead an uprising against the powerful Nazi forces. With little supplies and ammunition, the Warsaw ghetto uprising was aimed at regaining the humanity and dignity of the Jewish people in Warsaw. It did much more than that, as it lasted for many weeks and sent shockwaves throughout Germany and Nazi occupied Europe.

Aaron Ralston:

Aaron Ralston was a normal man with a passion for adventure, who was thrust into a dire situation. Ralston was hiking in Blue John Canyon when he fell and had his arm stuck beneath a bolder. Ralston acted with the utmost bravery when he decided that in order to save his life, he would have to cut off his own arm. Ralston still lives today and is immortalized in the film 127 hours.

Water – Wisdom

Ghandi, Albert Einstein, Aristotle

The next team in the Solelim Cup represents a different type of power. Throughout the generations the wise have always risen to the top. Just as water is a necessity in all forms of life, so too is wisdom necessary for mankind. Our home planet and the human body are both comprised of at least 75% of water, and this only scratches the surface of water’s depth.

It is water, and nothing else, that provides shelter, safety and comfort from the blistering heat. Yet, water can also wreak havoc through tsunamis, flooding and other disasters. Water can be both fierce and graceful, and here in lies its innate power. Wise people understand the importance and power of water. Wisdom was the driving force behind the enlightenment, and continues to progress society forward today.

Three Champions of Water:

Gandhi:

The epitome of wisdom, Mahatma Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi was a man of the people and a pacifist, and through his incredible wisdom he was able to improve the lives of millions.

Albert Einstein:

A Jewish theoretical physicist, Einstein represents both the positive and destructive power that wisdom can have. Einstein is the father of modern physics and his theory of relativity led to both great discoveries for mankind but also to the destruction and havoc of the atomic bomb. Einstein provides a cautionary tale for what can happen when one man’s wisdom is in the wrong man’s hands.

Aristotle:

One of the most important figures in western philosophy, Aristotle is a true champion of wisdom. Also an ethicist, a mathematician, and a scientist, his works had a profound effect on the medieval period, the renaissance and still have a notable impact today. Wisdom, such as Aristotle’s, lives on forever.

Air – Strength

Achilles, King David, Terry Fox

            Since the beginning of time, strength has marked distinction between men. Air, like strength, can use brute force to alter its surroundings. Darwin wrote about the survival of the fittest, and strength is a core component of this concept. Air, a representation of strength, is often seen as a universal power or substance. Stemming from the Latin word spirare, the importance of air can be seen in words of fundamental importance such as aspire, inspire, and spirit. It is said that air is our life spirit, and that our soul passes through the gateway of air to the world to come.

Without air, and oxygen, man cannot survive. It is air, therefore that acts as the difference between life and death. Strength, like air, is a great power and those who have it should be feared.

Three Champions of Air:

Achilles:

A hero of the Trojan War, Achilles was arguably the greatest warrior of all time.  He was ruthless on the battlefield, and feared by common men and kings. The son of a god, Achilles epitomizes the power of brute strength.

King David:

The greatest military king in Jewish history, King David illustrates that strength is not simply a matter of size and that even the small can achieve greatness. The famous story of David vs. Goliath launched David to unparalleled heights. As a king he gained many lands, and was such a relentless conqueror that God himself would not allow David to build his temple.

Terry Fox:

A beacon of strength and determination Terry Fox was a victim of cancer. Yet, he did not give in to the terrible disease and even after losing a leg embarked on a journey that will forever be a part of the Canadian identity. With one leg amputated, Fox embarked on the run of hope – a run across Canada to raise money and awareness for Cancer. When his cancer spread, Fox had to end his journey at 143 days. Yet his strength never died, and Fox is a hero to Canadians everywhere and a symbol of mental strength.

Earth – Loyalty

Hannah Senesh, Mario Lemieux, Winston Churchill

            Last but certainly not least is the element beneath our very feat. Earth is a constant in life that can always be relied upon and represents the quality of loyalty. No matter how much the earth may shift, it always regains its form and characterizes sustainability and stability. Between people and in politics it is loyalty that provides the basis and trust for a relationship to flourish. Be it patriotism, sticking up for a friend, or standing beside a people through thick and thin loyalty is the building block of everything that grows between people. Just as earth is the building block of everything that grows on our planet.

            The earth is the one element that has witnessed all of history. From the earliest cavemen, to the ancient Greeks, to the enlightenment to modern times and everything in between the earth has been the single constant. Without earth there is no grounds for humanity, and without loyalty there is no grounds for human contact.

Three Champions of Earth:

Winston Churchill:

Regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20^th century Sir Winston Churchill led Britain during the Second World War. Eventually defeating Hitler and Nazism, Churchill had to stand strong and never waiver in his leadership as prime minister of England. He overcame great criticism and stood loyal to his country, his people and his ideology. Churchill is a symbol of loyalty in the darkest of times.

Mario Lemieux:

One of the greatest hockey players of all time, Lemieux is no stranger to adversity and temptation. As a member of the Pittsburg Penguins, Lemieux was forced into early retirement after being diagnosed with cancer. A strong individual, Lemieux overcame the terrible disease and would only return as a member of the Penguins. Throughout his career he could have received more money to play elsewhere but he decided his loyalty remained with the Penguins organization and their great fans. Lemiuex is an example of loyalty in modern times in the sporting world where it seems money, and not loyalty takes precedence.

Hannah Senesh:

Senesh was one of 37 Jews living in Palestine to serve as a member of the British army during World War two. A paratrooper, Senesh epitomized loyalty. She was captured near the Hungarian border by the Nazi troops. After being transferred to a Budapest prison, Hannah was repeatedly interrogated and cruelly tortured, but she refused to reveal any of her comrades’ names and refused to provide the much needed transmitter code. Even when her mother was arrested, and the Nazis threatened to kill her mother, Senesh stood strong behind her ideals and loyally to the British army and the Israeli cause. Senesh was eventually murdered by a firing squad, but never provided the information the Nazis need.