New Sign Welcomes Campers to Camp Tanadoona
December 3, 2009
Camp Tanadoona just got a little easier to find with a brand new sign that went up earlier this month. While the old camp sign had served us well for at least 25 years, it was made out of wood and despite the best treatment and care, it just couldn’t survive another tough Minnesota winter. The new sign was built to last from sturdy aluminum that is impervious to rain, snow and bugs.
The new sign is an emblem of where Camp Tanadoona is headed. Like Camp Tanadoona, the new sign has the authentic, rustic feel we all love, but it’s been a little updated and made more accessible. The new sign also matches the look of the camp brochure and other printed materials so that it will be immediately recognizable as being a part of Camp Tanadoona.
Funding for the new sign was provided by support from a generous donor.
Pictured with the new Camp Tanadoona sign are Facilities Manager Bill Donald and Outdoor Programs Director Sam Peterson, who both joined Camp Fire USA Minnesota Council this year.
Bill can be reached at 612-282-5989 and billd@campfireusa-mn.org
Sam can be reached at 952-474-8085 and samp@campfireusa-mn.org
In My Own Words:
Getting to Know Sam Peterson, Outdoor Programs Director
December 15, 2009
Sam Peterson recently joined Camp Fire USA Minnesota Council as the new Outdoor Programs Director. We caught up to him at his office at Camp Tanadoona to learn a little more about him.
1. Where were you before you came to Camp Tanadoona?
I spent the past 8 years living in Southwestern Virginia, in an area nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. I attended Radford University, where I received a degree in Recreation, Parks and Tourism with a concentration in Outdoor Recreation. After university, I spent four years at an outdoor adventure camp, Camp Roanoke.
2. What's your favorite season?
I enjoy spring the most. The so-called “rebirth” of the land when the trees turn green, the flowers bloom and the wildlife are abundant - it inspires me for the summer months. I will have to say, though, that nothing beats the fall colors displayed across ancient mountain ranges in the Appalachians.
3. How are you adjusting to our Minnesota winters?
I lived in New Hampshire until I was 12, so being back where there are snowy, cold winters is surprisingly nice so far. My dogs and I run 6 days a week, and we have yet to be kept inside because of the weather. I hear January and February can get much colder though, so I might have a different opinion by the end of the winter.
4. What are you most excited about for the coming summer?
I always look forward to meeting the campers and their families. We spend so much time planning and preparing for the summer. When all the smiles and laughter of the summer surround you, you are reminded of why you do what you do.
5. What's your favorite thing about summer camp?
I’m not sure I can pick just one! I can narrow it down to three though: the campers, the staff and mass amounts of FOOD! I love to eat.
6. What's your favorite camp activity?
The high ropes course would have to be one of my favorites. I used to be deathly afraid of heights, but I overcame that fear during my training as a ropes course facilitator. Now I can spend hours in the air, building and inspecting ropes courses or helping others to overcome their fears and take that first step out onto the ropes. It’s a lot of fun, plus it builds such confidence. A ropes course challenges us to step outside of our comfort zone and to learn that we can accomplish any goal. It is such a great learning tool.
7. If you could add one thing to Camp Tanadoona, what would it be?
The most rewarding experiences I have had in my outdoor journeys were when I was in the woods working with a group, either as a participant or as a facilitator. My goal for this summer and for future summers is to strengthen our Northwoods trips to Camp Bluewater in the Chippewa National Forest. Camp Bluewater is an amazingly beautiful place, and I want to share it with more campers and families. It is a place removed from the everyday cycle of life, and it’s a perfect setting for individuals and groups to grow and be inspired by the stillness of the forest and the ripples of the water.
