Hey there!  

Family Camp is underway and the first Chapel of the summer was just finished.

This is our biggest family camp in years - lots of people who are returnee's and lots of new families as well.  It is great to have everyone back.

The weather looks like it will hold out all weekend.  I'm off to do the adult activities - archery right now.

Still space to sign up your children for summer camp!

Dreaming of Camp/Loving Camp!

Joe

 Thank you to everyone who came and helped to make this past weekend the most amazing 50th anniversary celebration.

Seeing so many faces from the past at Pearce Williams was great.

A big thank you to the planning Committee - Meaghan Wheeler, Tara McCready, Tricia Van Gorp, Deb Graham and Kristie Jones.  A big thank you as well to all of the past Directors who came out to help with Worship and the weekend - Murray Barnett, Don Macpherson and Maya Landell.

A big thank you to all.

 I'm not sure that I've shared the news  on the blog about the Family Camp Project.

Last summer we applied for a grant to run a free family camp for local families who are living in poverty - who could use the time away from their everyday life to relax and enjoy time at camp.  We ended up getting 1/3 of the money requested - but in the end ran the Family Camp Project in 2009 on a small scale with three families.  It was a great experience and so I thought we should do this again.

In 2010 Pearce Williams applied to the Westminster College Foundation for funding for the Family Camp Project 2010. We recently discovered that the Westminster College Foundation approved funding for the Family Camp Project 2010.  Our hope is to serve 60 participants for this years Family Camp Project. 

Pearce Williams has teamed up with the local St. Thomas-Elgin Ontario Works office for selecting the families.  Badder Bus has agreed to provide transportation for those families in need.  The Elgin Respite Network just approved additional staff funding for 5 families.  It is a great experience working with all of the local organizations to bring the Family Camp Project 2010 to Elgin/St. Thomas and help families in need.

We hope that we can find funding for this service every year at Pearce Williams.

Dreaming of Camp (almost here!),

Joe

 June is here and the school groups are now coming strong. 

Every weekday in June is booked with a school group - either day trip or overnight.  This is amazing - busy for all the staff - but great that so many children will get a chance to have the "Pearce Williams" experience.

Plans are all set for the Reunion on June 18, 19 and 20th - we hope to see you out at camp.  It is great that old staff can return to help.  A big thank you to all on the organizing committee.

Camp is almost here!

Joe