Greetings Flying Clouders, Families and Friends!
I would like to start by apologizing for the lapse in blog posts. I recognize it has been awhile since the last post and now that things are picking up it is time to start letting you all know about the preparations for Flying Cloud Summer 2011!
This summer is truly gearing up to be an incredible experience for all involved. As often happens with a director change, we have a number of staff members changing their roles and taking on new responsibilities. So without further ado, let me introduce to you the Support Staff (a.k.a. the “Funkies”) for this summer!
Stepping into a new position this summer, Tends the Grove will be filling the role of Assistant Director. Tends the Grove has been a part of F&W for quite some time now. As a former camper at both Saltash Mountain Camp and Tamarack Farm, Tends the Grove then made a shift to summer staff by starting as a cook at Timberlake in 2006. In 2007, he made the transition to Flying Cloud and has remained at FC in the subsequent years. He has spent three of the last four summers as our Food Coordinator. So, I would like to thank Tends the Grove for all his amazing summers on staff as Food Coordinator and welcome him into his new position!
Sun Panther Gives returns this summer as our Program Director and Trips Coordinator. Sun Panther Gives has been in this position with great success for the last four summers. I could not be more confident in his abilities and feel incredibly supported by his continued presence.
River Sways steps up to fill the position of Food Coordinator this summer. He has been a Lodge Staff for the last four summers and has become a quintessential Flying Cloud community member in his time with us. Although Food Coordinator is a notoriously difficult position, I feel confident that River Sways is the brother for the job. He will also have plenty of support from our former Food Coordinator, Tends the Grove, and from another staff member stepping into a brand new Flying Cloud position I am very excited to be telling you about next.
In pursuit of a more streamlined food system at Flying Cloud, I am very excited to announce that Kodiak Weaves the Thunder will be stepping into a brand new position – the Cook Crew Head. It will be his primary responsibility to work with the cook crew of the day to ensure the quality, quantity, and diversity of our meals – and to make sure that people are having a great time while prepping all our meals! If you have had the honor of meeting Kodiak Weaves the Thunder, then you know that there is no one better for the job than him!
And the last member of our Funky Team is also a returning staff member filling a new position. This summer, I am proud to announce that Badger Pool will be our Sensible Health Person. He is incredibly well qualified to be providing the on-site medical care for our community. Badger Pool is certified as a Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a Wilderness First Responder (WFR), and has his Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) certification as well. He has been working in the field for a some time now and most recently spent this last winter working as Ski Patrol here in the beautiful mountains of Vermont. As a former Sensible Health Person myself, I feel very confident in putting the medical system of Flying Cloud into his able hands. Further, we are happy to have Earth Ray Traveler returning as the Ninevah Nurse. Badger Pool will be working closely with Earth Ray Traveler to make sure that FC stays healthy and that any emergency that arises is dealt with in a efficient manner.
Well, I think I will close the staff announcements there. We are close to being done hiring the Lodge Staff and as soon as I lock those guys in you will hear from me again. But, I can assure you, the campers at Flying Cloud are going to be in absolutely spectacular hands. As Flying Cloud’s director for my first summer, I could not feel more optimistic about the upcoming summer’s experience for all of us. The team is coming together and, before we know it, the Flying Cloud Community of 2011 will be circled around the inside of Kahunkakona as our Firekeeper crafts the first coal and we begin another incredible summer!
Be well!