The Stephens’ Effect: A look back on why we give back - Punch Jackson

Punch Jackson

Over the past few months, I’ve watched the Camp Stephens  fundraising campaign expand its focus from building new  Depot/Trail Centre to fulfilling other camp needs and “Building a Legacy.” 

In a recent fundraising promotional piece, camp alumni Hal Studholme wrote:

"Camp Stephens is a place like no other. A place of wonder and awe. A place of challenge and learning. But mostly a place where a child discovers his or her uniqueness, potential and sense of purpose. Every child comes to camp with unrealized potential. There is no better place to set it free to grow and blossom. Everything about camp is geared to that goal: the setting, the programs and especially the leadership. It is a life changing adventure.”

As Hal says, every child comes to camp with unrealized potential. I was one of them.

Unlocking potential

One of the amazing and pivotal moments in life is when someone helps unlock your potential. Ron Watson (Director 1959-63) and Bill Owen (Director 1958-59) saw something in me, and they created opportunities for me. In 1959, they hung me with the nickname Punch, which has been with me ever since.

Punch - year one

My active involvement at Camp Stephens began in the last two-week session in the summer of 1956. It was the beginning of a 20-year adventure and a lifetime love affair with a place, its people, and their role in my life.

Opening doors

After badgering Ron for an entire winter, he gave me the opportunity to start the Voyageur Program (Today’s Wilderness Canoe Trips program).

Other Directors, Hal Studholme and Doug McEwen, gave me more opportunities and taught me about the “business” of camping. After graduating in 1969, I joined the Winnipeg Y staff and worked with Hal to launch a new city-wide day camping program at Camp Manitou.

In 1970, I followed Hal as Director of the Day Camp. Tuck (Lynda Keep), Marg Law, Cathy Skagfeld, “Ralph” and “George”, Jim August, Rilla Buckler, Kim Rayment, Bruce McLean and what seemed like a cast of hundreds ran a very inclusive day camp.

In 1971, I went to Camp Stephens after Doug McEwan, and we created the Winnipeg YMCA Camping Branch. As a Director, I was blessed with incredible young professionals and a cadre of enthusiastic leaders from the Winnipeg YMCA Branch Ys. I tried to follow in the footsteps my mentors creating opportunities for others.

A future shaped by Stephens

After leaving Stephens in 1976, I went on to further my education and begin a 30-year career with the Alberta government. All through those years I relied on skills, values, and beliefs that I learned during the “Stephens Years.” The successes I had were linked to my time at Camp and the Winnipeg Y.

Building a Legacy. Together.

Camp Stephens has positively impacted every single one of us—and I hope remembering your own Stephens story will help strengthen your resolve to participate in the “Building a Legacy” campaign. The new Depot/Trail Centre, the new cabins and what’s to follow, like new staff cabins, compliment the incredible natural environment. 

New 4,507 square-foot depot

This is our opportunity to help future generations share in our experience, like so many others have done since the summer of 1893 when four men from the Winnipeg Y set out by rowboat to look for a permanent site for a summer camp.

There are many ways you can support the campaign to continue building that legacy:

• Band together with family and groups to create a legacy contribution;
• Give a one-time donation;
• Commit to monthly contributions or three-to-five-years.

Our family will participate through monthly donations over the next five years.

Past acts of giving

Winnipeg Free Press June 28, 1952

In the past, Camp Stephens has benefited immensely from single donors making “the big donation” to fund projects such as:

• The Dining Hall, Lount Lodge and Wellness Centre;        
• The former depot/boathouse;
• The original canoes for the Wilderness Program;
• Sailboats from the Pan Am Games;
• The old Davey sailboat.

Families have also had the opportunity to contribute to new camper cabins, and, of course, families and friends contributed to Camperships in Remembrance of Stephens Alumni.

My camp friend Patti Pidlaski recently reminded me about other opportunities that the Winnipeg Y and Stephens has provided, including:

• Jamaican Exchange;
• Uruguay Exchange;
• camper exchanges;
• Girls Camp and the Serendipity Program that led to Stephens becoming a co-ed camp;
• Camp Widjiwagan Exchange that led to the modern era of canoe tripping at Stephens;
• EKY Day Camp at Beaconia;
• Integration of campers with disabilities at Camp Manitou;
• Vacation trips led by Al Burpee for persons with disabilities;
• Winter Camp at Camp Manitou and Saturday Camps at St. James Y;
• Leader’s programs at all the Branch Ys;
• Outdoor/Environmental Education programs at Stephens and Manitou;
• Sailing program, the LOWISA sailing race, the vigils and the Five Island Swim.

When I look at the camp people that I have been associated with over these many years, I'm so proud of the contributions that have been made to education, social work, medicine, law, private business, the non-profit sector, the public sector and the folks keeping farming alive.

Support the next generation of Campers

This is the first time individual alumni and friends have been approached on a major camp capital campaign. Let’s show the Winnipeg YMCA-YWCA and Winnipeggers at large how important WE feel Camp Stephens and the Y have been in our lives.

This is our way of paying it forward, ensuring the opportunities we benefitted from will be available for generations to come.

Transcending the pandemic

Like so many organizations, the Winnipeg YMCA-YWCA has been hit hard by the pandemic and resulting shutdowns. Restrictions made it impossible to open camp this past summer (the first closure since 1917) and it remains unclear what lies ahead in 2021. However, the Y remains committed to serving the community. And it needs our help more than ever.

Wherever you are, be safe.

Punch

For more information about the Build a Legacy Campaign, please see Help Us Build A Legacy. 

Building a legacy

Camp Stephens looks very different this summer. No kids are on the island.

Due to the pandemic, in the best interest of the health and safety of campers, staff and the surrounding community, camp and the wilderness canoe program was cancelled in May.

So camp looks and sounds like nothing we’ve seen. An empty dining hall, a quiet swim dock – the normal sounds of a normal summer at camp are missing.

Camp staff and volunteers are using this time to get several repairs done on the island that haven’t been possible in past years.

The largest project at camp is the new 4,507 square-foot depot. It will be a welcome addition to camp when kids return. While the depot is almost finished, funds are still required to pay for the cost to build it.

More needs to be done. 

Fixing staff and camper cabins, repairing the main boat dock, upgrading the kitchen and dining hall windows and a building a fence for the new shop are but a few things. Upgrades to the shower house and washrooms, built in the early 1980s, are another priority.

The financial need to pay for some of this work has increased. With no campers, camp has no income. Yet the work still has to get done.

You can help by donating to Y’s Build a Legacy Campaign. Your donation will ensure camp is in a stronger position when campers return, providing young people with unique and challenging experiences to grow in spirit, mind and body. 

To donate to, or talk to someone about the capital campaign, please see Capital Campaign: Help us Build a Legacy.

The new depot will be a safe, welcoming place when campers return.

 

What the new depot looks like inside.

New depot interior.

Inside the new depot.

Dining hall windows need repairs.

The balcony on the lodge is partially rotten and closed for use.

A fence needs to be built at the new shop building for camper safety.

Staff cabins required major repairs if not replacement.

The interior washrooms were built in the early 1980s and need to be upgraded.