Quin-Mo-Lac's Alumni Newsletter

Have you ever thought how great it would be to go back to QML as an adult camper?

Well, do we have a fantastic opportunity for you!

Save this date August 29th - Sept 1st, 2022

and plan on joining us for a one-of-a-kind camp reunion for all paid and volunteer staff from the past 70 years.

You can sleep in a cabin, eat your favourite camp meals, polar dip, sing around the campfire, go to the dance and participate in all the camp activities you wish.

Stay tuned and watch for further details and the registration form to be available on the Camp Quin-Mo-Lac website around mid -January.

by Bev Gough

As you can see from the above picture, Bev Gough got an early start at Quin-Mo-Lac. Shown here in 1960, baby Beverly, in her tell-tale pink, is held by her father, Don Sinclair (right) as Rev. Bob Sherwin (center), Erla Jose (front seat of car) and mother, Phyllis (Strong Sinclair) Barr look on. We are pretty sure that Bev was brought along to oversee and approve of the construction of Zufelt Lodge. Could there be a better illustration of the importance of building a strong foundation for future generations of campers?

Here are Bev's Top 12 Reasons to Give Back to Quin-Mo-Lac through Monthly Giving....

1. Just to see the joy on a camper’s face, the relief on a parent’s face, and the excitement on the staff’s faces makes me realize how important camp is to so many.
2. I want camp to be available for future generations.
3. I know the money is being used where it is needed.
4. I know there are always upgrades required to keep everything functioning efficiently and effectively.
5. I want camp to be able to afford to continue providing summer jobs for 80 staff.
6. I want QML to always be the example of how a successful camp is run.
7. It is one of those unique places where you feel you belong and are always welcome.
8. We need to keep passing on that QML spirit of acceptance.
9. Every time you drive down the hill, no matter what your age, there is a warm chill that encompasses and hugs you.
10. I want others to make lasting friendships and to be able to look back and say…”I remember when…”
11. I want so many to enjoy camp as much as I have and still do.
12. I give to camp because camp continues to give to me.

Bev (Sinclair Barr) Gough, PUDD”N

Chair of the Board of Directors

Monthly Donor through P.A.R.

Quin-Mo-Lac has always taken pride in being able to offer affordable registration fees to our camper families. This is only possible with the help of the United Church and donations from our generous supporters. A few years ago, recognizing the changing times, we put into motion our ‘Giving Back to Quin-Mo-Lac!’ campaign. As we prepare for the future, we look to our past and those of you who have benefited in some way by your QML experience.

Monthly donations help to give the camp a predictable and steady donation stream. This allows the Board of Directors the ability to plan ahead and make much needed upgrades to the facility and the program. Pre-authorized monthly donations are super easy to set up using either CanadaHelps.org, for secure, online donations, or the United Church's PAR program.

This year, we are excited to introduce our QML Monthly Donor Meal Ticket to anyone who has signed up to make monthly donations to Quin-Mo-Lac. You will have the opportunity to join us at camp for a camp meal of your choice. If this is you, keep your eyes on your mail box in the coming months for a special invitation and instructions to join us for a traditional camp meal. Sign up to become a monthly donor now so that you don't miss out on this great opportunity.

It is our hope that 250 of our alumni will consider signing up to make an ongoing, monthly donation of $5, $10, $15, or more a month. No amount is too small or too large and every donation will help give all children the opportunity to experience camp.

It gives us great pleasure to introduce a few of our montly donors and some of the reasons they are "Giving Back to Quin-Mo-Lac". (below)

How many of you have stood at the shoreline of Moira Lake with your toes at the water's edge and contemplated whether you really require an early morning swim to tame today's case of bedhead or to shake off the last traces of sleepy slumber? It's a wonderful tradition for Canada's camps, and while Quin-Mo-Lac can't claim to have been the first to take the chilly plunge of a morning "Polar Dip", we do think it's fair to say that we do it with the most style.

In the early years, campers and staff alike were given a variety of tokens for having braved this chilly start to their day. In 1968/69, a Family Camp Director, Bob Gorrie, designed a special certificate that could be presented to anyone who had taken the Polar plunge. Twenty-five years later, his daughters, Robbie & Christine, were at camp with their own families and were surprised to discover the certificate their father had designed was still in use.

The design of the accompanying bear picture that adorns today's certificates is a little harder to trace. Whether the drawing was created by Bob Gorrie or added later by Don Genge, we can't be certain. What we can say, is that the shivering bear, huddling under a blanket, has come to be one of Quin-Mo-Lac's most iconic images. During the Genge years, this figure made the leap to a t-shirt that was presented to staff members who took the plunge each day of the summer. Today, the same image can be found on sweatshirts worn by staff who have earned the priviledge of wearing this garment. Each summer, the sweaters are created with a new combination of colours secretly selected by the Waterfront Directors. During the final week of camp, on the night of the Lakestock concert, the staff is buzzing with anticipation and excitment as they await that summer's big reveal.

by Kevin Burn

“It’s a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE!!” There are no better words to start the day. Thanks to Captain Hondo (Brian Tyndall) and Speed (Lawrence Taylor) for yelling that as they were jumping in to Moira Lake each morning and then rocketing right out for, likely, the quickest polar dip ever. It is a scene that I remember fondly with a smile and it is a quote that I repeat often years later.

I love Polar Dips! I began as a 7-year-old family camper at Quin Mo Lac (1970) and always earned my certificate. I earned t-shirts and sweatshirts as a staff member. I was a Volunteer/Staff Counsellor 1979-1981), the first Games Director, a Co-Tripper (1982) and Section Head with Faye Jose (1983). When I worked Pre-Maintenance, I would begin my Polar Dips in early May. Those were quite chilly and maybe rivaled the quickness of Captain Hondo and Speed.

A fine camp tradition that has continued for decades. I helped bring the tradition to the Cobourg, the town I live in with my wife, Janet (ne:MacCoubrey). The Northumberland Hills Hospital volunteers ran a Polar Bear Dip as a fundraiser in February. Yes, running into Lake Ontario in February!! One year it was necessary to use an excavator to dig out the pack ice at the beach to give us access to water to run into. It was a fun event that raised thousands of dollars for the hospital. I became known as Captain Polar Dip with my costume of red long-johns, blue Camp Quin-Mo-Lac shorts, a plastic yellow fire hat, and of course, a cape. We had many “brave” people become Polar Dippers for a day. It happens to be my YouTube claim to fame, just search Cobourg Polar Bear Dip and two videos will pop up. The excitement and enthusiasm is clearly evident in those videos. Sadly, the frequent ice packs in February forced the cancellation of our yearly tradition. I hope to create another Polar Dip on April Fools Day in the future. Lake Ontario is not much warmer in April and it takes a fool to run in for fun and fundraising.

I hope when Camp Quin Mo Lac resumes having campers in 2022, the Polar Dip tradition will live on again. Starting the day and reminding ourselves that it is a "Great Day to be Alive" is a wonderful way to energize for a day at Quin-Mo-Lac.

Fun Facts: My Co-Tripper, Andy Sherwin, has a Claim to Fame of never completing a Polar Dip. Another one is that when I retired from working as a physiotherapist after a 34 year career, my co-workers gave me a new cape and I became Captain Physio. Two alter egos with capes, not too shabby. Ready for any camp Dress-up Day. Just let me know when to be there.

The Gilagalucci Bird was first discovered and named by Professor J Phwumps, a prominent ornithologist in July 2000 during a family camp in the region of southern Moira Lake. Through rigorous tracking, calling and much persistence Prof Phwumps was able to attract and study this new and wonderful bird. It appeared to have ancient connections with the teradachtylae phylum and chickencatchastory phylum exhibiting a large wingspan of 4-6 feet, height varying from 4.5 to 6.5 feet, a prominent strong beak and long swift legs reaching speeds of 5-15 km an hour. The only sightings were on land so it was derived to be a land dwelling bird. Very timid in nature, it seemed to be drawn to the call of its given name, Gilagalucci Bird, by small persistant voices. Multiple sightings occurred but always at a distance in the summer of 2000. Large watermelon type eggs were retrieved after the sightings to the delight of all bird watchers. Several times the Gilagalucci Bird responded not only to callings of small voices but the smell of offerings like peanut butter cookies, apples and such. Has anyone else on southern Moira Lake seen this wonderful bird?

If you have ever captured a picture of this rare and magnificent bird, or any of the other unique creatures to have inhabited the shores of Quin-Mo-Lac, please let us know.

We have so much to be grateful for when we look on the wonderful success of this year's Alumni Auction. The generosity of our Alumni donors was so incredible we decided to break the event up into a live event on Zoom and an extended silent auction on Facebook. The response was amazing! Our esteemed auctioneer, Wendell White, stirred the crowd into a frenzy and made some impressive sales. The Silent Auction kicked off immediately after the Live event drew to a close, and our supporters continued to shop to support QML for ten more days!

A few folks decided to match the winning bids in order to get in on the action, and a number of our donors agreed to contribute additional items for matching bids. In the end, over $23,000 was raised through the Live Event, Silent Auction and separate donations. We could not be more thrilled with the outcome and grateful for the loving support of our camp community.

Check out some pictures below of our winning bidders cashing in on their prize.

Not wanting to remain idle at camp during the Covid shutdown, we have taken advantage of the quiet grounds to accomplish some much needed tasks. After some hard work and with many helping hands, Bill Chambers and our Property team were finally able to declare Phase 1 of the Dining Hall Deck project complete. The expansive deck has already made a great addition to QML's landscape, and we can't wait for everyone to make use of the new space. We are hoping, Phase 2, a deck roof, will begin next spring and be completed in time to welcome the campers of 2022. Shown in the upper right photo is the new kitchen deck and dinner bell tower that was completed as a part of Phase 1... but click on the picture for a video view of the entire new Dining Hall deck renovation.

Check out below to see some of the other projects that have been done.

by Adam Janikowski

Earlier this week I got a note from Kailee Macklin, my co-C.I.T. leader from 20 years ago. Apart from the occasional Facebook note, Kailee and I haven’t spoken in years and it’s been even longer since we’ve seen each other. But that doesn’t matter….because we’re camp friends and being camp friends, it doesn’t matter how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other, we’re still tight.

Kailee asked me if I would write about all the things I’ve done in my life and how those activities and decisions were impacted by my experience at Quin-Mo-Lac. So here I am, sitting in my office overlooking Hong Kong harbour, trying to think of what to say.

How did being a QML'er impact my climb to the summit of Everest? Or my time competing on elephant back in the Thai King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament? How did my experience at camp impact my role leading an archeological dig of a WWII plane crash site or help with my current project, producing a Hollywood movie. Did it help me when I was contractor for NASA?

As I sit here thinking about it, I realise that without my experience at QML, I couldn’t have done any of these things

Quin Mo Lac taught me to say yes….to anything. Camp taught me how to compromise and when to stand firm. It taught me that everyone needs to take a turn ralphing and everyone needs to take a turn doing the dishes but also, everyone needs an opportunity to lead. It also taught me to seek out adventure, wherever you can find it. And most importantly, it taught me the value of friendship.

I’ve lived around the world, from Asia to Europe to North America but in so many ways, I’ve never really left the shores of Moira Lake. And I have come to realise that anybody who has Quin-Mo-Lac in their heart, can do anything they want.

We would love to hear from you. In the meantime, here are a few more familiar faces from around the globe....

The QML Alumni Newsletter is meant to bring together everyone who holds a special place for Quin-Mo-Lac in their hearts. Each camp journey is important and we would love to share yours. If you have a funny story, a special memory, a query about the camp’s history or even just a spark of an idea to share… we want to hear from you. Submissions can be sent to us at kids@campqml.org. A free gift will be sent to those who take the time to send us a story, so please be sure to update your mailing address with us. Pictures are always welcome too!

Hidden within each issue, there will be at least one photograph that contains a camouflaged image of one of Quin-Mo-Lac's beloved ralph cans. If you spot it, send an email to us at kids@campqml.org to tell us where you spotted the image.

Congratulations to Lois McLeod and Peter Vooys for being the first to spot the two ralph cans hidden in our last issue. A prize is on its way to each of you!