Kieve hosts the 5th Annual 9/11 Family Camp

August 30, 2006

Once again we hosted our 9/11 Family Camp for families affected by the September 11th tragedies. Individuals and families from FDNY Ladder Company 3, FDNY Battalion 6 and Cantor Fitzgerald in New York as well as The Pentagon all arrived at Kieve for a great week of fun, games, relaxation and entertainment. This year the damp weather cleared out Monday night and the rest of the week was spectacular!
Kieve sends thanks to the many corporate sponsors and volunteers who helped make the week such a success. These individuals along with the staff at Kieve-Wavus helped make this year's experience the best ever in the 5 years of offering the camp. This year, families went fishing with avid bass fisherman and Maine Guide Ron Gerard, water skiing and sightseeing on the lake with Bill Mallory and attended many other activities hosted by staff or volunteers. Alan Baldwin, our resident potter was once again a huge hit with kids and adults creating wonderfully glazed pottery pieces. Special thanks to Jim Dorian from Sysco for pulling together the traditional "Firemen's Italian Night" meal ? we consumed over two pounds of garlic that night! For the second year Matt Seiler and his brother Mark from All Natural Root Beer provided root beer floats for all.
The Leadership School staff, who were in the middle of their training, opened the high ropes and adventure course at both Kieve and Wavus so families could play on both campuses. Daily outings were organized for locations in the midcoast area including an afternoon sail on the Schooner Eastwind from Boothbay Harbor, horseback riding at Hundred Acre Wood, The Union Agricultural Fair, a garden tour at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and many other spots. A baseball game at Kieve's "Fenway Park" was lots of fun as the adults played against the kids ? it was a very close game and ended in a Kieve tie. We also had a fun week-long ping pong tournament. One of the evenings was filled with fun and laughter enthusiastically performed by Randy Judkins and The Maine Hysterical Society. There was also a beautiful star-filled evening next to the campfire with songs and stories. The final evening included a spectacular fireworks display over the lake and music by Bruce Marshall and blues great James Montgomery. For the 5th year the Pemaquid Fisherman's Co-op provided a great authentic lobster bake including clams, onions, corn and eggs and wonderful blueberry cake. Families and staff are already making plans for the 6th Annual 9/11 Family Camp next August.