Week Fifteen: Bad News, Good News

Song of the Week: Pressing On by Relient K

First the Bad News, Camp Yona is sad to announce we have officially cancelled camp this summer for our Sisterhood of Founders. Due to weather delays and a lack of funding, we didn't think we'd be able to provide an experience for girls that represents our vision for Camp Yona.

Now the Good News. Though having to cancel our plans for this summer was a disappointment to all involved with Yona, we will not be defeated. We still have much to be excited about. We're Pressing On!

Meet our Intern, Ashley Power.

Ashley just finished her freshman year at UGA. She has a heart for service and a passion for youth. Her sweet spirit and joyous energy will be a wonderful addition to the Yona family. We're lucky to have her.

Irby Construction generously donated 19 telephone poles to Yona that will be used for the ropes course and picnic pavilions.

Our website will be live by the end of the week!

Be sure to keep checking at

www.campyona.org

We're having a Work Weekend!

There will be a group of volunteers on the property July 3rd and 4th. We'll get a little dirty and have some fun. There are several projects we'd like to complete before ......

Campout's with Ashley and Katie!

We're looking forward to having several different groups of girls campout on the property. We'll have fun, food, and fellowship.

Our Challenge!

A local Atlanta foundation has graciously given Yona the opportunity to raise $300,000. We have the challenge of raising $150,000, then the foundation will match that amount giving Yona $300,000. This means ANY donation to Yona will be doubled.

If you'd like more information on the 4th of July work weekend, camping out at Yona, or the Challenge Grant; please call (706)990-9734 or email katie@campyona.org

"I think we're going somewhere. We're on to something good here, and we're gonna make it after all" - Relient K

Week Fourteen: Memorial Day

Song of the Week: Proud To Be An American by Lee Greenwood

I was fortunate enough to be able to spend Memorial Day Weekend in Washington D.C. I've been to D.C. several times, but there was definitely a different kind of energy in the air this weekend. Seeing all the flags and patriotism made me so proud to be an American. The weekend was also a stark reminder that freedom really isn't free at all.

Memorial Day Concert on the lawn of the Capital.

Rolling Thunder First Amendment Demonstration Run. There were thousands of motorcycles that filled the streets of D.C. for hours. They were riding to demonstrate their respect for our troops and Prisoners Of War and Missing In Action.

The National Memorial Day Parade

Honoring All Veterans

Photos of fallen WWII Soldiers

WWII POW

Camp Yona wants to thank all our service men and women and their families who are currently serving, have served, or have paid the ultimate price to allow us at home to enjoy the freedoms they fought so hard to protect.

Week Thirteen: Signs

Song of the Week: I Saw the Sign by Ace of Base

This week we're featuring signs in our area. These little signs are the markers we follow to camp everyday. We hope one day these are the signs you too follow to camp. With each sign you are getting closer and closer. Your heart pounds more and more with excitement. Until finally you have arrived, wondering what could Yona have in store for you this summer?

We are at Exit 148.

The South Fork of the Ogeechee River borders two sides of our property.

Camp Yona is located in Taliaferro County, pronounced Tolifer by the locals.

Our Street

The sign in front of the old farm house on the property.

Week Twelve: There is still so much to learn

Song of the Week: Far Far by Yael Naim

Camp Yona strives to be the premier summer camp for girls surrounding the issues of resilience and self-esteem. In order to properly serve our mission, we must first know and understand the complexities that girls face today. So we've been doing a lot of ...

reading books about girls ...

reading books on self-esteem ...

reading about different cultures ...

researching statistics ...

reading journals ...

and researching websites.

Do you know of any great resources we should check out? If so, please email katie@campyona.org.

Week Eleven: First Time

Song of the Week: Feels Like the First Time by Foreigner

In the past nine months I've been working for Yona, I've had a lot of first moments. I chopped wood, I got my own business card, and I rode in a tow truck- all for the first time.

Here are a few more of my firsts ....

first time using a chainsaw,

first time driving a backhoe,

first lesson driving a manual,

first time weed-eating,

first time in Honduras,

first time beaver hunting,

first time to start a controlled fire.

Our desire is for Camp Yona to be a place girls can experience many firsts. They won't learn how to start a controlled fire or use a chainsaw; but maybe it'll be their first time to climb a pole 40 feet, shoot a gun, develop their own film, break a board with their arm, or change a tire.

Camp Yona strives to be a place girls can have a wide variety of experiences. A place girls feel comfortable trying new things. A place to learn from their failures and celebrate their successes.

Week Ten: THANK YOU!

Song of the Week: Kind & Generous by Natalie Merchant

This week we are highlighting those people who have made Camp Yona a reality. We are blessed to have so many people willing to invest in Yona's future, and we are forever grateful to those people who believe in our vision.

The pictures this week represent individuals and companies who...

rendered professional services ...

made financial contributions ...

and donated items to enable Yona to begin building it's dream.

EMI

Irby Construction

Rayle Electric

Reynolds Plantation

Vampco

Magnolia Metal and Plastic Products

ROW

GA Forestry Commision

Johnson Logging

Richards Land Development

Lake Oconee Properties

Jere and Shelly Power

Jamie and Cathy Reynolds

Charles and Catherine Rice

Ted and Diane Hendrix

Billy and Martha Payne

Ken and Patty Bowes

Tony and Maria Barnhart

Tony and Kate Carango

Aleah Holland

Marilyn Snow and Doctoral students at Ole Miss

Ben Mathes

Laurie Malik

Megan McIlreavy and Graduate students at Costal Carolina

John Mitchell and Freddie Davis

Matt and Lauren Fogarty

Michael Morris

Dr. Dan Maico and The Pamphalon Foundation

Joey and Vicky Rhodes

Wayne and Pet Williams

Thanks again for believing in us.

For more information on how you can help, please contact:

chris@campyona.org

drew@campyona.org

katie@campyona.org

Week Nine: Start Me Up

Song of the Week: Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones

A Sisterhood of Founders: Pioneering Yona's Way

Camp Yona is so excited to announce our plans for Summer 2010. We'll be open for two weeks, July 4th - 17th, to a select group of girls: our pioneers.

This summer will be no average summer and our pioneers will be no average girls. We're looking for girls, 13 - 18 years old, that are not afraid to step out of their comfort zones to help change lives. Girls that are willing to take a leap of faith with us because they believe we can have a huge impact.

One way this summer will be different is our pioneer's accommodations. We're venturing into unknown territory that truly has not been settled yet. That means we'll be living in tents!

Though the property may physically be lacking in buildings, this summer will not lack excitement or adventure. There will be plenty of fun and challenging activities to try: canoeing, self-defense, painting, archery, fire arms safety, wake boarding, blobbing, and many more.

This summer will offer girls a unique opportunity to have some ownership in the development of Camp Yona. Whether it's helping to create Yona's traditions, develop programs that really impact girl's lives in a positive way, or physically building parts of camp. We are eager to get girls input on how Yona can effectively serve it's mission.

In order to make this summer a reality, we need volunteers. Volunteers to answer phones, get the word out, blaze a trail, teach a class, assist in building, and general cleanup. There are so many ways to get involved with Yona. 

Sunday July 4th, 2010 a few strong girls - the pioneer type - set out to discover and develop the uninhabited lands of Camp Yona. Conquering their fears and overcoming challenges, these visionary girls were willing to risk their own discomfort to be a part of something bigger than themselves .....

Stay tuned for more stories from the Sisterhood of Founders: Pioneering Yona's Future.

Week Eight: TOMS One Day Without Shoes

Song of the Week: Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson

For those of you who don't know, TOMS is a shoe company on a mission to change the world. With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. On Thursday, April 8th, I joined thousands across the U.S. and the world to go one day without shoes. TOMS challenged us to kick off our shoes for just one day to experience what it's like to not have shoes.

Thursday I .... went for my morning walk, stopped to get gas, went to the eye doctor, grabbed tea with a friend, and went to work .... shoeless. Perhaps the most exciting thing I did all day was participate in UGA's barefoot walk. A hundred plus students joined together to walk a mile path around campus to help raise awareness about the difference a pair of shoes can make in a child's life. As we walked, we talked. And as we talked, we started to ask questions. "Does this really matter? Can one person really make a difference in the world?" As I thought about those questions, I was reminded of Michael Jackson's song "Man in the Mirror":

"I'm starting with the man in the mirror.

I'm asking him to change his ways

And no message could've been any clearer

If you want to make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and make a change"

So maybe what I did last Thursday will have no effect on the world. Maybe it will. All I know for sure is that I can only be responsible for my own actions, and I choose to believe that I can make a difference.

Our hope is for Yona to show girls that they too can make a difference.