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.