Holiday Party

We had fun looking at the lights in Naples, having hot cocoa and exchanging our Secret Santa gifts. Get well soon, Ariana! Don't forget to meet at our school location Wed, Dec 24 at 9 am to carpool to our caroling Kiniya project.

AIDS Wrap Party pictures

Shi Wa Yu Ma members had fun at the AIDS Wrap party, held at the Council last Monday night. We wrapped presents for sick children (donated by other Camp Fire members, friends, and families) and wrote holiday cards to soldiers overseas.

Kiniya Project

The girls are practicing caroling every week at Camp Fire meetings in preparation for the December 24th event at the Senior Center. We are scheduled to perform at the Long Beach Senior Center (on 4th Street) on Wed. Dec. 24th at 9:30 a.m.. We will meet at Stanford at 9:00 a.m. sharp to carpool there. This is the Kiniya service project that the girls planned. The girls will wear jeans, red sweatshirts, Ugg-type boots, and scarves and beanies for the performance. Each girl has a CD with all of the songs we are singing and a lyrics sheet so they can practice at home as well. We have some very talented singers in our group. I know they will do a great job!

Secret Santas
The girls wanted to do Secret Santas within the group again this year. They each took home a flyer on Monday Dec 1st with the details. They will have between Dec 1 and Dec 14 to deliver 3 Secret Santa gifts ($5 or under; homemake is encouraged). On Sunday evening, Dec 14th, we will meet for a walk of the Naples canals to look at the lights and decorations. Each girl should bring her 4th and final gift to this event. We will take time at the end of the evening to exchange gifts and reveal the Secret Santas. Parents and siblings are invited to attend the Naples walk too. We'll meet at the fountain at 7:00 p.m. (Turn into Naples at the Rite Aid).

Camp Fire Benefit Auction

A huge thank you goes out to all of our families who contributed to generously to the Shi Wa Yu Ma basket at the Camp Fire Benefit auction. We had an awesome basket as you can see from the attached photo. Check it out! It was very much sought after and the $ helped the Camp Fire Council raise money to support Camp Fire programs. Thanks again for your support of Camp Fire. You are awesome!

Charlene & Stephanie

Camp Wasewagon

The deadline to turn in deposit ($20) for Camp Wasewagon is Nov. 22nd, 2008. The total cost for this campout s $65.

Please register and turn in deposit to the Camp Fire Office as soon as possible. Deposits are non refundable and commits you to attending this campout and paying the balance in full ($65 - $20 = $45)

Camp Wasewagon will be Feb 28 - Mar 1, 2009. More details (i.e. carpool, packing list, etc) will be given as event approaches.

Kiniya - Nov. 20th

Just a reminder, The Kiniya ceremonial will be Thursday, Nov. 20th at the Camp Fire Council amphitheater.

Girls need to wear their uniform and collar and wear a Camp Fire sweatshirt to keep warm. Flashlights are needed since it will be dark. Closed toe shoes are also a requirement of everyone (including adults).

Arrive by the flagpole by 5:30 pm. Parents, please stay seated in our assigned area through ceremonial and including the recessional. Camp Fire members will exit the theater and head down to the Lodge before everyone else. Small children must be kept near you and not allowed to run around the amphitheater area to avoid injury.

Reception immediately following ceremonial. Girls may be picked up in the Lodge.

Please contact Charlene or Stephanie if you have any questions.

Good Neighbor

We had fun at the Good Neighbor Festival hosted by Councilwoman Gerry Schipske.

Thank you to Alex, Ariana, Gabrielle, and Sarah for helping out at our booth! We taught a lot of people not to feed the ducks! We also helped pass out flyers for the upcoming Camp Fire Halloween Carnival and helped with the awards ceremony.

Good Neighbor Day, Sept 21

Our group was asked to help a younger Camp Fire group (the Bear Cubs, 3rd grade girls) at a neighborhood event they are hosting.

Good Neighbor Day
Sunday, Sept 21st, 2008
"Don't Feed the Ducks" Taskforce
El Dorado Park
10 am - 3 pm

Please arrive in Discovery Level Uniform and tell them you are with "Shi Wa Yu Ma". Their leader's name is Leslie. There will be a table and activities for younger kids to do that need some supervision.

Sarah and Stephanie will be there in the morning. Even an hour of service is welcome during this time frame (10-3).

Please contact Stephanie for specific location. A yellow bead can be earned for participation in this event.

~First Meeting of the Year~

Don't forget, our first meeting for the new year is Monday, Sept 8th from 7 - 8:30 pm. Parents and girls must attend.

Please contact Charlene or Stephanie for location details.

Discovery Level Uniforms

Our uniform for meetings and outing will be as follows:

* Red Camp Fire USA button-down polo shirt
* Bottoms, navy blue or dark blue denim

Shirts may be purchased at the Council Store. We are checking to see if Camp Fire shirts may be worn at middle school. (As of 9/1/08, they are NOT school uniform approved)

If you do not have your red polo yet, you can wear any Camp Fire shirt for the first few meetings until we can place a group order.

Beach pic

We had fun at the Bonfire! Our first meeting will be Mon, Sept 8th!

Silent Auction

One of the biggest fundraising events for Camp Fire USA (Long Beach Council) is coming up. "A Light in the Forest" will be held Saturday, Sept 27th, 2008 at the Long Beach Hilton. Tickets are available at the Council. Reserved seating is $115 per person for this business casual event ($65 is tax-deductible). There is also an Opportunity Drawing (Tickets are $10 @ or 3 for $25) and a Live and Silent Auction.

Shi Wa Yu Ma and all other clubs are asked to participate by making a basket for the Silent Auction portion of the evening. This year, our group's basket is "Let's Go Camping". Item suggestions for our basket include: a tent, sleeping bag, skewers (Oh so important as we learned at the bonfire), camping chair, igloo cooler, rope, lantern, flashlights, bug repellant, marshmallows, etc...

We would like at least one item from each family or consider giving a monetary donation to Charlene or Steph so we can purchase items for our basket. We must turn in our basket before Sept. 15th so please bring your item on or before our first meeting, Sept 8th. Please contact Charlene or Stephanie with any questions.

Beach Party, Aug 24th

Summer is almost over! Shi Wa Yu Ma members and their families are invited to attend a Beach Party on Sunday, Aug 24th. 4-? pm

Please bring your own food to cook over the bonfire (hot dogs, etc) and drinks. We will provide dessert!

Please RSVP to Charlene or Stephanie and to get specific directions to our fire ring.

Camp Shiwaka - Day 4 & 5

Just a reminder, please turn in your Camp Fire registration form (for next year) to Charlene Wynne BEFORE June 30th.

Performing our skit, Japutcha, in the Lodge:


In case you are having trouble convincing them to help at home, I have proof that they CAN wash the dishes:


Closing flagpole cermeony:


Going to sleep under the stars:


Waking up with the sunrise (not quite):


Saying goodbye after a fun week at Camp Shiwaka:

Camp Shiwaka - Day 3

It was so hot today, I think we could have cooked lunch without a fire!

Going on a orienteering walk:


Making stamped paper books:


Getting ready to be lifted through the "spider web":


More challenge course activities:


Watermelon salsa aka Goblin repellant:


Making lunch:


Eating lunch:


Worked on Trail to Creativity by making woven fish for a mobile:

Camp Shiwaka - Day 2

Today, we were done by one but we still stayed busy...

Working on Trail to Environment, the girls pretended they were birds and had to make nests that would protect a "baby bird" if dropped from 6 ft. up. Our "baby birds" were hard boiled eggs. They were all successful.


Chopping wood:


Painting dead fish and making prints:


Learning the rules of archery:


Archery:


Making head pieces:

Camp Shiwaka - Day 1

Correction on times: Please arrive before 9 am and pick-up is at 3:30 pm at the flagpole for Tues and Wed. Thursday drop-off is no later than 2 pm and pick-up is Friday morning at 10 am.

I will try and post pictures each day that summarize as many of the activites as I can.

Morning lesson about animal types:


Playing games at the nearby school:


Carrying our "mascot" back to our campsite:


Scavenger hunt to make goblin repellant:


Group shot:


Tree print artwork:


Ending flag ceremony:

More Camp info

Please start saving aluminum cans! Girls should bring cans in bags of 20 with them to Day Camp (Camp Shiwaka) on Mon, Tues and Wed. The group that brings in the most cans that week will be recognized at the ceremonial on Thursday night.

Also, as of this morning, there are only 5 spots left for Camp Wintaka (overnight camp) for 6th grade girls. So, if your daughter wants to go, I would suggest getting your deposit in to the Camp Fire office as soon as possible.

Camp Registration

Just a reminder:

There is no meeting next Monday, May 26th due to Memorial Day holiday.

Camp Shiwaka (Day camp the week after school is out):
Form, paperwork and money ($70) are due to Stephanie Lichlyter before May 26th. If your child is not attending Day Camp, please let Stephanie know.

Camp Wintaka (Sleep-away camp)
Paperwork and Deposit ($50) are due to Camp Fire Council Office as soon as possible. Balance due will be mailed to your home. Non-Camp Fire members may attend as well so if your child has a friend that would like to go to Camp Wintaka with them, that is permissible.

Campground websites

Maybe the Spring Campout has motivated you to take a family camp-out? I have used the following websites to make camping reservations for my family.

Recreation.gov (For National Parks)

Reserve America

An affordable way to vacation! :)

Spring Campout Pics

Spring Campout 2008 was alot of fun! Thanks to the families who joined our adventure! Although it was HOT, a breeze quickly cooled the campground and we enjoyed a cool evening. We ate fried chicken, veggies, chips and had handmade S'mores for dessert. Shi Wa Yu Ma lowered the flag at the flag ceremonial and sang "Say When" at the camp fire. Then the girls got to participate in serenading the rest of camp when the lights are out. We enjoyed a yummy Pancake Breakfast cooked by the Long Beach Firefighters.. Looking forward to next year...