Our Longest Standing Staff Member

Hi, this is Leon Wong. One of our staff members asked me to write about how I came to Camp Krem 26 years ago and how I have been changed by my experience. In 1983, I met Alex Krem, founder of Camping Unlimited in Berkley, California. I went to his home and was charmed by the late Alex and Elsie Krem. I was the Activity Coordinator at the ARC in San Leandro workshop. I had volunteered to coordinate and develop the Alameda County’s first Special Olympic ski team. We had set up training at Cal-State Hayward and the team had many Camp Krem campers as well! We had carpooled to our first local meet at Dodge Ridge and qualified a full team. I asked Alex Krem if I could borrow Heart Throb 6, one of camp’s buses, and take the ski team to Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Valley ski resort for the five day event. He said yes and the ski team and I never forgot the generosity of Camping Unlimited shown by Alex. One year later I volunteered for a spring camp and planted a wonderful relationship with the staff and many, many campers.

I have learned that a positive giving spirit keeps us young and full of amazing energy and most of all, love. The love to help our campers/friends over the years gives consistency, stability and time for fun within the rhythm of camp life. I am writing this blog by flashlight watching over the campers of cabin two. Many are merely asleep, several are a bit awake. Some words of encouragement in a short story and the excitement of going home, and many happy and sad tears. The sad tears are for leaving their counselors and the fun week of swimming, camp fires, dances and most of all a shared experience. The happy tears are for all of the families who have put their sons and daughters growth, fun and independence before their own. Thank you for sharing your family members with us. Now, we are part of the Camp Krem family. Our lives are blessed with the fun, wonderful and unmatched love of your family members. So I thank you for wonderful fun adventures. This is how I am constantly affected and changed by Camp Krem.

Reflections by Leon Wong:

· A “Wagon Wheel Dance” with a human spiral with Travel Camp as the last dance of the night was magical.

· Talking deeply with campers and offering positive outlooks on their lives and how camp is efficient and fun and non-judgmental.

· Watching staff members grow with encouragement

· Showing campers and counselors how to cook in the outdoors and watching them show what they learned.

· Teaching and showing staff how to start stoves, lanterns, and how to pack a backpack as well as prep for trips.

· The wonderful dances and shows that staff put on for campers

· Pool time with campers and the lifeguards

· Best of all; the great men and women who shared their summer with all of the campers and fellow staff members. The love of adventure, fun, sharing and positive collective energy was the fuel for all of our great moments, adventures and discoveries.