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A Different Sort of Team
by Melissa Monette

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Will Colbert with his cabin last summer

       When the last school bell of the year rings in June telling children that their summer has begun, they all run towards the door to enjoy the sun and fun.  Some spend the summer with parents or family and some spend it at day camps, babysitters or residential camps.  Summer camps are a way for children to meet new people, experience the great outdoors and form lasting friendships.  18 year old Ottawa 67's defensemen, Will Colbert, knows exactly what it is like to run home after the bell has gone and eagerly wait for this time to go to summer camp to see friends and rough it in the great outdoors. 

When Will was seven years old his mother and father decided to try sending Will, along with his sister Ailsa Colbert, to Camp Otterdale.  Camp Otterdale is a residential summer camp for one hundred and forty boys and girls who are between the ages of six and fifteen year old.  Will attended Camp Otterdale every year from then on for the next ten years as both a camper and a counsellor.  "I loved going to Camp Otterdale every summer.  I didn't want to leave when the time came for my mom and dad to come get me," Will recounted, "there was always things to do and so many different people to meet."

"Most summer camps are fun but Camp Otterdale is definitely one of the best anywhere," Will said, and he is not exaggerating.  Established in 1955, by Carmen and Madeline Harrison, the camp is located about half-way between Kingston and Ottawa, Ontario.  The Camp was originally a farm before it progressed into a full fledged summer camp.  It now lies in the capable hands of Jeff and Sue Brown, who have expanded the camp to accommodate more campers.  "We really try to create a place where the campers can learn life skills and good morals," said Sue Brown.

Although the camp is meant for fun and games for all campers there are rules to follow.  The camp has zero tolerance for any sort of substance, alcohol or cigarette abuse.  "The camp is a great place to learn and a really safe place to be," Will assured, "I have learned so much from going there about not only life things, but about other people and about myself.  The atmosphere is great because there is no pressure to do anything that you don't want to do and everyone respects everyone."

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Beleive us... Will IS IN THIS PICTURE! Can you find him?

At Camp Otterdale, everyone has a camp name.  Better known at camp as 'Mox', Will has used the same camp name since the beginning.  "Camp names are a big thing and all the campers live to try and figure out each others real names," Sue commented.  "Some times you forget that it is not their real names, especially after you've called some of them by that name for six or seven years."

Although each day at camp follows a similar pattern, Will was never bored or tired of the same activities, as there are always different things to do.  All the campers get up between 8:00am and 8:30am and head down to the lake for a morning swim.  "The morning swims are fun but they are often a little chilly," Will commented.  After breakfast there are three activity sessions followed by lunch and three more activity sessions.  "I liked the waterskiing and sailing the most, but when I was seven years old I got to try horseback riding and really enjoyed that," Will recounted on the activity sessions.  The entire camp comes together for supper around 5:30pm.  Contrary to popular belief, camp food is really not bad at all and at Camp Otterdale, like everything else, it is excellent.  With chef 'Sparky', who cooks at Ashbury College during the year, all the campers eat deliciously well.  "Mox (Will) eats a lot," laughed Sue Brown, "the food and Will get along really well."

Food is not the only thing that Will likes at Camp Otterdale.  "I really do love the activity periods.  You can do so many different things.  I go water skiing, rock climbing, sailing and do other things too."  Although activities take up a huge part of the day, Will knows the real reason that camp is so fun.  Camp Otterdale does not only have local children.  "I got to meet a lot of different people that lead different lifestyles and are from different countries," Will said.  "The camp really broadened my horizons and I met new people that are different from my normal friends."  When Will first went to camp he knew no one except for his sister, but that quickly changed.  He met not only kids from Canada but from Spain, France, the United States, Germany, England, Holland, Mexico and Senegal.  "I wanted to go.  I was so excited.  I always have a great time and meeting new people is great.  Even now, as a counsellor, I can't say enough about how great the camp coordinators and kids are.  They are so many great kids at Camp Otterdale!"

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Will with Ottawa 67's teammate, Carter Trevisani

Two years ago, Will reached the maximum age for campers to still be able to attend camp.  This did not stop him for going and he took up a position as counsellor.  For the past two year he has been a camp counsellor.  "Will is a big tough hockey player, but deep down he is the biggest sweetheart.  He is funny, good with the children and everyone likes him.  He has been a big part of our camp for years now.  His sister s coming back as a counsellor again this year and she is an amazing person just like Will," said Sue Brown of Will and Ailsa.  "'Mox' is such a gentle person, all the kids love him to death, we all love Will."  

Now that 'Mox' is a camp counsellor, he has a chance to give back to the camp that has given and shown him so many things.  "Becoming a camp counsellor has been a bit of a switch.  I always looked up to my counsellors and I wanted to help kids out and still be able to stay on the camp scene," Will said.  "I get to teach instead of doing the activities now, but it really helps you understand the meaning of team work because you all have to work together to be able to do any of the activities."  With Will's new responsibilities, he knows that he is now looked up to the way that he looked up to his counsellors.  "I try to be a good role model and teach the kids what I have learned in everyday life."

Will's camp life and hockey life never clashed until recently.  "I usually have to leave early now but I can still stay in shape because I am always so active when I am at camp."  It was not until he reached higher levels of hockey that he knew that he would need to cut his amount of days at Camp Otterdale back.  "I had to cut back over the last two years because I was moving up in hockey.  Hockey is very important but so is camp because it has taught me so many things.  When it came down to it, I had to find a way to make both work and cutting back was the only way to do it," Will confessed. 

Camp life can be seen like a hockey team.  Different people have different jobs, just like different players have different positions.  Yet, in the end everyone works together to ensure the 'teams' progression.  At camp, Will was able to make friends from all different backgrounds and use the differences as foundation to form friendships and 'teams' that he had never had before.  Will's ability to get along with others shows that he, himself, truly personifies what it means to be a team player both on and off the ice.

 

 

 

A special thank you goes to Camp Otterdale for the use of their camping pictures.  To find out more, visit www.campotterdale.com