Rock Talk - October 2007
Adam Brown
Rock Talk * October 2007
Editor's Note:
Rock Talk is the e-newsletter of Cairn and all its programmes.
For the online version, please click here.
Featured This Month:
- A Note from Taps
- Children's Fitness Tax Credit
- Cairn's Concert Recap
- Synod 2007
- 2008 Registration
- New Programmes 2008 - Woods and Water
- Wishlist
- Feedback/Subscriptions
A Note from Taps
I've worked at camp for a long time, but I've never stayed in Muskoka during
October before...it's gorgeous up here. The leaves are a riot of
different colours, and the air smells clean and sweet every morning. It's
hard to imagine a more beautiful setting.
I wanted to say a quick "thank you" to the guys who helped with the
Clean-up Weekend at camp. Zoic, Blox, Aloe, Peche, Heeckan, Arlo and
Bocca all gave up their weekend to come to camp and put things away. We
took out the Glen Mhor swimming docks, the jumping dock, the canoe docks, all
the kayaks and paddles and all the canoes. It was a rainy, windy and cold
weekend, but it was also really fun to work with a great group of guys.
Clean-up Weekend is just one of the projects it would be impossible to
accomplish without our alumni and volunteers.
Over the next few months, we are hoping to start a Volunteer Committee with
alumni and friends. These people will take responsibility for some
projects throughout the year, and will be an invaluable source of support for
us at Cairn. The Synod Camp Board is eager to strengthen our ties with
alumni and volunteers, and this is one way we hope to do that.
If you are interested in supporting camp through the Volunteer Committee, we
are looking for people with skills, expertise and dedication. With camp
being such a huge operation, it is essential that we have know-how and helping
hands with everything from construction to computers to fundraising to
organization. Please send me an e-mail (ta...@ilovecamp.org) if you are
interested in helping, and we'll add you to the list. Don't forget to
include a list of some skills or expertise that you can offer...it will help us
use you best!
Children's Fitness Tax Credit
The Ontario Camping Association worked hard this past year to get camping
included in the list of activities covered by the new Children's Fitness Tax
Credit. This means that a tax credit can be obtained for sending your
kids to camp! Up to $500 per child can be claimed under this new
legislation. Details on how to claim this tax credit are below...
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/whatsnew/fitness-e.html
Basically, you are able to claim a maximum of $500 for every child under
16. The tax credit is calculated by multiplying the eligible amount by
the lowest marginal tax rate (15.5% in 2007). Here's an example:
Diana registered her three children (all of whom are under 16 years old) in an eligible program of physical activity and paid fees of $750 for each child on January 16, 2007. To calculate the amount that she can deduct from her taxes owing on her 2007 income tax return, she uses the following formula:
STEP 1:
$500 (maximum allowable amount per child)
X 3 (number of children enrolled in an eligible program)
$1,500 (total allowable amount eligible for the tax credit)
STEP 2:
$1,500 (total allowable amount eligible for the tax credit)
X 15.5% (lowest marginal tax rate for 2007)
$232.50 (total amount that can be used to reduce the
taxes owing on Diana's 2007 income tax return)
We want to make this tax credit work for our families. Please e-mail the
camp office: in...@ilovecamp.org with any
questions.
You will also need a receipt from your camp registration to claim this tax
credit. If you need another copy of the receipt, please contact Bridget,
our Administrator: ad...@ilovecamp.org.
Well, it was quite a show. Guitars, banjos, singers, drummers, hand
bells...even banjo jokes! For those who missed the 1st Annual Cairn
Concert, make sure to leave room on your calendars next year. That will
be the 2nd Annual Cairn Concert - for those who are counting...
To those who set-up, performed, attended and joined in the fun - a huge thank
you! It was a good show, a good crowd and the beginning of a good
tradition.
Look for the photos on the Cairn Flickr Group.
Synod 2007
The annual Camp Report was made to Synod by Allison
Cooper (Synod Camp Board Convenor) in October. We showed the Teen Week Video as part of the
presentation, and also shared information about our programmes, marketing,
budgets and challenges. Synod was very impressed by the video, and asked
insightful questions about the rest of the report. Allison did a
fantastic job presenting the information, and we are quite grateful for the
continuing support of Synod.
2008 Registration
Registration for 2008 is online now! A reminder that the Early-Bird
Date is January 15th, 2008. Save money - register and pay in full by this
date. Our registration page is found by clicking the "Summer
Schedule" link at the top of the camp website. Glen Mhor and Iona programmes fill fast, so register early for your
first choice.
Ages 7 - 10 can come and enjoy the very best things about Iona...the Woods and the Water! Campers will enjoy a unique and fulfilling week of wilderness camping, with lots of opportunities to be outside and to learn about God through splashing, swimming, paddling, hiking, sleeping in tents, cooking their own food, etc. A special 24-hour overnight will be taken to Echo Lake Island, and campers can try all of the available camp programming. This camp is a great introduction to the outdoors and to a camp experience. To register, visit www.ilovecamp.org.
Wish List
Cairn is part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, a charity registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. For any donations that you make to Camp, we will issue a receipt for tax purposes.
We are currently seeking:
- a small car for daily "town run" trips;
- a large van to pull a canoe trailer;
- modern and fast desktop computer (doesn't need to have a monitor).
We are also looking for many smaller items. For
details, check the entire wishlist here.
If you have a Facebook account, come and join the Cairn groups online.
- CAIRN (Glen Mhor and Iona) Alumni
- Cairn Staff 2007
Facebook is a social networking site (like My Space, but with better privacy features).
Feedback/Subscriptions
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Adam "Taps" Brown
Associate Director, Cairn
www.ilovecamp.org
705.767.3300