Ontario Pioneer welcomes new Girls’ Camp Director
Miriam Paas has her eye on the goal

As a hockey player, Miriam Paas has generally played forward but last year, while studying at Queen’s University, she coached defence for the women’s team.

“I had to learn new things,” she says. “It forced me to learn a different side of the game.”

Miriam reflects on that experience as she begins her new role as Girls’ Camp Director at Ontario Pioneer Camp. Having already served in various roles at camp – from chalet leader to program director, Miriam is about to gain a new perspective. She’s now the one in charge, not only of a 100-member staff team, but of more than 1,600 campers who will spend a week or more under her careful watch this summer.

“When you work at camp, you are given a lot of responsibility at a young age and you are able to make a difference,” says Miriam, who just completed her Bachelor of Education at Queen’s. “An opportunity to do a job like this doesn’t come along all that often. My passion is to mentor youth and children.”

Miriam was a teenager when she first attended Ontario Pioneer in 2003 as part of the Leaders In Training program. “I was scared when I first arrived,” she recalls. “I’d never been a camper before.”
But she settled in quickly and began to make friends who christened her with her camp nickname, Raffi.  She also began to develop a love for camp, returning every summer to work on staff. Over the last two summers Miriam has served as program director, developing curriculum and leading a staff team focused on helping campers get the most out of their time at camp.

“Camp taught me about responsibility, confidence, taking initiative and leadership,” says Miriam. “It equips you with hard and soft skills – I learned to play my guitar at camp. I also learned how to teach. My desire to be a teacher came from camp.”

Teaching, camp and hockey have all been part of Miriam’s upbringing.  She grew up in Toronto, the daughter of Jocelyn and the late Patrick Paas. She has three siblings, Danielle, Aaron and Dorothea (the latter two are also Pioneer alumni). Her mother is a teacher and her father was a pastor and the former owner of Crux Books.

Miriam has played hockey since she was a kid. She honed her skills as part of the varsity team while she was an undergraduate at Bethel University. Later, while working as a teaching assistant at Trinity College School in Port Hope, she coached the school’s hockey team. She’s relished her role as assistant coach for the Queen’s University women’s team.

“I tell my staff at camp that they can expect a lot of hockey analogies from me,” says Miriam. “My coach at university always wanted us to think about our head, hands and heart. You want to be smart, skilled and passionate.

“I want that to be how my team and I serve at camp: To be smart about how we are serving; to learn new skills, and to be passionate, to have the heart of Christ. Those are the things we want our campers to be invested in, too.”

As she begins her new role, Miriam is particularly excited about the changes she knows she will witness in her staff and the campers they serve.

“After I was a chalet leader, some of my very first campers started to come back as staff. I got to serve on leadership teams with them, to see them develop as leaders. This is such a key part of what happens at camp – every year learning a new skill; every year changing as a person; every year developing a deeper faith in God. “

Ontario Pioneer Camp is owned by Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, which operates nine residential camps across Canada, serving more than 10,000 children and teens.

Excited about Girl's Camp? Register at www.pioneercamp.ca/register

But for some kids, it’s an experience that isn’t always within their reach.

The APEX Amazing Race is a fundraising event in support of Ontario Pioneer Camp’s camper scholarship program, helping to provide families in need the opportunity to attend Pioneer Camp programs.
Modeled after TV’s Amazing Race, 25 teams of two racers will come together on June 1, 2013 to compete in a full day race across Pioneer Camp’s 1200 acre property as they complete in both physical and mental challenges. Each participant is required to raise or donate a minimum of $250, 100% of which will go towards supporting the camper scholarship program. Racers that exceed this amount will be awarded prizes and advantages in the race.

The APEX event is designed for participants of all ages and athletic levels. Run at your own pace and be as competitive as you want, it is about having fun and supporting a great cause! A children’s program will be provided so bring the whole family!!

The race is designed to give participants the chance to take part in many of the same experiences that the campers they are racing for would during the summer. The race also consists of a series of mental challenges that will require strategy and quick thinking in order to be successful.

As with the end to a great week at camp, APEX will culminate with everyone joining together for a banquet to celebrate their challenges and accomplishments and the time they have shared and enjoyed together.

Impact the life of camper. Space is limited so join the race today!

1. Join the Race
2. Sponsor A Racer
3. Pledge form

At Pioneer, not only do we run high quality camping programs for kids all summer long, whole families for a week of summer camp, host year round groups, but we also invite women to take part in our wide variety of women’s programs – onsite and around the province!

Women's programs run during the fall, winter, and spring. Some happen on site at Pioneer, but others happen around the province. Programs are anywhere from an evening to a weekend long, and you can even participate in some programs from your own home! 

A particular highlight of the women’s programs calendar each year are our four weekends on quiet Lake Clearwater in Muskoka, which are hosted at the Pioneer Camp.  Our camp is so much more than just a pretty place- it's also a haven of peace, joy, camaraderie and fun for women of all ages. .

• Theme: Standing on the Promises of Blessings
• Speaker: Denise Macartney, pastor of Gloucester Presbyterian Church, Ottawa
• Canoeing, Hikes, Photography, Archery, Craft and much more
• Special Feature: Allen Macartney - recounting his trip retracing the Klondike Gold Rush.
• Saturday Supper Fun Theme: Klondike Hunt for Gold
• FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER: Brochure Download

• Theme: Touching the Heart of God
• Speaker: Amy Dempsey with others leading Interactive Choices
• Optional Choices - canoeing, wall climbing, mountain biking and more
• Saturday Supper Fun theme
• FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER: Form available at the end of May

• Theme: Standing on the Promises of Spiritual Abundance
• Speaker: Donna Dong, Director of Multi-Ethnic Ministries for I.V.C.F. with Geri Rodman, President of I.V.C.F.
• Many optional choices as above and Saturday Supper Fun theme
• FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER: Form available at the end of May

• Theme: Standing on the Promises to Overcomers
• Speaker: TBA
• Many optional choices as above and Saturday Supper Fun theme
• FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER: Form available at the end of August

Day of Joy
Theme- God's Promises are His Gifts to Us
Friday, March 22

• Location: Pioneer Camps, Muskoka
• There is a Program for Home-school Children/Teens run by our Outdoor Ed staff.
• Theme: Standing on the Promises without Losing your Footing
• For more information and to register... Muskoka-brochure.pdf

• Location: Penetanguishene
• Theme: Touching the Heart of God
• For more information and to register...  Penetang_-_brochure.pdf

• Location: Parkhill (north of Strathroy)
• Theme: Standing on the Promises without Losing your Footing
• For more information and to register...  Parkhill_-_brochure.pdf

• Location: Churchill (south of Barrie)
• Theme: Standing on the Promises without Losing your Footing
• For more information and to register... Churchill_-_brochure.pdf

• Location: Stirling
• Theme: Touching the Heart of God
• For more information and to register... (form available beginning of February)

• Location: Calabogie (Ottawa Valley)
• Theme: God's Promises are His Gifts to Us
• For more information and to register... (form available mid-July)

• Location: Brighton
• Theme: God's Promises are His Gifts to Us
• For more information and to register (form available end of July)