Check out our A-Z fun facts to help get you excited for CAMP!!!!

Aide – A previous camper who has been accepted to the Leadership Development Program. They are 15 years old by the start of Camp and participate in all camp activities just as a Senior Camper does. Their main role is in support of their leader in a cabin of younger girls.

 

Assistant Leader (AL) & Junior Leader (JL) – In the Leadership Development Program at Camp, the AL is 17 and the JL 16 by the start of Camp. They work with the leader in the cabin and as a support in different program areas including as a coach on teams. They consistently help instill our motto, ‘the other fellow first’ and set a good example for all.

 

Banquet – At the end of each session, we put on a nice outfit and have a marvelous dinner to celebrate our time together. 

 

Bells – The bell is rung at three separate time intervals before the start of each meal: 30 minutes before, 15 minutes before, and finally on the third bell, we all enter the Dining Hall and find our seats.

 

Buddy Board – This is a physical board, that acts as the “hub” of our camp’s Buddy System for the Waterfront. At the waterfront each person has a buddy tag. This buddy tag must be placed on the Buddy Board. 

 

Buddy Check – When you are swimming at the Waterfront, periodic buddy checks will be performed. This ensures the physical accountability of each participant and their safety. Find your buddy, throw your hands up in the air, listen, and get ready to call out your number.

 

Bungalow – Bungalow is home to 3 cabins within the Cats Division – Riverside, Meadowside and Lakeside. 

 

Cabin Supper – Each Cabin may spend time at one of our campfire locations on campus and cook their own meal.

 

Camp Number – Since 2006, every camper has received her very own camp number. #20,000 was awarded in honor of all women who came before 2006 and our Director, Marnie McDonagh, received #20001. Your number is yours for life!

 

Catamount (aka “Cats”) Division – One of four divisions, the Cat’s are in between the Cub and Junior campers. 

 

Clay Point Swim – Campers and Staff can elect to participate in our 1.5-mile swim to Clay Point. Paddlers coast alongside our swimmers for safety and moral support. It is a wonderful tradition and a big accomplishment for many Kiniya-ites.

 

Coleman Dining Hall – Oh, the Dining Hall – a favorite place of many! The food is AMAZING. The singing, cheering and dancing is simply like nothing else. The energy in the dining hall will wake you up, make you smile, and keep you thinking about camp all year round. Oh, except for breakfast. At camp, Breakfast allows us to come together and start our day with a  little more peace and mindfulness, as we reflect on the activities/events that lay ahead for that day. 

 

Council Ring – Every night we have a different evening activity. One of them is a Division wide Council Ring which takes place around a campfire and typically has a crazy theme. Cabins get dressed up, perform skits, sing songs and play games. Sometimes, we even have s’mores ☺ Program Leaders and Staff are welcome to attend-just check in with the Division Head.

 

Cub Division – One of four divisions, the Cub’s are the youngest campers. 

 

D-Head – Short for Division Head. There are four division heads at Kiniya, one for each division, Cubs, Cats, Junior and Seniors. They are responsible for the organization of the divisional activities and are a supervisor to all leaders in their division. 

 

Evening Activity – Evening Activity or Evening Game commences at 7.15 PM each night. Evening Activity includes all-camp games, Council Ring, Wednesday and Saturday Night shows, Cabin Night, and Hymn Sing, among others.

 

Extravaganza (aka “Ganza”) – Ganza, often inspired by a theme pertaining to a well-known movie, musical artist, etc., occurs on a random day (known by and planned by the Leaders) in each division. Themes of ganzas could require campers to dress up, paint a face, engage in hilarious activities, or challenge all to put their thinking caps on. You never know what fun is going to come our way!!

 

Hymn Sing – Every Sunday night we gather by cabin in the Lodge and sing. The first half is rowdy, loud, exciting, and full of energy. The second half is softer and sweeter and gets us ready for bed, reflecting on the week past and thinking about the week ahead. After your first Hymn Sing, you will understand the amazingness of it, we promise.

 

Junior Division – One of four divisions, the Junior’s are in between Cats and Seniors. 

 

Kiniya Outdoor Barn (aka “KOB”) – You will meet here for all of your outdoor adventures. The original home of Kiniya’s Riding Program, the KOB now supports all aspects of the Outdoor Program including the Challenge Course (Low and High elements), Climbing Tower, Campcraft and Gardening Program and of course, our Tripping Center.

 

Kiniya Cheer – Oh, Five Four Four Six

Morning dips (HEY!) Kiwi discs

SAYYYY Kiniya, rise and shine

Meet, out in the pines

‘Cross many miles

See the smiles

Girls! To waterski, riding WOO!

White and Blue forever true

We are, Camp Kiniya

Taps!

 

Kiniya Hymn – ‘Neath the Pines

‘Neath the pines over Champlain’s waters

Lies a spirit strong and kind

Girls whose hearts are full and loyal

Find themselves at home

 

Watch the sun setting o’er the mountains

Listen for our brothers’ song

Feel the calm when the day is over

Find yourself at home

 

If you find you’re far away from

Kiniya girls who hold you dear

Close your eyes year the soft, sweet whisper

Beckons us home, beckons us home, 

beckons us home to its shores.

 

Kiwi – One of Kiniya’s most well-known traditions revolves around becoming a Kiwi. Any member of the community, camper through Staff, who returns to camp for their fourth summer, becomes a Kiwi. Camp recognizes these people with our beloved Kiwi disc on a special evening dedicated to their time and commitment to Camp. 

 

Lean-to – Kiniya has its very own lean-to out on the trails behind the barn. It overlooks the Lamoille River and is a great place for Cabin Suppers if it’s not too buggy!

 

Lost & Found – Located on the front porch of Coleman Dining Hall. Lost and Found is distributed at meal times. Make sure you label EVERYTHING!

 

Mail – Outgoing mail can be placed in the letterboxes at Coleman Hall. The mail is delivered to Camp Monday through Saturday and distributed to each cabin in the afternoon. 

 

Mimi’s Lodge – Dedicated to Marilyn “Mimi” Williams, Mimi’s lodge is the home of our theater department. Mimi’s is an excellent space to practice your performance skills! 

 

Morning Dip – Some mornings at camp we offer a Morning Dip in Lake Champlain. This is different from going for a swim. During a dip, we simply go in, wake up (!), and come out. 

 

Morning Inspiration – Each morning at breakfast, a staff member will give a 3-5 min talk that contains an inspirational message or thoughts for the day.  These can take the form of either a personal experience or a personal story with a moral or take away.

 

Muster – Before activities begin we gather by division before heading off to our respective areas. This typically involves a few cheers with our teams and off we go! 

 

The Other Fellow First – Our camp motto! All members of our community strive to follow this motto and we feel that it is an excellent way to live life.

 

Pines – These beautifully tall trees are in front of the dining hall and reach all the way over to the Stables. They were hand planted by our founder, Helen C. Van Buren, back in the 1930’s. We often use the phrase “‘neath the pines”, – usually this means meet outside the front of the dining hall. 

 

Rest Hour – Everyday at camp we enjoy an hour-long break from the busy summer days. After lunch all campers, leaders and staff return to their cabin for a rest hour. This is a time to sleep, write letters or read a book. Ultimately, we use this time to get ready for the rest of our day!

 

Senior Division – One of four divisions, the Senior’s are our oldest campers. 

 

Share Shack – Forget something at home? The share shack is stocked with all of the essentials. Ask your leader if you need something from the shack! 

 

Sunday Service – Each Sunday morning the entire Kiniya community will gather for Sunday Service.  Campers and staff members participate in this all-camp meeting through music, poetry or prose.  Most Sundays, a pre-arranged speaker will address the community at this time. This gathering is intended to celebrate the diversity within the camp community.  Attire is Kiniya’s original uniform – a white shirt and dark (navy, black or khaki) pants, skirt or shorts. 

 

Treiber – Our gorgeous Arts and Crafts Center, built in 2011 is located directly next to the dining hall. It has one amazing view of the lake and a screened in porch for extra space. 

 

Vespers – Every night (except Sundays) cabin groups sit together and chat in a circle on the floor of their cabin. Topics can range from setting goals and the other fellow first, to our favorite superhero. It is a great time to reflect on our time at camp and to learn more about ourselves and each other. Leaders and members of the Leadership team encourage campers to join in the discussion, elicit responses as well as monitor participation so that each camper voices her opinion. 

 

Waterfront – Paddling, sailing, swimming, kayaking, waterskiing. Need we say more?

 

Welcome Center – The Welcome Center handles all summer operations. The mail is sorted and delivered from here and our Leadership and Program offices are located in the back. Come here if you are looking for service time!

YOHA – When you love something or something is incredibly awesome… throw up a yoha. Both hands meeting with a clap over your head, finger tips up to the sky and exclaim, YOHA!