1. education
2. high school

Summer 2014
50 & Forward: Dining Hall Opens!
Our Mission:
To enrich the lives of
the underserved youth
of New Hampshire by
providing a quality
tuition-free camp
experience.
INS IDE THIS
ISSUE:
Dining Hall 1
Pete’s Perspective 2
Summer 20143
By the Numbers
3
Garnet Hill
3
Membership Appeal4
CCC Needs List 4
The doors to Copper Cannon Camp’s new dining hall opened June 21st with
its first meal being dinner the night before camp was inundated with excited
2014 campers and parents.
Over the course of the next
eight weeks over 520 youth
enjoyed the benefits of a
spacious, state of the art
dining and meeting facility.
September 20th Copper
Cannon Camp hosted its
official ribbon cutting and
celebration of the Hamilton
T. Ford Dining Hall, known
to the campers as “Ham’s Hall”. The building is destined to become a fixture
for years to come.
As Executive Director Peter Christnacht remembered from his first meeting
with Ham Ford, “Ham shared the history of why Copper Cannon came in
to existence. He and his family took part in a free, two-week family
camp in Minnesota when he was a child, and his time
there changed him. He pledged to himself that if
he ever became successful, he would give back. One
of Ham’s lasting memories was the luxury of having
three meals a day” Christnacht stated. For many of
the children who attend Copper Cannon today, this is
still a luxury.
Sitting in the shadow of Mount Lafayette, the dining hall is a testament
to the hard work of a very dedicated board of directors and volunteers as
well as the vision of a ten year old who went to camp in 1923. As co-chair
Ben Moyer stated in his speech “This is the camper’s dining hall. What a
wonderful statement to the youth who come to Copper Cannon Camp.” Ben
went on to share stories of his father’s involvement with Copper Cannon.
The evening at Copper Cannon had a wonderful turnout with attendees
running the spectrum of ages. Former staff member Greg Soster brought his
continued on page 2
C O P P E R C AN N O N C AM P
P . O . B O X 1 2 4 • G AL E R I V E R R O AD • F R AN C O N I A, N H
6 0 3 . 8 2 3 . 8 1 0 7 • W W W . C O P P E R C AN N O N . O R G
03580
Pete’s Perspective
What a summer! Before we knew it, August
was upon us and we were rolling up the
welcome mats. The summer flew by and
was over in the blink of an eye. The
amazing summer was made possible for a
number of reasons. Out staff arrived for
the right reason and everybody understood
their one sentence job descriptions: to give
children the best week of their lives through
positive role models, relationship building
and stimulating activities.” It came through in
everything they did.
Pete receives a check in the amount of $5,000 from members of
the Lebanon Elks Club.
I knew they were good, but sometimes it took others to remind me. One such example came through long
time donor Elise Drake. After Franconia’s “Old Home Days” I received a letter from Elise and a $100
check. She requested I use it to buy my staff ice cream. Of course who am I to argue, so we went to the
Ben and Jerry’s factory. The staff waited until I had announced the topic of conversation (something we
do at every meal) until they dug in to their Vermonster.
Another reason for the wonderful summer was the new dining hall and remodeled old dining hall. Every
day, three times a day and for an hour each time, we would gather in that wonderful building to enjoy
delicious and nutritious meals. Our cooks had space to work and turned out fantastic meals with lots of
veggies hidden in them. It was a relaxed, open and inviting experience. Of course having a stage and sound
system in the old dining hall made our Thursday Night Live talent show come alive.
Dining Hall Opens! (continued from front page)
two year old daughter Cora who reviled in the new stage and
theater which was the original dining hall only a few months
earlier. 101 year old Charlie Weston shared stories of how he
and Ham were part of an investment club purchasing stock in
the now defunct American Motors Company. Charlie joked
that “camp might have had a bigger dining hall if we had been
more successful.”
The evening included a delicious buffet prepared by Pam
Nute. Not only did Pam volunteer to cook for the dedication,
but would come up throughout the summer and help in the
kitchen as her schedule permitted. Nancy Moyer-Dingman,
who donated her architectural firm’s time, received special
recognition for her hard work in making this dream materialize
for Copper Cannon Camp. With a blessing from Father Jerry
and ribbon cutting by campers Zoe and Carrie Beecher, Ham’s
Hall was done.
Summer 2014
Copper Cannon Camp is continuing to grow. This
year saw another increase in the number of youth
served. In fact, Copper Cannon had so many
children it was necessary to have a nurse on staff.
A number of visitors joined Copper Cannon Camp
throughout the summer. This included the North
Country Chamber Players who sent a different
group of musicians up each Wednesday. They
would perform for the children after lunch teaching
a small amount, but sharing their passion for music.
Having this in our new theater (the former dining
hall) was a wonderful venue.
importance of a college education with campers
from Manchester and returned during our teen
camp using Copper Cannon campers to as a
research group on a new board game. Longtime
supporter, Dr. Nolan Atkins did a wonderful
presentation on his two summers spent storm
chasing in the Midwest.
Tiltfactor, Darmouth College’s games research
department came to Copper Cannon two different
weeks. They discussed games development and the
The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF)
returned again this year. CLiF does a storytelling
workshop and follows it up by allowing each
camper to leave with two brand new books of their
own. On top of this, Executive Director Duncan
McDougal brought $4,000 of hardback books for
the new library at Copper Cannon. These were
a wonderful donation from the Jockers Family
Foundation.
By the numbers…
In Kind Donations
1 59 % of the staff were returning
2 Half of the campers were males and half females
3 11 sixteen year old Counselors in Training (CITs)
4 7 seventeen year old Junior Counselors (4F/3M)
5 Three hundred plus miles were traveled by the
Ranger High Adventure backpacking program
and Mountain Bike Adventure.
6 Over twelve thousand nutritious meals were
served to campers and staff
7 Copper Cannon Camp served 520 youth in its
overnight camp program, but still had a large
waiting list
Garnet Hill Comes Through Again!
For the sixth year, Franconia’s largest employer,
Garnet Hill has closed for a day in May to help get
Copper Cannon ready for the camping season. An
army of volunteers, over 100 strong, descended on
camp ready for a day of hard work. Planning for
the event began in earnest in February. Volunteers
stained the new maintenance building, sealed decks
and refinished the trim in the shower house. Artists
created new signs for the new theater and dining
hall, set-up the archery range, built picnic tables to
name a few.
A free summer camp does cost money. The expenses
for a child to spend one week at Copper Cannon
Camp are a shade under $600. While this may seem
like a large sum of money (which it is), the average cost
for a week of camp in New England is over $900 per
week. In fact some camps charge upwards of $1,500
per week.
In order to help keep costs down and still maintain
an outstanding program, in kind donations are
wonderful. This year was not exception with many
wonderful “in-kind” items. A few of those were:
• A much needed bathroom and shower in our Lodge (the
old dining hall) thanks to Garnet Hill, Bill Shene from
the Laconia Elks and Artie Walsh from the Littleton
Elks
• Countless hours of design work and site visits for the
new dining hall by Nancy Dingman of DingmanAllison Architects
• Christopher Harris of Profile Technologies coming
up on a moment’s notice to look at our computer and
network problems
• Of course Garnet Hill returning for a fifth year
improving camp by leaps and bounds with new program
areas, signs and wonderful picnic tables for the porch of
the new dining hall.
This is just a sampling of some of the in-kind
donations received this summer. We put a plea out
for clothing as our camper clothes closet emptied
in the early weeks of the summer and were amazed
at the outpouring from Bethlehem and Franconia.
Throughout the spring, backpacks, sleeping bags,
children’s books and even building supplies were
donated helping Copper Cannon use crucial funds for
campers and not supplies.
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
The Powder keg
Copper cannon newsletter
P.O. Box 124 • Gale River Road • Franconia, NH 03580
603.823.8107 • www.coppercannon.org
supported
throughthe
theNew
NewHampshire
Hampshire
supported through
Elks,
Kid,Membership
Membership
dues
Elks, Sponsor
Sponsor aaKid,
dues
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
PERMIT NO. 45
PAID
PERMIT NO. 45
NH
PAIDPAIDLITTLETON,
PAID
PERMIT NO.
45
LITTLETON, NH
Permit No. 32
PERMIT NO. 45
Franconia,
NH
03580
NONPROFIT
NONPROFIT
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
PAID
PAID
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
ORGANIZATION
LITTLETON,
NH
U.S. POSTAGE
PERMIT
NO. 45
ORGANIZATION
LITTLETON,
NH
U.S. POSTAGE
PERMIT
NO. 45
ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
LITTLETON,
NH
LITTLETON,
NH
U.S.
POSTAGE
PERMIT
NO.
45
PERMITU.S.
NO. POSTAGE
45
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NONPROFIT
PAID
PAID
NONPROFIT
PAID
PAID
PAID
PAID
PAID
time for our membership appeal.
PAID
PAID
PAID
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NONPROFIT ORG
LITTLETON, NH
U.S. POSTAGE
PERMIT NO. 45
PAID
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON, NH U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON, NH
NHPOSTAGE
U.S. POSTAGE
U.S. POSTAGE LITTLETON,U.S.
PERMIT NO. 45
PAID
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
PERMIT NO. 45
PAID
PAID
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
PAID
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON,
NH
U.S. POSTAGE
PERMIT NO. 45
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
NONPROFIT ORG
PAIDNONPROFIT ORG PAID
PAID
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON, NH
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
PAIDPERMIT NO. 45 PAID PERMIT NO. 45PAID
PAID
U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDNONPROFIT ORG PAID
PAID
NONPROFIT ORG
NONPROFIT ORG
NONPROFIT ORG
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PAID
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
NH PAID LITTLETON, NHPAID
PAID
PAIDLITTLETON,
PERMIT NO. 45
PERMIT NO. 45
PERMIT NO. 45
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAI
LITTLETO
PERMIT
PAID
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NONPR
ORGANIZ
U.S. POS
PAI
LITTLETO
PERMIT
NONPR
ORGANIZ
U.S. POS
PAI
LITTLETO
PERMIT
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
LITTLETON, NH
LITTLETON, NH
LITTLETON, NH
LITTLETON, NH
LITTLETON, NH
PERMITNONPROFIT
NO. 45
45
45
PERMIT NO. 45NONPROFITPERMIT
PERMIT
NONPROFIT
ORGPERMIT NO.NONPROFIT
ORG
ORG NO. 45 NONPROFIT
ORGNO. 45
ORG PERMIT NO.
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
PAID
NONPROFIT
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
LITTLETON, NH
ORG
NONPROFIT ORG
45 NONPROFIT
PERMIT
NO.
45
U.S. POSTAGE
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
PERMIT
NO.
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
PAID
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
LITTLETON, NH
ORG
NONPROFIT ORG
NO.NONPROFIT
45
PERMIT
NO. 45
U.S. POSTAGE
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
PERMIT
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT O
U.S. POSTAG
PAID
LITTLETON,
PERMIT NO.
NONPROFIT O
U.S. POSTAG
PAID
LITTLETON,
PERMIT NO.
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NONPROFIT O
U.S. POSTAG
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON,
PERMIT NO.
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT O
U.S. POSTAG
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
LITTLETON,
PERMIT NO.
PAID
PAID
PAID
PAID
In this addition of the Powder Keg, we include a
“needs list” of used items people could donate. As our
needs continue to grow, we have included an updated
list. Remember,
donations
aresupplies
tax deductible.
• Artsalland
crafts
If you know past campers and staff, encourage them to contact
Copper Cannon with their e-mail and mailing addresses so we
can keep them updated. Pictures and stories from the early days
are always appreciated.
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
When the first campers arrived at Ham Ford’s ski lodge in
1963, no one envisioned where we would be today. The
program has grown while still maintaining Ham’s vision of
providing a respite for those less fortunate. The summer of
would
a newsletter
smallCamp.
non-profit
2013What
will mark
the 50th
anniversary of from
Copper aCannon
be without a shameless plug for money? This is
PAID
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT
PAID
NONPR
ORGANIZ
U.S. POS
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
Copper Cannon Needs List
Ham Ford’s granddaughter and current board member Amy
ours. The summer at 2014 saw record numbers of
Ford has been working diligently to honor this auspicious
campers.
Unbelievably
does
occasion.
Plans are
in the works for ahaving
Foundersmore
Dinnercampers
in
Maynot
celebrating
our successes
with long-time
and Cannon
translate
into more
money.donors
Copper
volunteers.
September
14th will
be a celebration
and
CampSaturday,
has four
seasonal
events
(Raffle, Auction,
open house at Copper Cannon Camp open to everybody. It will
Sponsor A Kid and Membership). Each helps us
be a chance to enjoy some of the great camp activities, tour the
transition
from
one season to the next. Now is the
facility
and renew old
friendships.
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
Golden Anniversary
Membership Appeal
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT
PAID
PAID
ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
U.S.NH
POSTAGE
LITTLETON,
NH
LITTLETON,
NONPROFIT
PAID
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON,
NH
LIT
PE
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
Non ProfitORGANIZATION
Org.
NONPROFIT
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
U.S. POSTAGE
ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
U.S.
Postage
PAID
PAID
PAID
U.S.
POSTAGE
U.S. POSTAGE
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NONPROFIT
PAID
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON,
NH
PAID
PAID NH
LITTLETON,
LITTLETON,
PERMIT NO.NH
45
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
Nonprofit
Cannon.
Cannon.
LITTLETON, NH
PERMIT NO. 45
ORGANIZATION
PAID
U.S.
POSTAGE
PAID
Nonprofit
and
fromFriends
Friends
Copper
and donations
donations from
ofof
Copper
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Copper
Cannonisisaa501©3
501(c)(3)
non-profit
Copper Cannon
non-profit
PAID
PAID
LITTLETON,
NH
LITTLETON,
NH45
PERMIT NO.
PERMIT NO. 45
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Copper Cannon Camp
PAID
PAID
LITTLETON, NH
LITTLETON,
NH
PERMIT
NO. 45
PERMIT NO. 45
PAID
Copper Cannon Wish List
•Copper
KayaksCannon Wish List
Arts and
crafts supplies
• Building
materials
Books (i.e. Harry Potter, Ramona Quimby,
• Gravel
Hardy Boys, etc.)
Kayaks
• Sleeping bags
Old wagon for hay rides around camp
• Color printing of flyers and brochures
Building materials
Hand •tools
(rakes, shovels,
etc.)
Volunteer
at camp
Gravel
• Volunteer on a committee
Sleeping bags
• Cash
(of course)
Volunteer
at camp
Volunteer
on
a
committee
• Securities (it can’t hurt to ask)
Cash (of course)
Securities (it can’t hurt to ask)
PAID