Category: Ffa

The National FFA Organization and the new York FFA

2/12/2019

Oswegatchie is owned and operated by the New York FFA Foundation who has a mission to serve the New York FFA Association. The Foundation does whatever it can to serve the FFA members, but it often does that best by connecting industry with local FFA chapters and members, typically with help connect funding to CDE, LDE, and contest winners.

The following videos are a project done by the New York FFA Association to promote what it does through the year. This first video is a spotlight on the agricultural education side of its work.

New York State FFA | Agricultural Education from New York State FFA on Vimeo.

This next video is a spotlight on the New York FFA. These are both great videos.

New York State FFA | The FFA from New York State FFA on Vimeo.

We hope you enjoy these videos. We think they are fantastic and wanted to share the content.

Excelsior,
Bill Waite
Program Director

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Oswegatchie Dining Hall Project and Capital Campaign

11/7/2018

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In 1946 The New York FFA Foundation purchased 1200 acres in Lewis County. On the land sat a lodge that was built in 1872 as a lumberjack hotel. Since 1946 more than 100,000 campers have passed through the doors of Widrick Lodge for nutritious meals and fellowship.

Today, the needs of Oswegatchie are changing and we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure the future of our camp. Please consider joining this campaign as a donor and/or volunteer. With the awarding of a grant from the State of New York, Oswegatchie has reached 65% of the funds needed to construct a new dining hall and kitchen. We are kicking off this capital campaign to raise the remaining balance of $1,000,000.

There is so much to talk about when it comes to this project, everything from building design to fundraising. Its the biggest project Oswegatchie and the NY FFA Foundation have undertaken. In short, by following the green button below, you will be taken to the capital campaign's main site. That site will include information on building design, current donations, and where our success is now.

As of January 2019, We are entering the next phase of the project....

You can choose many routes We are not breaking ground on the project till August 2019, so you can choose between one lump sum payment or painless month installments. We have a Go Fund Me Campaign available for easy donations. Our Paypal link is ideal for more discreet payments. We also have many donations coming by check.

I have a personal ask to the 1,000 people that love Oswegatchie the most please dig deep. If your life has been transformed by Oswegatchie, If you have more or less to donate, we need the help. If your are limited by cash, but have the ability to at least share our message, please do so, Thank you in advance.

Excelsior,
Bill Waite
Program Director

Donate Now with Go FUND ME

Click here to learn more about this Project

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Oswegatchie on The record : 1945 - 1955

11/21/2017

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In the history of literature, the "journal entry style of writing" flourished with Bram Stoker's Dracula and Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. The following is not that interesting...

What we do have here is a compilation of records and correspondence from masters of parliamentary procedure and proper recorded minutes. The thorough use of the written record here is a testament to the early days of Oswegatchie's Founders. As a sidenote, this the work of veterans of both WW1 and WW2. The testament to these men for doing what they did abroad and at home is a heavy legacy to consider.

In the PDF below, you will find roses among the thorns, names important to the early days of OSwegatchie, and the changing of the guard as different people come and go, or need to change their focus from a summer camp to the rest of their lives. Additionally, you will find local names, businesses, and local spots referenced.

The following PDF can be downloaded and placed on your digital reader or computer. Be warned, it is 155 MB in size.

Excelsior,
Bill Waite
Program Director

oswegatchie_founders_documents.pdf
File Size:	160215 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Oswegatchie History DVD

3/14/2017

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In 1996, Oswegatchie put together a history video. It covered the years from 1880 to 1996. It tracked the history of the property from its origins as a logging camp, to being a resort, sitting dormant for 16 years, and its eventual use as a summer camp.

The longer you have been a part of Oswegatchie, the better this video gets. The more of the history you discover, the better able you are to see our growth.

Oswegatchie now has the ability to copy this movie on to DVD and send to you at no cost. We are doing this this "in-house" to keep the cost of duplicating low. All we ask is that you you complete the attached form and give us a few days to get it in the mail to you.

Remember, this video was made in 1996. Its was done just before the digital revolution. It was originally meant to be watched on a VHS cassette using a VCR. In the modern age of HD, It will look a bit rough. Regardless, we are lucky to have this archive at our finger tips.

We hope to do an update soon. We will share the next chapter with you when ready.

Thank You in Advance,
Bill Waite
Program Director

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2017 Winter Survival Camp for Military Youth

7/25/2016

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During the week of February 19 -24th, New York’s FFA Camp Oswegatchie will host a week long outdoor sports & winter survival camp. While it is titled a Winter Survival Camp, we will be using our modern / winterized lodge for meals and lodging. Everything else is outside on our 1,200 acres of wilderness land in the Adirondacks. Besides basic physical abilities, it requires no special skill sets, but it does require winter clothes.

This camp is open to any youth ages 14 – 18, as long as they are the child of an active duty, reservist, or veteran military personnel.

This is a grant program being implemented through the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County and is highly grant funded. The cost per student is only $40, but the value of the week is $500, plus there is a $325 travel stipend. It’s an incredible value.

To learn more, you can refer to the flyer attached, the link below, or contact Oswegatchie at (315) 346-1222 / info@oswegatchie.org . The CCE of Jefferson County can also be contacted for more information.

https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=2017Winter_Outdoor_Survival_Ca_222

To learn about other programs being offered to military youth, go to:

https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/adventurecamps/Pages/camps-by-location.aspx

To learn more about Oswegatchie, go to www.oswegatchie.org.

Excelsior,
Bill Waite
Program Director

Click on the PDF Icon to download

2017_oswegatchie_winter_mil_camp.pdf
File Size:	1226 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Oswegatchie and Other FFA Camps

5/2/2016

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Throughout the country, FFA Camps and FFA Centers exist to help students of all ages. Starting as far back as 1928, the FFA has had camps at the state level. These places have created traditions that helped state association’s to flourish.

For the past 10 years, a number of state camp staff have been getting together for sharing and tours of each other’s facility. These “FFA Camp Directors” have been sharing best practices and ideas just as teachers do at their own professional development conferences.

I wanted to share a list of these places with you. They are excellent resources and are perfect opportunities to keep resources “inside” the FFA community. Most of the facilities work hard to reinvest revenue in their facilities to help future FFA members. Many are owned by state level FFA foundations or department of educations.

New York’s Oswegatchie Camp – www.oswegatchie.org and www.oswegatchiecamp.com
Open year round with opportunities for programming inside the Adirondacks. The summer camp is open to the FFA from any state. We have had shared programs with CT, NH, MA, MO, GA, NJ, and PA. It’s the host side for the regional NLCSO, and it has hosted the Region 6 NAAE June Conference in 2011.

Oswegatchie is currently accepting summer campers for our 2016 season. Any FFA member can have our FFA rate regardless of state association. For a FFA Advisor tutorial, go to https://youtu.be/5x-IJK_3mzU

Georgia FFA FCCLA Center - www.georgiaffacamp.org/
Set 45 minutes from Atlanta, this sprawling camp hosts a huge camp program and does many specialty events year round. The Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center is an exciting and unique camp and conference facility! We invite you to get to know one of Georgia's best kept secrets!

Georgia Camp John Hope - www.campjohnhope.com/
Camp John Hope FFA-FCCLA Center is an educational camp facility designed with the purpose of providing the youth of Georgia with a site for leadership and career development. Started in 1938 as a camp for rural African-American youth, it has evolved into a camp facility and conference center for the FFA and FCCLA Organizations, as well as many other youth and adult organizations.

Ohio FFA Camp Muskingum - ohioffa.org/camp/
Located in Carroll County, on the banks of Leesville Lake, Camp Muskingum has been offering unique outdoor experiences since 1942. The lake, hillside and forests offer prime opportunities for aquatic and nature studies. We also offer fishing, hiking, boating, swimming and both low and high ropes courses, along with a paintball course.

Indiana FFA Leadership Center leadershipcenter.inffa.org/
This facility has supported the development of young people and adults through leadership workshops, retreats, youth camps, and CDEs. Whether you are planning a reunion, retreat, or camp experience, this is a natural place to meet. Additionally, it’s an easily navigable distance from the National FFA Center. Located in Trafalgar, IN on 170 acres, you additionally get the experience of spending time with Joe Park, who is a FFA treasure. Make sure to ask about the Joe Park Pork Chop!

Kentucky FFA LTC Center - kyffa.org/leadership-training-center/
Spend time in Hardinsburg, KY with the Kentucky FFA. Their facility is ready to accept groups in pursuit of educational goals and agriculture leadership. With modern lodging and large group meeting areas, this location has much to offer a group of students or future agriculturalists.

North Carolina FFA Center at White Lake - ncffa.org/ncffa-center
Since 1928, more than 400,000 FFA members have visited White Lake. Besides summer camp, others have rented the facilities for group meetings. As the oldest FFA camp in the United States, the North Carolina FFA Camp offers scenic views and historic cabins.

South Carolina FFA Center - www.scaged.org/Camp/camp.htm
Tucked away in the marsh of North Myrtle Beach, our camp is located on thirty-six acres of prime ocean real estate. This property was purchased in 1953 by the South Carolina FFA Association. Since that time, the FFA Association has maintained the structures and the property as well as provided the necessary personnel and resources to conduct the youth programs for thousands of FFA members

Arkansas’s Camp Couchdale – www.arkansasffa.org/couchdale.aspx
More than one million young people have spent one or more weeks at Couchdale enjoying the recreational activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, and other sports in addition to the educational advantages of forestry, soil conservation, cooperative training, and other leadership activities.

Tennessee’s Camp Clements - www.campclements.org
Camp Clements is a leadership/team development training facility. In fact, the word camp may be somewhat of a misnomer. Camp Clements is a modern, permanent leadership facility for Tennessee vocational students and teachers. The purposes of the facility are very specific and for student development.

Other states may have FFA Camps or Centers, but these are the primary members of this cohort group.

Each state is different in regards to facility, programs, and supervision. Not all camps use advisors for night time supervision. Additionally, day time opportunities and responsibilities differ as well. Contact any of us to learn more about our camps.

Sincerely,

Bill Waite
Oswegatchie Program Director

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Tutorial Videos for FFA Advisors

2/25/2016

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Its hard to realize how complicated all the pieces of being an FFA Advisor / Ag Educator are to perform. I have made 2 tutorials videos for teachers to help them understand 2 big pieces of Oswegatchie’s yearly operation.

This is an effort to make things less complicated. Technically, these videos are for newer teachers, but veterans may find them useful as well.

AdironDuck Race & the Duck Bucks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vu9HIL0e6w (4:59)

Summer Camp FFA Chapters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x-IJK_3mzU (8:21)

As a side note, if you are not a FFA Advisor, but work in schools or other youth groups, we typically have space for more than FFA members to be at camp. Contact us at info@oswegatchie.org .

Excelsior,
Bill Waite
Program Director

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The National FFA Organization and the new York FFA

Oswegatchie Dining Hall Project and Capital Campaign

Oswegatchie on The record : 1945 - 1955

Oswegatchie History DVD

2017 Winter Survival Camp for Military Youth

Oswegatchie and Other FFA Camps

Tutorial Videos for FFA Advisors

Experiencing Oswegatchie

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Oswegatchie is Owned & operated by the New York FFA Foundation