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GOOD DAY CAMPERS!!!
My name is Jonathan Manrow, but just Jon will work, as my full name is quite formal methinks. I was born and have spent most of my 25 years in Toledo, Ohio. My home is commonly referred to as the Glass City as it has a long history of innovation in the glass industry. It is also the fourth largest city in the state. This summer is my very first as a counselor at Camp Augusta.
Here are some fun facts about me before we get to the more serious and informational stuff... As a young lad, my favorite things to do were sit upside down on the couch, play in the creek and woods near my home, build forts, play baseball, and ride my bicycle around the neighborhood. As of these days, I like to stand in several ways aside from just on my feet. Among them are: The traditional headstand, you know that one, the crow, where I stand on my two hands with my knees on my elbows, and the scorpion, where I stand on just my forearms and arch my legs toward my head (it really does look like a scorpion from the side). When you get to camp, I would be glad to demonstrate, just ask :). And if you know of more ways to stand other than on two feet I would love it if you would share them with me. I also enjoy observing animals. I have a pet woodchuck. He does not know he is my pet, but he does live on the same land as me, and I kind of feed him, so he is, as far as I am concerned, my pet. I say I kind of feed him because last year I witnessed him standing on his rear legs, pushing over my garbage cans. I used to think it was the wind that did it. I often catch animals in my house and release them into the wild. I recently peacefully escorted a bee from my home with a water glass and a piece of cardboard (without getting stung). I do not remove spiders from my house, because everyone knows that is bad luck. :-) I look forward to observing animals at camp, as I think we can learn a lot from them.
More facts about me (one of them is not true):
I have never been on a high- ropes course before and I am super excited about trying it (and secretly nervous)
I have had 6 sets of stitches (it should have been eight); I will show you the scars if you ask
I played organized baseball from the time I was about seven until just last year (I am in an indefinite state of retirement)
I love to draw pictures and write stuff down
I have been on a car ride from my home city to San Francisco and back, and it took us a loooooong time
Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday, as I love to make costumes, and wear them, and do Halloween make-up, for myself and others
I have never been in an oatmeal fight, but I really look forward to having my first (or twentieth) with you this summer
I have been on a backboard and in an ambulance before (at the same time, but I ended up just fine, for now)
I am fascinated by the stars and planets and want to learn a lot more about them (there are a lot of stars visible from camp I hear)
I was once bitten by a baby alligator
One of my sets of stitches came from a flying compact disc
So which is not true? You tell me :)
I will begin the rest of the story of me with a description of my formal education, I earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toledo in 2005. If you are not familiar with mechanical engineering, Wikipedia says this about it: An engineering discipline that involves the application of principles of physics for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It requires a solid understanding of key concepts including mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics and energy. Mechanical engineers use these principles and others in the design and analysis of motor vehicles, aircraft, heating & cooling systems, watercraft, manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, medical devices and more.
After completing my course of formal study, I secured a position with a very large automobile manufacturer. During my time there, I acted as the supervisor of a small department, a data analyst, and did some quality problem-solving work. The work was quite challenging and I learned a whole lot about cars, people, and myself while there. After one and one half years of work in factories and offices, I decided I had spent enough time indoors and wanted to experience some new things.
Since freeing myself from the 40-plus-hour-a-week working world, I have spent most of my time doing the things I enjoy most: Reading, yoga, spending time with family and friends, cooking, eating, making things, breaking things, being outside (running, biking, exploring a nearby metro-park), and traveling.
My most exciting travels were experienced in the period of time that stretched from the most recent October to December. During those months I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Guatemala. Guatemala borders Mexico on the South side if you are not a geography person. While in Guatemala I was able to climb a volcano, begin my yoga practice, ride across the country in chicken buses, swim in what has been called the most beautiful lake in the world (Atitlan), learn to communicate using the Spanish language (at a very… very basic level), and perhaps most importantly gain a new perspective about living conditions in a pretty economically disadvantaged place outside of the United States. I also met some really amazing people and made some great friends, among them, was Camp Augusta staff member Lizy Meacham. She could not say enough great things about Camp, and her enthusiasm caught my attention, so here I am now (after the most intense interview process I have ever been a part of ), only a few weeks away from my first camp experience (aside from one week in sixth grade).
I am so absolutely exceptionally excited about sharing this experience with my cabin mates, and all of the campers! I cannot wait to hear what kinds of things they have to say, see what kinds of things I can learn from them and how hard and for how long we can laugh. Being away from the city and in nature, where the sounds come from animals and people and the only light comes from small fires and the occasional flashlight will be a most wonderful and needed break from busy city and suburban life. It will be absolutely impossible for us not to have the time of our lives. From what I hear, this is the largest staff Camp Augusta has ever had, and most of the staff has a great deal of experience. There will be so many fantastic and interesting people to meet, learn about, and have fun with. Not to mention all of the activities we can learn. I could carry on at length about my excitement, but I will let you fill in the blanks with your imagination.
Take care and I cannot wait to meet each and every one of you!
Jon
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