Camps
 

Ontario Canada
(45-907) Zone 13  

We are delighted to have you join us. 

We welcome you to browse around our site to learn see what we are about. 

Being a member of an Optimist Club means that you have decided to give back a little of yourself to the community. We urge you to get involved. Let everyone know you are proud to be an Optimist. You will find being a member of the Optimist Organization both enjoyable and rewarding to yourself, the community and to our future, the Youth.

 CLUB HISTORY

The Optimist Club of Kitchener Waterloo was Chartered in 1952. Our Charter President was W.C. (Pat) Rehkopf.  

Our Club consists of two main properties, Camp Heidelberg and Camp Bamberg. 

Camp Bamberg is a 54-acre property, which was purchased from an Optimist Member, Lloyd Ratz, in 1955. At this site there is a Club House, better known as the "Howard Becker" building, a pond, a fair sized bush and a flat open field area. The Kitchener Y.W.C.A. has used this Camp for a number of years as part of their day camping programs. In 1988, the Waterloo Girl Guides also started using Camp Bamberg on a regular basis, in the months of May and June, September and October. 

Camp Heidelberg is a 75-acre property, which was purchased in 1958. At this site there is a main clubhouse, an environmentally sensitive. "bog", a building by the pond, a bunk house, better known as the "Coker Building", a "sugar shack" which was constructed in 1992 and is used to make maple syrup from the many trees on the property. The main hall has an addition, which was completed in 1992.

Our Executive consists of a President, two Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, a Secretary, eight Directors, and a Past President. The Board of Directors consists of four "Two Year Directors" which serve a two-year term, and four " One Year Directors" which serve a one-year term. Normally the Two Year Directors become One Year Directors at the end of their first year, and then move on as Vice Presidents to eventually take office as President in their fifth year on the Executive.

Our membership consists of people from many walks of life, Construction, Real Estate, Salespeople, Business people, Insurance, Skilled Craftsmen, Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Senior Citizens, to name only a few.

Our Club's basic function is to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the community with the emphasis being on Youth. "Friends of Youth" has been the official motto of the organization since 1980. It was updated a that time from, "Friend of the Boy", to more accurately reflect the service Optimist Clubs' render to young people of both sexes. During the organization’s formative years, (1920's & 1930's) the motto was "Friend of the Delinquent Boy".

Today's motto is a straightforward statement of the reason for the existence of all Optimist Clubs

 

Annual Optimist Events

The Kitchener - Waterloo Optimist Club  also sponsors a number of other youth activities within our community to provide opportunities for our young people to develop into the leaders of tomorrow. 

Some of the programs run by 
the KW Optimist Club include:

  • Oratorical Contest 

  • Essay Contest

  • Respect for Law Program 

  • Youth Appreciation Program 

  • Amateur Junior Golf Tournament 

  • Just Say No to Drugs Program

  •  Seven Kilometer  Walkathon

  • Jack Rabbit Ski Program

Funds to carry out these programs 
are raised through:

  • Bingo

  • Car Shows

  •  Horror Hill Run

  • Elmira Maple Syrup Festival 

  • Club Rentals

 

Sports Events

The club has organized sports programs.  Our teams and players have fared well over the years and have represented the K-W Optimists in city, provincial, national events.

  • Co-ed T Ball -Breithaupt Park Team