MACATAWA TRIBE CAMPING WEEKEND
70+ fathers and daughters from the Macatawa Tribe spent a magical weekend in the wilderness.
A Weekend in the Wilderness with Dimitra
This past weekend, I traded airports, meetings, and phone calls for pine trees, campfires, and quality time with my daughter, Demi.
We headed into the mountains for the Macatawa Tribe Indian Princess father-daughter camping weekend at Camp Arbolado, located deep in the wilderness of Angelus Oaks, California. Hosted through the YMCA of Greater Whittier, the weekend was designed around one simple concept: fathers slowing down and being fully present with their daughters.
And honestly… that’s exactly what it became.
There’s something special about disconnecting from the normal noise of life and reconnecting in nature. No business pressure. No schedules. No distractions. Just tents, fresh mountain air, hiking trails, camp activities, laughter, and conversations that probably never happen the same way at home.
Watching Demi experience the outdoors, build memories with friends, and fully embrace the adventure reminded me how important these moments really are. As parents, we spend so much time focused on building businesses, careers, and responsibilities that sometimes we forget the biggest investment we can make is simply our time.
The weekend was filled with classic camp moments:
• Campfires under the stars
• Outdoor activities and games
• Father-daughter bonding events
• Wilderness adventures
• Early mountain mornings and cold fresh air
• Stories, laughs, and memories that will last forever
Camp Arbolado itself was incredible — surrounded by towering trees and tucked away in the San Bernardino Mountains, it created the perfect environment to unplug and reconnect.
These are the moments our daughters will remember years from now. Not the emails. Not the meetings. Not the flights.
They’ll remember that dad showed up.
Grateful for weekends like this. Grateful for Demi Dimitra. And grateful for organizations like the YMCA and the Macatawa Tribe that continue creating opportunities for fathers and daughters to build lifelong memories together.
Until next year.
📍 Camp Arbolado, YMCA of Greater Whittier, Angelus Oaks, California
“These moments are a reset and a reminder how precious the time is with your little ones.”
So proud to see Demi persevere. After not making it across the course on her first attempt, she sat there, studied, and tried again and was the only female in her tribe to complete the course. You are a rock star, honey.
INVIGORATE YOUR BUSINESS PODCAST
George Stroumboulis sits down with Christopher Bates, founder of the internationally recognized Christopher Bates brand. Filmed in Newport Beach, California, they explore Christopher's journey from studying fashion design in Milan to building a globally respected lifestyle brand known for its sophistication, innovation, and commitment to quality.
George Stroumboulis sits down with Jake Hardy, founder of SOKITO, the company behind one of the world's most sustainable football boots. Filmed in Newport Beach, California, they explore Jake's journey from identifying a gap in the market to building a purpose-driven brand in one of the most competitive industries in sport.
George Stroumboulis sits down with George Stroumboulopoulos, one of Canada's most influential broadcasters, for an intimate conversation about identity, discipline, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. Filmed in Newport Beach, California, they explore Strombo's journey from pirate radio and MuchMusic to CBC, CNN, and Hockey Night in Canada, sharing lessons on authenticity, resilience, burnout, and the human connections that have defined his career.
George Stroumboulis sits down with Mike Zambidis, world kickboxing legend and one of the most explosive fighters in combat sports history. Filmed at Zambidis Gym in Glyfada, Athens, Greece, they explored his journey from a young athlete in Athens to becoming an 18 time world champion and international K 1 superstar.
George Stroumboulis sits down with Peter Politis, a seasoned entrepreneur known for buying, scaling, and exiting businesses in highly competitive industries. Filmed in Miami, Florida, they explored his journey from finance into food distribution. Breaking down the mindset, discipline, and execution required to build businesses that scale and sell.
George Stroumboulis sits down with Georgios Frangulis, the Brazilian-Greek founder and CEO of Oakberry, one of the fastest-growing global superfood brands. Filmed in Miami, they explore his journey from starting with limited resources to building Oakberry into a worldwide empire, along with his expansion into sports ownership, luxury investments, and global partnerships.
George Stroumboulis sits down with Alexi Papalexopoulos, a Los Angeles–based filmmaker and creative director who built his career directing music videos for major artists before transitioning into narrative filmmaking and global storytelling. Filmed in Newport Beach, they explore his journey through music, film, creative evolution, and the mindset behind building a career in visual storytelling.
George Stroumboulis sits down with Nick Regina, a Toronto entrepreneur who rose from the nightclub promotion world to become the founder of Spark Financial Group. Filmed in Newport Beach, they explore his journey through nightlife, entrepreneurship, finance, faith, and the discipline required to reinvent yourself and build lasting success.
George Stroumboulis sits down with Thomai Vardali in Thessaloniki, Greece, to explore her journey as one of the country’s most accomplished female footballers. Together, they dive into her early start in the sport, her standout career at PAOK FC Women, her experience with the Greece women’s national football team, and how she’s inspiring the next generation of female athletes across Greece.
OTHER BLOGS
George Stroumboulis, CEO and Co-Founder of Ideoli Group, delivered his Building Beyond Borders keynote at the GBATA 26th Annual International Conference, held at the Titania Hotel in Athens, Greece.
I took my daughters, Demi and Viviana, to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to watch Canada take on South Africa in the FIFA Men's World Cup Round of 32.
We headed into the mountains for the Macatawa Tribe Indian Princess father-daughter camping weekend at Camp Arbolado, located deep in the wilderness of Angelus Oaks, California.
I’m honored to officially announce that I will be joining the 26th Annual International Conference hosted by the Global Business and Technology Association as a keynote speaker in Athens, Greece this July.
For the first time in over forty years on this planet, my parents, my sister, and I finally experienced Greece together as a family.
During a recent trip to Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to visit one of the many WeWork locations that features Ideoli Group LED lighting installed throughout the space.
A look at Greek diaspora work ethic vs. life back home—and what it teaches us about responsibility
Delivering high-impact, scalable lighting design in one of Miami’s most dynamic entertainment venues - bringing the Puttshack experience to life through precision, energy, and partnership.
A local Chinese man approached me and asked a simple question: “Where are you from?” Without thinking, I answered, “Canada.” It came out naturally, almost instinctively. He smiled and followed up with another question: “What part of Canada do you live in?”
A late-night taxi ride in Athens turns into a powerful reminder: everyone is carrying something you can’t see.
George Stroumboulis sits down with Raphael Kontos and Thaleia Misailidou. Filmed in Athens, Greece, they discuss the growth of Greece's startup ecosystem, venture capital, innovation, and what it takes to build globally competitive companies.