It’s only been a few days since our First Session campers arrived, and already camp is buzzing with the hum of regular activities and well-practiced routines. After the first day of program orientations, during which campers learned the expectations and safety guidelines for all of camp’s activity areas, everyone was excited to jump into the normal camp schedule. Wednesday marked the first day of regular programming, and our campers leaped at the chance to practice archery, go canoeing, bake cookies in the adobe oven, rehearse campfire skits, design craft projects, and visit Trader Horn, the camp store.
Some of our youngest campers were the most excited for our first campfire of the summer!
Wednesday at lunch, campers experienced their first “Scramble Amble” of the session. (Although most meals are eaten with a camper’s unit leaders and unitmates, at “Scramble Amble” campers can sit at any table they’d like, which gives them the opportunity to spend time with siblings or friends who are in other units.) We’ve all enjoyed the singing after meals, and our music staff has been taking the time to teach us new songs as well as lead many old favorites.
Gathering around the fire circle in their unit gives campers a chance to meet as a group and plan their activities.
In their downtime from activities, campers have been settling into their tipis and getting to know their unitmates. Many campers bring decorations or photos from home that they use to add their own unique flair to their living space. Units have also been working as a group to clear their fire circles and have them approved for campfire use. As the week goes on, many units will be gathering around their campfires, savoring that special time together and making memories (and s’mores).
Campers from the Ranger unit put on a creative “Nor’wester Olympics”-themed campfire skit, which showcased such epic competitive events as “Double Jumping” and “Sleeping Bag Races.”
And speaking of campfires, our Waterfront and Craft Shop staff hosted the first all-camp campfire of the session on Tuesday night. Each unit presented a skit they developed themselves, and hilarity ensued as campers found goofy and memorable ways to introduce every member of their unit. It was a silly and joyful evening that helped us learn one another’s names and drew us closer as a community as we smiled and laughed together. Following a tradition that stretches back to camp’s founding in 1935, we closed out our campfire by wrapping our arms around one another and singing together “The Golden Day is Dying.”
“The Golden Day is Dying” has been sung at the end of every campfire since camp was founded in 1935.
It’s been a busy and exciting first week here at camp – and there’s so much more in store for our First Session campers!