Celebrating Week One

It’s hard to believe that the first week of the summer has already ended! Sure, it was a short week, but it still feels like time is flying!

Each unit has started to develop its own personality in a way that comes only from living and attending activities together, and we can’t wait to see where their relationships take them. Each unit creates a call to attention, and call and response count off. Camp has started to fall into a familiar routine, mornings begin with breakfast and Tidy Time, and evenings end with reflection in the unit. 

The first day of the week wrapped up with an opening campfire hosted by the Waterfront in which each unit and each camper got on stage to introduce themselves. Units had prepared fun, funny, and creative skits, including “The Banana and the Beast” by the Mountaineers and “Superhero Recruitment” by the Explorers. 

The week ended with Island Fair Day on Thursday and Anchor Day on Friday. 

Island Fair Day is an all-camp celebration that happens once a session. Campers spend the morning preparing for the festivities of the afternoon and evening. There are stations where representatives from each unit bake pies, build milk carton boats, paint signs, and set up carnival booths. In the afternoon, there is an optional Fun Run, face painting, a Regetta (kayaks and milk carton boat races this year), and all-camp beach time. After dinner, pie awards are announced, and the whole camp attends the Carnival. Units host homemade carnival games. This year you could get married and divorced to anyone with the Troubadours, get a makeover from the Mariners, and play cards with the Pathfinders or Islanders. 

Anchor Days are slower days once a week during which campers spend more unstructured time with their units. The camp also gathers for Chapel (a non-religious, non-spiritual time for reflection) and Musicale (an open mic for campers and staff to share their talents and passions). 

As we head into Week Two of the session, the oldest campers are getting ready for Big Trips, and everyone else will be preparing for overnights soon!