Hope these longer and warmer spring days are reminding you of summer and fun days at Asto Wamah.  When you look at the updated photos I am including this month you will see a stark difference from April 1st pics.  The world at camp is exploding in green.  It is a beautiful sight and always an anticipated one after the bare CT winter.  I [...] ]]> Welcome to May!

Hope these longer and warmer spring days are reminding you of summer and fun days at Asto Wamah.  When you look at the updated photos I am including this month you will see a stark difference from April 1^st pics.  The world at camp is exploding in green.  It is a beautiful sight and always an anticipated one after the bare CT winter.  I am hopeful that many of you will be able to come to camp on May 5^th for Open Camp Day.   I always am looking for tour guides to take first year campers and their families around between 3 and 5.  You are all invited!

Progress is moving ahead with our new “green” bathroom.  I am confident that all the remaining steps will be completed by mid June and we will have a new facility up and running when you arrive.

Just a reminder, we still have a few openings remaining in the one-week coed session for both boys and girls and the Aug. 5-18^th all girls session.  Spread the word!  Thank you.

At this point, the staff is hired and it includes many returning members.  The 2011 LT group is well represented on this summer’s staff so those will be familiar faces to many of you.   Sam will be back from his teaching in China, Catherine and Chris will be married, Kyle and Gillian will have graduated from college and we will all be back a year wiser.  We look forward to seeing ‘old’ campers and new, learning and growing together as we engage in the activities of play, work and living in community.

I will be back in touch in early June.  In the meantime stay well and safe,

Nancy

April is here!  What a strange end to a winter that hardly started.

The trees are just beginning to bud in the woods and there are signs of new and young life everywhere at camp.  I have included two photos that show some of those signs of spring.  One was taken from the porch of the infirmary, looking toward cabin 7.  If you [...] ]]> Dear Friends of Asto Wamah,

April is here!  What a strange end to a winter that hardly started.

The trees are just beginning to bud in the woods and there are signs of new and young life everywhere at camp.  I have included two photos that show some of those signs of spring.  One was taken from the porch of the infirmary, looking toward cabin 7.  If you look closely you can see small green buds on the trees.  The other is from Icky Water Bridge.  Looking up the stream, the skunk cabbage is clearly evident.  Next month’s pictures will show a much more dramatic change in the forest.

This unusually mild weather has given us a good jump on projects that would typically not be able to get done for another month or so.  There is daily progress as Asto Wamah is readied for another summer of fun.

The most exciting project of the year is finally taking shape.  Our new bathroom building has electricity and the plumbing is nearing completion.   Soon the inner walls will go up, then the floor, the fixtures (4 sinks, 6 toilets and 3 urinals) and finally the partitions.  The prospect of increasing our bathroom capacity without negatively impacting the environment represents a giant (and green) step into the future.

The lack of snowfall and rain has resulted in Columbia Lake stagnating at its wintertime depth.   This is not a totally unprecedented issue.  There are three months remaining before the 2012 season will begin and that will hopefully allow time for the lake to fill.

Registration has gone quite well.  Both the second (all boys, July 8-21) and third sessions (all girls, July 22 to Aug. 4) are full with waiting lists.  There are a few openings in coed for both boys and girls and in the fourth session (all girls, Aug 5 to 18) as well.  If you know anyone who might be interested in either the 1^st or the 4^th sessions, I would be please if they would contact me for more information.

Because the next blog will not appear until early May, I thought this would be a good time to remind you of Open Camp Day.  This year Open Camp Day will be held on May 5^th from 3PM to 5PM.  Please come by for a tour, lemonade and cookies.  Old and new campers are welcomed.  Invite a friend who had never seen Asto Wamah.  The staff and I look forward to meeting new campers and their families.  We always like to see returning campers!

Enjoy the longer days and warmer temperature as we move closer to summer and camp.

Always,

Nancy

Hope you are well and happy and have not been too bored with the non-winter weather we have had this year.

During the past month I have been pleased to receive so many camp applications from new and returning people.  Even though the July 22 to August 4 (all girls session) is full, there are still openings in coed, boys camp and [...] ]]> Greetings to All Asto Wamah Folk,

Hope you are well and happy and have not been too bored with the non-winter weather we have had this year.

During the past month I have been pleased to receive so many camp applications from new and returning people.  Even though the July 22 to August 4 (all girls session) is full, there are still openings in coed, boys camp and the Aug. 5 to Aug. 18^th  girls sessions.  Please talk camp up with your friends and neighbors and let them know that there are still places left.  The application is on the website and if someone wants a brochure just call me (860-649-8614) and I will mail them one.

Many staff from last summer will be back and the 2011 LTs will be joining them.  It is going to be a terrific group.  Plans are well underway for the summer program.   We truly hope that you will be with us.

We are clearly beginning to see signs of spring.  Although the road and paths, usually deep in mud, are dry, many trees appear close to blooming.  The lake has not yet returned to its summer level, but that will come soon. Spring is on its way and that means camp is not far behind!

Always,

Nancy

Camp is really coming alive now as the days grow longer.  On Sunday, Catherine, Chris and I were at a camp fair at REI in Blue Back Square.  We enjoyed meeting new families interested in sending their child (or children) to camp this summer and seeing so many familiar faces of campers, parents and staff who stopped by to visit.   It was [...] ]]> Dear Friends of Asto Wamah,

Camp is really coming alive now as the days grow longer.  On Sunday, Catherine, Chris and I were at a camp fair at REI in Blue Back Square.  We enjoyed meeting new families interested in sending their child (or children) to camp this summer and seeing so many familiar faces of campers, parents and staff who stopped by to visit.   It was a great afternoon.  It made us feel as if the new season is not far off.

The 2012 brochure/application will go in the mail first thing tomorrow morning.  That is always an exciting event.  You can expect to receive your copy by Friday.  I very much hope that Asto Wamah will fit into your summer schedule.  If you know of someone who would like to have a brochure you can contact me through the contact@campastowamah page on our website.  Thank you for being our word-of-mouth salesmen/saleswomen!

This month’s picture is of our new building.  It is a composting bathroom facility that will be divided into a boys’ side and a girls’ side and will increase our toilet capacity in an environmentally sensitive way.  Bathrooms are typically not exciting, but ours is  “green” with a waste management system that is eco- friendly. Each flush will use only a fraction of the amount of water normally used.  Over the next few months the plumber and electrician will be completing the project.  This facility will fill a need that we have had for many years.

Hope you are enjoying this milder than usual winter and looking forward to a warm and fun summer at Asto Wamah.

Always,

Nancy

Now that December has arrived you can expect to soon receive your invitation to the Camp Reunion.  As always, it will be held on the day after Christmas (Dec. 26th) at Center Church House (60 Gold St, Hartford) from 2 to 4.  Adults from camp will be out on the sidewalk from 1:45 to 2:15 and from 4:00 until 4:15 to [...] ]]> Welcome to the December CAW Blog,

Now that December has arrived you can expect to soon receive your invitation to the Camp Reunion.  As always, it will be held on the day after Christmas (Dec. 26^th) at Center Church House (60 Gold St, Hartford) from 2 to 4.  Adults from camp will be out on the sidewalk from 1:45 to 2:15 and from 4:00 until 4:15 to facilitate your getting into the building and then back into the right car.

This year, for our entertainment, we will have a fantastic magician, Jonathan Jacques, who will astound us with his amazing feats of magic.  There will also be games and dessert and most importantly a chance to reconnect with camp friends.  Hope you can come and be a part of the gathering.  Check out the link on the website to RSVP.  Please remember to send me the names and addresses of friends/relatives who may be interested in attending Asto Wamah in 2012 so they can be on the mailing list to receive the 2012 brochure in February.

Thought you might be interested in seeing the status of the lake in winter so I have included a few photos.  It is drained down 8 feet in the fall so that docks (like ours) don’t get destroyed by the ice as it moves and shifts.  It has also been proven to be an effective way to make sure that Columbia Lake maintains its clean and clear qualities.  We are definitely in favor of that!

At the end of November, the 2 composters were delivered for our new bathroom.  There are so many people who are helping to make this “green” bathroom a reality.  I am most grateful for Maggie and Jack Whitney’s dad who has been of immense help throughout this project.  I trust there will be a lot more to report at the beginning of January. Progress is pretty much up to Mother Nature at this point.

December is always a busy month, with so much to do.  I hope this month will be filled with all good things for you and your family.  What a perfect time of year to Remember the Other Fellow.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a Holiday Season of Peace and Good Cheer,

Nancy

Well, I have clearly missed the first of the month deadline for this blog.  It seems as though this entire first week of November was lost to the winter snowstorm that has wreaked havoc on the entire region.  We were only without power for 3 days, but somehow that disruption of routine derailed my motivation and focus.  At this writing 200,000 are still [...] ]]> Dear Asto Wamah Friends,

Well, I have clearly missed the first of the month deadline for this blog.  It seems as though this entire first week of November was lost to the winter snowstorm that has wreaked havoc on the entire region.  We were only without power for 3 days, but somehow that disruption of routine derailed my motivation and focus.  At this writing 200,000 are still without power.   I know West Hartford, our largest camp town, was severely impacted and I am hopeful that all of you are by now back on the electrical grid and returning to a normal life.  This past week has clearly demonstrated how much we depend on electricity and how critical it is to communication.

Amazingly enough, camp never lost power.  There was a great loss of tree branches, but the lights stayed on.   Clean up there has been an entire week’s work so far and is still not done.   It seems that we hardly finished with the Irene damage, and now this.  Thank goodness for the good weather to follow the bad.

Despite all of this, we have been able to continue with some big projects that are underway at camp.  The new bathroom is now ready for the delivery of the composters that will be lowered into the basement.  Within a few weeks the building will be constructed and the task of installation will be ready to begin.  I am very excited about this new “green” facility.  It is a step toward conserving precious natural resources.

The other camp improvement is a new roof on the Lodge.   The old membrane roof had functioned way past its guaranteed life.  There were many signs that indicated that it was failing fast.  Bob Dunn, the father of Hillary, Laura and Christine, is undertaking this big job.  Within a week we will have in place a roof that will be dependable and a major improvement.

The water has been drained and the lake is rapidly receding.  The nights are cold and the trees are mostly bare.  But there is still lots going on at Asto Wamah.    Our 2012 schedule has now been determined and you should have received a postcard a few weeks ago outlining the new dates and fees.  We look forward to your return to Asto Wamah in the summer of 2012.

Check for an updated blog in early December.

Until then, be safe and take care,

Nancy

It is hard to believe that October is here. I don’t understand how the 8 weeks since the end of camp could have passed so quickly.

By now I imagine that most of you are well engaged in the routines of school. I hope the transition from the carefree days of summer back to the rigors of school has gone [...] ]]> Dear Campers, Staff and Other Asto Wamah Fans,

It is hard to believe that October is here. I don’t understand how the 8 weeks since the end of camp could have passed so quickly.

By now I imagine that most of you are well engaged in the routines of school. I hope the transition from the carefree days of summer back to the rigors of school has gone smoothly and you are finding ways to display your best Asto Wamah behaviors and attitude in that setting.

You may be surprised to know that a lot has been going on at camp since the middle of August and the end of the camping season. Family Camp ended just as Irene hit. In addition to having no electricity for most to the week following the storm, there were a number of very large trees that became victims of the storm. Luckily, no building was damaged, however the road was impassable for a number of days. Since Irene, there has been an abundance of rain. I guess it is the rain that we seemed to avoid all summer during camp.

During the past month we have begun to make visible progress with the construction of our new bathroom facility. Having more toilet capacity has been a goal for decades. Some of you are aware that the new building will be located between the old bathroom and the Activity Room. It will house 6 toilets, 2 urinals and 4 sinks which will be a welcome addition to what we already have. The most exciting thing about this bathroom is that it will be green. That means each flush will take a fraction of the water used in a conventional toilet or urinal. This green technology’s impact on the environment will in everyway be friendly. The foundation is close to being poured. I will give you an update on the progress in November. Stay tuned.

Decisions are being made about the camp schedule for the summer of 2012. A postcard will soon be mailing outlining the dates. Hope that will help assure that a session at Asto Wamah is in your schedule for next summer.

Don’t forget to Remember the Other Fellow,

Nancy