Day 5

Good evening everyone, today for breakfast we had bagels and oatmeal. We also enjoyed some hot cocoa on this chilly morning. Our normally scheduled classes were changed due to a very special guest speaker, Bobby Daly. He is a former Camp Asto Wamah staff member and has been serving in the peace corps for 2 years now. He presented information regarding the lives of those he has worked with in Uganda. Bobby explained how life in Uganda is different from our lives in the United States. He taught the campers a few songs and they seemed to have a lot of fun!

For lunch today we had baked ziti, baguettes and a fresh green salad on the side. After lunch we resumed our typically scheduled classes. Campers got to enjoy swimming, boating, sailing, and stand up paddle boarding. 

For supper we had chicken melts! Pretty soon we will be heading up to the field to begin our evening program. We are playing King Dodge ball. This game is different from medical war. In this game when a person gets out, they have to go to the other side and try to get out of jail by hitting someone with a dodgeball. Tonight's game is sure to tire everyone out! 

Until tomorrow, 

Amanda 

Friday, July 22

It was a warm and windy day today!!! We definitely spent a lot of time in the water. 

We had a great meal day today! Breakfast was french toast and cereal, and lunch was Shepherd's Pie. For dinner we had chicken patties and potato chips. We tried a new dessert, gingerbread cake, with dinner today and it was a huge hit among campers! We noticed that the girls have started to eat a lot more which shows how active they are!

Classes went smoothly today and we are seeing great improvement in swimming classes especially! Boating, canoeing and sailing were a little tricky today because it was just SO windy out there, but it provided a great opportunity for campers to really show off their skills. Because it was so warm, Hilltop sports spent their class period in the water playing Aquarium games! It was a lot of fun for everyone!

Activity period offered a couple of unique opportunities today, especially a trip on the Hunter (our largest sail boat)! With such a windy day it was the perfect time to take the Hunter out on her first girls session voyage! Other activities included paddle boards, a diving contest, jumping off the tower and the Gaga pit. 

Tonight's evening program is a Dodgeball game called King Dodge! We will also offer a "quick dip" after the game to allow campers to cool off in the lake before going to bed. Almost everyone takes advantage of the quick dip!

There may be some small storms popping up later tonight but it looks like we should avoid them! Fingers crossed!

~Taylor and Shannon

Friday July 31st

Pick up tomorrow (Saturday) morning from 8:30am - 10:00am! It has been a very eventful last two days of camp! Yesterday evening was our special banquet night. The office laptop was up in the lodge for the slideshow of photos we show at the banquet. So, blogging had to wait a day! Sorry for the inconvenience!

Yesterday we had bagels and cereal for breakfast. It was a warm and sunny morning for classes on the lake. We had a lighter lunch of tuna, egg salad or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in anticipation of our big turkey dinner for banquet. There was a threat of rain in the afternoon, so we held activity period up in the lodge. All of the counselors picked a game and the girls gathered around the table of their choice. We had catch phrase, apples to apples, uno, puzzles and bracelet making.

At 6:30pm, the bell rang for banquet. All of the girls gathered in the lodge dressed in their clean green and white. We enjoyed a thanksgiving style of meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, cranberry sauce and gravy. My favorite part of banquet is dessert - ice cream! Afterwards, the emcees of the evening led the group in some favorite camp songs. We then watched a fun slideshow of photos taken during the past two weeks. We then hand out the Birch Barker - the camp newsletter that is made up of camper submissions. At that point in the evening, Nancy comes up and gives out year awards. Every girl is given a token to recognize her years at camp. The night closes with the candlelight service.

Today, everyone was very excited to show off their skills during their last classes. We started the morning with chocolate chip bread and cereal. Then, everyone went back to their cabin to do some cleaning for the last day of inspection. At swimming and boating today, everyone had their last chance to check off their skills. At the end of class, the girls found out if they improved enough to pass to the next swimming or boating level. In arts and crafts, everyone finished up their projects and worked on picture frames to hold the cabin photo they will be able to get tomorrow on their way out of camp.

Lunch this afternoon was Texas casserole (a baked mix of rice, ground beef, and tomatoes) served with salad and fruit pops for dessert. After fourth period, activity period offerings were yoga on the dock, sailing on the Hunter, jumping off the tower and paddle boarding.

Dinner this evening was chicken melts with carrots and apple sauce. We had everyone's favorite dessert - chocolate pudding pie! After dinner, everyone went back to their cabin to clear off their clotheslines and pack up their closets and shelves. Now, everyone is gathered at the Council Ring at our closing campfire. We are all singing songs, eating s'mores and receiving awards for boating, swimming, archery and track meet!

We have had such a great session with this group of girls! We will be sad to see them go tomorrow. We wish all of you an amazing rest of your summer and a very successful school year! Pick up tomorrow will be from  8:30am to 10 :00am.

Only one more session to go for 2015!

July 29th

Happy Wednesday! Today was a scorcher here at the lake! We spent as much time as possible in the water, and made sure that everyone was staying hydrated. Breakfast this morning was cinnamon bread, oatmeal, and cereal. During first period we had our Frog Island Swim! Frog Island is a shallow section of the lake about 400 meters from camp, where boaters can visit during class and swimmers can go once a session. The swim is offered to our level 6 and superstar swimmers as they are the most advanced and experienced.  Groups of 3 or 4 go together and are accompanied by a counselor in a rowboat. Once at Frog Island, each camper can choose a rock to bring back in the boat to have as a keepsake of their successful swim! This session we had 14 amazing girls swim, and all of them signed their names into our Frog Island Book which dates back to 1997.

Lunch today was lasagna and salad, with apple turnovers for dessert. Cabins tried to stay cool during rest hour with fans, but everyone was more than excited to get in the water for general swim. Fourth period sports was held in the water too instead of going up to the field. Activities offered today included yoga, volleyball, aquarium games, tower, and badminton.

Since Wednesday's are the kitchen staffs night out, we enjoyed another Eat Out! Cabins had sandwiches outside with cookies and bananas for dessert. Because of the heat, our evening program tonight will be another general swim! It will be nice to get cooled off before bed.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow.

Tuesday July 28th

Happy Tuesday BirchBlog readers! Breakfast this morning was cornbread with cereal. After cabin clean up and camp duties, everyone was excited to get to their first period classes. It was a very hot day, so all the campers were happy to get in the water for swimming lessons. It wasn't too windy today, so the sailors practiced their capsizing skills. Lunch this afternoon was pork chops with rice, applesauce and carrots and for dessert we had pears. After rest hour and general swim, everyone headed to fourth period, followed by a very exciting activity period. Options today included jumping off the tower, paddle boarding, aquarium games and badminton.

Dinner this evening was meatball grinders with chips, pickles, and carrots. Campers had the option of brownies or vanilla pudding for dessert. Now, all the girls are back at their cabin putting on their sneakers for tonight's evening program. We will be up on the field playing King Dodge.

Everyone has been busy today complimenting and gifting their secret sister! All the girls are looking forward to the big reveal tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to hear how it goes!

July 27th

Good evening! Today was another beautiful day here at Columbia Lake! Breakfast this morning was blueberry bread and Maypo. Cabins were cleaned and the first three periods breezed by. Sailors enjoyed the best wind we've had all session while they zoomed around the lake. Tie Dye was a popular option today in arts and crafts. Volleyball was the popular choice today in sports for campers to play. Lunch was meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and corn with chocolate pudding for dessert. During lunch today we kicked off Secret Sisters! Secret Sisters started two years ago as an exercise we used to promote kindness and inclusivity within camp. Everyone chooses a name of someone in camp and keeps themselves anonymous while they send notes of kindness, give friendship bracelets, and pay compliments to their selected name. In a few days we will all reveal ourselves to our Secret Sisters! In the meantime, everyone is busy making and passing along their little gifts to their Secret Sister.

Activity period today included hair wraps, paddle boarding, tower, badminton, and sunfish sailing. Dinner was chicken fajitas and pasta salad, with peach crisp for dessert. Evening Program tonight is Talent Night! All of the campers have been preparing for tonight by practicing skits in their cabins, perfecting dances, and tuning their instruments. It should be a night of fun and entertainment for all.

Check back tomorrow for more updates and don't forget to follow us on Instagram @campastowamah

Sunday July 26th - Track Meet

Happy Sunday! We had an awesome Track Meet today! The day started off with french toast, honey dew melon and cereal. At 10am, instead of heading to first period classes, everyone went up to the field. There, we competed in the standing long jump, the running long jump and the softball throw followed by the 50 yard dash. By then it was about noon and we all went in the lake for the general swim. Our noontime meal was our traditional Sunday ham and noodles served with green beans and jello or peaches for dessert. Everyone was pretty tired at this point in the day after all that running and jumping so we enjoyed a slightly longer rest hour.

After everyone had a chance to recharge, girls that were interested in running "the marathon" (about a half mile) headed up to the field. Everyone else stayed by the flagpole and cheered on the girls at the finish line. Finally, it was time for the main event of the day - the Indian War Relay! Everyone participates in a relay race that starts on the camp road, dips into the lake with some swimmers, hands off to rowboaters, followed by canoes and then ends with runners down the path from Hungerford with the final leg of a 50 yard swim. It was a very exciting competition and all the girls were down at the dock at the end cheering on their team.

Afterwards, we had activity period. Campers had the opportunity to participate in swim races as part of the Track Meet day or go sail on the Hunter, play apples to apples, badminton or card games.

This evening we had "pick up" dinner. We put out all the leftovers in camp in a big buffet and everyone could choose two items. The assortment included cold cut sandwiches, meatballs and noodles, baked ziti,  pasta salad, chicken quesadillas and chicken pot pies. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the variety!

Tonight, we will do the last part of the track meet. Everyone will participate in different relay races on the field. Some of the activities will be the soccer ball dribble, an obstacle course, dizzy izzy, and knockout.

Tomorrow we will be back to our normal class schedule! Keep checking back every evening for an update!

Saturday July 25th

Happy Saturday Birch Blog readers! We have enjoyed another great day at CAW. This morning started off with bagels, cereal and oatmeal. Today marks the middle of the session, so that means it was bunk change day. Everyone who has been sleeping on a bottom bunk this past week had the opportunity to switch to a top bunk. Counselors made some decisions about where people would move around the cabin to mix things up for the next week. Lunch today was ravioli with baguettes and salad. We had a "leftovers" dessert which meant campers could choose from jello, cherry cake or apple crisp. Later in the afternoon, we had some very creative activity periods. Kevin and Mel offered a meditation lesson on the field. Sarah and Gillian held finger painting in the arts and the crafts room. And then we had some of our regular offerings like paddle boarding and kan jam. Everyone seemed to be very engaged in activity this afternoon.

Tonight was another evening off for the kitchen staff. We had a hotdogs, chips and pasta salad and cookies and grapes for dessert. Instead of eating outside as a cabin group, everyone sat in the dining room "mix up" style. Every camper sat at a table other than their own without any of their cabin mates. It was a great opportunity for the girls to meet some new people and learn some new names.

Fortunately, it looks like a clear night for a game on the field! We will be playing "Garbage Can." It is a game similar to handball, but with a few extra balls and some added twists.

Tomorrow is our special Track Meet day. The entire camp has been split up into two teams - green and white. We will not follow our normal class schedule. Instead, we will spend the morning up on the field competing in solo track events. Then, in the afternoon, we will compete in team activities.  Track Meet is always a favorite day for campers! Stay tuned tomorrow for all the details!

Friday July 24th

It's hard to believe it is already Friday! This group of girls has been such a delight to be with and their good behavior and enthusiasm is making these two weeks wonderful. Today started with cinnamon bread for breakfast and cereal like always. The weather today could not have been more perfect to be swimming in the lake perfecting strokes, running on the field, and boating around. It was a nice break from the sun to be in the cool basement of arts and crafts too. Lunch was a camp favorite- Shepherd's Pie. Dessert was raspberry jello with cool whip.

After rest hour and general swim today, we had a special treat. Once a session, a guest program comes to camp and presents their specialty to us. Today we had ethnomusicologist, Professor Will O'Hare, from Three Rivers Community College in Norwalk. He brought over 35 instruments and presented a program that he calls World Winds. He demonstrated his many musical talents on a variety of wind instrument from around the world. Some instruments included a hand made bamboo flute, a didgeridoo, pan flutes, a conch shell, a Tibetan Trumpet, and two different types of bagpipes. He ended the program by helping each camper make their own straw oboe. Professor O'Hare was extremely knowledgable and entertaining, we all enjoyed his program very much- hopefully he can come back again!

Dinner tonight was chicken patties with chips and carrots, and apple crisp for dessert. Evening program tonight is Spies and Smugglers. Hopefully the bad weather will hold out until the game is finished and the campers are all settled into bed.

Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to follow us on Instagram @campastowamah !

Thursday July 23rd

Hi there! It's been another fantastic day at Camp Asto Wamah! We started off this morning with english muffins, cereal, and Maypo. Classes are going well so far, everyone is having so much fun! The wind has picked up enough that our Sunfish are zooming around the lake. Lunch today was meatballs and gravy with mashed potatoes and corn. Dessert was raspberry churros, with cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top.  a quiet rest hour, all of the campers enjoyed General Swim and activity period offerings included jumping off the tower, rowing out to Frog Island, paddle boarding, tennis up at the courts, and Kan Jam by the Flagpole.

Dinner was grilled cheese with tomato soup and cherry cake for dessert. Tonight is a very special event for Evening Program- it's Carnival! Each cabin will host an event for campers to come participate in around the Flagpole. Booths will include Limbo, Water Balloon Toss, Face Painting, High School Musical Chairs, and Cup Stacking! The Kitchen Staff will be providing delicious  Flavor Ice Pops to the campers throughout the evening.

Check back tomorrow for more updates!

Wednesday July 22nd

Good evening! Another beautiful day at Camp Asto Wamah in the books. This morning we enjoyed waffles with peanut butter (a camp tradition). Everyone had a productive morning in their classes. It was sunny and warm; it is much more comfortable without all the humidity that we endured the first two days. Our noontime meal was chicken parm with spaghetti and salad and we had butterscotch pudding for dessert. After general swim and fourth period, we had an eventful activity period! Options included jumping off the tower, water aerobics, Nuke 'Em, and paddle boarding. Other campers were selected from the sign-up list to go on a sunfish sailboat or the Hunter (Camp's larger sailboat).

Wednesdays and Saturdays are the kitchen staff's night off. During lunch, counselors took sandwich orders for their cabins. Options were turkey, ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, or mustard. Campers choose their preferred sandwich combo. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are offered as an alternative or in addition. Then, instead of gathering in the lodge for supper, cabins disperse throughout camp to have a picnic. Cabins 7 and 8 rowed out to the rafts for their picnic. Most of the other cabins also got water views and sat on the docks or the picnic tables by the shore.

Some cabins are still out enjoying their picnics and most are wrapping up and getting prepared for evening program. Tonight, we will play Capture the Flag on the A-Field. It's a great game for everyone, campers and counselors, to get involved in.

FYI photos from this summer will not be available on the website until the end of the season in September. For some brief photo updates follow us on Instagram at @campastowamah.

Tuesday July 21st

Happy Tuesday! This Asto Wamah morning started off with blueberry bread and cereal. We had a great morning out on the lake and up on the field. Swimmers and boaters are definitely getting into the swing of their classes. On the field today, campers enjoyed parachute games and the ropes course. The girls are getting quite crafty during arts and crafts; many are well on their way with pillows and baskets. Lunch was chicken tenders, rice, carrots and green beans. After a nice rest hour, everyone got in the water for a beautifully sunny general swim. Activity periods today were tower, yoga, badminton, paddle boarding and soccer. All the girls made themselves busy with those activities and some went out on the rowboats and canoes.

Dinner this evening was cheesesteak sandwiches and cheesecake for dessert. It looks like a storm is approaching us, so we are about to begin an indoor evening program. We will split up into cabin sections and play "Reverse Scavenger Hunt." The girls will work as a cabin group to perform quick skits and compete with the other cabins in their sections.

Monday July 20th

The first full day of camp has been a great success! At 8:00am, we all gathered around the flagpole for the raising of the flag and “Chicken Fat” (our morning exercise routine). Breakfast was cornbread and cereal. Afterwards, everyone headed back to their cabins to do some cleaning and organizing. Every day, the nurse comes around and inspects the cabins and chooses the neatest cabin from each section (hilltop, lakeside and seniors) as the winner. The next bell rings for camp duties. Every cabin is assigned a duty around camp. Some duties include bailing boats, sweeping the lodge, collecting trash and putting the dishes away. At 10:00am first period began and the campers rotated through three different classes until noon. Seniors went from sports to swimming to boating. Lakesiders went from swimming to sports to arts and crafts. And Hilltoppers went from arts and crafts to boating to swimming.

Lunch was baked ziti with baguettes and salad with vanilla pudding for dessert. After rest hour, it was a a hot afternoon - perfect for a general swim. From there, everyone did the class they didn’t get to do in the morning. Seniors went to arts and crafts, lakesiders went to boating and hilltoppers went to the field for sports.

Activity period offerings today included jumping off the tower, a diving competition, kan jam, and paddle boarding. Other campers made themselves busy using the rowboats and canoes or playing ping pong and knock hockey.

Dinner this evening was tacos and yellow cake with chocolate frosting for dessert. Now the girls are getting ready for evening program. We will play a quick game of Non-Stop Cricket on the field and then have a general swim so everyone can cool off before bed.

Tomorrow looks like another hot and sunny day!

First Day of Girls Camp! July 19th

Welcome to the Girls Camp Blog! This is Maddy and Colleen reporting from the DC to bring you all of the happenings from Girls Camp Session 1. Campers arrived today ready for the next two weeks of fun. Counselors went over expectations, gave a tour of the grounds, and then we all gathered in the Council Ring for introductions. We are lucky to have such an amazing staff this session with both returning and new counselors.

Once the new campers were classified into their swimming levels, the whole camp went in for General Swim. The water was extremely refreshing on such a hot humid day.

Dinner tonight was our traditional first meal of hot dogs, baked beans, and tater tots with brownies for dessert. Campers are getting ready for evening program tonight which will be Medical War- a dodgeball game.

Once evening program concludes, a camper will play taps to mark the end of the day. Counselors will choose a book to read out loud to the cabin for the rest of the session. We are hoping to avoid the possible thunderstorms so everyone will have a peaceful and easy first night.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's Birch Blog!