Howdy All, Yesterday at camp we continued our usual schedule in the morning. We had cereal and bagels for breakfast. During counselor's swim, one of the times during the day when campers have free time, many children went out in boats to practice rowing. Other campers attempted to land a trophy fish from either Fisherman's Dock or Cook's Dock. For lunch the meal was Swedish Meatballs, mashed potatoes, and corn. After lunch was finished a special entertainer came to camp. The act called Bwana Iguana came to camp and showed the campers some exotic reptiles immediately following rest hour. Animals displayed during the show included a snapping turtle, corn snakes, a black king snake, an American Alligator, an iguana, and the largest reptile, Mellow Yellow, an eight-foot albino python from Asia. Since this performer came, there was no fourth period, and the campers went straight to activity period. Activities offered included: going out on the hunter, stand-up paddle boards, jumping off the tower, and the Zumba. Many campers also took advantage of this free time to practice their boating skills. For dinner we ate grilled cheese and tomato soup. For evening program we played Spies and Smugglers, a game in which campers attempt to smuggle papers with varying point values up to the A-Field from the flag pole. The paper with the point values are hidden in the campers pockets, shoes, shirt tags, bandannas, and other creative spots. If tagged, players stop and the spies attempt to guess where the paper is hidden three times. If they do not guess the correct location, the smugglers are sent on their way and the game continues.
June 27th
Today at camp we started off the day by raising the flag in the morning followed by a few simple stretches. Breakfast was french toast and peaches. At the overflow table I was informed by a camper that the best way to tell if a peach is ripe is to smell it! After breakfast, campers headed back to the cabin to clean. Once cleanup was over, campers headed to their first classes. All of the campers seemed quite anxious to get to their first Sports, Arts and Crafts, Boating, and Swimming classes in the morning. Free time for the campers followed classes. For lunch we had ziti and salad with pudding for dessert.Our first general swim gave the campers and opportunity to cool off after rest hour. During activity period, activities like ultimate frisbee, jumping off the tower, canoeing, fishing, stand-up paddle boards, and nukem all entertained the kids until finally dinner arrived. for dinner we had chicken patties, chips, pickles, carrots, and applesauce. For evening program we played one of my favorites, capture the flag, which introduced the campers to playing in the woods. A quick dip after the game seemed like a perfect way end a beautiful second day to the coed session. Kyle Macsuga
June 26th
Hello to everyone who reads the blog! I am so happy to be blogging, but more importantly I am so happy that camp is finally here. Yesterday, after going through rules, learning counselor's names, and playing games like knock hockey, tether-ball, ping pong, and horseshoes by the lodge the campers and staff worked up an appetite. Luckily, Sue, camp's awesome cook, prepared the traditional hot dogs and tater tots for the first night's dinner. For dessert we had delicious brownies (they are especially good with milk!). Shortly after dinner was finished, the bell rang and alerted everyone to head up to the A-field for a longtime favorite campwide evening program, Medical War! In this dodgeball game, medics and guards volunteer to save their fallen comrades after they are hit by opposing dodgeballs. Downed teammates loudly yell "MEDIC!" to alert their team's medics to save them. After a few more nighttime rules, campers got ready for bed and counselors began reading their cabin's book. The campers all seemed to be tired out after a long first day and made good use of their freshly made beds!
-Kyle Macsuga (smallcraft director)
May
Greetings to All Asto Wamah Fans, Thankfully, summer is getting closer when you find yourself in May!
If you compare the pictures that were taken on April 1st, with those taken on May 1st, it is clear that change is a foot and we are definitely moving in the right direction. The lake is up to summertime depths, buds are just beginning to show on the trees and the skunk cabbage is a vibrant green and very prolific by Cabin 6 and the Icky Water Bridge. Truly, summer is almost here! If you will be a new camper, returning camper, or may be interested in attending Asto Wamah in the future, please know that you are invited to visit Camp on Saturday, May 28th from 3:00 to 5:00 for our Open Camp Day tours and an opportunity to meet some of the staff. We will be there, rain or shine, and look forward to seeing many of you. There will be lemonade and cookies and a chance to have your questions about Camp answered. Hope you can make it on the 28th. I also hope you are as excited about this new camping season as I am. This summer’s staff will be exceptional. Program plans are underway. The buildings and grounds are being made ready. The countdown can begin!
If you need to contact me, you can EMAIL me here or go through our Contact Camp page.
Looking forward to seeing you soon. Always, Nancy
April Update
Greetings to All Asto Wamah Fans, Now that April is here, camp is looking more hospitable. There are only a few small piles of snow that don’t seem to want to let go. Other than those, the grass on the field is getting green, any mud that we had has dried up, and the lake is on the rise. Lots of projects are underway to make sure camp is ready and looks wonderful for your arrival.
In the beginning of March I reported that there were still places in several sessions. At this time, the only session with openings is coed. There are a few places for boys and very few for girls. All other sessions are full with waiting lists. If you have a friend who has not registered yet, the waiting list can be a successful way to get into a session. It means you need to be patient, but openings do come and in most seasons lots of people are accepted off a waiting list.
In addition to the places for campers, the staff positions are filling up as well. Many of last summer’s staff will be returning as well as a good number of the 2010 LTs. Work is being done everyday to make sure that not only the facility is ready, but that the program is in place with capable people to run the various activities that are offered. Asto Wamah is a buzz with activity now.
I hope you enjoy the early April photos that I took. If you compare these pictures to the ones from early March you will see quite a difference. Note how much the lake has come up!
Hope you are well and looking forward to the end of June and the beginning of the 2011 season as much as I am.
Always,
Nancy
Asto Wamah Winter Updates
Dear Asto Wamah Alumni, Campers, Parents, and Friends, February was a very busy month for Asto Wamah. We began the month by mailing the 2011 brochure. Since then, registration has been strong. As we enter March, the all boys’ session (July 3 to July 16) and the first girls’ session (July 17 to July 30) are full with waiting lists growing. There are still a few places for girls and boys in the one-week coed session (June 26 to July 2) and the two-week all girls’ session (July 31 to August 13). All indicators point to a great summer at Asto Wamah. For more information about availability please email or use our Contact Camp page.
February was also a time of snow removal, lots of snow removal. There was the Camp Road and the roofs. Have you ever thought about how many roofs are at camp? Would you believe 27? Obviously some are large and others are small, but the good news is all survived. When the Lodge roof was shoveled off (we hired someone to do that HUGE job) there were over 30 inches of snow on it. That snow is still in tall piles around the Lodge, hopefully to melt soon. Several of us will be at a Camp Fair at REI in West Hartford’s Blueback Square on Saturday, March 12th from 3 to 5 PM. We’d love to see you. Bring a friend.
Always,
Nancy
Winter at Camp Asto Wamah
Dear Asto Wamah Alumni, Campers, Parents, and Friends, If you are now living in CT, you can understand how when I look out of my windows I wonder if summer will ever actually arrive this year. The 2011 Asto Wamah brochure was mailed today. It feels surreal to be thinking about warm weather, swimming in Columbia Lake and playing on the field. Camp is presently awash in snow. Deep snow! Endless snow! But experience tells us that before too long the days will warm, the snow will melt, flowers will bloom and summer will return.
We are looking forward to a summer filled with laughter, good friendships and fun in both work and play. In other words, a summer as usual at Asto Wamah. Although the physical plant is in hibernation, all else is in high gear.
Many thanks to all those who were able to continue their support of Camp through a 2010 donation to the Anniversary Fund. The Fund grows and will help us meet our pressing goal of upgrading our bathroom facility in 2011. The momentum of the 100th Anniversary celebration is alive and well. We are truly grateful for your long memories and generous spirits. In case you are curious about how Mother Nature has treated Asto Wamah so far this winter, take a look at these pictures to learn the cold truth.
Warmly, Nancy
Looking Ahead To Next Summer
Dear Asto Wamah Parent,Thank you for your involvement in the 101st summer of camping at Asto Wamah. Now that the 2010 season is completed, we are looking ahead to 2011. For several years we have thought and talked about rearranging the sessions. This has been a big decision because the boys have followed the girls for most of the past 100+ years. Nonetheless, for a number of valid reasons we have decided to change the order for 2011. Knowing that many families will be making vacation plans well in advance of next summer; I am sending you the schedule for 2011 with the hope that a session (or two) at CAW will fit into your next summer plans.
2011 Asto Wamah Schedule & Fees ● June 26 to July 2 – coed (girls 8-12, and boys 8-12 years old) ● July 3 to July 16 – all boys (ages 8-14) ● July 17 to July 30 – all girls (ages 8-14) ● July 31 to Aug. 13 – all girls (ages 8-14)
A registration fee of $50.00 is due at the time of registration and is non-refundable and not deductible from the camp fee. The camp fee is $385.00 a week. Final payment for all sessions is due on June 1, 2011.
Please keep me updated on your home and email addresses so you don’t miss any communications.
Sincerely, Nancy Maclean, camp director
Boys Camp 2010 Day 9
Today is Pirate Day at camp, so cabins came to flag raising before breakfast dressed as pirates, and some even planned skits. Cabin 8 defended their buried treasure and raised their flag, then cabin 3 took back control of the flagpole by raising their own. Cabin 7 made a grand entrance, boating into the swimming area and storming the docks. The kitchen staff even got in on the act demanding campers give them all their gold for chocolate chip bread. Classes today also have a pirate theme, with sports classes playing “cannonball drop” (spud) or “Pirate Ninja Star Toss” (ultimate Frisbee). Swimming classes “walked the plank” before their usual classes, and in arts and crafts cabins are competing to construct pirate ships they will launch into the swimming area tomorrow morning once they dry. Cabin 4 made a double-decker boat out of popsicle sticks, cardboard, and tape.
For activity period, campers can take part in pirate wars to retrieve a captured princess, walk the plank from the tower, or play cannonball wars on the a-field. This evening will continue the theme with a camp wide treasure hunt. Cabins will compete as a team.
- Julia
Boys Camp 2010 Day 8
Yesterday, the campers selected team captains for today’s track meet. The green and white teams faced off this morning in the running long jump, the standing long jump, the softball throw, and fifty yard dash. Rest hour was held as usual after the traditional lunch of ham, noodles and corn. After rest hour and the half-mile marathon, campers assembled at the flag pole for the Indian War Relay, where the green and white team relay their respective batons through camp, with runners, boaters and swimmers racing each other. In a very close race, the white team won by only inches. Afterwards, the camp held a brief general swim to cool off.
Campers are now off to activity period, where they can jump off the tower, play aquarium games, or participate in foosball, tetherball and knock hockey tournaments. This evening we will have green and white cake in honor of track meet, and then play pirates for evening program.
- Julia
Boys Camp 2010 Day 7
Because of the rain on Thursday afternoon, instead of General Swim, the camp played a game of non-stop cricket. Fourth period and activity period were held outdoors, as scheduled, with campers braving the cooler weather to jump off the tower and sail. Fishing off of rafts, badminton and tie dying were other activities offered. Friday brought warmer weather and sports classes played football, basketball, and kickball. In arts and crafts, campers worked on hemp bracelets, embroidery floss, and wood burning. Some of the boys in Seniors are working with Nancy to lash furniture out of wood they collected; they are making tables and chairs for campsites. Yesterday’s evening program was Triad, a game of three-way soccer with teams formed by cabins.
Tonight cabins will again eat out for supper. Yesterday, all cabins selected and cleaned up a campsite for tonight’s meal of hotdogs and s’mores. Campers also collected kindling they will use to build a fire at their campsites.
- Julia
Boys Camp 2010 Day 4
With excellent wind on the lake Tuesday afternoon, many in camp took advantage of the camp’s sailboats— the larger “Hunter” and several smaller Sunfish—during fourth period and activity period afterwards. The evening’s game was the always popular spies and smugglers, where two teams take turns “smuggling” papers to the A-field, while the other team (spies) tries to catch them and guess where the smugglers have hidden their papers; if they guess correctly they capture the other team’s points. Wednesday evening was Eat Out, where cabins eat supper together outside of the lodge at locations their counselors choose in advance. Campers made sandwiches in advance and then had the opportunity to eat at campsites, on docks, and even on the camp’s rafts on the lake.
Having just cleaned their cabins, campers are now finishing up camp duties while waiting for first period class. As camp is seeing some much needed rain, there is a chance morning classes will be held indoors.
- Julia
Boys Camp 2010
Boys camp has gotten off to a great start. Campers arrived Sunday afternoon and quickly settled into their new cabins and got to know each other and their cabin counselors through icebreakers. Following tours, campers were introduced to Nancy, the camp director, and other camp staff including the camp cook, Sue. Next, new campers were classified into swimming levels before heading up to the A-field for a game of “Run Around Town.” Sunday evening saw the traditional first night meal of hot dogs, tater tots and brownies, followed by a dodge ball game called “Medical War.” Monday was the first full day of camp, and campers quickly settled into their new schedules. Sports activities included wiffle ball and soccer, and campers made “monster” bags and boxes, hemp bracelets and bead bracelets in arts and crafts. Campers also began swimming and boating classes. After lunch and rest hour, everyone went in for a general swim and then to fourth period. Activities offered included jumping off the camp’s 12 foot tower, water games in aquarium, fishing, and badminton.
Campers have just finished cleaning their cabins and helping with camp duties, and are playing games like tetherball and knock hockey before heading to first period classes: swimming for lakeside, sports for seniors, and arts and crafts for hilltop.
- Julia
Coed Session 3, Day 5
Yesterday we had periods of sunshine and clouds. We got lucky because the light rain did not persist through the afternoon as it did in the morning. For lunch yesterday we had texas hash (casserole) with pudding for dessert. The campers enjoyed rest hour and store followed by 4th period classes of boating, arts and crafts and sports. The girls had a great time playing kickball on the Athletic Field. The boys are enjoying working on arts and crafts projects such as making bracelets using gimp, string, and and hemp. For dinner last night we had chicken patties with peach crisp for dessert. For the evening program the campers played a camp favorite, Pirates. In this game both teams were engaging in fake gun battle and looking for their treasure to earn the most points for their team. After this exciting game of Pirates the campers enjoyed a quick dip in the lake before bedtime. Today is a gorgeous day. The campers had waffles with peanut butter or butter and syrup for breakfast. (A very popular breakfast among the campers and staff!) Today the campers worked hard in their boating and swimming classes to perfect their skills in order to pass into the next level. It is very hard for the campers to learn all the necessary skills in one week but some were able to pass and those campers who passed into the intermediate level will be able to jump off the tower today during activity period! For todays lunch we had chicken fingers and rice with chocolate pudding pie for dessert. We had perfect weather for this session of camp! Tonight we will have our traditional camp fire where the campers can enjoy s'mores and songs while the counselors give out year awards and boating and swimming awards!! It will be an exciting and memorable night for the campers.
Tomorrow the campers will be picked up between 8:30 and 10:00 AM!
-Emma Tuthill
Coed Session 3, Day 4
Yesterday we enjoyed a beautiful day with lots of wind perfect for sailing! For yesterdays lunch we had a camp favorite, shepards pie, salad, and bread. After lunch we had the regular store, rest hour and general swim. For activity period the counselors offered games such as ultimate frisbee, tye dye, fishing, sailing on the sunfish and jumping of the tower. For last nights dinner we had eat out. In the past we have just had the campers switch tables to to meet other campers that he/she has not met before but this year we decided that it would be more fun for the campers to eat their dinner outside with their cabin. During activity period the campers came to the upper lodge periodically to make their sandwich for eat out. The counselors packed a picnic basket with all of the sandwiches, grapes, cookies, potato chips, and lemonade. Each cabin ate at a different site around camp grounds. Some cabins ate on rafts, docks, or in the gazebo. The campers really enjoyed this way of eating out. For last nights game we played Camper Counselor Hunt. This is a big game of hide and go seek. Last night we played the first round where the campers had to search around camp looking for the counselors who were hiding in sand pits, under the stairs, and other locations around camp. The campers really enjoyed looking for the counselors during the game. Following the game the campers had a quick dip before watching trivia in the lodge. Yesterday Nancy gave the campers the opportunity to sign up to play trivia while those who were not playing were able to watch. There were two counselors and about six campers on each team. This was a fun way to end the evening. This morning we have had some light rain. It looks like we won't get much more rain but hopefully the sun will come out behind the clouds so we can enjoy another beautiful day! This morning we had blueberry bread, cereal, orange juice and hot chocolate for breakfast. We will continue with normal morning classes unless the rain picks up and we will move the classes inside.
-Emma Tuthill
Coed Session 3, Day 3
Yesterday we had beautiful weather all day. For lunch we had meatballs, mashed potatoes, and carrots with peaches for dessert. After our big meal the campers had store then rest hour followed by general swim. After the swim all of the girls went to the ropes course to engage in fun challenges where the campers work together to solve a problem using an element on the course. The ropes course is always a favorite among the girls during sports class. The lakeside boys went out in boats, canoes, and sailboats and the senior boys worked on their arts and crafts projects. After 4th period the counselors offered fun activities such as jumping of the tower, wiffle ball, and sailing on the sunfish and the Hunter (our 17ft white sailboat). I went on the Hunter with our smallcraft director and the campers that signed up for that day. Although it was not as windy as we would of liked all the campers enjoyed themselves! Last night for super we had pizza, applesauce, and carrots with cheesecake for dessert. For last nights game the camp split into two teams and we had a game of spys and smugglers where the smugglers try to bring pieces of paper with points up to the A-field and the spys try to capture their points before the smugglers get to the A-field (Athletic Field). Both teams get a chance to be both spys and smugglers. The campers were hot after the game so they enjoyed a quick dip before bedtime. It looks like we will have another gorgeous day at Columbia Lake. We are already having great weather for this session. This morning the campers had english muffins and cereal for breakfast. Following breakfast the campers had a chance to move bunks if he/she wanted to do so and we will start off with our normal morning classes of boating, swimming, arts and crafts and sports at 10:00 am.
- Emma Tuthill
Coed Session 3, Day 2
The weather was beautiful yesterday. After lunch of ziti, salad, and rolls with butterscotch pudding for dessert the campers lined up by cabin for store. At store we encourage the campers to get only items that he/she needs. The items at the store include toothpaste, toothbrush, flashlight, water bottles, envelopes, stamps, and the campers can also choose to get a candy! After store the campers enjoy rest hour where he/she sits on his/her bunk for an hour without speaking and listens to music, writes letters, reads a book, or takes a nap. This is a silent time that all of the campers learn to enjoy as the session goes on. After rest hour the campers were eager to go swimming for general swim. After the swim we continued with 4th period classes: the girls had sports on the Athletic Field, the lakeside boys had boating, and the senior boys had arts and crafts. After fourth period the counselors offered a number of activities for the campers to enjoy during their free time. Some of the activities were jumping of the tower, kick ball, basketball, and a knock hockey tournament. During this time many of the boys chose to go fishing in boats and on the docks. For dinner last night we had grilled cheese, chicken noodle soup, applesauce, and carrots with chocolate cake for dessert. Last night the campers enjoyed an exhilarating game of capture the flag that is played on the Athletic Field and on paths in the woods. It looks like we will have another gorgeous day today. For breakfast the campers had corn bread and cereal. This morning we will continue with regular morning classes which include sports, arts and crafts, boating, and swimming.
- Emma Tuthill
Coed Session 3, First Day
The campers arrived a bit after noon yesterday, and quickly settled into their bunks and began to meet their fellow campers. After camp tours and icebreakers to get to know each other better, campers, counselors, and staff met in the Council Ring, where Nancy Maclean, Camp Director, welcomed new and returning campers and introduced herself, the counselors and staff. Once new campers had been classified as either Aquarium, Intermediate, or Deep Water swimmers, the entire camp went up to the A Field (Athletic Field) for an exciting game of non-stop cricket. Following the traditional first-night supper of hot dogs, tater tots, baked beans and brownies, campers trekked to the A-field to hear the rules of Medical War, an exciting game of dodgeball. Campers were eager to take a “Quick Dip” in the lake to cool down after the game.
After a 7:30AM wake-up on Monday, campers began their first full day of camp. After a breakfast of french toast, campers and their counselors worked together to clean their cabins and camp before morning classes: Swimming, Smallcraft, Sports, and Arts and Crafts. With the warm weather, we expect the campers to be eager to get into the water again today. Around noon the campers will eat lunch, and have Store, and Rest Hour. We look forward to a first full successful day of camp.
-Emma (LT Director)
Girls Session 2, Day 11
Last nights banquet went well! All of the campers were excited about receiving their year awards and watching the slide show of the pictures from the session! We also had very calm weather at night which allowed us to put the candles on the lake for the candlelight service. Today is the last full day of camp. The campers will continue with their normal classes and activities. Tonight we will have our traditional Awards Camp Fire. At the camp fire we will be giving out awards for track meet, swimming, boating, cabin inspection, and LT Trivia. We also sing songs and enjoy s'mores by the camp fire. It will be an exciting night where all the campers and counselors can reflect on all the memories from this session! Tomorrow the campers will be picked up between 8:30-10 AM! The session went by so quickly but smoothly. It was another successful session at Camp Asto Wamah! -Emma Tuthill, LT Director
Girls Session 2, Day 10
Last nights talent show was fun for all the campers. Many campers took part in the skits and dances to make the show successful! This morning we had waffles for breakfast and some put peanut butter and syrup on their waffles (a camp favorite). Today we continued with normal classes. All of the boaters and swimmers are working hard in their classes to pass into higher levels. The beginning and intermediate sailors were showing their skills by soloing for their teachers this morning. Today we had a lighter lunch of egg salad, tuna salad, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because tonight we will be having a big meal for banquet. Tonight is our traditional banquet where the girls dress in their cleanest clothing (hopefully) and green and white to represent the camp colors. We have a very big meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, and cranberry sauce with icecream from Shady Glen for dessert! We also sing songs and watch a slide show of pictures from the session! At banquet is where all the campers receive their year awards. This banquet all the cabins came up with a cabin song to the tune of a camp song to sing in front of the camp. This will be an exciting evening for all the campers. After supper we will have our candlelight service where each camper from a cabin reads a passage about the celebration of light. Then each camper puts their candles in the lake to complete the service. -Emma Tuthill, LT Director