Saying goodbyes!

Goodbyes started last night at camp's  banquet night, a tradition held for decades. Honored guests included Reverend Paolo from Center Church, Deborah Tuthill from Center Church's board of outreach, Sue Hayes from the camp Board of Directors.  Campers enjoyed a turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy followed by songs, year awards, and the candlelight service. Unfortunately, we were unable to put our candles in the water but the circle of light and the readings of the Old Testament made the evening memorable.  Campers walked back to their cabins in silent reflection, not speaking until the following morning. Today, the last day of camp, campers had their last opportunity to display their skills to their instructors. Tonight, at campfire the campers will receive an award for passing into the higher level  or for winning an event at track meet. Winners of the cleanest cabin will also be recognized this evening. While we sing songs and watch a counselor skit, s'mores will be passed around the fire.  Should be a great last night! Tomorrow parents should arrive between 9-10:30 a.m. to pick up campers! As sad as they are to say goodbye, everyone will have a big smile and hug for the family they've missed for 2 weeks!

See you bright and early!

-The Birch Blogger

Thunderstorm at Camp

We had a beautiful day to start out, and held classes as normal. With only three more days of classes left, the girls are eager to know whether or not they'll pass their swimming and boating level this year. In Arts & Crafts, many campers have finished making a basket with Carol, and are learning new ways to make bracelets from embroidery floss. During Activity Period, the dark clouds rolled in. Kyle blew four whistles, indicating that all boats need to come in. Counselors started closing up the cabin windows as the campers took in all dry items off the clothes lines. Strong winds whipped up and Nancy rang the fire bell to get all staff and campers to the lodge. Five minutes later the skies opened up and it started raining buckets, and the lightening and thunder started. All the campers were in the upper lodge, and counselors organized them into some games. Cookies set the tables, and by the time we ate dinner the rain stopped and a rainbow appeared on the lake.  The LTs have a Carnival planned for Evening Program. I just heard the bell, so I'm off to see what they have in store!

-the Birch Blogger

Brrr!

It's hard to believe it was over 100 degrees just two days ago. Everyone went into the water for swimming class, but not many of the girls were happy about it. A few of them got blue lips and body-shaking shivers! So we gave them a few minutes between classes to change into their dry clothes. And instead of having a general swim, we had a visitor, CrAzY Craig! His silly sense of humor paired with some impressive tricks made for an entertaining afternoon.It started to rain right before dinner, so we held evening program inside. LTs led groups of campers from station to station, where they had to complete "Minute to Win It" games, such as Caddy Stack: stacking three golf balls (one counselor was able to do this, but no campers), or Noodling: hold a piece of raw spaghetti in their mouth and use it to scoop up a piece of raw ziti. It was a challenging and fun game, but the girls were riled up at bedtime because they didn't burn off their energy running around as they usually do at Evening Program. Counselors are still reading bedtime stories to the cabins to get them settled. It's a good start to our last week of the session.

-the Birch Blogger

Green and White Teams

Classes were not held today, because the Sunday of every two-week session here at camp is Field Day. The camp was divided into the Green Team and the White Team (Asto Wamah's colors) and campers spent the morning competing against others in their age group (Hilltop, Lakeside, and Seniors) in different running, jumping and throwing events. We were fortunate with the cloudy weather, although the clouds did turn to light rain just as we wrapped up the 50 yard dash. Campers who placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd will be recognized at Campfire on Friday. The clouds cleared, and we were graced with sunshine in time for the Indian War Relay Race. Every camper participates in this camp-wide event, passing the green or the white baton along 3 miles of road, paths, and lakewater.  It started at the camp entrance on Route 87, and runners brought the batons along the camp road and passed them off to swimmers at Main Dock. At this point the teams were neck to neck, but after passing it to the row boats and canoes, the Green Team pulled ahead. Runners at Hungerford Dock kept a good pace and brought it back to the waterfront, where two strong swimmers took it all the way from Pollywog Dock to the finish line at Main Dock, bringing a victory for the Green Team. After dinner, campers got a sugar boost from their cake with green or white frosting, and burned off more energy at Evening Program in the cooperative games: Dizzy Izzy, Leg Ball Pass, and Obstacle Course.

Throats are sore from cheering on teammates, but everyone will sleep well tonight after such a tiring day!

Phew!

-the Birch Blogger

1 week down, 1 week to go!

Campers can hardly believe that the session is halfway over! Today campers woke up to cloudy skies but by noon the sun started to break through and temperatures rose. Today the LT's had their day off and Kitchen staff had their night out so we had an "eat out" for supper. Campers in Cabins 7 and 8 filled in for our missing staff and served hotdogs, chips, pickles, carrots, and cookies outside the lodge. Campers sat on benches, picnic tables, the gazebo, and the council ring to eat with anyone they wanted to. Tonight the campers are going to play a short game on the field followed by a general swim and bed. Campers are going to need a good nights rest because tomorrow is Track Meet! The campers don't have an ordinary class schedule tomorrow, instead they go to the A- field to participate in the running long jump, standing long jump, softball throw, and 50 yard dash in the morning followed by more events in the afternoon! Should be a beautiful and cooler day!

- The Birch Blogger

The BEST place to be when It's 103!

Today's heat did not stop Asto Wamah campers and staff.  Campers and counselors spent 98% of their day in the water (meals were indoors)  and were constantly supplied with water and reminders to drink and apply sunscreen.  So besides some sweat we were all pretty comfortable in the cool Columbia Lake. Sports class was in the water playing games, swim lessons were the same, in boating the campers practiced capsizing which is always fun on  a hot day, and arts and crafts was in the lower lodge as usual where temperatures are 20 deg. cooler. The activities offered during activity period consisted of aquarium games, snorkeling, jumping off the tower, and paddle boarding. LT’s were also in the water all afternoon practicing and learning new lifeguard techniques.  Tonight's game is called Murder by Night. The campers are told that there has been a murder at Asto Wamah (a counselor who is on a day off :D) and they have to try to figure out which counselor did it and what the murder weapon was.  Andrea of Cabin 7 has been murdered with an arrow (She is the archery instructor) and her co- counselor Kelley did it. Shhh....  Each counselor makes up an alibi that includes another counselor and the campers go to each counselor and try to figure out whose story doesn’t match up. This is going to be quick tonight because we’re going to have a general swim for a long period this evening, as it is still 93 degrees out here! Stay cool!

- The Birch Blogger

Keepin' it Cool! :D

Birch Blogger here, just emerged from the water! Tonight's evening program was a splash, literally! Campers were placed in their swimming level location ( Deep Water, Intermediate, and Aquarium) and played several games in the water. It was so hot humid all day so campers really appreciated this chance to cool down.  Every sailor was happy to see the wind out today but it didn't make the boaters too happy.  Row boats were pushed around and canoes slid sideways despite the best efforts of their paddlers.  The highlight of the day for staff and campers alike was the 5 cheese Lasagna! YUM :)  What an amazing chef we have here at Wamah! Thank You SUE! Wonder what is in store for tomorrow! And parents don't worry: counselors are reminding campers to wear sun screen ! - The Birch Blogger

Supper over the Raft

Wednesday night suppers at Asto Wamah are done a little differently than the other nights. Usually the cookie bell rings at 5:45, notifying the cookies (two campers selected daily from each cabin) that it's time for them to come to the upper lodge and set their cabin's table for supper. Today, all campers came to the upper lodge at 5:45, not to set tables but to make their sandwiches. Each cabin had a picnic basket with bananas, chocolate chip cookies, cold cut and PB&J sandwiches, and "bug juice" (a.k.a. lemonade). Each cabin chooses a different place around the lakefront to eat their supper: the pavilion, the counselor ring, main dock, the picnic table by the D.C. (Director's Cabin), and even the two floating rafts, which require campers and counselors to ferry across the water in row boats.  We've been fortunate to have good weather so far this session, so our  eat-0ut could happen outdoors. It's always a disappointment when rain keeps us indoors on Wednesday evenings. Rain doesn't seem to be a threat this session, but we are preparing for some hot weather over the next few days. Fortunately, there are up to four opportunities for campers to cool off in the lake: swim class, general swim, cool off dip after activity period, and quick dip after evening program. With all that time in the water, it's surprising campers don't develop gills and turn into fish! Until tomorrow.

-the Birch Blogger

Asto Wamah receives its ACA accredidation

Three visitors came today from the American Camping Association. After a full day of talking with staff and campers, attending classes, reviewing policies, and eating lunch with campers in the lodge, we're happy to report that Asto Wamah passed the ACA accreditation with flying colors. They were particularly impressed with the positive atmosphere: everywhere they looked kids were having fun. Mealtimes were orderly and everyone sang songs together. Campers readily offered help when they saw someone who needed it. "How did you train the kids to be so polite?" one of them asked.  We're only two days into the session, and campers have already adopted the camp motto "Remember the Other Fellow." It's this sense of comraderie that makes camp a special place, and we're happy to hear that our visitors agreed. - the Birch Blogger

July 18

First nights at camp are always full of excitement, and many campers have trouble falling asleep in their new forest-surroundings. Despite these first-night jitters, campers are already settling into the busy schedule and the Asto Wamah Way. It was a hot and humid day, so everyone was excited to cool off in swimming classes and general swim. Beginning boaters and canoe-ers had their first launch out on the lake, while sailors learned how to properly rig and derig a sunfish sailboat. At sports class, some went off to archery or to play tennis, and others stayed to play Nuke-'um on the field. Campers chose an arts & crafts activity: weaving a basket with Carol, sewing a pillow, decorating flip-flops, weaving gimp, or making friendship bracelets.  LTs (Leaders in Training) are also settling into their new role, and are actively helping to teach classes and lead camp songs.    At dinner, campers were re-fueled with the hearty cheeseburgers and Colombia farm-fresh lettuce from farmer Chris across the lake.  The light rain this afternoon did not slow us down, so we will be playing Capture the Flag for Evening Program. Hope my team wins! -the Birch Blogger

The Girls of Asto Wamah Arrive! July 17th

Today the girls of Asto-Wamah moved in! Campers hugged goodbye to loved ones and got ready for tours of camp, cabin “ice breaker” games, and general swim!   Before the swim the whole camp of girls met Nancy, our camp director, and the entire staff. They learned about how we use the buddy system for general swim and all the waterfront rules. New campers were tested to see what level they would be in for the swim. We have three main areas on the waterfront, Aquarium (swim levels 1,2,3) is a very shallow and sandy area where all swimmers can touch, Intermediate (swim level 4) is shallow in parts but about 6 feet in others, and Deep Water (swim levels 5, water safety, 6, and super stars) is anywhere from 6-13 feet deep.  After buddy check campers had hot dogs for supper with beans, tater tots, applesauce, and pickles followed by brownies for dessert.  Then the whole camp played our traditional first night evening program, Medical Wars on the field! Now our campers are singing Goodnight Songs on the A-field (One is a short hymn and the other is Taps) before heading back to their cabins to get ready for bed. Tonight each counselor will read a book they chose for the cabin or a story a camper brought with them before bed.  

Wake up bell is at 7:30 tomorrow morning and we will start our first full day of swim, boating, sports, and arts&crafts classes! So much fun!

- The Birch Blogger

July 14th and 15th!

Well the end of camp is here.14 days and only one of them was rainy! We were so fortunate for these beautiful sunny and hot days! Campers had a great day yesterday and enjoyed the annual Banquet celebration. At Banquet we eat a Thanksgiving dinner (turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, cranberry sauce and ice cream for dessert!). What makes Banquet really special however, is the presentation of year awards and the candlelight service. Each child who comes to camp receives a year award to recognize their bravery, hard work, and dedication to Camp Asto Wamah.  It is not easy to leave home for 2 weeks but this is a great bunch of campers who were helpful, considerate, and enthusiastic about every aspect of camp!  The candlelight service occurs at the end of the meal after the songs and year awards.  One camper from every cabin is chosen to read a line from the New Testament and each line is related to light. Every camper is then given a candle and we all stand in a circle around the flagpole with our candles lit. Once the last line is read, we all blow out the candles together. It is so beautiful to see the large circle of light! Today was the last day of classes or more importantly, for most campers, the last chance to show their teachers that they know all their strokes! It was also a special day because campers got their favorite dessert after dinner, chocolate pudding pie! Campers found out today if they passed their swimming and boating classes and, if they passed, they will receive an award at campfire! Tonight we are having a short evening program to get out all the extra energy (nonstop cricket) and then campfire! Campfire is an event always held on the last night of camp where campers sing songs, receive swimming and boating awards, receive the cleanest cabin awards, and get s’mores! The campers are a little sad to be going home but they have made so many happy memories from 2 weeks packed full of fun!  Tomorrow campers get up early for breakfast and then they pack their things. Parents should pick up campers between 9-10:30!

We’ll see you tomorrow!

- The Birch Blogger

July 13th

Today was a very memorable day for campers. Many level 6 and above swimmers went on a long swim across the lake to Frog Island. Frog Island really isn’t an island but a very shallow part in the lake but it’s still pretty exciting to make it all the way there. This swim is highly anticipated by all campers because it is an annual camp tradition. If you participate you get to sign the Frog Island log book that has generations of swimmers names within it and you get to take a rock from the island back as a memento. Later on today we had a Yo-Yo performer put on a really cool show. He had so many tricks to show us!  Tonight is the kitchen staff’s night off so we are having Eat Out ( sandwiches, chips, and cookies). No word yet on what we’re playing tonight for evening program. Many campers are guessing that it will be Mission to Mars.  I’ll let you know tomorrow!  Tomorrow is Banquet! We’re all excited to get our year awards and have the Banquet feast :D - The Birch Blogger

July 12th

Campers awoke to clear blue skies this morning and got straight to work on finishing baskets and art projects. There are some beautiful baskets in the making! The campers enjoyed one of my favorite meals, Shepherds Pie (mashed potatoes, corn, and meat baked together)for dinner. In the afternoon there was a gigantic pirate battle out on the lake between the sunfish sailboats who were the pirates and the Hunter sailboat who were heroes. Campers had a ton of fun throwing cannon balls to fight off the pirates. Tonight we had tacos for supper and peach crisp for dessert!  For evening program the Leaders in Training, or LT’s, are putting on a treasure hunt! Campers will get clues on where to find the treasure and move from station to station. One is a Lord of The Rings Archery station and another is a ropes course station that is Indiana Jones themed! It should be so much fun! Night! - The Birch Blogger

July 11th

Today was another beautiful day on Columbia Lake! Campers had bagels and cereal for breakfast, ziti and salad for dinner, Hamburgers for supper, and cheesecake for dessert! Classes were tough today for a few level six swimmers who had to swim 20 laps but they all completed it and did a great job.  Sailors out on the lake played a cannon game. Two balls were given to each sailboat and the sailors had to try to hit the main sail on each other’s boats. Once hit, that sailboat has to give up all their balls to the sailboat that hit them. The goal is to end up with as many cannon balls as possible. This was really to get them practicing their control within the boats. The sailors had to work on jibing, coming about, tacking, and maneuvering based on wind speed and direction to pick up the cannon balls in the water. The game the camp is playing this evening is King Dodge. It is a dodge ball game where once you get hit you go to jail on the enemy’s side on the A- field. Once there you’re not out for long because once a dodge ball rolls into jail all you have to do is hit a member of the opposing team whose backs are turned. Campers go back and forth from jail to their team sides on the field and the team with the most people not in jail wins!  Today was also the final day to submit articles for Asto Wamah’s annual newspaper, “The Birch Barker”. Campers have submitted stories and pictures for it and yesterday's track meet results will also be published inside it. The Birch Barker will be distributed at Thursday’s Banquet. I can hardly believe that it is Monday! The consensus around camp is that time is flying! That’s all for now!  

- The Birch Blogger

July 8th-10th

Hello! Sorry it has been a while!  ** Parents if you told your child to write to you and they haven't yet don't fret! We're SOSOSOSOOSOSOSO busy!!!! Look how long it has taken me to find time to blog about all our activities. **  

Friday the 8th was very rainy (about 2 inches) and most of the day was spent indoors playing fun games in the lodge. For evening program that night we had a reverse scavenger hunt. Each cabin brought 10 items to help them act out scenarios. My favorite was an amusement park scenario done by cabin one; it was pretty funny!  Saturday, the 9th was beautiful so normal classes resumed. Now that the session is half over, the campers are working harder than ever and acting more determined in classes. Everyone wants to pass their swimming and boating levels :)

Last night for evening program we played another Wamah favorite, " Pirates".  The campers were split into two teams, Green and White. Each member on both teams was given a Wamah ‘Gun’ (a small rag filled with flour) and told to wear dark clothes. The object of the game is to try to capture as many guns as possible (by having pirate battles) and finding the other teams treasure. The campers travel through the woods in camp, within groups, looking for the treasure and looking out for the pirates on the other team. If they find a member on the other team they can run away or have a battle (they throw the flour gun at each other – this leaves a round flour mark on their dark clothes). The green team won last night by capturing the most guns and finding the white teams treasure.

Today was Track Meet! The two teams, green and white from last nights game, compete in standing long jump, running long jump, softball throw, 50 yard dash, the marathon (not 26 miles :D ), the Indian War Relay, swim races, and a few other games for evening program. Campers cheered for their teams and enjoyed a break from classes.  My favorite activity of track meet is the Indian War relay because everyone in camp is involved in it somehow. Still spit into green and white teams, campers run their teams baton from the camp Asto Wamah sign at the beginning of the camp road to main dock where they pass it to swimmers who swim between the rafts and hand it to boaters. From the boaters it gets passed to the canoes and from them the baton goes all the way to Hungerford cove. From Hungerford cove the baton is run to pollywog dock where senior swimmers swim to the finish line. The best part of all this is that once each camper has done their part in the relay they all sit on the dock and cheer loudly in support of their teammates.  Needless to say we’re all dragging our feet to our bunks tonight :)

- The Birch Blogger

July 7th

Another hot day on the lake but no one minded here! Campers were swimming and enjoying the blue skies out on/in the water. The campers are enjoying their classes and working hard to prefect strokes, memorize key boating terms, and complete projects. Today campers enjoyed cereal and English muffins, followed by a dinner of chicken fingers, rice, and corn, and finished with grilled cheese sandwiches with carrot sticks and applesauce for supper( ...and chocolate cake for dessert mmmm!!!!) . The campers also had the chance to go sailing on The Hunter ( a larger sailboat here at camp), jump off the tower, play soccer, or go play aquarium games for activity period earlier this afternoon. For evening program the campers played "Spies and Smugglers" ( a Wamah Favorite!)  Campers are split into two teams one are spies and are trying to guess where the smugglers have hidden a piece of paper with a certain amount of points written on it. The smugglers have to hide the paper in a pocket,shoe, a rolled up sock, and try to get to our A-Field from the flag pole without getting tagged by the spies.  The two teams get turns being both spies and smugglers.It is a lot of fun! Now we're going to have a quick dip in the lake before bed! Goodnight!

-The Birch Blogger

July 6th

Today campers spent 75-80% of their day in the water! :)It was hot, hot, hot! Today's meals included cereal and corn bread for breakfast, pork chops, green beans, mashed potatoes for dinner(lunch), and for supper we had an "Eat Out". Every Wednesday ( so twice in a 2 week session) we have an "Eat Out" where each cabin takes sandwiches, chips, and "bug juice" (lemonade) to a different location in camp. Some cabins rowed out to a raft or sat on a dock and ate out on the water! For evening program the whole camp played nonstop cricket, followed by a short general swim and watermelon for an evening treat! Off to bed!

- The Birch Blogger

Beginning of Boys Camp! July 3rd -5th

Greetings from Camp Asto Wamah! Camp is off to a great start, the weather is beautiful here and we've all been swimming, boating, and playing games outdoors! The first day of boys camp, Sunday the 3rd, the new campers were tested to see what swimming level they would be in for classes and then we had a quick general swim for all campers before a delicious dinner, or supper as we call it here at Wamah, of hot dogs and beans followed by brownies for dessert, YUM!  There was a little rain around supper time so for our evening program we had carnival games inside (musical chairs, card games, etc). The campers had to try to win play money to buy a treat( ice pops!), then it was off to bed. There were many fireworks going off that night on the lake so for some it took much longer to get to sleep. The next morning (the fourth of July) campers were up at 7:30 and got ready for breakfast (cereal and blueberry bread) at 8am. That day was the first day of swimming, boating, arts and crafts, and sports classes. We played medical wars on the A-field ( a doge ball game) for evening program.  The supper was chicken patties and because it was a holiday we all ate ice cream sundaes later that night after watching a few fireworks by the lake.

Today, the fifth of July, we all had a harder time getting up, being wiped out from the previous day's activities.  Breakfast consisted of french toast and all the campers enjoyed getting to boat and work on their baskets, t- shirts, and bracelets a little longer because they had already heard all the activity directions/rules yesterday.  The campers are already beginning to understand the routine and schedule here at Asto Wamah. Tonight we are having chicken fajitas and I predict that the game will be capture the flag (although it hasn't been announced yet). That's all for now! Check back tomorrow!

- The Birch Blogger

June 29th

Hello Birch Blog Readers, As the first session begins to come to a close campers are finally beginning to get used to the routine.  They are also beginning to realize that their fun filled days at camp are limited. For breakfast we had cornbread and cereal. Campers continue to soldier on through classes everyday, improving their swimming strokes and boating skills. In arts and crafts, progress is being made on pillows and baskets and on the A-field campers are working as teams. For lunch we had lasagna (my favorite camp meal) with salad. After perhaps one of the most filling meals, rest hour was a breeze. The beautiful weather this week has also made it extremely easy for the campers to jump in the lake for general swim. For activity period volleyball, kickball, stand-up paddle boards, and going out on the hunter we just a few of the things offered by counselors. On Wednesdays the Kitchen Staff and Sue the cook have their day off after the noontime meal. This meant campers had to make a sandwich and place it into their cabin's picnic basket for Eat Out. During Eat Out counselors take their cabins to unique places to eat supper and sing songs. For instance cabin two and cabin eight ate out on the two rafts. Other cabins ate on the various docks around camp and some even ate at campsites. For evening program campers were excited for Pirate Gangs! In this game there are very large boundaries, and most of the game is played throughout the woods. The camp is split into two teams, the X-faces and the Plain Faces (distinguished by a red X on one of their cheeks) Every camper is given a Camp Asto Wamah "gun" (a rag filled with flour) which is thrown at the other team. Campers are asked to wear dark clothing so they can see whether they have been "shot" by an opposing player. When a camper is "shot" they give their gun to the player that "shot" them.There is also a neon green jug hidden in the woods for each team to find. This "treasure" is worth points added to the score at the end of the game. Unfortunately, the treasure was hidden too well and neither team was able to find it. The final part of the game involves finding trash in the woods. Since camp prides itself on the pristine forest, it only seems right to give the team who finds the most trash during the game an additional ten points. The night ended with a quick dip and delicious watermelon! Yumm!

-Kyle Macsuga (co-smallcraft director)