February Update

Dear Friends of Asto Wamah, I hope that all is well in your world. I think of you and trust that you are enjoying this cold and now white winter. At least Colbie has brought the conditions for fun outside activities. Stay safe in all that you do.

For the past few months the landscape at camp has barely changed. Blizzard Colbie changed all of that! Before the snow, the lake was totally covered with probably 5 inches of the smoothest ice I have ever seen on Columbia Lake. The conditions were perfect for ice-skating.

All that ended with Colbie. I hope the pictures clearly and fully represent the whiteness and endlessness of the 20 inches of snow that fell on Jan. 27^th. Walking beyond the plowed areas of the road and parking lot necessitate the use of snowshoes. Needless to say, moving through camp at this time is exhausting and difficult but the beauty of the snow cover is awesome.

The 2015 brochures will have already gone in the mail by the time this Blog is posted. If you have names and addresses of friends, relatives or neighbors who may be interested in attending camp this summer you can send me their contact information. You can use either c...@campastowamah.org or n...@gmail.com and I will mail out the brochure ASAP.

Hope a session at Asto Wamah will be a part of your summer plans. We would love to have you take part in this upcoming, exciting season at camp.

Don’t forget, camp enrollment is done on a first come first served basis so it is important that you get your application returned as quickly as you can.

Stay warm and safe. Remember, summer will be here before we know it!

Always,

Nancy

January 2015 Update

Dear Friends and Followers of Asto Wamah, Happy New Year!! I send you best wishes for a super new year ahead. May it bring us all peace and all that is good.

Well, 2014 ended on a positive note for Asto Wamah with the Reunion on the 26^th. Although the turnout was somewhat smaller than usual we had lots of fun playing games and revisiting the summer experience we had all shared. Friends were reconnected and there was much good cheer.

So far this winter has been noteworthy for its lack of snow, ice and cold weather. There have been some cold days here and there, but overall the temperature has been mild and other than a covering of snow at Thanksgiving, the ground has remained brown and leaf covered. The exposed lakebed has been somewhat wet and soft (certainly not frozen) until recently.   I am just starting to see some small icy areas floating close to shore. Maybe by the next Blog, I will have pictures of snow and ice for you.

Now that January is here, it is time to begin planning for registration and staff hiring. The 2015 brochure is at the printers now. Within a week or two, we will work to prepare them for the February 1^st mailing. Those hoping to work at camp this summer are already returning applications. Right now it seems as though June is far off but experience tells us that it will be here faster than we think. If you have not sent in the names and addresses of friends, relatives or neighbors who may be interested in attending camp this summer, there is still time. That information can also be delivered via the contact page on the website: www.campastowamah.org/contact.php.

Wishing you a wonderful January ahead. Stay well, be good, and Remember the Other Fellow!

Always,

Nancy

December Update

All at camp is pretty quiet right now. The Camp Road has been made ready for the months to follow when it will be frozen hard and the snowplow will be working to remove the snow. We have gathered wood into the arts and crafts room so that we can have a warm place to work once the out-of-doors becomes too cold. The pictures this month are the ones I had promised in the November Blog. One is taken from the Main Dock, looking toward the Fishing Dock. The other is taken from the Fishing Dock while looking toward the boat bouys. I find the huge rocks very interesting and thought you might like to see what lurks below the water, out of sight, while you are fishing or rowing during the summer.

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, we are into the Christmas/Holiday Season. That means the traditional Camp Reunion is approaching. Within the next week you will receive your invitation in the mail. I hope Dec. 26^th from 2PM to 4PM is free on your calendar and you will be able to attend and reconnect with camp friends. It is always a fun event with lots of enthusiasm.   We would love to see you!

Plans for the summer of 2015 are well underway at this time. Please remember to send us the names and addresses of any friends or relatives who may be interested in attending Asto Wamah next summer. We will add them to our mailing list so they can receive registration information in the February 1^st mailing. Thank you for your help in spreading the word about Asto Wamah! You are the best salesman we have!

Looking forward to seeing you at the Reunion on 12/26!

Hope your month of December will be filled with excitement and anticipation.

Wishing you and your family a joyous Christmas and Holiday Season and a New Year of peace and good will to all.

Always,

Nancy

Camp Asto Wamah 100th Fund

November Update

Greetings to All Asto Wamah Friends, Hope this new month has gotten off to a good start. I am writing on the 4^th and this day is warm and lovely enough to make you totally forget that cold weather is on the horizon.

You will be glad to know that all is well on the shores of Columbia Lake. The Dam was opened just a month ago and within a few days the water had receded to its winter level. Frog Island is a good-sized lump of rock protruding above the surface. It is now possible (and quite easy) to walk from Hungerford to the main dock, in the lake-bed, without getting wet. I will send you pictures that show the VERY large rocks, usually under water, that are now exposed on dry land. This is a great time of year to rake the leaves from the swimming areas. If only there was a way to keep others from blowing in during the next 5 or 6 months.

The leaves are mostly on the ground so the fall color is decreasing by the day. It is amazing how far you can see into the woods and how much closer everything appears. In the silence of the woods, I can still hear the sounds of summer and the fun times. Hope you can still bring those sights and sounds and feelings to mind.

Within a few days, your parents should be receiving a postcard outlining the 2015 dates for next summer. This is sent now with the hope that your vacation plans and camp session at Asto Wamah can both be accommodated into next summer’s plans. Here is the schedule:

June 28 to July 4                   coed                ages 8 to 12

July 5 to July 18                    all boys            ages 8 to 14

July 19 to August 1                all girls            ages 8 to 14

August 2 to August 15            all girls            ages 8 to 14

We hope to see you back at camp in ’15! Don’t forget to contact me at n...@gmail.com if you have a friend or relative who would like to be added to our mailing list.

Asto Wamah is thankful for you and sends to you and your family the very best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving celebration!

Always,

Nancy

October Update

Dear Friends of Asto Wamah,Now that fall is officially here, the camp environment is taking on a new look. To begin with, the woods are thinning out as low growing plants are losing their leaves, making it much easier to ‘see’ into the forest. There is some color around Columbia Lake, but overall, the predominate color is still green. The dam has not been opened yet (Wednesday is the appointed day) however the lake is definitely lower than it was all summer. Next month I will send pictures that will show a very different lake than we were use to during the summer. We have prepared for this new season by bringing in the small craft. Boats, canoes, sailboats and stand-up paddleboard are all safely stored away until next June. The White Raft is tied to Little Dipper and the Gray Raft is next to Polly Wog Dock. Hopefully the pictures I took will help you visualize the waterfront as it is now. I don’t know whether you will be able to make out the heron sitting on the boat buoy but I thought you, who were interested in this very large bird that visited us many times this summer, would be pleased to know it is still present. Many off-season projects are underway. Cabin 4 is in the process of being painted. Soon all the Lakeside cabins will have freshly painted floors. Major renovations are taking place at the Lean-to. A new roof and an overall sprucing-up will make it a more inviting destination next summer. There is never a dull moment or a lack of tasks to be tackled. Hope your life is full of happy activity, engaging friendships, success in school and those still fond memories of your time at Asto Wamah. Always, Nancy

Talented Tuesday!!

Welcome Back Birch Blog Followers! Today was a breezy and cool day on Columbia Lake. The campers woke this misty morning and gathered around the flagpole to do our flag raising and "chicken fat". They then ventured indoors to fuel up for another busy day at Asto Wamah. Breakfast was wonderful waffles with peanut butter, maple syrup, or cereal with nectarines. The morning proceeded as usual with camp duties and morning classes. The campers are all working diligently to get their crafts to completion and to nail certain skills in their boating and swimming classes. The dinner today was  a camp favorite, Shepherds Pie ( ground beef, corn, and potatoes) baked in the oven to warm the campers' bellies. The dessert was also a camper/counselor favorite, C.P.P. (chocolate pudding pie). After a fabulous meal, campers enjoyed a longer rest hour to catch up on zzzz's. Due to how cool it was on Columbia Lake, we played a game on the field instead of going into the lake for a general swim. The game called, "All Around Town", is  a kind of camp-wide kickball game. The offense team kicks the ball to the opposing team and then the kicker has to run around their own team ( all lined up) as many times as possible to get points. The opposing team fields the ball, line up, and throw the ball through the legs of everyone on the team. Once the ball makes it all the way through the legs of the fielding team, the kicker has to stop running. The white team won the game!! Hooray!

The rest of the day went according to normal schedule although many campers used activity period to get their skits/talent show acts together by making props and doing dress rehearsals. The supper tonight was chicken fajitas with applesauce, carrots, cucumbers, and chips. Dessert was a refreshing lemon cake. The campers gathered in the upper lodge for talent night around 7:30. This session is full of talented campers! We had several comical cabin skits, beautifully soloists, fabulous musicians, and graceful dancers. It was one of the best shows i've seen at Wamah!! The campers will get an extra half hour of rest tomorrow so that they be energized for this final stretch of camp.

That's all for now followers!

-The Birch Blogger

Monday Funday!!!

Welcome back birch blog followers!! Campers awoke this morning to the aroma of cornbread baking in Sue's oven! We met around the breakfast table shortly after 7:30am(8am real time)  to dine upon the cornbread, nectarines, and cereal. Then campers briskly went back to their cabins to clean and get ready for their morning classes. Today in sports classes, campers had the opportunity to try out various elements in our Ropes Course! Several campers got to rope swing or try to balance on our 'whale watch'. The swimmers participated in a butterfly clinic, where they practiced several drills to help them get the tricky rhythm of butterfly down. The boaters are still perfecting their skills and working hard to try and pass into the higher level by the end of this week.

The noontime meal , dinner(lunch) was a hearty feast of Texas Hash ( ground beef, rice, tomatoes, peppers), bread, and salad. Following this was a dessert of vanilla pudding! YUMMY! The rest hour brought with it, clouds, small showers, and a bit of wind so instead of going in for a general swim the campers enjoyed a game of non-stop cricket. Campers next proceeded back to their normal schedule of fourth period and activity period. Activities offered today were the tower (the rain stopped in time:) , badminton, sailing, and working on their arts and crafts projects. Most of the girls decided to forgo activities in order to run skits, songs, dances, or their talents in preparation for talent show tomorrow night! I am SO excited, the acts sound really entertaining. I will report on it tomorrow night :)

Today's inspection winners were cabins 2,5, and 8. Supper (dinner) was a round of steak sandwiches with cheese/peppers, applesauce, carrots/cucumbers, and a special orange cake for dessert! As I type away, campers are on the A-field, playing a camp favorite, King Dodge. Campers try to get out players on the other team in traditional dodgeball style but when a camper gets out they go to jail. Once in jail, if a camper gets hold of another dodgeball, they can try to hit unaware campers on the opposite team to get back in the game.

Tonight we will all sleep well after such an exciting and active day!!! See you on Tuesday followers!

-The Birch Blogger

Track Meet!!

Today was an exciting day at Camp Asto Wamah. Instead of going to the usual morning classes, campers went to the A-field for a day of running, jumping, and throwing. Split into teams of Green and White, campers competed against other campers in their area (hilltop, lakeside, seniors) in the running long jump, standing long jump, softball throw, and 50-yard dash. By lunchtime, everyone was good and hungry for a hearty meal of noodles, ham, corn, bread, and fruit. After lunch, we had our usual Rest Hour, followed by another track event--the "marathon!" The marathon starts on the A-field and continues down the camp road and past the lodge, finishing in front of Cabin 5. The marathon is an optional event, but quite a few runners showed up for the challenge! Those not running formed a line at the finish to cheer on their friends.

When the last marathon runners had finished, it was time for the Indian War Relay. This relay goes through all of camp, starting with 2 runners at the top of the camp road. The baton is passed along down the camp road and is then handed to boats, more runners, and finally, swimmers. White Team won in an exciting finish. It was a hot day, and the general swim that followed the relay was a welcome way to cool off from the day's activities.

Before supper, we had activity period. Campers jumped off the tower, played Nuke 'Em on the A-field, participated in swim races, and had their hair braided or wrapped. Supper was hamburgers, carrots, and chips, followed by a delicious dessert of green and white cake!

As I write, campers are getting ready to play Pirates--a camp favorite--for evening program. The game involves winning battles to collect others' "guns" (rags filled with flour) and looking for treasure in the woods. It is sure to be a fun game!

Super Saturday!!

Hello again Birch Bloggers!! We have been incredibly lucky with weather this entire summer at Camp Asto Wamah! Today the sun was shining, everyone enjoyed and took advantage of the beautiful weather!

Today we had french toast and yogurt for breakfast and a tasty meal of meatloaf and mashed potatoes for lunch (with butterscotch pudding for dessert). Then for dinner, it was the kitchen staff's night out so for eat out, each camper had to sit at a table that no one from their cabin was sitting at. It was fun seeing the campers sit with friends that aren't in their cabin and also get to meet a few new friends as well.

We had a normal schedule today, all of the classes going swimmingly... especially the swimming classes. Since it wasn't too windy, the canoeing and sailing classes practiced capsizing today. They flipped the boats over and learned the best way to get them right-side up with little to no water in the boat. It is a fun way to cool off and also be prepared in case the boat flips over.

Tonight the girls are playing Spies and Smugglers, one of everyone's favorite games. The smugglers will be running up and down from the flagpole to the A-field trying to get their piece of paper (with 25, 50, 100, or 200 points on it) to their base. At the same time the spies are trying to stop them and guess where the smugglers have hidden their paper. They have three guesses, if they guess correctly, the spy gets the paper, but if not the smuggler is free to attempt again to get to the field. It is such a fun game. Since it is still pretty warm out, we will be having a general swim after the game. It is always fun when we have a chance to go in the lake during the evening.

That's all for now!

~ The Birch Blogger

Today was another great day here at camp! After gathering around the flagpole for flag raising and Chicken Fat – our daily morning exercise – we went up to the lodge for breakfast. This morning we were treated to bagels (plain and cinnamon raisin) and cereal.  There was also the option of yogurt and plums as a side. Lunch was chicken parmesan with pasta, and then blue raspberry sorbet for dessert. For dinner, we had tacos, followed by delicious apple crisp for dessert!

This morning we had all of our regularly scheduled classes, boating, swimming, arts and crafts and sports. And this afternoon everyone enjoyed the rest hour break and the general swim that followed. Fourth period had campers at whichever class they didn’t have this morning (hilltop at sports, lakeside in boating, and seniors in arts and crafts).

Activity period allowed campers to jump off the tower, participate in a cannonball/diving competition, Can-Jam, volleyball and paddle boards. During dinner we experienced a bit of rain, which means that evening program will be indoors tonight. We will be doing a Minute-to-Win-It style program. As the name suggests, campers will have a minute to complete silly, but difficult tasks. They will be competing as a cabin in an attempt to complete the task the fastest.

Following evening program we will begin Secret Sister. As those of you who had campers here last session know, all of the girls love Secret Sister. Everyone in camp selects a name out of a bucket; this person is their Secret Sister. They will then have a few days to do random acts of kindness, and get to know their “sister.” We hope that it is someone that they do not already know, because meeting new people and making new friends is what camp is all about.

Until next time,

-The Birch Blogger 

Beautiful Wednesday!

It was a beautiful Wednesday here on Columbia Lake! We had a normal camp schedule today. For breakfast we had waffles, which many campers put peanut butter on - an Asto Wamah tradition, then ravioli and farm fresh salad for lunch, and for dinner each cabin had a different picnic spot around camp. Some of the cabins were on different docks, at the A-field, and at the council ring.

Classes have been going very well! The arts and crafts classes are making many different types of bracelets, ceramic animals, pillows, and a few girls are learning how to cross-stitch. During sports today there was a big game of kickball while a few of the girls played Kan-Jam, a fun Frisbee game. There has already been so much improvement already in the swim and boating classes.

There were many fun activities offered by the counselors during activity period today. Campers were jumping off the tower, boating on the lake, playing aquarium games, running around the A-field playing soccer, and more!

Now the campers are getting their sneakers on and will soon head to the A-field for evening program. Tonight we are playing Tri-Ad, a fun soccer games with not one but three soccer balls, and three goals. There is a ton of running around and lots of balls flying around. It is a fun game and really involves all of the campers, making sure everyone is running around and having fun.

Every night, after evening program, the counselor's lead a few songs while snack is passed out and then one or two counselors will give vespers. Our vespers includes a skit or story involving morals that the campers are learning throughout their time her. Examples of the different vespers include Making the most of camp, Remember the other fellow, Conserving the environment, and being respectful. Last night we saw a fun skit about a beautiful flower and remembering to keep enjoy, not destroy the nature around us.

That's all for now!

~ The Birch Blogger

Tremendous Tuesday!!

Hello Birch Bloggers! Today was another beautiful day at camp. Breakfast was corn bread and oatmeal, for lunch we had Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes with chocolate pudding for dessert, and for dinner we had chicken patties and then cheesecake for dessert.

The warm weather made it the perfect day to be on the lake. Everyone was eager to get in the water for both swimming classes and general swim. All boating classes were able to go out on the lake as well. In arts and crafts, campers continued projects they began yesterday, and in sports, they played a game on the A-field.

Activity period had many kids out on the lake in boats and canoes. Counselors also offered activities such as jumping off the tower, paddle boarding, water aerobics, and aquarium games. If they didn't want to go in the water, campers had the option of playing games like Can-Jam, tetherball, and nock-hockey.

Tonight we will be playing a camp favorite, Capture the Flag, for evening program. Following evening program we are planning on having a quick dip. This gives everyone the opportunity to jump in the lake and cool off after running around all evening. We hope that all campers will take advantage of this, and jump in and cool down. Capture the Flag will tire everyone out, so they will be ready for bed and have a good night's sleep.

-The Birch Blogger

FYI: Many of you have been asking about pictures taken throughout the session, and when they will be posted on the website. Pictures from the 2014 Asto Wamah season will not be posted until the end of August.

Fabulous First Day!

Hello Birch Bloggers! Today was a fabulous first full day of camp here at Asto Wamah! We started off the day with blueberry bread and cereal for breakfast, which was followed by cabin cleanup time. Once the cabins and camp were all set for the day, we were off to first period! Hilltop went to arts and crafts, lakeside went to swimming, and seniors went to sports. They went from first, to second and then finally third period before having a bit of down time during counselor swim.

For lunch we had baked ziti and then mixed fruit for dessert. Lunch was followed by rest hour and then a general swim. Fourth period was moved indoors, due to the rain, but it did not put a stop to the fun. Boating classes learned parts of the boats and sports class played our new game, Same or Die.

Counselors offered board games in the upper lodge for activity period, so campers played games like Scrabble, Uno and Cards. Dinner was a delicious meal of chicken melt and then orange cake for dessert.  Tonight evening program will be held in the upper lodge. There will be a series of mini getting-to-know-you type games including counselor trivia and “How Do We Differ.” Overall today was a very successful first day of camp, and the session is off to a great start!

-The Birch Blogger

First Day of our Second Girls Session!

Welcome and welcome back to our second session of girls camp!! Today we welcomed 24 new campers and about 63 returning campers to Asto Wamah today. The rain stayed away while the parents came down camp road with their excited campers. Counselor's happily greeted their campers and gave them a little bit of time to get settled and then it was time to say good bye to family and let the Asto Wamah fun begin. Once most of the campers arrived counselors began orchestrating ice breakers like Where the Wind Blows, a game where one camper stands in the middle of a circle while everyone else us standing at a spot in the circle. The girl in the middle will say something about herself (favorite sports, number of siblings, favorite animal, etc), and if someone shares in that interest she will leave her spot and hope to find a new one, one camper will end up in the middle and then it is her turn to share something about herself. Counselors will also go over rules, expectations, and go on a tour with the campers to either teach to remind them the Wamah Way.

After rules and icebreakers, the bell rang around three o'clock, time for everyone to meet around the council ring and listen up to Nancy. We introduced all of the staff to the campers, Nancy gave her expectations for camp, and then Catherine (the water front director) went over water safety rules. That brought us to swimming classifications for first years or campers who haven't been to camp for a few years. Campers did their best swim strokes so that Catherine could see which swimming level the camper will be in.

For dinner, we had the traditional first night of camp meal - hot dogs, tater tots, and delicious brownies for dessert. The campers ate everyone piece they put on their plate.

That brings us to evening program. Any minute now the bell will ring for evening program and all the campers will make their way to the A-field in their tied shoes. Then Drew, our sports director, will go over the rules for... MEDICAL WARS. We always play this Wamah-version of dodge ball on the first night. The main difference is that after a camper gets out, she will sit exactly where she was hit and yell to the medic to come and save her. The medic, protected by two guards, will run up and revive the camper who got out. It is such a fun game!

Medical wars is the perfect game to get the campers running around and hopefully a little tired out before bedtime. The first night sleeping in any new place is always a little difficult but we hope that the campers will be able to sleep well on this nice, cool night because we have a fun, full day ahead of us tomorrow!

That's all for now! Please check in throughout the week to get more updates from Camp Asto Wamah

~ The Birch Blogger

Banquet & Campfire

Hello there Birch Bloggers! We have had an exciting past two days here at Asto Wamah, but first, we would like to remind you that pick-up is TOMORROW from 8:30-10am.  We are all so sad that the first girls’ session has finally come to a close. Yesterday was banquet, a Thanksgiving-style meal that has everyone dressed up in green and white. Sue, the cook, served us a delicious meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry slices, and bread. This was followed by either chocolate chip cookie dough or chocolate caramel crunch. During banquet we sing plenty of songs, see a slideshow of pictures from the session, and campers receive year awards. Banquet is concluded with a candlelight service; it was too windy to put the candles on the lake, so we stood in a circle around the flagpole before blowing them all out.

Today was the final day of camp, so campers had one last chance to show off all of their newly acquired swimming and boating skills, and finish up any last minute arts and crafts projects. We were also finally able to finish our game of Mission to Mars in place of activity period. There was a bit of thunder, but we were still able to have our campfire this evening.

Campers were treated to s’mores and songs. They also were recognized if they passed in either swimming or boating, or if they placed in any of the track and field events. This has been another wonderful session here at camp, and we are sad to say goodbye to what has been an amazing group of girls this session. We hope they have enjoyed this session as much as we have!

One final REMINDER, please arrive between 8:30-10am TOMORROW MORNING to pick-up your campers!

-The Birch Blogger

What a Wednesday!

It's been a wonderful day at Camp Asto Wamah! The day started off with a nice swim to Frog Island. There is a nice sandbar in the middle of Columbia Lake, about a quarter mile away from camp. Swimmers who are in a level six or seven swim class can participate in the swim, so during first period four or five campers each follow a row boat, being rowed by a lifeguard, out to Frog Island. Then the swimmers have a little break at the sand bar, when many will look for the perfect rock to keep as a souvenir, then the different teams turned back toward camp and made to to second period just a few minutes late.

Swimming classes have improved a great deal, and many of the girls are just about ready to pass to the next level. It is really wonderful seeing the girls become more confident in the water, especially when it is here that girls are first learning to swim and dive here. The girls are becoming more confident in general throughout all of their classes and even in their free time and decision making. What a great experience.

Today the LTs are putting on a carnival for the rest of camp. They have been working hard to come up with a theme, costumes, signs, and most importantly lots of fun Games for the campers to play. There will be lots of booths set up around the flagpole, arts & crafts room, upper and lower lodge, and porch area. Each camper will get a few beans that she will need to play the games (and get her face painted) and the girls have the chance to win more beans by beating the different games. It will be lots of fun for everyone!

Thanks for reading!

- The Birch Blogger

Track Meet Recap!

Hello Birch Bloggers!The weather had our track meet (scheduled Sunday) split into two days. Yesterday morning we were struck by rain, so instead of the regular events, we played a new dice game called Same or Die. It was created here at camp, and has become a fast favorite. The afternoon was met with sunshine, so we were able to do our morning events after rest hour. Campers competed in the running long jump, standing long jump, 50 yard dash and softball throw on the A-field. They were then given the opportunity to participate in the marathon, a half mile run from the field down Corduroy Road, the Camp Road, and finishing at the Cabin 5 wash stand.

We later competed in a set of group challenges which forced the girls to work as a team to earn points. The evening brought even more rain, so we had a game night in the lodge. Counselors selected their favorite board game, and campers were able to jump from game to game as they pleased.

Today, we had our regular classes, but before general swim, we did the Indian War Relay. The Indian War relay has campers running a baton from the top of the Camp Road down to the docks where it is passed to swimmers and boaters. The boaters bring the baton over to Hungerford Cove, and it is then run back to main camp and swam in to main dock. The green team walked away victorious, in what was a very close race!

Tonight we are either finishing up Mission to Mars, or playing games in the lodge. Campers have been looking forward to Mission to Mars, so hopefully the rain holds out and we are able to play. Tomorrow night is talent night, so stay tuned to hear all about our wonderful acts.

-The Birch Blogger

Spectacular Saturday

Hello Birch Bloggers, Today is Saturday, the halfway point in the session. This morning, campers who wanted to switch bunks were able to move from top to bottom, or bottom to top. This gives people the opportunity to try something new, or just be bunkmates with another one of their friends.  The rest of the day followed the normal schedule, but tonight we have an exciting surprise evening program.

In a few moments the campers will be partaking in a fabulous game called Mission to Mars.  This evening program has not been played in five years at girls’ camp. The campers will enjoy it because it is a combination of a few of our favorites: pirates, capture the flag, spies and smugglers. This game will have the girls running through the woods looking for cones, which represent parts of their space ship that has been crashed on mars. As this is going on, the other team acts as Martians who are trying to capture pieces of green paper from these “Earthlings” that will stop them from being successful in their mission.  What makes this game unique is that it is also a two-night game, the green team will have one night to be the Earthlings, and then will have another night to be the Martians (and vice versa). A lot of campers have been asking about this game, so it is exciting that we will finally be able to play!

Tomorrow is Sunday, which means that it is track meet day! The teams have been picked, so tomorrow everyone will compete in both individual and group events to earn points for their team. This is a special event that runs all day, giving campers a break from their normal schedule. Hopefully the weather holds out and we are able to compete! Be sure to check back tomorrow to hear about all of our fabulous events.

-The Birch Blogger

A Beautiful Thursday at Camp

Hello Birch Bloggers! It was another perfect day at Columbia Lake! The weather was beautiful and everyone is having lots of fun. Today we ate wonderful cinnamon bread, one of my (and most campers) favorite breakfast breads. Then for lunch we had Sue's famous lasagna, and hamburgers for dinner - everyone's stomach's are full and happy! Classes ran smoothly, as usual. In arts and crafts, many of the campers are starting to sharpen their sewing skills, learning how to make pillows and cross stitch - you will be amazed by their skills when they return home. Sports classes played nuk'em and Kan-Jam, while swimming and boating classes went smoothly.

Campers just picked out teams for track and field day which we will have on Sunday. All of the campers are split into two teams, green and white and there will be different games and activities throughout the week, opportunities for campers to win points for their team. Tonight, to start off the competition, we are playing Pirate Gangs! This is an extremely fun game which takes place throughout most of camp. Campers are dressed in black and running around the camp look for a hidden treasure, trying to collect trash for extra points, and partaking in "gun battles" with girls on the other team. (Camp Asto Wamah guns are a small cloth tied with a rubber band to keep hold flour in it, so when a camper is hit, a small spot will appear on her dark clothes.) The girls all love the game and were so excited when they heard we were playing it!

That's all for now!

~ The Birch Blogger