Wednesday, July 13th

What a windy day it's been at Asto Wamah! The morning started off with delicious french toast, with an option of cereal. After cabin clean up, campers level 6 and superstars made the arduous journey to Frog Island (a shallow area of rocks and sand directly across the lake). Eight campers ventured during our 1st period, collected their rocks, and made it back for their 2nd period!

Meanwhile, classes continued on as normal. A bit too windy for row boats, but drifting around the lake on a sunny day was still enjoyable! Counselors to the rescue a few times. The wind didn't stop our swimmers, however, so everyone was in practicing their floating, strokes, and dives. Up on the A-field, campers played soccer, kickball, and a dodgeball game called SPUD. Everyone is looking forward to the trust fall coming up in sports later this week! Kevin and his nature took a break from hunting Boris, and tried their hand at fishing. Lots of digging for worms!

After a smooth morning, we all sat down to a feast of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, cucumbers, steamed carrots, all with a side of ketchup. For dessert: vanilla pudding. Per usual, full bellies didn't stop anyone from getting their favorite candies at store. The good morning vibes continued into rest hour. Campers napped, read, ate their candies and wrote letters(?). No passing up on general swim today! The sun was out and the water was fresh. 

Following fourth period, all the campers were out and about for activity period. Campers had the option of participating in an archery tournament, soccer up on the A-field, jumping off the tower of course, and ALL the sail boats went out. The hunter and a fleet of Sunfish hit the lake to catch this breezy day! Everyone made it back to land with huge smiles and soaking wet bathing suits. No cookee bell today after activity period today because it's Wednesday; cabins scattered around camp for our second eat out. The wind didn't stop hungry campers from enjoying their packed sandwiches on the dock. Others made it up to the chapel, over to the council ring, and even on and around the A-field. 

Tonight, we have a treat in store! No games up on the field or in the woods. Instead, we'll all be lined up facing the lodge to watch all our talented campers perform in our Asto Wamah's traditional Talent Night! Campers will be singing, playing instruments, performing skits, and even our staff will jump in with our own silly show.  

Hoping for more sun and windy days for our sailers! 

~ Taylor, Allissa, and Lydia 

Tuesday, July 12th

It is hard to believe that the boys only have three full days left here at Asto Wamah! Everyone is still upbeat and making the most of the experiences offered here at Columbia Lake. In order to give them lots of energy for the day, our wonderful cook served us english muffins with cereal for breakfast! Many campers dashed to the dessert table as oatmeal was offered as an option as well.

Finally, a full day of sunshine! Everyone was eager to get into the water this morning for classes. With only a few classes left, swimmers worked extra hard today to perfect every stroke. Boaters soaked up the warm sun and many classes went on adventures to Hungerford Cove and Frog Island. Rowing to those two locations are special occasions as they are outside our camp boundaries. However, there wasn't a lot of wind today so many teachers got permission to make the trip! Pillows are very popular in arts and crafts, some campers may even be surprising their parents with a few homemade gifts! Sports classes took advantage of the dry A-field and were playing games all morning!

Today at lunch we had a new meal at camp! Campers were very lucky to have homemade mac and cheese alongside fish sticks and green beans. With their stomachs full, campers returned to their cabins for a peaceful rest hour. Re-energized after their rest, everyone went in for general swim. The water was beautiful today and many campers were impressed that they could see the bottom of the lake from the top of the tower!

Counselors had quite an array of games set up for the campers for activity period! Campers were seen leaping off the tower, taking a ride on the Hunter or sunfish, rowing around Columbia Lake, playing soccer or basketball on the A-field, and even fishing from rowboats. Although there were no fish caught today, many campers had a lot of nibbles!

Dinner couldn't come quickly enough for the hungry campers! We all enjoyed chicken fajitas with chips and applesauce as sides. Tonight for dessert we had one of camp's favorite: apple crisp! Although many campers were full from the fajitas, many begged for seconds of dessert! 

Tonight we have a special evening program! Our amazing LT's (counselors in training) are putting on a carnival for all of us tonight. They are up on the A-field now setting up games for everyone (including a station that gives an extra dessert of ice pops!). They have been secretive about the theme of the carnival but many campers have been speculating that it will be Olympics themed! Everyone is very excited to see what they have in store for us this evening. 

As the session is beginning to wind down campers are more enthusiastic than ever. Many first year campers have expressed a lot of interest in coming back for years to come! It is so admirable of them to try out a sleep away camp, it is not an easy thing! However, everyone has adapted so well and added their own special touch to camp. We are so thankful here at Asto Wamah!

~Taylor

Monday, July 11th

What a beautiful day we had today! Everyone awoke to a bit of a chill in the air but a delicious breakfast of waffles! As tradition goes, we had peanut butter and syrup. It sounds gross but of course, all the boys tried it and of course, they all loved it! 

All classes were held as usual. Swimmers had a lovely time in the water and many classes began their harder strokes. Arts and crafts was fun as always due to the amazing ideas Deb has for the boys. Sports class was played up on the field for what seemed like the first time in ages! Everyone was quite happy to be up there running around since was not too hot. The boaters had a very nice day since the lake was calm and the wind seemed to pick up for the sailors to work on soloing! 

Lunch was a delicious meal of Texas Hash with applesauce and bread on the side! The boys could not get enough of it! Rest hour seems to fly by for everyone due to the exciting events we were offering for the campers to choose from instead of going in for general swim. 12 lucky boys went with Deb to tie dye bandanas! They were all so excited to look just like Drew! Many of the campers decided to to go fishing and some even braved the chilly air to go in for a nice swim. The others all went up to the field to play a fun game up on the A-field.

The special thing about today was that we had a visitor for our 4th period class! We had a reptile enthusiast come and talk tour all about reptiles and amphibians today! We all were able to see live animals and even pet them! Many of the boys braved their fears of snakes to pet them and even had a nice time. We all learned so many interesting facts about these animals that can be very useful for us to know later in life!

Not too many people jumped off the tower even though that was an activity today. Many of the counsellors though took part in that activity! They played with the campers during a fun soccer game and a basketball game - both of which took place on the A-field. We even had a GaGa Tournament held today! The boys made teams of four and competed in a bracket!

Dinner was pulled pork, applesauce, and baby carrots and of course, everyone devoured the meat! There was none left by the end of the meal and they all loved it! We had yummy gingerbread for dessert which is something new for us all! 

Tonights evening program was a really fun one! We played a rousing game of "cops and robbers"! This is many of the counsellors favorite game. The campers are split into two teams and have to match a ticket of one of three colors with the other team. The counsellors however, are the cops and tag the campers. Once they tag the campers, they have to guess what color the camper has! Everyone will be sweaty so a quick dip will be necessary. 

We expect beautiful days from here on out and lots of excitement from the boys! 

~Allissa 

Sunday, July 10th

Today was not one of the warmest ones we have had at camp so far! We awoke to a chilly morning with a tasty breakfast of corn bread with butter and jelly for a spread and cereal. 

As we had track meet yesterday, our normal schedule of classes took place. With the brisk air, the boys were let out ten minutes early from swimming classes to allow for time to change out of wet bathing suits. Due to some slick conditions from the rainy night we had, sports class was held in the upper lodge although in the afternoon they were able to head up and play some games. Boaters went out as usual and today our sailors worked on capsizing their boats due to a lack in wind gusts! In arts and crafts, our crafters started many new projects and some even started new baskets with Carol! 

Lunch was what we typically would have had on track meet - ham and butter noodles with green beans and a squash and zucchini mix! The boys chowed down on everything in their sights including the peaches that were for dessert! 

Rest hour went well and because of the chilly air, some fun time activities were offered so as to not have too many cold boys in the water. Drew took boys up to the A-field for a fun game of Nonstop Cricket, while others went with Curt and Rory, two counsellors, to learn new songs on the ukulele. Many other counsellors also took some lucky boys out on our rowboats for some fun fishing! We had some brave souls to go in for general swim and even said that the water was pretty warm!

There were quite a few activities that were offered during activity period. Six  boys went out on paddle boards despite the dark skies. Two lucky boys went out on a sunfish to enjoy some strong gusts that thankfully came on later in the day! Nuke 'Em and soccer were filled with happy boys and staff members alike because the field was finally dry! 

Meatball subs, baby carrots, and applesauce were quite a filling dinner along with a nice side of chips. As traditions serves, our dessert consisted of green and white cake to represent our two teams for track meet! 

With some rain coming down currently, our evening program may end up being inside to keep everyone safe from injury up on the A-field! "Minute to win it" will be our indoor game. This game consists of many different tasks to be completed in one minute or less. The campers love this game and the staff always comes up with fun and creative games that allow everyone to have fun!

Hoping that everything warms up and the sky brightens up for tomorrow!

~Taylor and Allissa 

Saturday, July 9th

We are officially one week into our two week session! We had a change in the schedule today due to the rainy forecast for tomorrow. Usually we have our track and field day on Sunday, but we had it today instead!

All of the boys gathered on the A-field after they switched bunks in their cabins (we like giving everyone a chance to have a top bunk). Once they arrived campers cycled through three stations this morning: softball toss, running long jump and standing long jump. They traveled with their age groups: hilltop, lakeside and seniors. Each section voted on two team captains. We encourage the boys to vote for someone who is well motivated and supportive of everyone! Once the captains picked teams, the boys were off and running to their events! Hilltop started at the running long jump while lakeside was at the standing long jump. The seniors threw softballs that almost landed on the black top - all the way across the A-field! After each section completed all three events, our preliminaries for the 50 yard dash took place. Again each group battled it out against each other for a spot in the finals. We had to have a photo finish for many of the final races! 

We had the perfect lunch for a rather chilly day - lasagna! We also had salad and bread on the side. For dessert many of us had butterscotch pudding with whipped cream. After such an exhilarating morning we had many reports of campers napping during rest hour!

When the bell ending rest hour rang, many of the boys rushed up to the A-field for the marathon. Starting at the A-field, campers ran with their section along corduroy road and down the camp road, ending at the lakeside cabins. The Indian War Relay followed, a camp-wide race that involves every single camper! Two senior boys start running at the very top of the camp road, handing off the baton in relay form to about thirty campers until it reaches main dock. From there two sets of swimmers dive into the water and hand it off to the boaters. The boaters meet the canoes and the canoes meet more runners by Hungerford (the LT's home for this session). Making their way back to main camp, they hand off to two senior swimmers who race to the end! 

As it was a little chilly today, we decided to forgo a general swim and instead played games on the A-field. Or campers had the option to go fishing! Up at the A-field we played soccer, Kan Jam, basketball, knockout, and Spike Ball. A few lucky campers were able to go onto the ropes course!

Cookee bell rang shortly after and since it was kitchen staff's night off, we had a different way of sitting tonight. All of the counselors stayed at their respective cabin tables, while every camper split up so that no one was sitting with someone else from their cabin. Almost every camper mentioned how much they loved track and field, especially the Indian War Relay! We enjoyed a dinner of hotdogs, baby carrots and chips. And for dessert campers ate cookies and watermelon. After a rousing sing along the campers are on their way to the A-field to play a fun game of King Dodge! King Dodge is another form of dodgeball in which campers who "get out" go behind the other team and have a chance to get back in if they hit someone from behind with a dodgeball! 

Tomorrow we will continue our normal class schedule with hopes that the rain will hold off and it will warm up a bit!
 

~Taylor and Allissa

Thursday, July 8th

Sorry for missing yesterday! We had a very difficult and busy day what with the 5 inches of rain that fell within an hour and a half! At about 2 pm, just as rest hour was about to begin, we heard some rumbles of thunder in the distance and hurriedly got the boys into their cabins with the windows and doors shut. About ten minutes had passed and the skies opened up! Torrential rains poured down on us to the point that you could not see out across the lake. Rest hour was extended for a half hour to allow the storm to pass which thank goodness it did. The staff did a fantastic job keeping the kids calm during rest hour and with the storm passing, enjoyed a fun game of counsellor trivia with the campers! This game was played until we had a winning cabin and then the counsellors played board games and card games with the campers until supper time.

Luckily, today was a much better day! We awoke to some overcast but nothing compared to what seemed like the monsoon that washed over us yesterday. Breakfast was a camp favorite, chocolate chip bread with cereal on the side! Everyone ate that like there was no tomorrow! The swimmers had a nice time in the now slightly deeper lake. Thankfully, it was nice and warm so they were not too cold in the water. The boaters also had a nice time. There was some good wind for the sailors and a few too many waves for the canoers but everyone managed to have a nice time out on the lake. Sports class was still held in the upper lodge due to the wet conditions of the A-field. 

As soon as everyone found out that shepherds pie was for lunch, the cookees rushed to set the table and soon everyone was eating. Jello was dessert and the boys gobbled it up! We had a much better rest hour today. It was a nice temperature that allowed for a nice comfortable sleep. The wind has been howling today but thankfully the scorching heat we have had the past two days has died down a bit! Due to this heat reduction, some of the counsellors offered some fun time activities as opposed to going in for general swim. Kevin offered to take 8 campers out for a fun adventure while Deb took a few others to make some creative crafts. Aidan taught 8 lucky campers all about how to play the ukulele! Drew took over 40 campers up to the A-field for a rousing game of Non-Stop-Cricket! While there were not many who went in for general swim, those that did said how warm the water was and how it was nice to only have a few other swimmers with them! 

Activity period went smoothly as always with counsellors offering tower jumping, sailing, soccer, basketball, and a new addition of disc golf! Campers and staff alike were so excited to be back on the A-field playing games and laughing. The boys enjoyed some chicken patties for dinner with a side of applesauce, chips, and baby carrots. After chowing down, everyone rushed back to their cabins to throw on tied shoes for tonights evening program which will be played on the now dry A-field! We will be playing "garbage collector" tonight. This is a camp original that can be most accurately described as field basketball. We are anticipating a lot of tired, sweaty boys after this game so a quick dip in the cool lake will be taking place! 

We are all hoping for the weather to continue as it has today to keep us in good spirits!

~Taylor and Allissa 

Wednesday, July 6th

It is hard to believe we are halfway through the first week of camp already! The campers are loving every second and taking advantage of all of the opportunities camp has to offer!

This morning we awoke again to wonderful weather! Everyone enjoyed a camp favorite for breakfast - cinnamon bread alongside an option of cereal. Campers and staff alike were eager to get into the water this morning! Since the sun was so hot, canoers worked on capsizing this morning while boaters jumped into the lake before rowing. While swimmers continued working on their strokes, many teachers decided to play games at the end of class, so the campers could really enjoy the water! Sports classes were on the A-field but campers had plenty of water breaks to cool down. The arts and crafts room is nice and cool so campers comfortably worked on their projects while nature went fishing!

For lunch campers and staff were served meatballs, mashed potatoes, and salad. Sorbet was handed out for dessert - perfect for a hot day! After rest hour everyone went in for general swim. Aquarium played a fun tag game where campers pretended to be sharks and swam around "attacking" their targets. The splashing made it all that much more fun! Activity period revolved around the water today, as the sun was still hot this afternoon! Counselors offered jumping off the tower, paddle boarding, sailing on the sunfish, and those who chose to play ultimate frisbee on the A-field were rewarded with a quick swim in the lake afterwards!

Every Wednesday and Saturday the campers are treated to a unique dinner! Since the kitchen staff have their day off, cabins choose an area around camp to have a picnic dinner. Campers were spread out around the A-field, the counsel ring and even the docks! Everyone enjoys sandwiches with sides of pickles, chips, carrots, grapes and some cookies for dessert!

Campers were thrilled to hear that this evening we will be playing Pirates! The boys will scatter around camp searching for a "treasure". They may also gain points by collecting trash and engaging in "gun" wars (dishee rags filled with flour). There will most likely be a quick dip afterwards, as this is a high energy game! 

We are hoping this great weather continues for the rest of the session! 

~Taylor and Allissa

Tuesday, July 5th

This morning we awoke to rain but luckily we had a yummy breakfast of french toast to brighten our moods! The rain did not stop us from enjoying a normal class schedule. However, due to the slippery conditions of the A-field, sports class was held in the upper lodge. Swimmers enjoyed a warm lake even though the morning air was a bit chilly. Boaters did not mind the slight drizzle, on the contrary, it made boating all that more fun! Campers worked on their projects in arts and crafts while the hunt for Boris continued! 

Campers enjoyed quite a show today during counselors' swim! As they watched all of the staff jump from the tower, the campers cheered them on as they tried to catch a football or frisbee that was thrown from main dock. Today the kitchen staff was caught off guard during lunch by the sheer amount of chicken fingers that the campers chowed down on. They frantically made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to appease the boys' appetite! 

After a good rest hour, the campers had a few options to choose from as opposed to going in for general swim. Curt and Aidan, two of our counselors, offered music lessons, while Deb gave 8 lucky campers the opportunity to attend sculpting lessons. Kevin took more boys on a nature excursion while everyone else enjoyed the bright sun and warm weather on Columbia Lake!

Today's activity period was quite a busy one! Counselors offered Nuke 'Em, handball, Kan Jam, fishing, paddle boarding, and jumping off the tower! Our big sailor boat, the Hunter, was even taken out! 

Another great meal was for dinner! Grilled cheese, tomato soup, and a side of tomatoes to put on top were quickly gobbled up by the hungry boys. Not only was the main course quickly devoured but so was the dessert which was cheese cake!

Tonight's evening program will take place in the woods! The campers will be split into two teams, "spies" and "smugglers". They will run through the woods trying to "smuggle" points up to the A-field. The "smugglers" will have to avoid the ever so sneaky "spies"! 

With all of the 4th of July commotion over, we are hoping the boys will sleep soundly tonight! 

~Taylor and Allissa

Monday, July 4th

Our first full day of this session went off without a hitch! After what seemed like a late night due to fireworks on the lake, campers awoke to beautiful weather. We enjoyed cornbread and cereal for breakfast. 

Today we started our classes: arts and crafts, swimming, boating and sports! Swimmers showed their teachers what strokes they knew so staff could better help them to pass their level. Deb, our arts and crafts director, had a multitude of projects for the campers to choose from including paracord bracelets, wood burning, or even the option to start a basket! Kevin, our nature expert, took a few campers from arts and crafts and hunted our "wild boar" Boris. He had them get in tip top shape in order to better catch her! During sports we played our usual first day game of Nuke 'Em, which is a great game to help campers learn one another's names. Boaters learned the rules of small craft and our rowers were able to get out on the water during class! Meanwhile, canoers practiced strokes in aquarium in an effort to prepare them for tomorrow! Our sailors worked on rigging the boats for the very first time this session. 

After a very busy morning, our cookees set the table for a ravioli meal! We also had salad and bread on the side, and ended with butterscotch pudding. While dishees finished sweeping, campers headed to the store for a piece of candy to enjoy during rest hour. 

Fortunately the weather stayed nice and everyone went in for general swim! After their last class of the day, activity period began. Counselors offered jumping off the tower, ultimate frisbee, aquarium games, and Nuke 'Em. It seemed that every boy took advantage of the opportunities presented to them during activity period today!

Dinner bell rang at 6pm and we all gathered around the flagpole for inspection results. Cabins 2, old 6 and 8 won cabin cleanup today! Shaved steak sandwiches with peppers on the side were served along with carrots and chips. Now campers are scrambling to the A-field for a fun game of Capture the Flag. Everyone is eager to get there quickly in order for the game to get going early, as we will be having sundaes after to celebrate the 4th of July!

Everyone is settling into camp and it is so great to see all of the campers getting to know one another and form friendships!

~Taylor and Allissa

First Day of Boy's Camp

Starting at 12:30pm, campers started driving down the camp road and began their two week session at Asto Wamah! They were greeted by Drew, our sports director, and then quickly began the process of settling in and getting to know their fellow cabin mates. They went through the given check in list and gave hurried good byes to those who dropped them off, eager to start the session!

After counselors gave tours of our beautiful grounds, we all met in the counsel ring for introductions and camp wide rules. Our first year campers had their swim tests, where they showed Catherine, our waterfront director, what they know! They were then placed in swimming levels accordingly. Once those were completed, campers excitedly rushed to check in for a camp wide general swim! Right off the bat, boys were leaping from the tower in deep water and playing games in aquarium! 

Cookee bell rang shortly after the end of general swim and the campers rushed to set their tables, eager to fill their bellies! Here at Asto Wamah, we have "cookees", those who set our tables for meals and "dishees" who help clear the tables afterwards. Campers and staff enjoyed our traditional first meal of hotdogs, tater tots, and a side of baked beans. Brownies were offered as dessert and as you can imagine, they vanished quickly! 

Tied shoes have been put on in anticipation for our evening program! Now campers are playing a variety of activities, including tether ball, the ever popular Gaga Pit, or knock hockey while waiting for the bell to ring. Tonight we will be playing "Medical War", a type of dodgeball game in which our "medics" can bring campers back who were "knocked out" during the round. In an effort to give as many campers who wish to be the "medic" an opportunity, we have set aside 45 minutes to play. We are expecting a high energy game from this enthusiastic group of boys! 

Following evening program, campers will return to their cabins and get ready for bed. Cabins will vote on a book to be read aloud by the counselors before bedtime. Many campers enjoy this aspect of the evening as it helps them to wind down after an eventful day!  

We are so excited to welcome all of these wonderful campers to Asto Wamah! They will surely have a rememberable two weeks here. We are looking forward to start our usual schedule of classes and activities tomorrow!

~Taylor and Allissa 

Last day of the CoEd session

How is the last day over already? It seems like just yesterday everyone was nervously moving into their cabin. Now just 5 short days later memories have been made that will last a lifetime. It has been a lot of fun to watch each camper get comfortable with the camp schedule and really put themselves out there to get the best camp experience!

For breakfast today we enjoyed chocolate chip bread and cereal. As I'm sure you can imagine the chocolate chip bread runs out very quickly! Morning classes were a little more hectic today as campers worked until the last minute to impress their teachers. If teachers felt comfortable with their campers' performance, they were passed into the next skill level! It's always tricky to pass swimming and boating classes in just 5 days, especially when you throw a rainy day in the mix. Even so, many campers were thrilled to find out they were moving to the next level! Arts and crafts focused on finishing projects. If a camper was totally done they enjoyed an exciting day of nature as an alternative. Today in Nature, Kevin taught everyone how to safely build a fire. He even tested their brain power with some tricky riddles! Sports class played another round of handball to finish the session!

The kitchen offered Shepard's Pie for lunch today with a side of salad. Many first year campers were pleasantly surprised to find that Shepard's Pie was their favorite camp meal! Lunch was followed with a dessert of ice pops! Today a few lucky cabins were able to skip rest hour and complete challenges on our ropes course instead! It was a special treat to reward the awesome behavior we saw this session! 

We had around 20 campers checked in for general swim today, while other campers participated in a high energy game of Non-stop Cricket. Deb, the Arts and Crafts director, allowed some campers to finish their crafts. Activity period offered jumping off the tower, which was especially exciting for campers who passed into level 4 swimming. They were allowed off the tower for the very first time! Other activities included soccer, a ride on the Hunter (our largest sailboat) and an intense Gaga pit tournament. 

In the down time before dinner campers were encouraged to start packing up their belongings, especially because a thunderstorm came rolling through! All clothes, wet or dry, have been stored in everyone's laundry bags - enjoy washing that tomorrow! 

Dinner was make-your-own chicken fajitas, with a side of carrots and chips. It's still a little stormy, so tonight before campfire we are playing a game involving some trivia about our staff! After that we will enjoy a campfire where we will recognize those who have passed their classes. We will also be learning some more camp songs and enjoying our messiest dessert - S'mores! 

Campers will surely sleep well tonight, especially those who skipped rest hour earlier today! They will be well rested and excited to see their family again. Pick up starts at 8:30 tomorrow morning! 

It really has been a great session. As staff we have loved getting to know each camper and giving them an experience they will remember forever! Thanks for sharing your family with ours!

~Taylor and Shannon

Thursday, June 30th

It was the general consensus among counselors that it was hard to get the kids out of bed this morning. Pirates last night was pretty exhausting! Everyone started their day with english muffins and cereal. Morning classes were as exciting as always, especially with the awesome weather we have been having these past two days. With only one full day left, classes were focused on perfecting campers' skills and finishing art projects! 

Baked ziti was offered for lunch today, along with a salad and slices of french bread. Campers had pears for dessert and then stopped by the store to grab some candy to ensure their sugar rush would hit right before rest hour! Everyone went in for general swim today and we had a record breaking 57 swimmers in aquarium! There was plenty to do in the water today. Many campers chose to dive for rings, play with noodles, and search for the smoothest rocks in the lake.

Fourth period was as exciting as the morning classes! Sports class offered soccer on the A-field and nature worked on making "weapons" to go "boar - hunting." Kevin, our nature expert, is very good at coming up with creative ways to get campers excited about the outdoors. Activity period followed and soccer was back by popular demand. Other options included jumping off the tower, an archery tournament, and more piano lessons. The Gaga pit was as popular as ever, with campers battling it out in the sandy ring!

Grilled cheese was paired with tomato soup to fill campers with a comforting meal. Chips, salad, and fruit were also served on the side. Apple crisp was passed out for dessert and the campers were thrilled! 

Tonight for evening program we are trying a new game called "Step it Up!" The object of this game is for campers to earn beans by completing various challenges set up on the A-field. With each bean they give to their team captain, the staff member representing their team takes a step closer to the A-field. Whichever team's captain arrives to the middle of the A-field first wins! We are expecting it to be a big hit with the campers!

We are confident the campers will fall fast asleep tonight ready to wake up and finish up their last full day of camp tomorrow!

It has been a fun week at Asto Wamah!

~Taylor and Shannon

Wednesday, June 29th

After a rainy Tuesday we woke up to clearing skies! For breakfast this morning we enjoyed chocolate chip banana bread for the first time at Asto Wamah. We are lucky to have a very talented baker as a counselor in Cabin 6 - she spoiled us this morning! We returned to our normal outdoor schedule for morning classes. Swimmers worked on perfecting their strokes, boaters got comfortable in their new small craft, arts and crafts worked on their individual projects and sports classes engaged in a lively game of handball.

Chicken fingers were served for lunch today with a side of carrots, rice and a dessert of chocolate pudding topped with whipped cream. After lunch we posed for cabin pictures in front of the lake, and those pictures will be available for purchase on Saturday! 

Today for general swim the campers had the choice to either swim, learn to play ukuleles, or learn to play the piano. Many campers selected swimming on this beautiful day, but those who played music were very excited to show off their new songs. After general swim campers finished their class schedule and attended an activity for activity period. They could choose between ultimate frisbee, jumping off the tower, paddle boarding, or an archery tournament.

Dinner was exciting tonight! Campers got a unique opportunity to eat dinner around camp for our "eat out" night. Because kitchen staff have their night off, staff make sandwiches for the campers which they enjoy somewhere else around camp in a sort of picnic style setting. Some cabins ate dinner on main dock, and another cabin chose to eat in the Lean-to in the woods. "Eat out" always ends with lots of energy, laughter, and campers who are ready to play their evening program. Tonight our sports director Drew organized a high energy game of Pirates - a game involving guns made out of flour wrapped in dishee rags (our version of wash cloths) and a challenging treasure hunt. 

With only 2 full day of camp left everyone is eager to try everything camp has to offer!

~Taylor and Shannon 

Tuesday, June 28th

Campers woke up to rain this morning, but we had plenty of activities ready for them after breakfast! We started the day with waffles and peanut butter, a specialty at Camp Asto Wamah. All morning classes were held inside today. Swimmers played a competitive game of Scattergories while boaters played card games on the porch. Sports classes participated in a variety of indoor camp originals, including a game that is much like a combination of Pictionary and telephone. It was entertaining to see the final picture campers ended up with!

For lunch today, we enjoyed ham and noodles with a side of corn. A healthy dessert of peaches followed. Rest hour was quiet and many campers worked on bracelets and wrote letters home. It's easy to relax in the cabin on a rainy day at camp! Our new general swim procedures were tested out today. It turned out to be very successful! Campers are no longer required to go into the lake, but rather can choose from a few activities. These activities include music, sports, arts and crafts, and nature, all with variations that make them different from regularly scheduled classes. About thirty campers enjoyed the water today while the majority of campers headed to the A-Field to play Nuke'em. 

We were fortunate to find that the rain had stopped for fourth period and boats were able to go out onto the lake! Activity period followed with options of Ultimate Frisbee, paddle boarding, a ride on the Hunter (our largest sailboat), aquarium games, or learning sign language. This group of campers is excellent at trying the unique opportunities offered at camp!

It's Taco Tuesday! For dinner campers enjoyed tacos, chips, and applesauce. Campers are now gathered around the flag pole to learn the rules of Spies and Smugglers, our Evening Program for tonight.  After a rainy day we are very excited to have an evening program that will give the campers an opportunity to burn off some steam! Later a story teller is going to pay us a visit in the lodge. He comes from Center Church and is very popular at camp! Hopefully his stories will give campers something to think about while drifting off to sleep tonight.

It's only Tuesday and this week is already flying by! 

~Taylor and Shannon

First Full Day of CoEd Camp: Monday June 27th

Happy first Monday of Camp! Summer has finally begun at Asto Wamah! 

Yesterday campers arrived and got settled into their cabins. They were introduced to camp with a tour of the property led by their counselors. Our first dinner was our traditional hot dogs, tater tots, and baked beans followed by delicious brownies for dessert! Campers eagerly prepared for evening program by putting on their tied shoes and heading to the A-Field. Quickly we began our usual first night game of Medical War! Campers were very excited to get some energy out after hearing all the rules of camp! Even better, the game ended in a perfect tie!

Most campers were early risers today after spending the first night sleeping in the woods! It's always a new experience, especially for the first time campers. Breakfast was cornbread and cereal. The perfect breakfast to get ready for an exciting day of classes. Campers rotated between sports class, small craft, swimming lessons and arts and crafts. After classes campers were treated with some free time which they quickly filled with games of knock hockey, tetherball, and most excitingly our new Gaga Pit! The addition of the Gaga Pit has been a huge hit with all of the campers (photos below).

Our dinner for today was meatballs, mashed potatoes, with a healthy side of carrots and green beans! Dessert was butterscotch pudding which many campers enjoyed much to their surprise. After a big meal everyone relaxed in their cabins during Rest Hour. They finished the day with their last class, and then went straight into activity period. Campers had the option to participate in jumping off the tower, playing KanJam, soccer, fishing off the dock or going sailing in some of our sunfish. 

After an active day, campers enjoyed chicken patties for supper, with a side of chips and carrots. Cheesecake followed for dessert. Now the campers are off to play a game of Capture the Flag. Now that everyone is more settled in we are positive campers will be sleeping very well tonight!

Stay tuned for daily updates on all of our fun camp activities!
Taylor and Shannon 

June Update

Dear Asto Wamah Friends,

          June has arrived!  It’s the time of year we have been looking forward to for the past 9 months.   Asto Wamah is in full bloom and just about ready for the arrival of over 300 new and returning campers and over 70 seasoned and enthusiastic staff members. 

          Last Saturday we hosted Open Camp Day where about 100 people toured the site led by experienced staff and LTs.  There was much excitement in the air.  That event feels like the official beginning of the new season - our 107th!  Visitors on Saturday got a good idea of what summer at Asto Wamah feels like as the temperature was over 90.  We even had a brief thunderstorm that didn’t interrupt the activity or dampen anyone’s spirit.

          In previous Blogs I have written about one of the new initiatives in this summer’s programming – music.  The newly purchased keyboard, that will replace the old piano that had very few workable keys, has arrived and will provide creative opportunities for all.   With a keyboard, 8 ukuleles and a guitar or 2 (not to mention instruments brought in order to play taps at bedtime) we should be making a great many joyful noises!

          We are looking forward to a fun filled 7 weeks, where friendships are made, challenges are taken on and met, new adventures are explored, and each member of our inclusive and respectful community leaves with treasured memories that will last a lifetime.

Can’t wait,

Nancy

May Update

Welcome to MAY!

            Now that spring has arrived, signs of new life are appearing everywhere at Asto Wamah.  Here is my favorite May scene: the skunk cabbage and marsh marigolds under the Icky Water Bridge.  Just a few weeks ago there was no green here at all.  I know that within a week or two, the trees will also be green again and Asto Wamah will look a lot more like summer.

Skunk Cabbage Under the Icky Water Bridge

            Our annual spring workday was held this year on April 30.  A group of enthusiastic and energetic volunteers raked billions! of leaves and dragged away fallen twigs and branches.  They washed windows and cleaned and aired out all the buildings after their winter's sleep.  Thanks to these dedicated volunteers, camp is once again looking beautiful.

            Construction on our new Gaga Pit is about to start and the relocated horseshoe pit is nearing completion.  In addition to the ukuleles, a wide variety of programming equipment is being purchased so that we will be ready to provide our campers with fun, challenging and engaging activities.  Some will be new but the favorite oldies will, of course, be back as well.

            I am pleased to be able to announce that enrollment has been strong.  Two sessions are full and the others are getting there.  It is still not too late to introduce Asto Wamah to a friend.  The virtual tour video on our Home Page offers prospective campers a great view of life at Asto Wamah.

            I hope you all know that everyone is invited to Open Camp Day, scheduled for May 28th from 3 to 5PM.  Experienced campers and staff will give guided tours and answer questions for our first-time visitors.  This will be a perfect time for new campers to become familiar with the campsite and discover how special Asto Wamah is!  I hope to see many of you there. 

Less than 8 weeks to the start of COED!!

Nancy

April Update Part 2

Dear Asto Wamahites,

I had planned to update the April Blog with some “spring-signs” pictures.  Then it snowed!!  So here a few pics you may find interesting. 

One is of the White Raft in its winter mooring.   As you can see, Columbia Lake is still at its winter low level.  I am praying for rain.  Feel free to join me!

Hope you can make out the birds in the trees in the next picture.  They are Eagles and have been spending the past months fishing in the open lake and enjoying the solitude of Asto Wamah.  They are quite magnificent!

The last picture was taken in the upper Lodge to show you the 8 new ukuleles that have recently been purchased for the music activity option being offered this summer.  Many other fun additions coming!

Think spring!

Nancy

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March Update

Dear Asto Wamah Birch Blog Followers,

     Thank you for staying in touch with Camp by checking in with the Birch Blog at the start of each Month.   I have to say that this last month at Asto Wamah has been VERY busy.  It’s all about preparing for the 107th camping season.

     The 2016 Camp Brochure was mailed to everyone on our mailing list on February 1.  Applications started to stream in right away.  Each day brings another batch.  It is very exciting to see the number of returning campers as well as new campers.  This year we asked first year campers to tell us who had told them about Asto Wamah.  Those people who have been successful in spreading the word will receive a special T-shirt to recognize their efforts on behalf of Camp.  It is not too late for others to receive an "Award" T-shirt.   Just tell a friend or neighbor or relative about camp.  If they sign up, you get a T-shirt!  There are still openings in every session.

     February is also the month when staff hiring takes place.  Staff applications have been arriving in large number since early December so we have a great pool of seasoned staff and recently graduated LTs to fill the many jobs of counselor and kitchen help.  I am very excited about the talents and enthusiasm these young adults will bring to every session this summer.

     Even though it is only March 1,  plans are already being made to upgrade the tennis court and include Pickleball lines.  We are also hoping that the Gaga Pit will provide campers with a new free time activity that has proven to be popular in many camp settings.  Other new and exciting program options are being discussed and will be shared with you in the next few months.  Stay tuned :)

     Today at camp I saw a Yellow Crocus popping through the ground and a tree in bud.  It is clear that summer cannot be far behind.  Hoping each day brings you more vivid and warm memories of Asto Wamah!

Always,

Nancy