Tuesday, July 26

Camp awoke refreshed and cooled off after the few rain showers that passed through last night! Energy was high all morning, especially after everyone's favorite breakfast was served - cinnamon bread! The campers' enthusiasm continued during classes as they worked to show their teachers how much they had learned this past week and a half.

Meatloaf was served for lunch today with mashed potatoes and carrots. Everyone loved it and many even found room to eat vanilla pudding for dessert!

Per campers' request, Rest Hour was extended by 15 minutes today! The girls insisted that they wanted to be well rested for the remainder of the day. And that they were! Everyone went in for general swim this afternoon. In deep water, many campers dove off the tower - an exciting feat for anyone at camp! 

For activity period this afternoon girls were able to go paddle boarding, jump off the tower, play soccer on the A-field, partake in Aquarium games, or work on their arts and crafts projects! However, many campers chose to work on Talent Night! Talent Night is a talent show that we have here at Asto Wamah. Many cabins work together to create a skit, song, dance, or musical piece to perform in front of the camp. Everyone looks forward to this evening program each year. It is always a fun night full of support and entertainment! 

For dinner campers enjoyed grilled cheese with tomato soup! Cucumbers, applesauce and chips were served alongside the sandwiches. Everyone loved the cheesecake that was passed out for dessert. We have been lucky enough to have cheesecake twice this session!

Campers are now practicing their performances for tonight. We cannot wait to see what these creative and talented girls have in store for us!

~Taylor and Shannon

Monday, July 25

After an exhausting track and field day, campers were excited to return to a normal morning schedule! We started the day with a breakfast of chocolate chip bread. Following breakfast campers got ready for their 3 morning classes. Everyone worked hard this morning and sailors particularly enjoyed classes - there was GREAT wind on the lake today!

Lunch today was chicken parmesan and it was gobbled up quickly! Many campers were noticing that they had not met a meal they haven't like yet! We love to hear that from our campers! 

Following rest hour the girls cooled off in the lake for general swim. However, we cut the swim a little short today because we had an exciting afternoon planned! First, we had a special program called "Birds on the Run" where a presenter brought some birds from his exotic birds shelter. The birds were beautiful and very smart! So many of them were starting to learn tricks that the girls really enjoyed helping with! When the presenter brought out each bird he told us a little story about their life, and it was really cool to get to know the birds a little more. Some had more traumatic pasts, while others just weren't able to join their previous owners when they moved to Italy! It was really a lot of fun!

Following our bird presentation, the whole camp gathered to hear the rules for a rare camp game- Mission to Mars! For this game the earthlings compete against the martians to find necessary water sources hidden around camp! They get an extra bonus if they also find the energy sources that will help power their rocket ship for its trip back to Earth! Basically the game is a more complex version of capture the flag, and the boundaries for the game include most of camp's property. The campers have been requesting to play this game all session so they were thrilled to see their requests were granted!

Dinner tonight was pulled pork, which is a newer meal we've added to our menu! Overall it appears to have received a big thumbs up! Our dessert was cherry cake which definitely didn't disappoint. 

Because we are predicting to get hit with some rain tonight, we are playing our evening program inside the lodge. We will be playing "minute to win it" style games that groups will try to complete in competition with the other traveling groups. 

Overall we've noticed that campers seemed to be especially exhausted today. The last few days have been very active and it is starting to catch up with the campers! Bedtime can't come fast enough for most, so we expect it to be a quiet night in the cabins!

~Taylor and Shannon

Sunday, July 24th

HAPPY TRACK AND FIELD DAY!!!!! Such an awesome day at camp!

We had no class schedule today, it was all about track meet. This morning in the time between cabin cleanup and lunch, the whole camp went up to the A-Field to participate in the individual track meet events. The campers traveled with their age groups: hilltop, lakeside and seniors. Each section voted on two team captains. We encourage the girls to vote for someone who is well motivated and supportive of everyone! Once the captains picked teams, the girls were off and running to their events! Hilltop started at the running long jump while lakeside was at the standing long jump and seniors were at the softball toss.  We had some very talented winners, but even those who didn't place had a great time cheering on their friends! It's such a great atmosphere to be a part of. 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!

Because it was another warm day, after our morning events we headed straight into the water for a general swim! Campers had a great time enjoying the water today and it was a lot of fun to watch them swim around with their friends and having fun. 

Lunch for track and field day was our traditional ham and noodles! We offered a side of carrots, squash and zucchini. Pears finished off our meal for dessert. 

When the bell rand ending rest hour, many of the girls 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. The Indian War Relay is a camp-wide race that involves every single camper! Two senior girls start running at the very top of the camp road, handing off the baton, in a relay setting, to about thirty campers until it got to main dock. From there two sets of swimmers dove into the water and handed off the baton to theboaters. The boaters met the canoers who paddled to meet runners by Hungerford cove (the farthest peak in camp). They made their way back to main camp and finally handed the baton off one last time to two fast swimmers who swam to the finish line to end the race!

Following our second general swim we played a camp wide game called non-stop cricket, a mix of tennis and baseball that continues with no end. Dinner came quickly and offered meatball grinders and chips. Green and white cake followed in proper Asto Wamah spirit!

For evening program we are playing a series of team based games that will help both green and white teams earn more points! They should be a lot of fun!

Everyone will be EXHAUSTED tonight, which is a very good thing. We are looking for some bright eyed campers in the morning to continue the normal camp schedule!

~Taylor and Shannon

Saturday, July 23rd

It's crazy to think that we are halfway through the session already! Some cabins switched bunks this morning to give everyone a chance to enjoy a top bunk. 

This morning we enjoyed cornbread and cereal for breakfast! Despite the heat, everyone devoured the lasagna that was served for lunch. The refreshing salad on the side was definitely welcomed! For dessert we had chocolate pudding topped with whipped cream. Dinner was another "Eat Out" tonight. We had stations set out around the flagpole with hotdogs, chips, a cucumber salad, and cookies for dessert! However, due to a sporadic rain shower we moved our meal inside. 

We experienced another hot day today so everyone jumped straight into the lake for swim classes! Campers were eager to show off how much they learned throughout this past week. Due to the heat, sports classes played a spin off of "Duck Duck Goose," called "Drip Drip Splash!" The idea is that you drip water on everyone's head as you walk around the circle and when you choose "goose" you dump the rest of the water on that person's head. It was a great way to cool off!

Today for activity period, campers could jump off the tower, go paddle boarding, take a ride on the Hunter, or play Aquarium games!

Tonight for evening program we are playing a game called "Step it Up!" There are various games set up on the A-field that allows campers to earn beans. Each bean equals a step their team captain can take. The captain is positioned all over camp and the first captain to make it to the center of the A-field wins the round! 

We will be going in for a quick dip to get cooled off before bedtime! At this point in the session, bedtime is welcomed by campers!

~Taylor and Shannon

Friday, July 22

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

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

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

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

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

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

~Taylor and Shannon

Thursday, July 21st

It is safe to say that every camper (and staff member) is sleeping soundly at night! Many counselors have shared how the majority of the girls in their cabins fall asleep long before they have finished reading. 

This morning's breakfast was toasted english muffins alongside cereal. Campers were also give the option to indulge in a warm bowl of oatmeal! Following breakfast, girls were eager to start today's classes. We have been so fortunate with the amazing weather we've been having, no one had any objection to jumping straight into the lake for swim classes! Boaters enjoyed the sunshine as they explored Columbia Lake and worked on their strokes. Arts and crafts is held in arguably the coolest room in camp so many campers enjoyed working on friendship bracelets and baskets to get a quick break from the sun! Sports classes have been as exciting as ever! Back by popular demand, volleyball was played on the A-field. The girls have been extra diligent with the sunscreen - many even donned baseball caps this afternoon!

The campers enjoyed ravioli with a healthy salad and delicious french bread. The french bread always runs out quickly! Sorbet was offered for dessert and the vast majority of campers dug in to the cool treat! Rest hour was very peaceful, but soon after the lake was filled with splashes and laughter as every camper went in for general swim! Activity period offered a myriad of games. Girls jumped off the tower, did a "Wamah Workout" on the A-field, did some relaxing yoga, played badminton, or learned to play the ukulele! Many campers opted to take a quick dip after many of these activities to cool off before dinner. 

Dishees had a tough meal this evening, tacos! Although it requires many dishes and bowls, campers loved them nonetheless. For dessert everyone went crazy over our peach crisp. With a little extra sugar in their bloodstream campers are hurrying up to the A-field to play an all time favorite evening program - Pirates! Girls dress in sneakers, long pants, and dark colored clothing to participate in this exciting game. Campers search for a treasure in the woods while engaging in "gun battles". Our Wamah guns are dishee rags filled with flour. These little "guns" leave a white mark on their target. The campers are always tempted to tap their friends with the rags before the game even starts!

We are hoping that tomorrow the wonderful weather continues! It would make it a perfect week! 

~Taylor and Shannon

Wednesday, July 20th

It was an absolutely beautiful day at camp today! It is so much fun when the weather is nice!

Today was the campers favorite meal day so far! For breakfast we had cinnamon bread! Lunch was Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes with carrots on the side, and dinner was "Eat Out." "Eat Out" is something very unique to camp. When the kitchen staff take their time off, instead of eating a meal in the upper lodge, cabins eat a picnic of sandwiches together somewhere else in camp. For example, some one cabin ate on main dock, and another chose to eat dinner in the Gazebo! "Eat Out" is always a lot of fun for campers.

We had some cool new activities offered today. Hilltop sports classes had the opportunity to play pickleball on the tennis courts and they had a wonderful time! Curt, our resident musician, taught a group of girls how to play songs on the camp Ukuleles. Four of our campers chose to practice extra so they could arrange a song to play at our talent night coming up! Swimming classes continued to work on their strokes and boating classes enjoyed the beautiful day on the lake. Sailors had a harder time because there wasn't much wind out on the lake, but nonetheless they still had a beautiful day to be out on the water. 

Today for activity period campers could choose to jump off the tower, participate in a diving contest, play volleyball on the A-Field or engage in a Gaga ball tournament. There were plenty of fun options for today!

Our evening program tonight is a game called Spies and Smugglers. This tends to be a favorite among returning campers. The camp splits into two teams - one being the spies, and the other being the smugglers. The smugglers have a small piece of paper that has a point value on it, and their goal is to smuggle it up to the A-field without being caught by a spy. Spies can tag smugglers and have 3 guesses to find where the secret piece of paper is hidden on their person. It's a high energy game that allows campers to be sneaky and creative! It's easy to see why its so popular!

I've heard many girls today talk about how fast this session is going! They can't believe it's already Wednesday! It turns out the phrase "time flies when you're having fun" definitely applies here at Asto Wamah!

Until tomorrow,

~Taylor and Shannon

Tuesday, July 19th

Campers were a little groggy today on the way to breakfast but they quickly perked up when they saw their breakfast - waffles with peanut butter! That is always a great way to start the camp morning. 

Morning classes went smoothly! We had an absolutely beautiful day at camp! Swimmers were very excited to get in the water and learn their strokes, boaters got to explore the lake a little more, sports classes were able to choose what they wanted to play. Their options were Kan Jam, Spikeball, or problem solving on our low ropes course. Nature classes tried their hand at meditation, something many campers enjoyed! Arts & Crafts classes made great progress on their individual projects.

Chicken fingers were offered for lunch with a side of rice, squash, and green beans. A dessert of peaches followed our meal. After rest hour all campers went in for a general swim! So far they have loved to take advantage of the water! We love their enthusiasm! 

Following 4th period campers were offered different activities to participate in. They were able to jump off the tower, ride paddle boards, go sailing with a counselor, participate in a diving contest, or go for a run. Lots of exciting options today!

Dinner tonight was grilled cheese served with tomato soup.  Chips and cucumbers were also served along the side of the grilled cheese, with cheesecake as our dessert. We LOVE cheesecake for dessert - it was definitely a hit. 

Tonight's evening program will be a game of Capture the Flag! Before evening program the campers have an option to go to the A-Field early to play a variety of individual games as entertainment before the big camp-wide program. Such a special treat! 

We expect that by tonight everyone will finally be sleeping well. We can tell the campers are already starting to wear themselves out - Perfect!

~Taylor and Shannon

Monday, July 18th

Last night was a little too warm for our liking, it made it very hard to fall asleep! The first night can be tricky, campers and staff alike are getting used to their new surroundings and the heat did not help. However, campers were still excited for their first full day at Asto Wamah! 

After a filling breakfast of blueberry bread and cereal, campers returned to their cabins and worked together to clean their cabin. Every day, the nurse goes into every cabin and selects the cleanest cabin on Hilltop, Lakeside, and Seniors. The girls are extra diligent and every cabin looked fantastic today! Cabins 2, 5, and 8 won inspection today.

As it is the first day of classes, there were a lot of rules to go over. Swimmers found out who their teacher would be for the next two weeks and showed off their strokes! Boaters, canoers, and sailors alike sat on the logs as Lydia and Sam, our small craft directors, went over safety and how to properly put on a PFD (personal flotation device)! Afterwards, canoers practiced their technique in our shallow water - Aquarium. Sailors learned how to rig and de-rig their Sunfish while boaters went over parts of the boat. In Arts and Crafts today campers were introduced to our more creative staff members. Deb is our arts and crafts director, Carol is our basket maker, and Kevin is our nature expert. After the introductions, campers began their projects! Sports classes played Nuke 'Em, it is a great first day game because it is a good way to learn everyone's name. 

Ziti was served for lunch today! Campers enjoyed french bread and salad as side items, and dessert was vanilla pudding. After rest hour we finished our daily class schedule with 4th period. A small storm hit us this afternoon so all 4th period classes took place in the lodge. Luckily, it cleared quickly and we were able to resume a normal schedule for activity period. Campers were allowed to jump off the tower, go for a run, play badminton, or participate in Aquarium games. We had a lot of fun!

Dinner tonight was chicken melts, with a side of potato chips and applesauce. Chocolate cake was gobbled up for dessert.

Because our athletic field is still too wet to run on we are playing reverse scavenger hunt for our evening program tonight. For this game each girl brings one item of their to the lodge. Then will then use these items to plan out a skit as a cabin that fits the theme set by counselors. It is definitely a favorite game for our campers, they are VERY excited to participate.

Thankfully the rain cooled things down a little bit so tonight should be more comfortable for sleeping. Overall it was a great camp day today!

~Taylor and Shannon 

First day of Girls Session 1

The hot day was definitely not ideal for drop-off day, but even still campers, parents, and siblings were hauling trunks to their new homes! Campers quickly settled in and started to learn the rules of the cabin, and more importantly, they met the other girls in their cabins. 

After some housekeeping within the cabins the whole camp gathered to go over some expectations for the next two weeks. New campers were tested for swimming and assigned a swimming level while old campers caught up with their camp friends. Following that, everyone went in for a general swim! The water really cooled everyone off making things a little more comfortable. 

After a half hour of free time the tables were set for dinner and we all sat down for our first meal together - hot dogs! The hot dogs were served with tater tots, baked beans, and a dessert of brownies. 

Evening program tonight is Medical War! Medical War is a variation of dodgeball that allows campers to be "saved" if they get hit so they can return to the game. It's definitely a camp favorite!

The first bedtime at camp is always a restless one, especially with the heat tonight, but we expect everyone will settle in and be comfortable in no time! We are excited for the two weeks that are ahead of us!

~Taylor and Shannon 

Friday, July 15th

What a beautiful morning we have this morning after a very exciting day yesterday!

Yesterday was quite lovely regardless of the humid weather! Everyone was very excited to get into the water to try and cool down. The swimmers began testing yesterday and will finish that up today. They show Catherine everything that they have learned within these past two weeks in hopes of passing their level! The boaters do exactly the same thing and do their best with the strokes that their teachers taught them! Sports class was a fun and nerve-wracking time for some kids. We did a ropes course element known as the trust fall. All of the counsellors caught the campers along with some help from campers themselves! Arts and crafts period as spent finishing up projects! 

Lunch was an array of sandwiches - tuna, egg salad, and of course the ever so popular, PB&J! We enjoyed peaches and pears for dessert. This meal of sandwiches is always served on the last Thursday of the session because for dinner we have our banquet meal.

All of the campers played some fun games or finished up their art projects during general swim due to a slight chill in the air. The one special thing about yesterday was the attire for dinner. Everyone in the camp wore something clean and fresh that they have never worn because our banquet meal is just like a Thanksgiving meal! The kitchen staff works to make turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberries for everyone in camp. They work tirelessly throughout the day in hopes of filling everyone's belly before our after meal festivities. 

Instead of an evening program game as we usually do, after every banquet we gather in the lodge and sing songs. The staff did a skit for the campers to show what a typical life for someone at Asto Wamah is like. Every camper was also presented with a year award! The awards are different depending upon how many years of camp you have attended. We had may new campers and many old campers, all obtaining awards for their hard work and dedication for coming to camp!

After everyone has obtained an award, we gather in a circle and light candles. We use these candles to show that each person is special at Asto Wamah and in the world as well! Without one light, everything is a bight dimmer. We blow out our individual candles at the same time and head off to bed. As tradition holds, there is no talking after banquet until the morning. We use this time to reflect on the fun times we have had here and the things that we are thankful for!

Tonight we will be having our campfire! Those who place din the top three during track and field events will receive their ribbons and awards and we will all talk part in watching a live show of pictures from these past two weeks! Everyone looks forward to this because we are able to see all the silly pictures and exciting times we have had together! S'mores, probably one of the best parts of campfire, will be handed out for us all to chow down on! 

It seems as though no one wants to leave but they are all excited to see their families tomorrow morning! Remember pick up begins at 8:30 am and ends at 10:30 am! Everyone is ready to enjoy the last beautiful day of camp to its fullest!

~Allissa

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