What a lovely Tuesday it was!
To set the tone for the day, campers got a sweet treat for breakfast - chocolate chip bread. High spirits spilled into morning classes, as some campers are beginning to level up in swimming classes, and perfecting their docking skills to pass their boating levels.
Dinner was chicken parm with delicious spaghetti and chocolate cake that was to die for (bonus points for the colorful sprinkles on top). Campers are getting better at fully embracing rest hour and using it to their advantage, aka actually resting quietly. After rest hour, we had a general swim with the sun beaming hot onto the lake. Older campers have been perfecting their cannon balls and dives off the tower. For supper, we had a Taco Tuesday fiesta! Many different bowls of toppings colored each table nicely. We stuck with the theme and had churros for dessert.
Evening program was extra special tonight… it was the LT carnival! The LTs worked super hard to create costumes and games that were all Pixar related. Campers got to try out a variety of different games and competed against each other to earn beans. I think the most popular game was Mike Wazowski’s joke challenge. For this game, you had to find a buddy and take turns trying to make them laugh in a short amount of time while they held water in their mouths. The line was super long, and both campers and counselors got in on the fun. After all the festivities were over, campers headed to bed for yet another quiet and peaceful night, making sure to get enough rest for another day of fun tomorrow and all of the exciting events coming up in the last few days of the session.
Monday, July 10th
Happy Monday!
We started off the morning with a special breakfast - bagels with cinnamon butter made by Charleigh - as it rained pretty heavily outside. After our exciting Track and Field day, we went right back into our normal camp schedule…normal minus the 30 minutes of extra sleep we got and the indoor sports class due to the rain. Luckily, campers got to do a super fun activity with Drew in the upper lodge - designing the most complex domino maze they could conjure up together in about 20 minutes.
Swimming and boating classes went on as per usual, and campers were good sports about getting into the water as the sun started to peek out again. Overall, a good start to our morning!
Dinner was Texas hash…a very popular meal. Some campers wished there was ranch on the table for this meal (a common theme here at camp). Our Rest Hour was perfect, but the thunder following made us skip General Swim. Instead, the campers played some fun activities like gaga, 4th period came around, and then it was time for activity period. Lots of campers were eager to compete in a tennis match during activity period.
For supper we had Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes, with a pudding pie for dessert! Evening program was King Dodge; the goal is to get the other team out while also getting your team back in by throwing dodgeballs! It is essentially a two-way dodgeball game. We had yet another quick dip and then sent the campers to bed!
Sunday, July 9th
TRACK AND FIELD DAY!!!!
Today was unlike any other schedule that we have had at camp. This is the one day of our session where we have no classes and instead participate in competitive track and field activities! It’s a nice way to keep things new and interesting for campers as we enter into the second week of the session.
We started the day with cinnamon bread as our breakfast and then went straight into the track and field events. There was standing long jump, running long jump, softball throw, and 50 yard dash all in the morning, replacing our usual three morning classes. The campers all split up into two teams; green and white, and they competed within their age groups. The seniors especially enjoyed the jumping activities, some doing the farthest jumps I’ve seen at camp! Then we had a quick general swim before lunch, which was our traditional dinner of ham, noodles, and green & white cake! The campers LOVED this meal! Then of course, we couldn’t skip rest hour after all the energy the campers got out.
We then went into our “marathon” which not all campers choose to participate in, but this year we had a great turnout! It’s really only a half mile, but kids still enjoy it! Finally, the part that most our campers were looking forward to, the triathlon relay! We have runners, rowers, canoers, and swimmers! The white team ended up winning the whole relay due to some confusion by some of our boaters on where to meet. Overall, the campers enjoyed it and it was a great way to get everyone involved around the whole camp!
For supper, we had a nice filling meal of pulled pork sandwiches, pasta salad, apple sauce, and chips. One cabin came up for apple sauce refills 9 times, which gave the kitchen staff a real laugh. After supper, we had big plans to do the traditional relay races on the A-Field, but unfortunately it started to rain. Luckily, Drew was able to whip up some indoor relay races we could play in the lodge. It ended up being just as fun! Special shout-out to the white team seniors for having the most energy and team spirit!
Overall it was a great day, and I suspect that the campers will be sleeping well tonight. Stay tuned tomorrow for the results on which team won!
Friday, July 7th
First Friday of boys camp! Campers woke up to another beautiful sunny day and our routine chicken fat! Breakfast was blueberry bread (one of my personal favorites) and cereal!
Morning classes went well, as per usual. Lots of swimming classes worked on dives and some campers even passed into higher levels of swimming! Lunch was ravioli and salad, another perfect meal for right before rest hour! Lots of campers decided to actually use this time to take a nap, since the sun has been so exhausting.
General swim landed at the perfect time of day; the sun was at its peak and campers had enthusiasm to swim and jump off the tower. For activity period, Lexi and Charlie took campers to jump off the tower, Joey and Carmela brought those who signed up out on the Hunter, Deb hosted a tie dye session, and Max had an archery competition at the range!
Supper was chicken melts, quite possibly the best meal at camp. They are essentially english muffins with chicken, cheese, peppers, and some other spices toasted together. Campers enjoyed them so much, we had some asking for fifths (needless to say, there are no leftovers).
To end our day, we played Spies and Smugglers as the evening program. One of the best strategies to win this game is something you’d need to prepare before even coming to camp: a shirt with a lot of pockets. If you have enough pockets, you’ll be able to smuggle your ticket all the way past the spies and they will never be able to guess where you put it! Campers hand-sewed their own shirts with pockets to attempt this strategy; it was a success!
Yet again, we had a quick dip after evening program allowing campers to cool off. A great day paired with some great meals!
Thursday, July 6th
Today was filled with sunshine, bullseyes, and good vibes. The water was warmed to perfection for swimming classes and general swim. Sports class had a variety of options today; football, kan jam, and ultimate frisbee. During both Ellie and Lexi’s archery classes, all of the campers got at least one bullseye!
During activity period, campers jumped off the tower, sailed the Hunter and the Sunfish, paddle boarded, and played basketball. It was the first day we were able to take out the Hunter this session, which was a very big deal given that it is our BIGGEST sailboat (fitting 10 people)!
We had some filling meals today to say the least; English muffins for breakfast, chicken tenders and rice for dinner (one of those meals where kids are asking for seconds before the food has even made it all the way around the table), and meatball subs for supper. Following the vanilla pudding dessert, campers got ready for a classic game - capture the flag! This year, we added some more boundaries so the campers were extra excited! Both teams were able to capture the flag several times which was super fun to watch!
We took full advantage of the hot summer day paired with the warm lake water by ending the day off with a quick dip before heading to bed. We have been loving this sunny weather and also loving the energy from the campers!
Wednesday, July 5th
Today was what I would like to call our first real day of camp; it finally did not rain once allowing us to have a full day how we normally would.
Breakfast was french toast which the campers LOVED! As it was so warm all day, campers made sure to stay hydrated and could not wait for their morning swimming class! Campers also finally got to have their rotation of archery and tennis; something that the rain took from us.
For dinner (what we call lunch), it was Shepherd’s pie and as a camp we almost finished two whole pans of it! Everyone loved the hardy meal, allowing us all to take long naps during rest hour! We had our first full-length general swim which the campers were thrilled about.
Kitchen staff had their night off today so for supper, we did eat out! This is when we make sandwiches and the campers all eat together with their cabin at a location other than the lodge (most commonly docks)! Even the extra staff boated out to a raft to have their supper there. It was an amazing way to wrap up our meals for the day.
And finally, what the campers were most excited for, we had evening program on the A-field! The entire camp played Medical War as the sun set; we also had a quick dip in the water following the game due to how hot it was outside! With it being our first full day with no rain, I can guarantee the campers will have no issue falling asleep! Here’s to another day of fun and more sun!
Happy fourth of July!
Every camper woke up with excitement this morning, ready to celebrate and enjoy the sun that supposedly would peak out. We skipped flagpole due to the rain, had cornbread for breakfast, and that’s when the sun did as promised!
Our first three periods brought a beautiful sun, super fun swimming classes, “Roll or Die” in sports class, and our first day out on the boats. For lunch we had baked ziti and salad, a camp favorite! Right as the rest hour bell rang, the rain came back once again and began to downpour for the entirety of rest hour and into general swim, which we made an extended rest hour.
During activity period, campers played banana-grams, ping pong, and knock hockey. Supper was chicken patties. For evening program, we played Murder by Night. Campers had to walk around and find staff members located around camp and try to figure out who murdered Joey by finding an alibi that didn’t match up, and collect letters that spell out the murder weapon. One group successfully solved the murder- the kitchen staff poisoned his ziti!
Then we had ice cream sundaes for dessert to celebrate the fourth of July! Campers happily chose from the variety of toppings we offered and sang goodnight songs before heading off to bed.
Monday, July 3rd
The first full day of boys camp was one that no one could have expected. The sun rose, wake up bell rang, and we all gathered around the flag pole to recite the pledge and of course, do chicken fat. Coming from two female staff members who have never been to boys camp before, it was an extraordinary sight to see every single camper participating in the push-up section.
For breakfast, we had waffles. The sun came out just in time for morning classes! Perfect weather for the first swimming class…several campers wished they could stay in the water longer. In sports class, we played the classic first game, nukem. Other campers got to go down to the archery range and try out their aiming skills. One camper on hilltop nearly got a bullseye!
For lunch (also known as dinner), we had meatloaf with mashed potatoes, corn, and bread. Our head cook, Sarah, was nervous about using her personal recipe for the meatloaf, but the results were delicious; many people expressed delight about the turnout. For dessert, we had butterscotch pudding, my personal favorite.
Right before rest hour, campers got their first glimpse at the selection of candy after store. As they ate their candy and relaxed in their cabins, the LT’s were out in the lake beginning their lifeguard training. The sun was still bright and hopes were high for the rest of the day. Following rest hour was the introduction of rules for general swim, which ended up pushing our schedule back slightly. For this reason, fourth period was cut short and campers went right into activity period. Options included the tower, gaga ball, and so many other fun activities.
Next was supper where we all enjoyed some classic grilled cheese and tomato soup. Everything was going great, and that’s when the storm began! A rainbow seemed to appear but suddenly there was a downpour, yet again making evening program an indoor upper lodge game: minute to win it. The campers competitively played, cheered, got all their energy out, sang good night songs, and then headed to bed! FYI: there is nothing better than raindrops on the top of the cabin while falling asleep. All in all, it was a classic sunny/rainy camp day. What more could you ask for?
Linger
Our morning began with the final Chicken Fat of the session (no CF tomorrow because parents will be en route!) Not a single camper complained when this fact was revealed, though I suspect at least a few will be singing the melody at breakfast tomorrow… “Push up, every morning, 10 times! Push up, starting loooooow” Breakfast was bagels with cream cheese, jelly and butter. OJ, hot cocoa (coffee for staff) to drink.
Cabin cleanup was very important for the boys and Lakeside girls, as the Senior race had been clinched last night by cabin 8 (7 had a “lights on” disqualification). Everyone wanted to make extra sure their cabin was impeccable when Nurse Karen made her rounds!
Campers were excited to go to swimming and boating this morning because they all knew today was THE DAY. Counselors evaluated rhythmic breathing, whip kicks, and treading in the water. Meanwhile, in boats and canoes, counselors had everyone practice docking their respective craft. Solid and consistent feathering was a must, especially with the wind being rather strong and steady. At the end of each period, campers found out whether or not they pass. To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many kids passed in both swimming and boating. Normally during the one week co-ed, it is incredibly tough to pass, given the available number of days. We had more people pass than I have ever seen! All the rowboats were occupied by (new) advanced boaters during Counselors’ Swim and Activity Period. We went from 3 to 13 kids checking into Deep Water (level 5+) for General Swim and Activity Period saw 20 new people jump off the Tower after just passing into level 4! A plethora of additional kids probably would have passed with another week of practice in Columbia Lake!
Arts and Crafts was in “finish mode.” Basically, no new projects could be started today. For all of you seasoned parents, we have some great news… Beginning this year WE ARE NO LONGER CHARGING FOR ARTS AND CRAFTS PROJECTS! We decided the kids have more fun when they are mentally unburdened; free to do whatever they want, instead of worrying about “whether or not my parents can pay for this,” or “if I have enough $ in my store account.” Our hunch was proven correct, as Deb and Sawyer report that Arts and Crafts was amazing this session. Your kids got to be kids, allowing their creativity to flourish. Hopefully these projects will end up somewhere in your home. Regardless of the shelf, deck or mantle upon which they rest… they will serve as reminders of a truly positive summer experience. I suppose it’s ok to wear a matching friendship bracelet on your wrist though :)
Both girls sports classes played Non-Stop Cricket. This is a baseball/tennis hybrid, home-run derby. The nice thing about this game, as opposed to softball/kickball, is that everyone gets a chance to bat in each inning. The batter hits a pitched tennis ball (underhand lob) and then must run around a cone, make it back to the plate and pick up the racket before the fielding team gets the ball to the pitcher. There are not 3 outs, the entire team must be gotten out before switching sides. The girls were very competitive, a few diving to catch line drives. Those who showed up to class early got to practice batting before the game started. Boys sports played multiple games: Basketball, Football and Soccer. A half-field Soccer match was led by Jackson and Colleen. Drew and Kate split the Basketball court in half. Kate led games of knock out and horse. The other end got a little coaching, and learned fun trick shots like behind/over the backboard, bouncing off the ground, and non dominant hand shooting. Kids from Cabin 1 just wanted to throw a football amongst themselves.
Dinner was Ziti with melted cheese, salad with ranch dressing and baguettes. Water to drink. The best meal was yet to come…
Rest Hour was a bit shorter than usual because campers filled out surveys after the meal. We strive to find out their likes/dislikes, favorite meals, games, etc… This allows us to keep aspects of the program that are liked, and change things that are not as popular.
General Swim had great energy. The lifeguards were on high alert with so many campers swimming in new areas, but witnessed mostly giggling. A few campers swam around exploring, like an excited puppy running around a new house, looking at EVERYTHING!
Supper was Pick-Up. It’s basically leftovers. The great thing about this meal is that we have 20-30 options for food. This means that even the most picky eaters will find at least 3 or 4 things they want. Here is an incomplete list… Meatballs with gravy, taco meat, shepherd’s pie, egg salad, grilled cheese, hot dogs, manicotti, corn, green beans and 17 more! Pick-Up is served buffet style with the youngest campers getting to choose first. Dessert was also Pick-Up, with only 3 options: Vanilla pudding, banana pudding and Apple Crisp. Chocolate Pudding Pie usually doesn’t survive long enough to be for Pick-Up unfortunately.
After supper, campers went back and began to pack. We do this so the morning is a bit less hectic for you and us. As the boys were cleaning and packing 2 songs could be heard blaring throughout hilltop… “Country road, take me home, to the place, where I belong.” and (Yankee fans cover your ears) “Sweet Caroline, * * *, good times never seemed so good.”
Lastly, a time honored tradition at Asto Wamah: Awards Campfire. Certificates are presented to campers who passed in boating and/or swimming to thunderous applause. Non-cabin staff cook s’mores for the kids. Karen announces the cleanest cabin in each area and gives them candy. Cabins 3, Old 6 and 8 were victorious. We brought out the CAW song books, getting through about 15. Any old campers know that we ALWAYS end with “Linger.” If you are interested, CAW song books are located on our website. If you’re sending someone to girls camp, it may give them a leg up if they arrive already knowing some of the songs. Girls camps sings, A LOT. We were singing the Baby Shark song before it was a internet thing…
Julianne played taps on her trumpet.
Finally, a day with no rain!
Upon waking up, campers and staff were greeted with another cloudy morning. However, that soon changed shortly after our delicious breakfast, which included cinnamon bread (yum!), cereal, bananas, OJ, and hot cocoa. After breakfast, campers returned to their cabins to work together and prepare their living spaces for the nurse’s inspection.
When the bell rang to begin first period, campers sauntered down to the waterfront and up to the A-Field and were greeted by sunshine and a cool breeze. In sports class, senior girls completed activities on the low ropes course. Their objective was to keep a pirate ship from sinking while plundering gold, candy, and puppies - they had a great time, and their problem solving strategies were very clever! The younger girls also went on the ropes course, and completed the Whale Watch and Space Loops. Lakeside had everyone successfully complete the Space Loops, which no group had ever done before!
On the lake, campers practiced their diving skills and further refined their swimming strokes. Our level 4 swimmers started their swim test today - many of our swimmers have progressed even after only 4 days of lessons! In Arts and Crafts, a ton of campers were making tie-dye shirts; the clothesline on the Lower Lodge porch was full of drying multi-colored shirts! They looked great!
Lunch was Shepherd’s Pie (meat, potatoes, and corn), and was perfectly seasoned! We even had a new addition - green beans! Apple crisp (a camp favorite!!) was served for dessert. It was still warm, and melted the whipped cream on top. Everyone was impressed with Lexi’s culinary creation!
After lunch, campers headed off to store - we have determined that the campers favor fruity and sour candies over chocolate. Sour Skittles and Airhead Extremes are by far the most popular. A bunch of campers bought postcards and stamps, so keep an eye out for mail (maybe after pick-up since we only have one day left!).
After Rest Hour, campers enjoyed our first sunny General Swim and participated in water games with their friends. Then they were off to fourth period. Our smallcraft classes battled gusty winds, and did a great job showing their feathering skills! During activity period, campers went fishing, played Gaga ball with Nick, jumped off the tower with Mason and Sarah, played non-stop cricket (a combination of tennis and baseball that is fast paced and everyone is up each inning), went sailing on the Hunter with Sophie, played card games with Kymani, and learned how to play the ukulele with Ellie!
Dinner was chicken patties, with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and pickles, as well as flavored potato chips and carrot sticks. We had pears for dessert, and then it was time for another camp favorite - PIRATES! Pirates is a game where campers are divided into two teams - the “X-Faces” and the “Plain Faces.” They wear dark clothing, run through the woods throwing flour sack “guns,” and try to steal the other team’s treasure - there is even a treasure map, which discloses the location of the treasure! Campers had a great time running all over camp!
Campers are now in bed, and are looking forward to another beautiful day tomorrow! We look forward to making the most of our last day!
"I want a Pocket Shirt for next year!"
The previous days I have focused on our daily routine. This is because most of you have sent your child(ren) to us for the first time, and we assume you want to be able to picture what they are doing throughout the day. Many of our daily rituals are exactly the same, so I will spend most of my time trying to give you some insight into some things that happened today that were different or unique!
“Left.. Left.. Left.. Left…” After Chicken Fat we all gathered in the lodge for English Muffins. Toppings were jelly, PB and/or butter. Cereals included: Cheerios, Fruity Pebbles, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Raisin Bran. OJ and Hot Cocoa to drink (coffee for the staff). I just heard a rumor that Lucky Charms may be available tomorrow!
With regards to cabin cleanup, the senior girls race is 2-1 in favor of cabin 8. The lakeside girls are all tied at 1 apiece. The boys (4 cabins) are 1-1-1-0. Do not let your children fool you into thinking they cannot clean! Take advantage of any newfound cleaning skills in the following months!
Morning classes saw continued improvement in swimming and rowboating. Catherine reports that a few people have already passed in swimming. It’s always rewarding to see when a child finally “gets it.” Ian passed Level 1 swimming, and all the counselors were very excited for him! Seniors sports played an assortment of games: Activ-Flyer, Spike Ball and Pindaloo. I told them the boys record for Pindaloo was four and all of Cabin 7 made it their mission to “not let the boys beat us.” As class was about to end they found a 4 leaf clover. Their very next attempt tied the boys, and was the last of the class! Lakeside sports played the same 3 games, and had the same goal for Pindaloo! Cabin 4 mostly played with the Activ-Flyers, while 5 and Old 6 oscillated between the Pindaloo and Spike Ball. They also tied the boys, and found 4 leaf clovers. Arts and Crafts saw mostly canvas paintings, although I have a feeling there will be a good amount of sewing tomorrow…
Dinner was cheese ravioli, baguettes, salad with ranch dressing optional and raspberry sorbet for dessert. General swim was shortened due to a pop-up thunderstorm. So we got out the cornholes, opened the gaga pit, and played games around the flagpole for the second half.
Afternoon classes went off without a hitch. Lakeside girls got to go out in boats, as the storm was small and quick moving. Reportedly, there were multiple boats singing the whole class. Seniors Arts and Crafts did not involve sewing… today. Boys sports was energetic. Our brand new basketball hoops were installed around noon, and the boys were very keen to be the first person to get a basket on each new hoop! They eventually played a game of pickup on one end of the court and Horse on the other. A rousing game of kickball by the backstop was also offered by Jackson and Colleen.
Activity Period saw Brooke and Sawyer hosting a Dance Party, Ryan with about 20 boys (and a few girls) in the Gaga Pit, many campers playing games around the flagpole and showering. I had to replace the Lakeside tetherball twice today, as it is in use constantly. These girls may be small in size, but they pack a punch! Apparently the twins in Old 6 have a tetherball at their house, which makes complete sense if you’ve seen them play.
Supper on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Asto Wamah is done differently because the kitchen staff have the “night off.” Usually, each counselor will pick a different location in camp for their cabin to eat (A-Field, Main Dock, White Raft, Gazebo) and we have a picnic style meal consisting of sandwiches, chips, pickles, and Chocolate Chip Cookies. Unfortunately, another pop-up storm had perfectly imperfect timing, so we had our picnic inside.
Evening Program was Spies and Smugglers. This is one of the top 3 most requested games. It involves hiding a ticket somewhere in your clothing and running up to the A-Field before a Spy tags you. A few seasoned campers brought clothing specifically for this game (Cabin 1, 5, old 6). I told them they could sew pockets onto the front of a shirt for this game (as many returning campers have made their own pocket shirt). “I’m going to get my mom to sew 20 pockets on my shirt next year and smuggle a million points!” They all enjoyed trying to find the perfect hiding spot. To be honest, the youngest kids are always adorable playing this game. The outfits can sometimes be ridiculous; multiple hats, shorts over pants, 4 rolled up cuffs, etc.
Our evening concluded with snack and songs as we sat by the lake watching a beautiful, albeit slightly cloudy, sunset. Julianne played taps on her trumpet.
CHOCOLATE PUDDING PIE!!!!
Our morning began with flag raising and Chicken Fat. The kids seem to be more and more agreeable with our version of morning calisthenics. Many are now starting to learn the words and sing along with the song. “Push-ups next, nice and steady, not too fast, readyyyyyyy…”
Breakfast was French Toast and cereal, with OJ and hot cocoa. Counselors predictably enjoyed one or two cups of coffee (or tea… Maggie!) After the meal, it was very interesting walking through camp as campers started to clean their cabins. It was like listening to 9 unique concerts, each with their own set list.
While it was on the cooler side, campers still enjoyed swim classes, where they refined their strokes. Boats got to go out in the lake today! With so many first year campers, every rowboat was full! Arts and Crafts continued with the same projects. I believe tie-dye day is approaching. Girls sports classes this morning were inside because the field was too wet from overnight rain. Seniors played with a floating, light-up, gyro-orb we just bought. Lakeside girls played a few camp classics (Wild West Showdown, Pattern Game, Zip Zap).
Counselors’ Swim saw many kids fishing again. The showers were also surprisingly full. I suppose we should be happy they are showering without being prompted! The knock hockey boards were full, and Shul-Bak was also out for the first time.
Dinner was meatballs with gravy, green beans, and mashed potatoes (peaches for dessert). The store rotation had cabin 2 first (cabin 1 now being relegated to last). Mostly candy purchases, with a few letters/stamps/envelopes. My informal poll outside the store had about 50% of the kids saying they had written a letter home. I will inquire with David the Mailman tomorrow as to the accuracy of this 50% estimate. Rest hour was actually a full hour; most people slept.
General Swim saw almost everyone go in swimming, and the only 3 boys in level 5 (deep water) jumped off the tower unobstructed for about 30 min. Lucky them! I offered a rock finding contest for Intermediate swimmers. A girl from cabin 7 barely beat out a boy from cabin 2 for the flattest rock. Aquarium swimmers “dove” for rings, and generally laughed and giggled with their friends.
4th period saw senior girls continue with their Art & Crafts projects from yesterday and Lakeside girls begin to learn how to row a boat. They did very well, seeing as it was quite windy here today (we’ll circle back to this point in a minute). Boys played various games in sports today on the field; Active Flyer, Frisbee, Pindaloo, Football and Soccer. Activity Period was awesome. A handful of campers got to go out on our big sailboat (The Hunter) with Captain Carmela and First Mates Joey and Sophie. They were zooming around the lake, enjoying the steady, strong wind.
Supper was grilled cheese, tomato soup, chips, pickles, and CHOCOLATE PUDDING PIE for dessert. I normally do not indulge in dessert; CPP is one of the few exceptions.
We played Capture the Flag for Evening Program. Luckily, campers heard the rules and asked all their questions yesterday, so the game tonight was a little longer than usual. Snack (pretzel rods) and 3 songs preceded a Quick Dip. We encouraged them to QD, which consists of jumping in the water for 5-10 seconds to get rid of the dust and sweat from our evening game. Julianne again played taps on her trumpet. Perhaps in 2024 your child could be our taps player…
Today was a great day on Columbia Lake!
We started our morning with Flag Raising and Chicken Fat (a time honored camp tradition of stretching to get the blood flowing before breakfast). “Touchdown, every morning, ten times!” Our first meal of the day was waffles; PB and butter optional. OJ and hot cocoa flowed aplenty, although most staff visited the coffee pot a few times instead.
Next, everyone went back to their cabins to clean, now knowing that the nurse would be by at some point during the day to inspect. Colleen, Melissa and Jackson led Morning Thought which centered on “Making New Friends at Camp.” This is an important part of camp, and we strive to help each camper make at least one new friend each day.
Morning classes were next. Sports played Nuk’em (a Volleyball derivative). Campers enjoyed their morning swimming classes, with many ending their class today with a ring finding contest. Smallcraft started with the obligatory safety rules and regulations. Arts and Crafts projects available today included: Friendship Bracelets, Canvas Painting, Bead Animals, Sewing (mostly pillows) and Banded Bracelets.
Dinner was chicken tenders, rice, corn and butterscotch pudding for dessert. Campers then went to Store. Every single camper bought candy… Many also bought stamps/ envelopes/ postcards, so keep an eye on your mailbox! Rest Hour followed, much to the Counselor’s liking. Our afternoon free swim, General Swim, was next. Campers paired/tripled up with friends, and checked into the water. 4th Period classes were next. The boys game of Nuk’em in sports was amazing. The older girls got their turn in A&C, and the younger girls got to hear boating rules.
Activity Period options included: Jumping off the tower with Melissa and Sarah, Gaga with Colleen, Friendship Bracelets in A&C with Mason, and Soccer on the A-Field with Ryan. Many campers did their own thing and went fishing, hung out in their cabin with friends or took showers.
Supper was Tacos. Many campers said we should have saved this meal for Tuesday. Chips were included, with cake for dessert.
Evening Program started on the A-Field… Drew finished rules for Capture The Flag, we split up and prepared to start playing but it began to rain. So we transitioned to the lodge, where each counselor led a game (Uno, Apples to Apples, Scategories, etc.) and the campers could pick and choose what they wanted to play. The evening ended with a few songs led by Sophie, Jack and Maggie. Taps was played by Julianne from cabin 7 on her Trumpet.
The 2023 Season has arrived!
2023 Co-ed Camp began Sunday. After a short tour of camp, we all met in the Council Ring. Chris introduced the staff, and went over a few rules. Catherine talked about our swim classification for new campers. Then, 50+ first year campers got to go in the water and show off their swimming skills. As you can probably imagine, it took a good amount of time to get through everyone.
That led us up to Cookee Bell (time to set the tables), and Supper. The kitchen prepared Hot Dogs, Tater Tots, and Brownies.
After Supper, we had a short amount of free time. Finally, we met up on the A-Field logs for Evening Program and a rousing game of Medical War. The campers had a great time, and especially enjoyed watching the “Counselor Round” from the logs. There was a competition to see which cabin could cheer for their counselor the loudest.
Lastly, we sang a few songs. Camp classics like “Bill Grogan’s Goat” and “Princess Pat.” Chris went over nighttime rules, and we sang our 2 goodnight songs. Starting tomorrow, we will have a duo of instruments playing Taps (Trumpet and Flute).
Each cabin counselor picked a book to read aloud as their campers drifted off to sleep. We had a calm and pleasant nights sleep, as the temperature was perfect for sleeping here at Asto Wamah!
Girls' Camp - Talent Night!
Hi, everyone!
Today was the first day we had temperatures below 90! Campers still enjoyed the lake and had a great time feeling a little cooler!
Morning classes went well, and the sunshine came out around noon time. Many campers went fishing off the docks and took out boats and canoes with their friends during Counselors’ Swim. We had chicken parm and salad for dinner - it was delicious! Campers left dinner with full stomaches and headed off to Rest Hour for some relaxation.
The weather during General Swim couldn’t have been better! The sun was shining and we had a light breeze. We then went off to fourth period. Many of our seniors looked forward to practicing their rowing, canoeing, and sailing skills, as we have one more day of smallcraft classes before we pack up camp!
After supper this evening, we had Talent Night! The campers did an amazing job showcasing their many talents and skills! We had awesome dance routines, singing, and funny skits!
Until tomorrow,
CAW staff
Girls' Camp - LT Carnival!
Hi, everyone!
We woke up to another hot morning. Campers and staff looked forward to swim lessons after breakfast!
During smallcraft classes, campers were able to jump into the lake with their lifejackets in order to stay cool in the boats and canoes. We also encouraged campers to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Morning classes went by quickly due to all the fun in the lake!
For dinner, we had ziti, baguettes, and salad, with vanilla/chocolate swirled pudding for dessert! Campers then went off to store to get candy before Rest Hour. Most campers took advantage of the time to relax and ended up falling asleep for a bit. They were excited to come down for General Swim and cool off again!
During fourth period, campers participated in arts and crafts, sports, and smallcraft classes. Afterwards, we had Activity Period, which included paddleboarding, tower jumping, friendship bracelet making, and hair braiding. It has been great seeing campers engage in various activities with others!
We had grilled cheese for supper and brownies for dessert, then headed off to Evening Program: LT Carnival! The LTs spent the last week preparing for their carnival, which was Minion-themed. They did a great job creating various games and stations, and included face painting as well! We had many yellow and purple minions running around tonight!
See you tomorrow!
CAW staff
Girls' Camp - Week 2!
Hi, everyone!
We can’t believe that we are already in the second week of camp! The first week flew by even with the high temperatures.
At flag raising, campers selected names for Secret Sister (similar to Secret Santa). Each camper will make a special gift (a painted rock, friendship bracelet) or write a kind note to their secret sister over the next two days. Campers will surprise their secret sister on Wednesday morning when they reveal their identity!
For breakfast, we had waffles and peanut butter, which was a great way to start our day. After cabin and camp duties, we headed off to morning classes. Campers have shown great improvements in their swimming, rowing, and paddling skills! Some of our Level 3 swimmers practiced their diving skills, while the Water Safety classes learned some lifeguarding skills. Our rowers got a great workout in the wind, and were able to practice their feathering! In arts and crafts, campers spent time making friendship bracelets, decorating canvas bags, and painting!
Rest hour was cut short due to a brief thunderstorm, which was wonderful for providing some relief from the heat! Campers played indoor games, and then returned to the outdoors once it was clear and sunny again.
At the moment, campers are listening to rules for Pirates, a camp favorite! During pirates, campers team up to find treasure and collect flour “guns.” They wear dark shirts so everyone can tell if they’ve been hit by a “gun.” I’m sure we will see campers running by in the parking lot soon, so we better get going!
Have a great night!
CAW staff
Girls' Camp - Track Meet!
Hi, everyone!
Today, we had our long awaited Track Meet! Yesterday, each area (Hilltop, Lakeside, Seniors) voted for their green and white team captains. The captains then selected campers to join their team!
In the morning, campers participated in various field activities, including the running long jump, standing long jump, and softball throw. There were several outstanding performances and the campers showed awesome team spirit by cheering on the green and white teams! We finished up the field activities with the 50-yard dash. We have some speedy campers!
Once we finished on the field, campers were able to cool down with a pre-dinner General Swim. They spent 30 minutes in the lake swimming with friends, jumping off the tower, and diving for rocks. Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice meal of ham and noodles, with green and white cake for dessert!
Rest hour was much needed after our busy morning. Following rest hour, we had our 5th Track Meet event: the marathon! To complete the marathon, campers start on the A-Field, go down Jim Cobb Way (Corduroy Road), and then coast down the Camp Road to the wash stand by Cabin 5. We had a great turnout and many campers who were proud they finished the race!
Once everyone gathered around the flag pole, we prepared for our Team Triathlon. Campers compete with their teams by starting at the top of the Camp Road and passing a baton to the next runner. Once the last runner gets to Main Dock, the batons are passed off to swimmers, who then pass the baton to campers in boats. Campers in boats pass the baton to canoes, who then dock at Cook’s Dock and hand the baton to more runners. Lastly, the runners hand the baton off at Pollywog Dock, where our two senior swimmers anchor each team by swimming the full length of Aquarium and Intermediate. The first team to touch Main Dock is the winner! It was a close, exciting race!
Our last individual Track Meet event was swim races - the campers did an awesome job! We finished our afternoon with a second General Swim, so we could cool off before heading to supper.
Later tonight, the green and white teams will be competing in more team events, such as the ping pong relay and obstacle course. Stay tuned to find out which team wins! Results will be shared at Banquet later this week!
Until tomorrow,
CAW staff
Girls' Camp - Day 7!
Hey Everyone!
It was a great day at Asto Wamah today, and thankfully a little cooler than yesterday.
We had delicious pancakes today for breakfast with some scrumptious orange juice and, if you finished that, some hot chocolate too!
It was a hot morning here today so the lake was great to swim in during morning classes. Everyone was in the water working on their strokes! During sports, we prepared for the long awaited track and field day. They practiced running as fast as they could for the 50 meter dash, jumping as far as they could for the standing and running long jump, and throwing a softball.
For lunch, we had a camp classic, lasagna! Everyone patiently waited their turn to go up and get a slice of lasagna. While they waited for their cabin to be called up, they snacked on salad, bread, and drank LOTS of water to stay cool!
It was a great afternoon for sailing and some campers were able to be taken out on the Hunter (our large sailboat)! Other campers jumped off the tower, made friendship bracelets, and braided hair.
It was eat out again for dinner but instead of sandwiches like we had on Wednesday, it was hot dogs! Everyone gathered around the flagpole as counselors passed out buns, hot dogs, chips and all the toppings you could need. The campers got to sit anywhere they wanted and with other cabins.
We ended our day with an evening program of King Dodge (a camp favorite game!) The campers love this twist to a traditional dodgeball game. We cut it short though so we could jump in the lake one last time before bed to cool off.
It was a great day here at Camp Asto Wamah!
See you tomorrow,
Devon
Girls' Camp - Day 5!
Hello everyone!
It was very hot out today, but campers still drank their hot chocolate at breakfast! They also had waffles, peanut butter, and cantaloupe.
Morning classes went well, and everyone had a good time in the lake!
For dinner, we had ravioli, a camp favorite! Once campers got their candy, it was time for a relaxing rest hour.
General swim felt great after such a warm rest hour, and lots of water activities were offered during activity period. Some campers jumped off the tower, and others went on our large sailboat, the Hunter!
For supper, we had pizza! Evening program tonight was Step It Up, a game featuring "robots" who need one bean per step. Campers were split into two teams, and then they played mini-games all across the field to win beans for their team's robot! Whichever robot walked along the planned route the fastest would win.
We had a Quick Dip after the game, which hopefully let campers have a good sleep!
See you all tomorrow!!
Sami