Spirit Days, Canobie Lake and More Fun…

Friday started out as any other “B” Day. Campers and counselors enjoyed their morning activities before heading off to lunch. Everything changed during lunch, however, as our amazing CIT’s broke Spirit Days 2012! For the next day-and-a-half, the Blue Justice League and the Green Avengers battled it out in the friendliest of competitions. The highlights included the CIT’s running CHAOS and the entire camp participating in the Moosehead Relay! In the end, we all reunited as one – the Laurel South family. Yesterday, the entire camp had an amazing time at Canobie Lake. We all enjoyed the rides, food and especially the friendship. The weather is gorgeous and we look forward to another amazing “A” Day tomorrow filled with Tennis, Riding, Waterskiing, Baseball, Ceramics, Basketball, Hockey, Rocketry and more!

Contagious Fun, Fun, Fun!

The first week of the 2012 season has been packed full of action and fun. Our 8th and 9th Graders will soon be pulling back into camp after awesome adventures at Acadia National Park and White Water rafting on the Kennebec River. Our first “S” Day was a rousing success as Saco/Kineo had a blast at Splashtown…the Allagash/Baxter Beach Party was amazing, and the 7th graders had a ball at Sea Coast. Of course everyone enjoyed Bumper Tubing in the morning! And regular program is off the charts: from the Tennis Courts to the Zip Line to the Soccer and Lacrosse Fields and the Crafts Shops…we’re doing it all. Basketball, Ceramics, Crew, Waterskiing, riding, Stand-up Paddleboarding, Fitness, Dance and so much more. Everyday is an adventure of instruction, spirit and fun! We’re a week into the season…and things are hummin’!!

Second Session in H-I-G-H Gear

We have been at camp for just a few days, but the action is already in full swing! Tennis, Skiing, Riding, Ceramics, baseball, Theatre, Lacrosse, Fishing and More!! after our annual Moosestomp Day, programming began and it’s been non-stop ever since.
We had our first rotation of “A” and “B” Days, and we can’t wait for our first in camp “S” Day! Our 8th Graders are heading out to Acadia National Park for their camping experience. Our CIT’s are getting ready for their amazing White Water Rafting Trip…and Intercamps and Tournaments begin tomorrow. The weather has been absolutely fantastic…it’s always a beautiful day in the state of Maine! We are so happy to be on the shores of Crescent Lake!

Second Session Kicks off…

It’s always a beautiful day in the state of Maine, but Thursday was even more special. With a gorgeous, mild, sunny day Second Session campers from all over the United States and around the world gathered in Casco, Maine. After reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, the entire Laurel South family gathered at cove as Roger and Dagni officially kicked off the 2012 summer! After a delicious cookout dinner, each campus had their own Evening Program. Today is Moose Stomp Day, as campers have the opportunity to create their schedules for the summer, eat S’mores, bumper tube on beautiful Crescent Lake and get to know each other. We’ll conclude the day with our annual Council Fire. We are all eagerly anticipated tomorrow when programming officially begins!!! Welcome Home one and all….

One Door Closes…and Another Opens…

Another amazing Laurel South Session has gone by all too quickly. Our final programming days were jam packed with culminating activities. Saturday night was our awesome Banquet, as campers and staff feasted on steak, lobster or vegetarian lasagna. After a great Packing Day Sunday, the entire Laurel South family joined together for our Closing Ceremony Council Fire. Each cabin recited songs or poems which reflected their wonderful memories of the 2012 summer. On Monday, our First Session campers headed home with a treasure trove of memories and a long list of close friends. We will miss all of our First Session campers tremendously already!!! But we are psyched to welcome our equally fantastic Second Session campers on Thursday!!!

MooseBowl…

Tuesday night was one of the most exciting in the history of Laurel South Evening Programs – our classic Moose Bowl! The Rattlesnakes and Black Bears battled it out in a defensive struggle until the final two minutes. With one minute, 50 seconds left, the Black Bears returned an interception for what seemed like the game clinching touchdown. But the Rattlesnakes marched straight down the field and scored a go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute to play. In what will go down as an all time highlight, the Black Bears completed a long, “Hail Mary” pass as time expired to win the game 18-12. What will be remembered most, though, was the sportsmanship displayed by both teams. The entire camp loved the tailgating, singing, dancing and, especially, the awesome game put on by the men of Rangeley! Last night, our younger campers performed “Schoolhouse Rock” for the entertainment of all, and tomorrow, we can’t wait to see our older campers’ performance of “Mama Mia!” Yesterday we enjoyed our annual trip to Funtown. We are gearing up for our final two Program Days and the culminating activities. It’s always an action packed, beautiful day in the state of Maine!!!

Camp Food…

Bug juice. Mystery meat. For years, they were the staples – real or imagined – of camp food.
Well, eat your words.
Like other parts of the summer camp experience, mealtime has evolved.
At Laurel South, for example, we offer plenty of whole grains, plus fresh fruit and other choices. Campers (and staff members) eat it up.
There’s fresh-sliced turkey at lunch.
Homemade soup daily too.
A 12-item salad bar at dinner.
Fresh-baked desserts.
Campers eat five or six times a day. There’s breakfast; a fruit break in late morning; lunch; canteen at mid-day; dinner, and a “nite bite.”
Of course, camp being camp, we do serve tasty treats like brownies, Whoopee Pies, chicken fingers and more.
But because we limit access to sweets and soda – and because youngsters are so active – they return home in great health.
So forget the bug juice and mystery meat of your youth (which comedians dined out on for decades).
“Dining Hall” is no longer an oxymoron.
Of course, some things never change. Mealtime at camp is still quite a bit louder than at home.
We wouldn’t have it any other way.

More Beautiful Days of Program and Fun….

After a few beautiful Maine days filled with program — on the lake, on the fields, on the courts and in the crafts shops and theatre — Saturday was another amazing “S” Day! It was a day a morning of fun followed by the annual Camper Variety Show in the afternoon. Campers entertained the masses with song, dance and jokes. Of course, the day concluded with our amazing Laurel South Carnival. Campers had the chance to play games, enjoy rides, eat cotton candy and snow cones and try to dunk their favorite Campus Leaders in the Dunk Tank. We also enjoyed a delicious cookout dinner at Carnival. With just one week left, the good times are still rolling along on the shores of Crescent Lake. Tomorrow it’s more Intercamps, Sports instruction, Skiing, Sailing, Archery, Ropes, Riding and more!

Spirit Days…

At Laurel South, we love our theme days, and Tuesday’s Super Hero theme was a big hit! What no one knew was that our CIT’s would use this theme to launch one of the most exciting Spirit Day breaks ever! For a day and a half, the Blue Avengers and the Green Justice League battled it out in a great, friendly competition of sports, cheers, events, relays and more. In the end, both sides reunited as one and Laurel South was again one big, camp family. Last night we watched the best Fourth of July fireworks in the area. It was incredible! Our 8th graders have departed on their amazing trip to North Conway, New Hampshire and everyone is excited for Saturday’s Carnival. It’s another action packed summer in Casco!!!

The Fun Continues…

Yesterday was our first Out-of-Camp “S” Day. We had an amazing time at Canobie Lake! The entire Laurel South family enjoyed the rides, food and camaraderie. We rolled back into camp, ready for a good night’s rest before tomorrow’s “A” Day of Tennis, Riding, Skiing, Basketball, Lacrosse, Crafts, Climbing and more!! Intercamp games and tournaments have been going great. Everyone is gearing up for an unbelievable Fourth of July, including the best fireworks display in the area. It’s been an incredible session so far and we know our best times are still ahead. We’re psyched….