It seemed like any other Tuesday lunch, as we ate casually with our friends. All of a sudden came a roar from all sides of camp as Spirit Day 2010 was kicked off by our incredible CIT group. For a day-and-a-half, Blue Ice and Green Fire challenged each other in friendly competition which culminated in Wednesday night’s cheers and songs. In the end, both sides won as we reunited as one camp family again. Thursday we were back in programming and inter-camp games and tournaments were held all over camp. From Fishing to Ropes to Riding to Fitness and Ceramics…we’re in high gear. Our 8th graders departed Thursday morning for their awesome trip to Six Flags New England and our 6th grade girls took off on their overnight camping trip. Tomorrow will be another amazing “S” Day as we will, for the first time ever, combine Movie Morning with Carnival Afternoon. Every day is packed with excitement and adventure at Laurel South…What a beautiful day in the state of Maine!!!
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Fireworks…Baseball….Canobie Lake Park….Non Stop Fun!
First Session at Laurel South is flying by. The weather has been terrific and everywhere you look around camp, there are smilin’ kids and happy counselors. From the ballfields to the riding rings to the waterfront, climbing towers and theatre…the action never stops. Instruction is in full swing in every activity area. The new Tennis Center is buzzing. Intercamps and tournaments are raging. Fishing is out-of-sight and 4th of July Fireworks were unbelievable! Everyone donned their red, white and blue for an exciting day which culminated with the most amazing fireworks show in the county. It has truly been a magical first couple weeks of camp. Today we are off to Canobie Lake for our first amazing out-of-camp “S” Day. As always, it’s another great day in the state of Maine!
First Week: A Smashing Success….
It’s been an amazing week at Camp Laurel South! After completing our first week of program, yesterday was our first “S” day. Our 8th Graders are at Acadia National park having an amazing time. The 9th Graders just returned from their whitewater rafting trip as part of their Adventure Bound Experience. The rest of camp had a later wake up followed by our incredible “S” day breakfast of chocolate chip, M&M or blueberry pancakes, scones and cheese omelets…our Saco and Kino campers had the best time at Splashtown Water Park while our Allagash and Baxter campers enjoyed a cool beach party on Crescent Lake and our 7th graders headed off to Sparetime for an afternoon of bowling. Today we are back into regular program (baseball, basketball, tennis, waterskiing, archery, ceramics, horseback riding and so much more!) and, by tonight, our 8th and 9th graders will be back with their summer family. The schedule is packed full of fun. We can’t wait for the fireworks this Sunday! The weekend calls for magnificent Maine weather. The fun is non-stop in Casco!!
Off and Running…
Summer 2010 is finally here and it’s hard to believe we’ve been in Casco for nearly a week!!! We had an amazing opening day as the staff enthusiastically welcomed our First Session campers. Old friendships were rekindled and new ones began as the Laurel South family finally gathered as one. Friday was our annual Moose Stomp Day…schedules were created…s’mores were devoured…we bumper tubed on Crescent Lake…and we concluded our day with our Council Fire celebrating fun and friendship. On Saturday, full activity and program began. The ballfields, courts, waterfront, theater and Challenge Course were alive with activity. Our 7th grade girls just returned from an amazing camping trip and our 8th graders and CIT’s head out tomorrow on their Acadia and White Water Rafting trips. Intercamps and Tournaments began today and tomorrow is our first “S” day of the summer. The action never ends at Laurel South!
Staff Orientation is in Full Swing!
What a great Orientation were having! The fields, waterfront, facilities and especially our brand new Tennis Center look amazing. As all the camper luggage is unpacked and the program areas are prepared, the anticipation grows for another incredible Laurel South summer. We can’t wait to meet all meet the campers on Thursday for First Session! Safe travels to Casco. What a beautiful day in the state of Maine!
Pre-Camp Has Arrived …
Just about 15 days until we’re all together again on the shores of Crescent Lake. We’ve been in Maine for about three weeks with 20 counselors who joined us from all over the United States who are part of our Pre Camp Crew. Along with our contractors (builders, roofers, hard court painters, electricians, landscapers, turf and field specialists, boat mechanics and others) these counselors are weed-whacking, cleaning up and getting everything ready for your arrival.
It’s a lot like regular camp now….except there are no campers yet. We get up…have breakfast…then have four hours of activity in the morning (working on the grounds, setting up all the sports equipment, moving picnic and ping pong tables, raking leaves, getting the barns ready, etc.) Then we have lunch…followed by more activity (setting up docks, sorting staff shirts, setting new routes on the Climbing Towers) until it’s time to…eat dinner. After dinner the counselors get a good break, play volleyball, take a swim, work out in the Fitness Center and enjoy Maine.
In a few days, all the pre-season training will begin. Inner Quest from Virginia comes to certify the adventure staff; swim staff update their waterfront certifications; outdoor trippers head all over Maine and New Hampshire to scout our camping trips; equestrian staff will break-in our ponies and horses…and it will all come together.
Dagni and I love being up here at this time of year….but we can’t wait for you to get here. Tonight we have our annual Pre Camp bar-b-que at The Pines to thank these awesome counselors for the hard work.
Get psyched! We’ll see you in Casco before you know it!!
As always,
Roger
Is Your Child Ready for Summer Camp?
You’ve collected the brochures, visited the web sites, maybe you’ve visited a camp or two. You may have even have marked off a few weeks in July on your calendar. But you did it in pencil, because you just can’t get rid of that nagging question – is my child, my baby (sniff) ready for overnight camp?
There is no magic formula or age for camp, and every child is unique; but there are some tried and true signs of readiness. So before you pack the tennis racquets and the swimsuits, start by answering these five questions:
1. Is your child interested in and asking about camp?
Spring has just sprung – if your child is already asking about going away to camp, take that as a good sign. Children who are self-motivated and interested in attending camp have a greater chance of being successful once they arrive. Point your child to this: It’s My Life, a PBS web site for tweens, which has advice specifically for kids headed to camp. The site even encourages kids to talk to their families first. What mom doesn’t love that tidbit?
2. Can your child manage personal care needs and the tasks of daily living without mom around? On their own?
Overnight camp involves independent living. Does your child get dressed for school without your help? Can he/she fix themselves a snack? Take a shower? Remember to brush their teeth? If they still need help or daily reminders, you don’t have to keep them home (remember, your child will have great camp counselors to care for them), but you may want to encourage more self-reliance, a good quality to have at home, too.
3. How long has your child been away overnight without you? Was it a positive experience?
If your child loves sleepovers and slumber parties (at other people’s houses) transitioning to sleep-away camp may be a breeze. A week at grandma’s isn’t the same as three or four weeks at summer-camp; but if an overnight without you has never worked, do some trial runs before registering your child for camp. My own personal role model, Supernanny, has some great tips for making sleepovers a breeze.
4. Does your child have a healthy respect for adults and listen to instructions?
Life will be much easier for everyone if your child is good at following instructions and is willing to go along with camp rules. Just keep in mind that our kids often reserve their worst behavior for us, their parents, bless them. If your child is well-behaved in school, with coaches and other adults in positions of authority, they should do fine at camp.
5. Is your child willing to try new things?
Life comes at you fast, Ferris Bueller said, and the same is true for summer camp. Each day is filled with new people to meet, new surroundings, and new activities to try. For kids willing to give it a go, there’s no better place to spread their wings than summer camp.
The Bottom Line
No one knows your child like you do – even after you’ve completed all the quizzes and checklists and asked all your friends about their kids’ experiences, the best thing to do is trust your instincts. If you feel it in your gut that your child can handle overnight camp, you’re probably right. Get ready… summer is on its way!
Thanks to stevedepolo and peterblanchard for their pictures!
Olivia
