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Having a Blast in Casco, Maine!

With pods long in the rearview mirror, our campers are thrilled to be back into our typical, guided-choice scheduling. From Crescent Lake to the Ballfields, Equestrian Center to the Culinary Studio, Challenge Course to the Arts Studios…we’re all experiencing what we now refer to as The New Awesome! We’ve managed to experience not one — but two — incredible “S” Days! First was the Amazing Race, in which each campus, equipped with their own “passports” traveled from “continent to continent” working together to complete tasks and win prizes! We also had our traditional favorite…The Laurel South Carnival. Games were played, faces were painted, prizes were won, snow cones and cotton candy consumed…and a great time was had by all!

Of course, a Laurel South summer would not be complete without our 4th of July Celebration, culminating in the greatest fireworks show anywhere! With beautiful weather and a sense of fun, we’re back into programming. Tomorrow our CITs and LITs head off on their exhilarating White Water Rafting Trip. For 3 days, they’ll raft the Kennebec River and spend time bonding and reflecting on their time as campers. But there’s so much more to come…from Funtown to Moose Bowl, Theater Shows to Banquet Night…the fun just won’t let up!

As always, it is a beautiful day on the state of Maine today!

Having Fun in the Summer Sun

We’ve had an amazing start to Summer 2021! After all the anticipation, we were so excited to have our entire summer family reunited on the shores of Crescent Lake for the first time since we said our goodbyes in 2019.

Our campers and staff have been amazing! Our “pod programming” schedule worked great, with campers cohorted by grade (rather than cabin), allowing the opportunity to interact with the most friends in a safe way. And it sure did work! After our second round of in-camp testing, we’re thrilled to announce we had ZERO positive cases which means – drum roll, please – WE ARE NOW IN REGULAR “A” DAY, “B” DAY, “S” DAY PROGRAMMING!

Our campers were thrilled to receive their schedules, and we are now full steam ahead! The cheers and laughter coming from the ball fields, arts centers, adventure areas and waterfront let us know the 2021 summer will be one for the ages! We’re so excited for what’s top come: Carnival, 4th of July, Spirit Days, Rocket Launches, Theater Shows…the list goes on and on.

We’ll keep you updated in future blogs, but until then, remember that it’s a beautiful day in the state of Maine!

The Anticipation Grows…

It’s hard to believe that Arrival Day 2021 is upon us! After waiting far too long, we are so thrilled to finally hear Roger utter the words we’ve been waiting for: “It’s a beautiful day in the state of Maine today!” And those words have never been more true!

We’ve all been waiting less than patiently for this day to come. The year-round team and pre-pre-camp crew arrived in early May. A few weeks later, the pre-camp crew arrived and was hard at work – raking, painting, mowing and cleaning…making sure camp looks as beautiful as ever. Our Adventure staff, Equestrian crew and Waterfront team soon followed for their respective trainings. Next came Staff Arrival and a wonderful Orientation Week in which everyone learned about the history, traditions and philosophies of Laurel South while also training for their roles as cabin counselors and area instructors. 

With each new arriving team, the anticipation grows and grows, and here we are…finally! We can’t wait to see our campers back on the shores of Crescent Lake. 

We hope everyone is ready for the summer of a lifetime!

Only at Camp

At the end of every summer, I can’t stop talking about camp. The stories are endless, and it’s impossible not to share them. The anecdotes are often specific enough to qualify for ‘you had to be there’ moments. From grand events like the break of Spirit Days to tales of campers realizing their goals to the crackle of a mid-summer campfire. There’s something special happening every hour of every day.

We often remind our counselors “Little moments have a big impact.” And that’s true. Like how a camper created a song and it became a year-after-year tradition. Or how a staff member turned brushing teeth into a game that campers would look forward to each morning and night. Stringing the anecdotes together paints a bigger picture of Laurel South: a camp becoming a community. Campers who two weeks prior were strangers begin to function like a family. Campers who have been together summer after summer (after summer!) start appreciating their amazing time at Laurel South in a new way.

In between the stories I tell, I realize how gratifying the larger dynamics of camp are. And it makes me even more eager for the upcoming inside jokes, anecdotes and another summer in Maine!

Camp Creates Confidence

The impact of a Laurel South summer is unique for every camper and counselor. Everyone at camp is engaged and active in the moment. Campers focus on having fun or trying something new, rarely realizing the character-building and social skill development that’s naturally taking place. Campers are constantly working together and encouraging one another. It makes them more empathetic, responsible and kind.

Campers are also getting out of their comfort zones in the best way. They are encouraged to take ‘safe risks’ like learning to waterski or ascend the climbing wall. Well trained, highly skilled counselors reassure and encourage campers to overcome challenges. Campers begin to understand that skill development doesn’t always come easy. It takes practice and patience. Campers rebound from mistakes and stretch their abilities and interests to new places.

Self-confidence comes naturally to some, but it’s also a trait that can be developed. Summer camp offers a chance for campers to develop these traits naturally. Campers view themselves as capable when they succeed and resilient when they persevere. They perceive themselves as fun and interesting due to the relationships they create in their cabins and around camp. In short, campers discover and establish the best version of themselves. And that confidence sets the foundation for the individuals they become.

A Job for the Summer, Skills for a Lifetime

Summer is a few months down the road and college students throughout the country are searching for summer jobs and internships. Every year students compete for positions hoping to get a foot in the door for their future careers. While corporate settings can offer great opportunities, few summer jobs are as beneficial as working at camp. Here are some of the many benefits for working at Laurel South.

Finding Your Voice

Being a Laurel South counselor is a great job for anyone who wants to lead. Counselors lead campers of different ages and skill levels from the moment they step off the bus. They’re forging bonds, leading activities and communicating constantly with their co-counselors and Campus Leaders. On top of that, counselors are utilizing their creativity all summer long to create memorable experiences.

Maine and the Great Outdoors

Crisp, fresh air. A loon call in the night. There’s nothing better than Maine in the summertime. You won’t find a better ‘office’ than working on Crescent Lake. Beyond the beautiful setting, camp facilitates movement all day long. No wonder many counselors say they’ve never felt better than the summertime!

Little Moments, Big Impact

Camp is a natural place to become a mentor. Campers are constantly looking up to their counselors, and it’s often the little moments that create the biggest difference. Being a positive influence for campers every day has a cumulative effect, and many campers remember their counselors forever. Counselors, though they might not know it when they arrive for Orientation, will learn and benefit from their campers all summer long, too.

Living in the Moment

Shining stars on a clear summer night. A gentle breeze whistling through the trees. The call of the loon in the evening or a robin chirping in the morning. A summer in Maine reminds us to slow down and cherish every minute. Of course, those aren’t the only sensory sensations of the summer. Camp is alive with energy every day from echoes at Cove to cheering on the Fields to laughter and splashing in Crescent Lake and songs rehearsed in the Theater. Laurel South’s spirit can be seen and heard from one end of camp to the other!

One thing you won’t hear throughout the summer: the ping of an Instagram notification or the buzz of a phone. A summer at camp is the perfect place for a digital detox. There are numerous studies about the benefits of staying unplugged: increased concentration, better short- and long-term memory, improved conversation skills and higher self-esteem are among the many perks of getting away from digital devices.

It’s easy to quickly double tap a friend’s post, update your own status or clear the notification bar. But, just as easily, it can take us out of the moment. Camp is the perfect opportunity to hit the reset button. Campers find themselves making genuine connections with their peers and counselors. They also have the opportunity to exercise their minds in a more ‘analog’ way by writing letters home and reading books.

Digital advances have made our world easier and more accessible in many ways, but campers (and counselors!) will be surprised by how great they feel after time away from their devices.

Camp Friends are Different

The first day of camp is often like the first day of a new school year. New faces, new activities and a renewed excitement for the summer ahead. Roger and Dagni often talk about how the memories we make and the friendships we forge at camp will last a lifetime. Approaching camp with this in mind allows each camper to be the author of their own adventures and memories. It also allows them to include their friends and counselors in their summer stories.

Camp is an incredible crash course in meeting people and making friends. Campers share with each other, communicate together and learn different perspectives all summer long. Children are interacting in ways they never get to throughout the school year. They’re eating S’mores, competing in athletics and singing songs. Most importantly, campers are living the cabin life, which is so much more than the place where campers and counselors brush their teeth and fall sleep. It’s where they become a summer family, create lifelong inside jokes and learn to be great friends. At the end of every summer, each cabin paints a cabin rock that captures their favorite camp moments: a token to visit in future summers to be reminded of all the great memories.

Campers appreciate their camp friends for all the right reasons. They stand up for and encourage one another. At Laurel South, campers learn not only to make friends, but also develop the tools necessary to allow those friendships to grow through their shared summer experiences.

Developing a Work Ethic at Camp

“Work” and “camp” aren’t often found in the same sentence, especially for children who go to camp. But it’s important for children to develop patience and a good work ethic. It’s equally important to dream big. Camp is the best opportunity to merge hard work, big dreams and creativity. Whether they’re using their less-dominant foot in soccer, throwing a bowl in ceramics or performing an original song at a campfire, Laurel South offers endless opportunities for children to achieve the prideful feeling of a job well done.

Camp is the ideal setting to take ‘safe risks’ by trying something new. And experiencing fresh activities creates a lasting sense of curiosity. Conquering the climbing wall or learning to waterski may seem daunting when viewed from afar, but having counselors break down activities into simpler steps can be inspirational when trying something new.

Beyond the initial wonder of an activity, the structure of our program and quality of our staff allows campers to develop skills. When children can work toward something, they truly appreciate the end result. It’s more rewarding when a goal is earned through patience and hard work, especially in today’s world of instant gratification. And with campers being involved in the goal-setting process from the beginning, they learn that hard work pays off. Prolonged satisfaction creates determined, hard-working individuals. The best part for children and parents: how much FUN they’re having while they’re developing their skills!

Costumes, Creativity and Camp

We hope everyone is excited to celebrate Halloween safely. It’s always a fun time of year to see amusing costumes. At camp, we’re able to show our creative side when it comes to face paint and wacky outfits. Camp is one of the best places to show your spirit. And there are ample opportunities for it: popping on the tie-dye you just made with your cabinmates, putting together a themed ensemble for socials or rocking your Spirit Days colors.

One of the foundations of camp is providing a space for campers to feel comfortable expressing themselves. It’s a place where we’re never too cool or too old to have fun. Perhaps the best part of dressing up at camp is the ability to plan it out with your closest friends. The enthusiasm while planning makes the event better!

Crazy hair, ridiculous costumes and face paint all encourage creativity. And it’s nearly impossible to get ready without also sporting a smile. From Team Day to Camo Day to Red, White and Blue everything on July 4th; the expressiveness of our campers and counselors is always a joy to see!