Pod Programming has been amazing – as campers and staff have enjoyed activities as a grade, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Some of our favorite traditional Laurel South activities are coming up soon including Counselor Hunt tonight and Drive-In Movie tomorrow! We all have so much to look forward to moving ahead: CIT/LIT White Water Rafting, Katahdin Cup and Moose Bowl, Beauty and the Beast and Wizard of Oz…the list goes on and on!

We’ll keep you updated throughout the coming weeks of all the goings on at Laurel South. Until then, just know that it is and always will be a beautiful day in the state of Maine!!

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But life moves pretty quickly around here, and before we knew it, we were gearing up for our awesome Second Session arrival! What a great day we had…greeting friends (old and new), bonding with counselors, and getting to know each other. We’re off to another incredible start!

Yesterday was Moose Stomp Day, and we loved the S’mores and snow cones and (of course) Bumper Tubing on Crescent Lake…followed in the evening by our Opening Ceremonies Council Fire. Today we began our pod schedule where we travel to all of our programs and activities in grade pods, getting to know everyone in our age group, not just in our cabin. We hope to successfully resume our regular, guided-choice scheduling in the near future.

We’ll keep you updated on all of the goings-on in Casco in future blogs. Until then, please know that it is a beautiful day in the state of Maine today…and every day!

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From the back-to-school days of the fall, through Thanksgiving and the Winter holidays…from the turning of the calendar to the flowers blooming in Spring…from arriving at Pre-Camp to Staff Orientation…the excitement and enthusiasm builds to a crescendo that culminates today with the arrival of 400 of the greatest campers in the world!

Our staff had an amazingly fun and productive Orientation week, and they’re thrilled to welcome our campers from 27 states and 17 countries! For the next 3 ½ weeks, we’ll have a ball. From the ballfields to the waterfront, equestrian center to the theater, adventure to arts, out camp family will have the opportunity to form friendships and create memories that will last a lifetime. We’ll unplug in one of the most beautiful settings.

We’ll blog all summer to keep you current on all the fun in Maine. As Roger frequently says: “It’s a beautiful day in the state of Maine today!”

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Can it really be that we are still in the first week? You would never guess that by walking around camp and seeing all the action!

With schedules set, we’ve completed our first “A” Day and “B” Day rotation. How wonderful it is to witness all the action at the Waterfront, in the Theater, on the Ballfields and Courts, at the EquestrianCenter, in the Arts Studio…and did we mention the delicious aroma coming from the Culinary Center?

Intercamp Games and Tournaments have begun. And our 6^th grade boys set the tone for our overnight trips, venturing to Mt. Blue. Today our CITs and 8^th graders departed on their exciting trips: CITs on their way to conquer the rapids as they raft the Kennebec River. The 8^th graders headed to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor!  Wednesday is our first “S” Day!  After our special S Day breakfast, each group will set off on their own amazing trips!

Each day is packed with fun and excitement at Laurel South, and we can’t wait to keep you updated in future blogs.  Until then, rest assured that it will always be a beautiful day in the state of Maine!!

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There is a buzz in the air every morning at camp; a feeling that puts an extra pep in our step even before our feet hit the floor. Counselors wake up with a sense of excitement and readiness for the day. The energy of camp is hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it yourself. Being surrounded by positive people is a natural stimulant that gives campers and staff a boost of energy every day.

It’s easy to be in a good mood when nature is everywhere. There’s the beauty of Crescent Lake, the forest and sprawling fields. It’s the soft breeze between the trees in the morning and the glow of the campfire at night. The beauty of camp is refreshing, and spending a few minutes appreciating the vast beauty is usually enough to get anyone going.

There’s also a beauty and energy in the people of camp. The relationships, activities and memories create a unique sense of contagious positivity. Campers can’t help but run freely across camp because there’s so much excitement surrounding them! Of course, not every moment is rainbows and butterflies, but campers feel upbeat, encouraged and excited for the majority of their time at camp.

Campers and counselors feed off the genuine energy and positive vibes of each other. There is something about camp that keeps the energy alive from sunrise to sunset. Spend a summer at Laurel South so you can feel it for yourself!

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The 5-Year Club enjoyed their special morning trip this week. We also brought in a professional Fly Fishing instructor to teach advanced lessons for those who had already done the beginner’s course at LL Bean. We aim to be a top Fly Fishing destination for campers who want to learn and perfect their craft! The 8th Graders spent an amazing two days in beautiful North Conway, New Hampshire. They had a blast! Intercamp games and tournaments allowed our campers to compete against friends from our neighboring camps. Last night was another awesome Council Fire. And the list goes on and on.

Everyone is pumped for the 6th Annual Moose Bowl this evening. We still have our all-camp trip to Funtown on the horizon. Before you know it, we’ll have our Final Banquet, Final Social, Final Council Fire and complete our First Session.

While we’re sad to see the session starting to come to an end, we’ll be forever grateful for the memories made, friendships built and all of the wonderful times we have spent together!!!

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When I stepped on the camp fields for the first time I began with my usual intensity. It took a second for me to realize just how different the environment was from what I was used to. Usually I’d look around before a game and see serious, intense faces. At camp, I instead saw smiling, happy ones. I realized that while I played to win, my fellow campers had different motives. They enjoyed winning, but they played to learn something new, push themselves and spend an hour doing something they loved. They helped show me there’s a difference between friendly competition and unhealthy competition.

My competitive spirit came solely from winning and being the best. I learned that healthy competitiveness comes from improving and being your best self. Instead of being in competition with others, I began competing with my past self. This allowed me to focus on the skills I needed to improve on while still enjoying the game. When you can walk away from a sport and still have had a great time, win or lose, you’re a winner.

When I got home, I took what I learned and applied it to my sports teams. It was difficult for my dad to learn to calm down, stay quiet and stop focusing solely on winning, but when he saw how much happier I was and how much I improved, he started to come around.

I’m so thankful for Camp Laurel South and how they taught me to be a compassionate, helpful and less stressed athlete and person.

Alex, age 14

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