Monthly Archives:July 2012
The Wonders of Nature
(posted by Kim Wenzl Aycock)
While sitting at Inspiration Hour a few weeks ago on a Sunday morning, JoAnne had the campers look up from their cozy spot on Vesper Hill to glance at the clear blue sky, the sun peeking through the trees, and the fluttering of leaves at the tips of the branches reaching up as far as one could see. I was so glad that she stopped us for a moment to view the unbelievable beauty that abounds all around at Camp Woodland and that most of us often take for granted.
Below is a picture of a HUGE mushroom that is growing from a tree right in front of Silver Birch cabin. Had Chet, Woodland’s handyman extraordinaire, not pointed it out to me, it most likely would have gone unnoticed, even though I walked right by it on a daily basis. This picture was taken over a week ago, so I wonder how big it is now?! (You will have to take a look for yourself when you pick up your daughter(s) this coming weekend!)
You will also want to listen for the loons calling to one another on the lake; they can be heard every night and have been known to make appearances at other times during the day as well. Hopefully, you will get to see the pair of eagles who like to soar right above camp and fish for their dinner in our very own Sand Lake! You might even catch a glimpse of a deer or two as you drive down the Woodland Road.
Nature was the theme for evening activities during the 4th and 5th weeks of camp, and the girls had the opportunity to rotate through four stations including fishing, visiting the bog, taking a hike through the Climax Forest, and walking into the Moss Garden at Towering Pines. Each rotation was an experience unto itself, but the novelty of the Moss Garden was a highlight. Campers walked about 20 minutes and then came upon what they described as “blankets and sheets” of moss. They were actually able to lie down on this “bed” and were pleasantly surprised that it was more comfortable than being in their own bed at home!
Nature was the theme for evening activities during the 4th and 5th weeks of camp, and the girls had the opportunity to rotate through four stations including fishing, visiting the bog, taking a hike through the Climax Forest, and walking into the Moss Garden at Towering Pines. Each rotation was an experience unto itself, but the novelty of the Moss Garden was a highlight. Campers walked about 20 minutes and then came upon what they described as “blankets and sheets” of moss. They were actually able to lie down on this “bed” and were pleasantly surprised that it was more comfortable than being in their own bed at home!
As campers return home and go back to the hustle and bustle of the urban environment, camp is only a memory away…all it takes is a moment to stop and look…and find one of nature’s many wonderful gifts and a reminder of Woodland!
The Value of the Woodland "Dollar"
(posted by Kim Wenzl Aycock)
Now that I am back in the “real world” after my 2 week stay at Camp Woodland this summer, it is disconcerting to have to pull out my wallet once again to pay for gas, groceries, and other bills. No doubt the dollar continues to buy less while the price of just about everything continues to go up. There is one place; however, where the value of the dollar has remained steady over the past 25 years (or at least since I spent my first summer at Woodland oh so many years ago)!
Last Sunday, the Woodland girls took a field trip to Towering Pines for the annual TP fair, and this weekend, the boys will head east on County D for the Woodland Fair. As I was digging into my pocket for some “bills” to purchase a yummy treat at the TP Fair, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a cup of homemade ice cream was only $2 in “TP dollars” – the same price I paid in 1986! What a deal!
This Sunday, the boys from Towering Pines will be able to play various games and enjoy ice cream, popcorn, and bug juice for just a few “Woodland bucks” per game or treat. The great thing is that the “bank” is open on Sunday’s, and campers simply have to request a “cash advance” from a number of “tellers” so that they can enjoy all the fun a carnival has to offer. There will be fortune telling, a dunking machine, marriage booth, lollipop tree, fish pond, and a plethora of other games set up on and around the volleyball court – it promises to be a FUN time!
p.s. I also learned that some campers saved their leftover TP/Woodland “dollars” from previous years and brought this “money” with them to camp to spend this year. Even without gaining any interest, the value of the TP/Woodland dollar remains the same from year to year…that you can count on!
2012 Olympic Finale – Video Highlights included
This morning we woke to cloudy skies but no Woodland dew in sight (big, big, sigh), and the Olympic teams were eager to resume their final morning of activities. Right after breakfast, we had opening ceremonies. The Olympic Committee chairman, Sara Fisher, gallantly paraded through the assembly area with captains from each team and lit the Olympic torch (like I said before, Woodland Olympics is a big deal). As soon as the Torch was lit, everyone cheered, and the Roos and Pirates ran off to their assigned activities. Each team was broken down by age group and competed against each other in water sports, track events, and field events. The Caribbean Pirates and the Congo-Roos went neck and neck in each event. The best moment of the day is when an older camper from the Pirates helped a younger camper from the Roos finish the grueling marathon. Way to go Grace C. for your amazing Sportsmanship!!!
The Olympic games finished by having an all-camp soccer match. Everyone had a blast cheering on their teams in the field. After an amazing morning of watching girls excel in their events and cheering on their teammates, the winners were announced at the closing ceremonies.
Drum roll please………The winners of the 2012 Woodland Olympic Games went to the Caribbean Pirates and the Spirit stick went to the Republic of the Congo- Roos!!!!
Check out this highlight reel of the Woodland Olympics:
Camp Woodland Olympics!!!
This week we celebrate Sportsmanship by holding our Annual Woodland Olympics. This is one of the most anticipated events of the summer! The Woodland Gals are divided into two teams where they choose their team name, mascot, cheer, and song. Last night the teams were announced and the team spirit was overwhelming! The team names this year are the Republic of the Congo – Roos and the Caribbean Pirates. The Congo- Roos Team colors are Red and black while the Pirates are blue and green. Yes, Camp Woodland is very serious about Olympics!
Today we had a bit of a set back. We woke up to severe Woodland Dew! Oh well, that does not stop the Olympic Spirit here. We rallied and both teams worked on their team mascots, songs, and flag design.
This afternoon luckily the skies opened up to sunlight, and the girls still got to compete in tug-o-war and their individual events. Individual events included gymnastics, archery, riflery, tennis, and horseback riding. I do have to admit those horseback riders looked amazing!!
Tomorrow morning (cross your fingers for no rain!) we will get back into the olympic spirit and the teams will compete in track, field, and water sport events. I wonder what team will win?????!!!
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Cathy’s Ice Cream!
(posted by Kim Wenzl Aycock)
Ever wish you had something to motivate your daughter to clean up her room? Ice Cream from Cathy’s seems to do the trick at Camp Woodland! Each day after breakfast, campers and counselors alike go back to the cabin and pitch in to do various chores to keep their living space nice and neat for the OD (the CIT who is the officer of the day) and Nurse Lauren’s cabin inspection visit sometime before lunch. Each camper is responsible for making her own bed each morning in addition to having an assigned chore as determined by moving the job wheel forward one space daily.
The winners of cabin clean up are announced at assembly and get to raise and lower the flag the following day. If a cabin has the highest overall inspection score at the end of the week, they are honored as being the “Clean Freaks” and then awarded a pizza party during cabin night. Cabins winning the “Clean Freaks” honor for a second time are taken to Cathy’s for an ice cream treat. The past two Monday’s, I had the pleasure of taking the “Clean Freaks” winners to claim their prize; last week was Sunnyside’s trip into town, and this week was Hilltop’s turn.
I have to say that the ten-minute ride to Cathy’s with Hilltop on Monday night was quite lively! The girls kept me entertained with the fun playlist of songs they sang while we cruised down County D. I think they hit every genre of music from Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” to “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rea Jepsen. Once we got to Cathy’s, the girls were excited to see that “Blue Moon” ice cream has been named as Woodland’s flavor, and Towering Pines is the proud sponsor of “Superman”. Mark, the owner of Cathy’s, decided to get in the camp spirit this year and has renamed various ice cream flavors with the names of summer camps in the area who frequent his store. Be sure to allow a few extra minutes as you drive home at the end of the camp season to stop at Cathy’s for a giant scoop of Woodland’s Blue Moon ice cream!
