Author: Kim Aycock
Play Matters
Independence Day is quite a celebration around here! The CIT’s helped us celebrate in style by hosting 4th of July Games, which this year was on the actual holiday (and not the Sunday before). Woodland alum will recognize perennial favorites such as the clothes relay down the Woodland Road, water balloon toss, lifesaver pass, shave a balloon, and water relay (just to name a few!).
In addition to a multitude of laughs and memories to recount later to friends and family, there is a LOT more embedded within an afternoon of fun and games than just meets the eye. I’m sure it is no surprise that there is a noticeable decline in the amount of time spent playing for both kids and adults. Busy schedules drive us from the moment we open our eyes in the morning until our head hits the pillow at night. The great news is that there is an abundance of play at Camp Woodland! Play is what we do!
In a TEDMED Talk Jill Vialet shares that, “It is easy to dismiss play as trivial and unimportant; however, there is nothing farther from the truth. Play is kids’ work in that it is a form of experiential learning that contributes directly to a person’s ability to handle failure, to work in teams, and to take risks.” (Jill sounds like she must have spent some time hanging out with Mr. and Mrs. Jordan at Woodland & Towering Pines!)
If a very large balloon covered in shaving cream pops during one of the games, then a camper is faced with an opportunity to gracefully handle the situation. Learning not to take things seriously and to laugh at oneself are good qualities to master for more challenging dilemmas later on. Being able to work with your teammates to toss water balloons down the line involves problem solving and collaboration. The awkwardness of passing a lifesaver from person to person is great practice being silly and not caring what other people think. Playing offers a multitude of little ways to step out of our comfort zones and make frequent deposits in our confidence banks. This will pay huge dividends later!
According to Jill Vialet, play matters because:
- it provides a brief respite from the tyranny of apparent purpose (I guarantee campers are not thinking about the final math test they took at the end of the semester during the water balloon toss!).
- it compels us to choose to say, “I care” and better come to know ourselves (Stuffing a giant marshmallow in your mouth is a great way to do just that!).
- people matter and it reminds us of our interdependence with others. It gives us a chance to see other people and in turn to be really and truly seen (There is a whole wide world out there, and it is a lot of fun to play with others!).
Of course, this fun afternoon of play was followed by the annual 4th of July Campfire at Towering Pines (another opportunity to play)!
References: More Than Fun and Games – Play Matters by Nancy Brown (Huffington Post) and TEDMED Talk by Jill Vialet.
A special shout out to Bill Gonio, friend and former Towering Pines staff, for your inspiration in writing this blog!
It Never Rains at Camp Woodland!
Aquarius performs “Get’cha Head in the Game”
In case you didn’t know, it never rains at Camp Woodland! How is this possible you ask? We just get a little “dew” as was the case earlier in the week. Woodland Girls do not let gray weather dampen our spirits…the “show must go on”! The ever popular Lip Sync Contest is one of the most highly anticipated rainy day activities hands down. I can remember dry summers when we actually got to the 4th or 5th week of camp, and the campers were wishing for a “dewey” day just so that they wouldn’t miss out on Lip Sync Contest.
Sunnyside wows the crowd with “Drivers License”
Lip Sync is the perfect cabin bonding activity regardless of when it happens in the summer. However, this year in particular, it was a great way to continue solidifying and strengthening the bonds that have been forming in cabin groups this first week. There is a different feel within groups now than on June 26th. By the end of week #2 – LOOK OUT! Campers will really be hitting their stride with adjustment to and comfort with being at camp,
Driftwood gets into the spirit with hairbrush microphones
With the help of their counselors, campers negotiate which song will be chosen for the performance, and then they must come together to decide on costumes, props, and dance moves. It is not unusual to see hairbrushes used as microphones and other interesting items (such as a broom and dustpan) appear. Driftwood went all out with “This is Me” from Camp Rock. The oldest group of campers (behind the CIT’s) really let loose and were “all in”. It was almost like I sometimes sing in the shower (as if no one else is listening)!
Treetops takes the stage with “Levitating”
Aquarius brought back a High School Musical tune, “Get’cha Head in the Game” while Sunnyside chose “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo. Treetops brought us “Levitating” by Dua Lipa featuring DaBaby. Silver Birch’s award winning performance was a Lion King favorite, “Circle of Life”. This group of campers went all out with colorful costumes, wigs, face make-up and teased hair. If truth be told, some cabins actually decide on the song they will use prior to the announcement of Lip Sync Contest so they are ready when the event is called – what dedication!
Silver Birch takes 1st place for Lip Sync Contest 2021
As you can see from the vibrant faces in each photo, it’s really hard not to have a smile on your face when in lip sync mode. Let’s just say that courage and confidence show up in a big way even if being on stage is not your thing. The annual Lip Sync Contest fits right in with “Here Comes the Sun in ‘2-1” because we make our own sunshine (even when getting a little Woodland “dew”)!
Camp…More Than Ever
Hello from Camp Woodland! We are SO EXCITED to be open for the summer 2021 season! You might say that we have been a little busy (hence the delay on getting our first blog out this week!). After months of planning, and really two years of thinking about how camp would be this summer, opening day arrived. Finally, we were able to welcome girls to camp, introduce them to all the other amazing campers and staff members that make up this community, and begin to experience all the special aspects of camp life. “More than ever” seems to be an appropriate phrase. Given the feelings of loss, and many struggles imposed upon everyone by the pandemic, we all need camp more than ever.
The time outside, the laughter and smiling faces, the closeness of friendship, the hilarious silliness, the opportunity for fresh, real-world (tech-free) experience— yep, more than ever. You can already see it on the girls’ faces and hear it in their voices. They’re so happy to be here, so ready to play, to be carefree kids, and to enjoy the fun of camp. For the staff too, they missed this place and the simpler, more genuine life camp provides. This has always been true at Woodland, summer after summer, but this year, it’s even more so.
Thank you parents for helping make opening day go as smoothly as possible! Your attention to the details of our pre-camp protocols and instructions (so many forms! emails! messages!) really helped. We especially appreciate all the effort you put into keeping your camper/s healthy before arriving. We know some things were added burdens, but we think it was well worth the benefit it provides the whole camp community. So, THANK YOU!
One worry about this new procedure was that the campers would not have their parents to help settle them into their cabin. From the camper’s point of view, this turned out to be unjustified. This allowed everyone to set up their bunks together. A fun new group project was born, with the counselors and bunkmates helping make the whole cabin more comfortable. It’s amazing what colorful blankets, stuffed animals and a few personal items can do to make the cabin feel like “home”. And, we were able the launch the whole cabin group into action right away. A great thing!
As campers arrived, cabin groups enjoyed playing various games and exploring the main areas of camp. Having Dan’s famous mac-n-cheese for lunch was a much anticipated treat. Over the years this has become a favorite opening day meal because it is a true crowd pleaser. I think the secret is that mac-and-cheese is “comfort” food and makes campers feel like they are in a familiar place. And, because it was Saturday, there was pizza for dinner (double YUM)!
Over these first several days, time as a cabin has been important for creating a supportive group dynamic. General rules and good habits for getting along in such close living quarters are discussed and camper input is requested (better buy-in when you are able to help make the “rules”!). They have been working on “cabin contracts” that can help address disagreements and guide their interactions positively. For example, a cabin may agree that you should ask permission before sitting on another person’s bed as part of showing respect.
The lake was a popular spot on Opening Weekend! The lifeguards and cabin counselors of course took time to explain the safety procedures of the waterfront area and answer everyone’s questions about how to make the most of the swimming opportunities at camp— the raft, diving board, “floating” mats, log roll, tubing, Big Banana and other fun free swim activities. Is the water cold?! We always choose to say that it is “refreshing!”
At its core, camp is about connection. It’s about taking a break from our screens, and discovering the beauty of nature that’s been there all along. It’s about the joy of friendship found in simple shared experience. In these ways and others, camp is such a relief. And yes, this summer, that’s true more than ever!
Reference: RBC
Mixed Emotions are Perfectly Normal
If I had to guess, there is a myriad of emotions you are seeing in your camper/s as we can now count the days until the start of camp on two hands. Excited and nervous. Happy and anxious. Hopeful and apprehensive. Assured and concerned. While these emotions seem contradictory and hard to navigate, they are NORMAL and to be expected. Yes, you heard that right! Mixed emotions are common and part of embarking on an unchartered (or even familiar) journey.
First time jitters for new campers is not something unusual for 2021! There are so many unknowns about what camp life is like at this time EVERY year. What will I see when I pull into the driveway? How will I know where to go? Where is my cabin? Who are my counselors? Who are the other campers in my cabin group? Will I make friends? Where will I put my stuff? Where is the bathroom? What is the food like? What activities will I do? What is the schedule? Did I pack everything I may need? The list goes on…
Believe it or not, returning campers have jitters too. They may not surface as readily as in the inaugural summer; however, they are there, just the same. Each girl brings with her the successes and challenges of the previous year. Changes in a friend group, academic struggles, a move to a new location or school, extracurricular activity demands, and family dynamics are just a few that come to mind. Wondering about their counselors and new cabin group are unknowns every year to a known experience.
This summer is unique in that for veteran campers, it has been almost 2 whole years since camp has been in operation. A lot can and did happen in 22 months. The elephant in the room is whether or not camp will be the “same” as in previous summers. The answer to that is what it would be in other years. Camp can never be exactly the same as it was the last time we were together (pandemic or not). The beauty of each year is that there are always new campers, new counselors, new cabin groups, new songs, new twists to old activities, and new adventures.
Yes, there are some new protocols in place, especially at the beginning, that will be different as we work to form our camp “bubble”. The magic is that these new shared experiences will become the foundation for our community to form. We can’t wait to see what new ideas this year will turn into new traditions next year. We may stumble onto something that is even BETTER than it was before!
We also recognize that new and returning campers have justified concerns this year in particular that feed into having mixed emotions as camp approaches. I’m excited to see my friends and/or make new friends, and how will I adapt to being face-to-face with people again? I’m comfortable living at home and what will it be like to live in a group that is not my immediate family? I’ve been attending hybrid or virtual school and so how will I manage a more active lifestyle? My parents take care of me when I don’t feel well. What if I get sick this summer? I’m used to having the security of my family 24-7. How will I move in without the help of the people who send me off or bring me to camp? (By the way, counselors and staff will be ready to help campers feel comfortable and acclimate to being at camp. They have been taking part in pre-camp training for the past week and have another week to go!)
I think it is safe to say that in 2021, ALL of us are experiencing emotions and feelings that are on opposite ends of the spectrum about the start of camp on Saturday, June 26th. If we fast forward to the end of the summer, we will see a range of emotions there too. Campers will look forward to seeing their parents & siblings and sad at the same time to leave the camp community of friends who have now become like a 2nd family. They will be excited to share about their experience and yet may have trepidations about going home and reuniting with friends and getting ready for another school year.
The difference on the return trip home is the confidence and independence that will be accompanying each camper following several weeks at Camp Woodland. It is a sharpened set of tools in our toolkit for what lies ahead until we can be together again.
See you soon! We can’t wait to greet your camper/s and for summer to get started!
Summer 2021: A Time to Dip Your Toes in the Socialization Pool
After more than a year of quarantines, restrictions, isolation, reduced/weird social interactions, etc., we know that kids desperately need socialization with their peers. We are also aware there is a concern out there from students heading to any school that will be in-person next year (including college) that they will face almost full/constant socialization (classes, cafeterias, sports and other activities, buses, dorm rooms) and need to be “on” all the time after this past year of having almost zero socialization and being “off” all the time.
Those who are fortunate enough to go to camp in general and this summer specifically, will be able to dip their toes in the socialization pool. They will get to practice interacting more regularly with peers before facing their next school year. This will be especially beneficial for those kids who have had an especially isolating year at home and/or are facing a big transition next year. This could be going to a new school, whether because of regular advancement (middle to high school, for example), moving, or other life change.
The good news is that this practice of interacting with peers will be a gradual process at Camp Woodland this summer. Campers will not be thrown into the deep end of the socialization pool without adjusting to shallow water first. Because the first few days of camp will have us sticking to our cabin pods, this will allow a unique opportunity for campers to test the waters of a small group before diving in with the great camp community after our “bubble” has been established.
IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH THE CABIN GROUP (THEN AND NOW)
The cabin group at Woodland has always been one of thoughtful intention and purpose (even pre-pandemic). There are 2-3 counselors who will be carefully selected as a team to work with each age group. Together they establish the culture within the cabin so that campers feel welcome, comfortable and cared for. They will choose a cabin theme that represents their group and will clean and decorate the cabin to make it feel “homey” and inviting. Each camper will have “space” to make their own on a top or bottom bunk and designated places store their “stuff”. The counselors will be ready to help campers navigate unpacking and settling in which is an important step for acclimating to their summer home.
The counselors will be trained during their 2-week pre-camp orientation on group dynamics and will have a back pocket full of fun games and activities to start the process of evolving their cabin group (6-10 girls of similar age) into a community (a unified body of friends). This does not happen overnight, of course, but these intentional activities over time will help campers in the same cabin make introductions and connections, establish a code for group living, create a framework for communication, and provide opportunities for teamwork and trust.
COMING TOGETHER IS A BEGINNING (TOES INTO THE WATER FIRST)
The initial few days for all cabin groups are a time for campers to get to know one another and adjust to their new environment. Both returning and new campers are eager to see what camp is about, to make friends, and to belong. Counselors will help campers make introductions and find connections with others in a nonthreatening way. Name games, ice-melters, and other get-to-know-you activities assist campers in discovering commonalities with each other at a surface level until the group is ready to share at a deeper level.
We find that campers often stick with what is comfortable and familiar at the beginning when getting involved in the camp program (moving close to the water but not getting wet). This is perfectly OK. They will have the opportunity to branch out more as the summer unfolds and their comfort and confidence levels increase. The start of the camp season is the golden opportunity for counselors to set expectations and establish routines for cabin group meetings and discussions that will be the building blocks for future work and play together.
The fun of camp is just beginning – toes are being dipped into the socialization pool!
KEEPING TOGETHER IS PROGRESS (WADE IN A LITTLE FURTHER AND GET SPLASHED)
Once toes are wet and a foundation is in place, campers are ready to wade further into the water. Here we will gradually introduce mingling with others outside the cabin group for activities and other camp events. Campers will be eager to explore and try new things. Activities will be designed that allow them to do this in an age-appropriate way.
Campers may be ready to go beyond the surface and share on a more meaningful level after spending quality time and having frequent interaction with their cabin group. Guidelines will be established by the counselors so that each person has a chance to participate equally and fairly. The important work of practicing communication skills will take place, especially sharing and listening, so the group is able to have a peaceful discussion when things aren’t going so well and to work through issues as they arise.
Camp is even more fun after wading in further and getting splashed a bit!
STAYING TOGETHER IS SUCCESS (DIVE IN DEEP)
Once a group has experienced the success of moving past challenging times and is working well together, they will enjoy their cohesiveness and move into deeper water. Being in the “deep end” typically means that groups have the ability communicate well, work as a team, and trust each other. Campers will exhibit confidence and independence and stand taller than they did at the beginning of their camp experience. (If you don’t believe me, look at camper photos at the beginning and end of a session — the change can be remarkable!)
The best of each camper will combine to form a strong team, and it can be difficult for them to go their separate ways after taking this journey together. It is amazing how strong those bonds can be, especially when campers stay for a longer period of time, because of the growth that is made after reaching the other side of struggles and conflicts. This intentionality fosters the evolution of a group of campers into a unified community. Counselors will help campers put closure on their camp experience and transition to what comes next (returning to home and school).
Camp is the most fun at the end because of taking a deep dive with the friends who are now family. Campers will have had lots of practice interacting with their peers over the course of the camp season and will leave with confidence to face the next school year!
Thank you to Liz Kunkle for suggesting this topic and giving examples of what kids will be facing in the months ahead (see first two paragraphs)!
Reference: acacamps.org/resource-library/camping-magazine/slinky-smurf-evolving-groups-communities