Author: Kim Aycock

by Aron Christopher (Camp Mom and Woodland alum)

I was awoken one night by the sounds of a barred owl calling. I lay there, taking it in and celebrating the closeness to nature that I can experience at camp. While here, there are no amenities to keep me comfortable except for the cool Woodland breeze and the ebbs and flows of humidity and temperature. Far away from air conditioning, with the windows open and all the nighttime sounds surrounding me, I sleep as part of nature. I don’t particularly enjoy the bugs that can sometimes join me in my cabin, but I take solace in knowing that this means that my air is a little fresher.

I played golf recently with a pinecone and a stick with a tilted end. In a world where we need to have everything and need to buy our children their own set of golf clubs to teach them a love of golf, it’s rather reassuring to watch children enjoy a good game of pine cone golf.

Being a full time working mom in the suburbs and coming to camp seem like two completely polar opposite sides of myself but I am astounded at the fulfillment that both leave me in different, yet complementary ways. Although many of my friends may have been puzzled at my desire to leave my comfortable amenities to spend the summer at camp, I think that, just possibly, this deep connection to nature that I am experiencing will allow me to see more subtle beauty in the nature around me even when I’m far, far from camp.

Can you spot the hummingbird?

Treetops “Family” Enjoying a Meal Together

Thinking back to when I was a kid, I can remember how important eating dinner together as a family was to my parents.  Even though my Dad had a business to run and my siblings and I had sports practice, games, homework, piano lessons, and a number of other things I probably don’t even remember, rarely a day would go by when we didn’t sit down as a family for the evening meal.  My Mom did everything in her power to work around our busy schedules so that we could share time together around the table most nights until I graduated from high school.

Driftwood Awaits Dessert (notice the spoons!)

While I may not have thoroughly appreciated it back then, when I reflect on our family’s shared meal experience, I now realize how precious and sacred that time really was.  It’s no wonder that at camp, I always look forward to the ritual of coming together as a community to enjoy not just one meal, but 3 squares together: breakfast, lunch, AND dinner!  Let’s be honest, I also enjoy mealtime because I am always STARVING due to being on the move and keeping active during a typical camp day, so there is a basic need to be met.  Once my physical self is refueled and ready to take on the next adventure, my social-emotional self is also nourished from the act of being together with my camp “family.”

Hilltop Smiles!

What I know now that I didn’t know when I was still living at home, it that there are numerous positive outcomes that come from bonding over a meal.  Just the mere act of coming together and TALKING with one another is food for the soul.  Breakfast is usually a little more quiet than the other two meals (as you might imagine, pre-teens and teens are not fully awake just yet – unless it is Saturday which means DONUT DAY!), but there is the anticipation of an exciting day ahead while campers discuss what they are looking forward to with each girl’s schedule of activities.  Today could present the opportunity to canter for the first time in riding, learn to dive in swimming, practice a dance routine for the upcoming show, or enjoy making a picture frame in arts and crafts.

Hello, Tamarack!

Come lunch time, the dining room is filled with non-stop chatter as campers take turns giving a blow-by-blow recap of their morning and all that transpired in the past few hours.  The volume has definitely increased since we were last together, and the energy has more than quadrupled (if I had to wager a guess!).  Having a good chunk of time to sit around a table with your cabin offers an incredible opportunity to share thoughts, ideas, goals, dreams, stories, and more with the people you are getting to know in a group living setting.  In just a short period of time, campers feel comfortable and safe to be transparent and real in these conversations while enjoying a meal together.

What’s Up, Silver Birch?

When assembly rolls around following an afternoon of more fun and adventure, we once again file into the lodge for our 3rd meal of the day.  Some cabins sit in the “front” part of the dining room, while others gather in the “back.”  Both locations have their advantages!  Having a table in the front means you are close to the awesome fire that Chet builds many mornings (a plus when the air is a bit “crispy”), and being in the back means enjoying a view of the lake along with a refreshing breeze (if the weather calls for the windows to be open).  I vividly remember sitting at a table in the back as a counselor and getting to see an eagle perched in the giant pine tree right outside the door.  What a treat to have such a majestic creature join us!

Tamarack Continued

After the evening meal and another opportunity to check in with each other about afternoon activities and accomplishments, the CIT’s pass out song books and we enjoy time to sing together as a camp community.  Some songs tell a funny story (Ship Titanic), while others have motions (A Boy and A Girl in a Little Canoe) or offer a chance for the front and back dining rooms to sing in a round (Zoom Golly-Golly).  We wrap up this camp tradition every night by singing two legendary Woodland songs (W – That’s the Way it Begins… and We Are From Woodland, Woodland Are We…).

It’s the Sunnyside Bunch!

Another benefit of eating 3 meals a day together is that we take the time to SLOW DOWN and ENJOY each other’s company, which is a rarity in any other place.  We are able to relax a bit, reflect on the experiences a camp day has to offer, and revel in the laughter and fun we share as a cabin group.  Meal times are the BEST!

p.s. I should also mention that the food at Camp Woodland is delicious!  Most meals are served from “scratch” — don’t be surprised if your camper comes home with a few menu requests that are not your average fare!

Woodland Welcomes 2018 Campers!

The moment we have all been waiting for is FINALLY here!  Camp Woodland’s 49th season is officially underway, and we couldn’t be more excited!  We also know that there are a lot of mixed emotions from campers and parents alike on Opening Weekend.  Shedding tears and feeling your heartstrings pull tight after giving one last hug is NORMAL.  We know that you love your daughters very much and that you will miss them while they are with us!  Thank you for giving them the gift of camp!

Dear Mom,

I know you have mixed feelings about me not bringing my cell phone to camp.  You are used to communicating with me multiple times a day and getting messages that I forgot my lunch, soccer practice is running late, or that I have a math test tomorrow.  I’m sure it will feel strange not texting or calling while I am away.

Here are a few reasons why it is good for me to “unplug” while I am camp even though I am in constant contact with you when I am home:

1)    It is hard to be 2 places at once!  If I am checking in with you all of the time, then I am not getting to fully enjoy camp.  I will miss out on making friends, settling into my cabin, and all of the exciting activities the counselors have planned for me!

2)    It is important for me to learn to trust other caring adults.  This emerging independence is one of the greatest benefits of camp!  There are great people whom I can reach out to, whether it is my cabin counselor, one of my activity instructors, the camp nurse, or the camp director.  They are good at what they do, and I trust that they will help me adjust to camp life!

3)   While I’m at camp I don’t want to be second guessing myself by having the ability to ask you to decide things for me.  I can do this!!!   It is important for me to grow and learn, little by little, to solve some of my own challenges.  This is how I will develop greater resilience.   I’m sure the counselors will remind me to put on my bug spray and sunscreen, brush my teeth and change my underwear ;-). Don’t worry, they will contact you should an emergency arise.

4)    I want to go all in!   I’m going to start the summer on the right foot by being honest with my counselors and myself.  Some campers wind up with a phone anyway even though they aren’t supposed to have one.  It is really embarrassing for them when the counselor finds out.  I heard some older campers bring two phones so they can turn one in; the “real” is hidden inside a stuffed animal, a book, or even a box of Kleenex. Can you believe it?!

So, when you get the packing list and cell phones are on the list of things NOT to bring to camp, please don’t pack mine.  It will be hard for both of us at first to disconnect in this way, but I will tell you all about my experience when I get home and meanwhile, you can count on camp to post photos to show you what we are doing.  I promise to write letters/Bunk Notes to keep you updated on all of the fun I am having at camp!

Thank you in advance for helping me “unplug” this summer!

Love,

A Very Excited Woodland Camper

Let’s hear what the gals from Hilltop have to say about the summer of 2017 (I wonder which of these girls will be CIT’s in 2018?!):

What was the highlight of your summer?

Natalia: I think that the best that I did was trust myself and have a good attitude.

Izzi: Being in the best cabin!

Irene: The first time my cabin really bonded together by playing cards.

Adri: My friends and my achievements.

Abbey: Passing levels 4 and 5 in swimming.

Valeria: Being able to be with other people in the cabin than last year and to get to know them.

Veronica: It was a AWESOME summer – I had so much fun with my friends and in all my activities.

Sofi (CIT): I passed to 50 yds in archery and all of the good memories from being a live-in.

What were some ways you enjoyed just being a kid and getting to play at camp?

Natalia: When we played Cortation Fugation.

Izzi: I got to enjoy my last summer as a camper by taking risks and trying new things!

Irene: I got to unplug and I didn’t have tons of responsibility.

Adri: I got to enjoy my summer by playing fun games and trying to achieve my goals.

Abbey: Evening activity with my cabin and Rec Swim.

Valeria: Playing Spoon Assassins, canoe trips, having canteen, being in Olympics and being in competitions and exchanges.

Veronica: Just being at camp!

Sofi (CIT): Being silly with my friends and cabin.

What is an achievement for which you were most proud?

Natalia: That I won in the advanced riflery competition.

Izzi: Passing my advanced canoeing and getting to 30 yards in archery and getting to go to an exchange.

Irene: I am most proud of all the levels I passed in my activities.

Adri: I’m proud for at least going for my Skipper and advanced water-skiing.

Abbey: Being in sail race, passing levels, skiing for the first time.

Valeria: Passing my levels in archery, riflery, tennis and sailing.  I also became a better person and friend.

Veronica: I passed my levels in riflery and had an amazing cabin!

Sofi (CIT): Passing to 50 yds in archery!

What is something you learned about yourself this summer?

Natalia: That I can be myself and be the best version of me.

Izzi: I learned how to unplug and that I am more patient than I thought!

Irene: How to be positive most of the time.

Adri: I learned that if you keep a positive attitude, everything is better.

Abbey: Nothing is impossible unless I try.

Valeria: To think first about other people over your self and that I can do whatever I propose myself to do.

Veronica: Always be yourself and be happy.

Sofi (CIT): To always be super energetic!