Author: Kim Aycock

With the 4th of July holiday this week, it is often a time of celebration, family gatherings and traditions.   At camp, it is no different!  Woodland has its own 4th of July traditions including the annual campfire at Towering Pines that marks the first of several joint-camp events where brothers at Towering Pines and sisters at Woodland are reunited.  I was telling my sister that for my niece and nephew who are at camp this summer, this may a first in their sibling relationship when they are actually excited to see each other (let’s just say that they don’t always get along when they are at home)!

Emilie and Isaac (sibling love for my niece and nephew)

The 4th of July traditions that have been passed down through the past 45+ years are part of camp history.  Campers at Woodland wake-up to the sound of horses through the cabin area and riding staff shouting  that the “British are coming” instead of the usual bell tolling at 7:30 am.  The lodge is decked out in “red-white-and-blue” decorations that a CIT on duty put up to make a festive dining experience.  Campers and counselors alike wear various patriotic clothing combinations of their own to contribute to the holiday celebration.

Lourdes and Ray

Activities continue as normal throughout the day; however, the hype for the evening’s “Red, White, and BOOM” campfire at Towering Pines builds as campers negotiate the shower schedule to be sure everyone is squeaky clean and has time for proper primping before donning their Woodland Wear to get on the shuttle to drive the 2.5 miles to the boys camp.

Parker and Tanner

For campers who do not have a sibling at Towering Pines, there is always the opportunity to meet a camp “brother” from a cabin of similar age.  Each cabin from both camps takes part in the annual 4th of July campfire entertainment and performs a skit or song.  Woodland “sisters” and Towering Pines “brothers” stick together during the campfire and cheer each other on through the various performances.  As you can see, we are one big, happy family!

Annual 4th of July campfire at Towering Pines

Thanks to our brother camp, Towering Pines, for hosting another FANTASTIC 4th of July EXTRAVAGANZA…we will see you soon for TP Fair (4th Sunday) and Woodland Fair (5th Sunday)!

Hilltop April Showers

Best Moments from Hilltop Summer 2015

Most proud:

Libby: when I did the correct canter; for a long time I wasn’t doing it right, but finally, I tried really hard and I felt very accomplished!

Tory: water-skiing! It is so fun…it is like standing on water!

Lou: I learned to trot by myself in riding

Rachel: when I got to canter for the first time while riding Henry

Ximena: I learned to trot by myself in riding

Dani: I made new friends

Best thing that happened to me at camp:

Libby: when all of my cabin mates took turns telling each other why they liked each other. It made me feel very special. I like spending time with my cabin during cabin night!

Tory: meeting friends and making memories

Lou: when we went to do the Aqua Tramp it was scary at first, but then it was a lot of fun when I tried it

Rachel: getting to live in Hilltop and meeting everyone in the cabin

Ximena: having this awesome cabin and going to the Aqua Tramp

Dani: I love all of the activities and the games!

The thing I learned most about myself:

Libby: I may be afraid to try things, but once I try, I’m not afraid anymore. For example, during Aqua Tramp, I was afraid to go on the Rave I finally did it, and it was FUN!

Tory: that I love Woodland and I have so much FUN! I can be crazy!

Lou: I am good at Arts & Crafts, Horseback Riding, and Riflery

Rachel: that I am a great friend and cabin mate

Ximena: that I am able to do things that I didn’t know I could do!

Dani: that I LOVE camp!

Starshine May Flowers

Best Moments from Starshine Summer 2015

Most proud:

Jae: I used to be afraid of tubing, but I tried it at camp, and I love it!

Jadyn: I got to make new friends and new memories

Paula: I passed 2 levels of water-skiing and earned Skipper in sailing

Cameron: passing my Blue Bowman in archery, which means I am one step closer to passing my Gold Archer

Sam: passing my Black Archer after trying for several weeks in archery

Amelia: learning how to water-ski

Sofia: learning to sail and passing levels in water-skiing

Best thing that happened to me at camp:

Jae: meeting all of the amazing people that I am now friends with!

Jadyn: I got to spend time with new “buds” and old ones

Paula: making a lot of new friends and having a lot of inside jokes

Cameron: meeting and becoming friends with new people

Sam: meeting all of my friends here that I know I will have for life

Amelia: meeting all of my new friends and creating stronger bonds with the old ones. I also like making so many more memories with my cabin!

Sofia: meeting new friends that will last forever!

The thing I learned most about myself:

Jae: to accept who I am even with the flaws I have

Jadyn: I can accomplish anything with my friends around

Paula: to be independent and solve problems by myself

Cameron: that it is OK to try new things and to be open to meeting new people

Sam: even though I can get annoyed sometimes, I usually keep my cool

Amelia: that I am up for trying new things and meeting new people!

Sofia: I learned more about who I am

Grace cares for 4- and 2-legged friends

This person mentioned that Harvard was launching a project to “Make Caring Common”.  Through an article online, I discovered that intent of this project is to “help educators, parents, and communities raise children who are caring, responsible to their communities, and committed to justice.  Leading colleges and universities are joining together to reshape the college admissions process and promote concern for others and the common good.” (Click here to read more…)

Sam promotes respect for the outdoors and nature

The first thing that crossed my mind when I read this post-conference is that any student who has “camp counselor” on her resume, should automatically rocket to the top of the college application pile!  At Camp Woodland, we are all about caring and being responsible to our community.  Because caring for one another is so important, we build the foundation for this to happen starting on the very first day campers arrive.

Sara instills confidence at the Ropes Course

Counselors are key to helping cabins create a contract that encompasses ideals to live by such as respect, honesty, enthusiasm (and FUN!).  We honor this pact and the family (community) we will become through a special Cabin Unity Campfire.  We revisit this contract often throughout the summer to stay true to the promise we made to each other.  Caring for the common good of others is definitely a common practice at camp!

Once in college, there is a lot of pressure for students to pursue an internship as a stepping stone to get into graduate school or to land a job post-graduation.  Returning to camp summer after summer can be a challenging decision for staff to make because it doesn’t seem possible that such a “fun” job can prepare someone for the real world.

Sofia teaches teamwork in dance class

What is interesting to note; however, is that the skills that are at the top of the list for job success include creativity, flexibility/adaptability, initiative, teamwork, leadership, responsibility, critical thinking, and problem solving…just to name a FEW!  These are the skills that will help you to get a job, keep a job, and advance in your career.  While it may be compelling to consider an internship or other job preparation this summer, working at camp provides specific training and experience in these very same competencies!

 Katelyn guides campers to

Are there skills/experiences are you hoping to obtain through  internship opportunities that we could help you cultivate at camp?  There are many leadership roles at Camp Woodland…we would be happy to see if there is something that would help you on your path to your desired career goals!

Pot-O-Gold at the End of the Rainbow

2016 CIT’s Here We Come!

I am really proud of:

Ana: passing my advanced in tennis and kneeling in riflery

Claire: knowing that I only have 10 more qualifiers until I am kneeling in riflery

Sarah: going to camp exchange for riflery and passing my crop in riding

Lydia: passing out of swim lessons

Sofi: being skipper again after capsizing

Andrea: swimming my laps to Cathy’s

Katie: passing my black archer shooting at 30 yd

Betsy: passing from 20 yd to 30 yd in archery; being able to do water stuff after my knee healed

Jenna: fighting my fear of the top bunk

Susan: passing from level 4 in swimming to level 6 in six weeks

Gigi: going to a TP exchange

Canoe Trip

The thing I learned the most about myself this summer:

Ana: to have more self confidence and to be who I am

Claire: to be more self confident about myself because I know that no one will judge me

Sarah: friendship is one of the most special bonds ever

Lydia: I can be outgoing if I try

Sofi: even though you may be getting through a hard time, you still have to have fun

Andrea: the things I am capable of doing

Katie: I may not think so sometimes, but I really enjoy spending time with people

Betsy: I hate crutches(!!!) and that I can rely on my friends more than I thought and don’t have to keep everything a secret

Jenna: I love to comfort people

Susan: that I have worth and to value myself as I do others

Gigi: that there is always going to be one person that you just don’t get along with

Swimming at TP

The best thing that happened to me at camp:

Ana: making really good friends and spending time with them

Claire: learning survival skills in canoeing

Sarah: coming to camp and seeing my best friends

Lydia: spending time with the whole cabin and getting to know them

Sofi: to have the best cabin I could ever ask for

Andrea: being with my friends and cabin

Katie: meeting new people

Betsy: spending a month and a half with the best people in the world

Jenna: seeing all my friends

Susan: being in Tamarack with all of my close friends

Gigi: meeting all these amazing people

Thank you Natalie, Raquel, and Allison!!