Author: Kim Aycock
What If Every Day Was A Snow Day?!
Have you ever known a kid (or adult for that matter) who was not excited about the possibility of a snow day?! To go to bed the night before knowing that you had the whole day ahead to play in the snow and do things that you don’t normally get to do? I have lived in Georgia for the past 5 years, and it is a rare occasion that we even get teased with the thought of a snow day. This week was a dream come true for many Southerners as schools and places of work were closed for a day (or more) thanks to Winter Storm Leon. Even though I lived in the “North” once upon a time, I couldn’t help but get caught up in the excitement of having 2 snow days to break up the hum-drum of the last week in January.
While walking my dogs around the neighborhood over the past few days, I loved seeing fewer cars on the roads (since not many people down here know how to drive with white stuff on the ground!) and hearing the bursts of laughter coming from kids playing outside while making snow angels, throwing snowballs, and sledding down our hilly landscape. I even saw some “grown-ups” (or maybe just several students?) running around a local college campus with very large water guns and having a ball. One of my neighbors invited me over for dinner and said that it felt like a “holiday” in the middle of the week.
So, what if every day was a snow day? In my mind, it absolutely can be at camp! Having played hard all day with the anticipation of waking up to something fun and exciting puts campers to sleep every night. The bursts of laughter heard while campers are hanging out in the cabin, walking to and from activities, eating meals together, huddling around the campfire, are just a few of things that make each and every day at camp extraordinary and more like a snow day than a regular day.
Will Summer Ever Get Here?! As the US has experienced a polar vortex twice this season, numerous “clippers”, subzero windchills, and below average temperatures, it seems as though summer will NEVER get here! It is hard to imagine wearing shorts and a t-shirt, let alone a bathing suit for Rec Swim when many of us are donning layers of long underwear, hats, gloves, scarves, and boots, just to try to stay warm.
But, if you are like me, you may have started to notice that the days are starting to get just a little longer (we are already over a month out from the Winter Solstice!). As you see from the pictures taken on my recent snow day, spring is actually trying to push its way through despite the frigid temps (at least it is in Augusta, GA!). I have begun to notice little spikes of green line the paths on walks with my dogs every morning, and I even saw some pink buds peeking out through the snow. On one of the coldest mornings we’ve had all winter, robins were chirping and fluttering about.
For those of you counting down the days until camp, it won’t be too long before summer days in the Northwoods will become a reality. We are anxiously awaiting your arrival and have been turning up the heat on plans for the “Dare to Explore Summer of 1-4”! Until then, have yourself a great snow day!
Happy New Year from Aquarius
Eat Healthy: Instead of serving processed food, we provide meals made from “scratch”. No powdered eggs here! We even “cook” in Arts and Crafts!
Get Moving: Video games and TV are put aside for 6 weeks – campers are active and get plenty of exercise in the great outdoors. We use our feet to take us everywhere we need to go!
Reduce Stress: Camp is a great way to “unplug” from the constant flow of text messages, emails, and other social media. It is also a time to put the pressures of school and grades aside and just enjoy living in the moment. Above all, camp is FUN!!
Try Something New: With a variety of physical, recreational, and creative activities to choose from, campers have the opportunity to explore a wide range of interests.
Spend More Time With Friends: Imagine spending 24 hours a day for 6 weeks with a group of your closest friends…how AWESOME is that?!
My Favorite Things – Aquarius
Regina: The fresh air when I get off the bus and seeing my friends at the end of the Woodland Road. I love that even when you miss a summer, you get here and you feel like you never left. I love all the traditions we have, and this is literally my second family.
Cami: I love that being at camp is a total new world for you where you isolate yourself from everything that happens back at home. You get to do tons of fun stuff and learn to be independent and do stuff by yourself! I love that you develop different skills in every activity. Here at camp you get to meet new people that as the years pass by will became your sisters.
Katelyn: Some of my favorite things at camp are my amazing camp sisters that I have created and bonded with. These girls are people that I have broken all walls with and I am closer to them than anyone else. I also love that I can be myself at camp. Here at camp no one judges and no one cares if you are different or weird because we embrace it! Lastly, I love that of the girls that have become my sisters I wouldn’t have met any of them had I not gone to camp!
Paige: My favorite things about camp are that I make lifelong friends here that are so amazing! I won’t ever forget them. This place is my second home, I can’t ever imagine what my life would be like if I had not come here and met the amazing people I’ve met. The activities I do here are so fun, my favorite activity is sailing. It really relaxes me and helps me forget about everything that happens. My other favorite thing about camp is that we have a brother camp that we can hang out with and be friends with.
Mera: One of my absolute favorite things about camp and being CIT is coed show!! It’s really awesome to be singing and dancing on stage after years of watching it. Another one of my favorite things about being at camp is seeing all my friends that I don’t see during the year. Some activities like sailing and Riflery are things I may not able to do at home, but at camp I can!
Jess: My favorite thing about camp is being with my friends all of the time. We make really great bonds and have inside jokes. It’s like a second home. You have another family away from home. I also get to do all of my favorite activities, like sailing and crafts. Another thing I love is laundry day! All the clothes I have get clean, and I feel fresh! Feeling clean also goes along with painting our nails. Everyone always paints their nails, so that it’s kind of like a trend that we do together. That’s everything I love about camp!
Raquel:
· I love being a CIT – that is being at camp with more responsibility
· I love the riding department. We help girls all different levels or riding
· My favorite meal is the Thanksgiving meal because I love turkey and mashed potatoes
· Learning new things – life lessons, maturing, and responsibilities
· Becoming good friends with all these girls from all over!
Ally: I love to be in the nature and woods because it’s relaxing and more peaceful. I like to be with my cabin because I have the opportunity to be with the same friends. Being a CIT is amazing because I can really help with the campers and assist counselors. CO-ED show! I love the songs! I love, love singing, and I am very excited for the shows. Trying something new, like water skiing, because I proved to myself I can do it! The songs after dinner because we are together!
Traveling for the holidays? Don’t forget to….
1) Pack something with the Woodland logo
(t-shirt, water bottle, Crazy Creek, etc),
2) Have someone take your picture in a FUN location with you
WEARING, HOLDING, or USING the camp item (with logo visible), and
3) Email us your photo so that it can be entered into the “WEAR IN THE WORLD?” CONTEST
photos will be posted on Pinterest (and Instagram…coming soon!)
(winner to be announced at camp THIS summer — prize will be awarded!)
Hanna (Woodland sweatshirt) visits the Statue of Liberty (Parker in green)
Andrea (Woodland jacket) is standing near the Angel of Independence in Mexico (Sofia in white)
Colette (Woodland sweatshirt) is on vacation at Disney World (with “Minnie” friends Chelsea and Elena)
Ali (Woodland sweatshirt) tours the Eiffel Tower (Claire)
Staying at home for the holidays? Find a cool spot in your hometown and take a picture!
JoAnne, Lee, and Kim are in front of wall art at a Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers in Lee’s neighborhood in VA
Happy Thanksgiving from Treetops!
Reminders of a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
As the last week of November rolls around, I am reminded of watching Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving Special every year around this time on TV. Charlie Brown ends up serving Thanksgiving dinner for his friends thanks to Peppermint Patti’s self-invitation when he is really supposed to go to his Grandmother’s for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Charlie Brown enlists the help of Snoopy to help set up for the feast and, low and behold, a non-traditional fare ensues.
When Charlie Brown’s guests sit down to dinner on an assortment of lawn chairs placed around a ping-pong table, his friends are surprised to find popcorn, toast, jelly beans, pretzels, and ice cream sundaes on the menu. After a much disgruntled Peppermint Patti voices her opinion about the food selections, Linus reminds the group about the true meaning of Thanksgiving and how important it is just to be together by retelling the story of Myles Standish and the Pilgrims on that very first Thanksgiving Day .
After having recently been to the Woodland Camp Reunion this past weekend, I am thankful for the opportunity to get together with camp friends at the start of the holiday season. It was so fun to see campers, staff, and alumni gather 3 months after the close of the summer of “All We Can Be in 1-3”. It was a special time for friends to reunite and catch up on the events of our days away from camp while knowing that the summer of “Dare to Explore in 1-4” is now closer than it was in August! We were even able to share a similar fare to Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving feast (popcorn, pretzels, cheese sticks, grapes, juice boxes, and other tasty treats!) while huddling close to the TV so that we could watch the highlights of the summer of 2013 on the big screen. Camp memories were relived and shared, stories retold, friendships rekindled, and plans for next summer were formed!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all campers, staff, alumni, and friends…we are grateful for your membership to the Woodland/Towering Pines Family! Many blessings in the year to come!
Favorite Things from Treetops
Paula: I love sailing, especially the mini-fish. I also like arts and crafts because you can be really creative. What I like is spoon assassins because it is a game played with the entire camp. Also, I like to go to Woodland and TP fair because you can do a lot of things. Also, I love campfires and inside jokes and the evening activities. I LOVE CAMP THE WAY IT IS!!!
Sam: My favorite things camp are meeting new people, doing new things, trying new foods, getting to bond with your counselors and cabin mates, going on canoe trips, the fun evening activities, events (Birthday, Olympics, Spoon Assassins, Banquet, Song Contest, Gold Rush, TP/Woodland Fairs, Shows, Co-Ed Show, Campfires, 4th of July, etc.) FUN! FUN! FUN!
Eden: My favorite things about camp are counselors. I chose the counselors because they are so helpful, entertaining, and caring. Another one of my favorite things about camp is the food. The food at camp Woodland is awesome! Dan, I bet you will end up on a professional cooking show – that is how good you are at cooking! The last thing I love about camp is the new friends I meet because they are so thoughtful, and I couldn’t ask for anything better! I LOVE CAMP WOODLAND!
Parker: My 5 favorite things about camp are (drum roll please!):
5. Spoon Assassins
4. Gold Rush! So Fun!
3. Canteen
2. So many activity choices!
1. You also meet new friends and see old ones!
Camp is soooooooooooooo much FUN!
Sofia: One of my favorite things about camp is spoon assassins because it is so much fun! Another thing is Olympics because we compete at different skills and cheer on a team. I like Gold Rush because it is very intense and fun. The Drama, Dance, and Gymnastics Shows are awesome because you can show everyone your skills. Friends! Here you meet real friends and have fun with them!
Molly: My favorite thing about camp is the people. Everyone is nice to everyone! All the girls make sure that everyone is included. By the end of camp everyone is really good friends with girls of all ages. Girls become like sisters!
Happy Halloween from Starshine!
Costumes are not just for Halloween…we dress up at camp almost every day! Decades Night, 4th of July Games, Pirates Day, Campfires…you name it, we wear it! We would love to see pictures of you in your Halloween costume, so email us at: campwoodlandtp@gmail.com
Favorite Things from Starshine
Kelly: Bonding over cabin dance parties, spoon assassins because of trusting no one, the joy of horse back riding because I don’t do it at home, meeting new people, and working on Song Contest and Lip Sync Contest together as a cabin.
Cayley: My favorite thing at camp is just about everything! My favorite activity is tennis – I take 2 hours of it! I love spoon assasins, it is such a rush! I love banquet even though it is super sad. Also, my counselors are amazing! Gold Rush is so fun, too!
Isa: Dessert because it tastes really good, spoon assasins because it is a very fun game, my friends because they are so awesome, and sailing because it is fun to act like we’re on the ocean.
Ana Pau G: Spoon assasins, Campfires, Olympics, Friends, Activities, and Riflery. I liked when we worked on Song Contest as a cabin.
Barbie: All the activities, my friends, canoeing trip, campfire, our counselors (Lindsay and Jenny), the songs and games. I love Camp Woodland…I just have a lot of fun here!!!!
p.s. The Camp Reunion for the Chicago area will be held on Saturday, November 23rd — we hope you can join us!