Category: Campers say the darndest things!

2018 was a summer where there were many ADVENTURES  to be had!  See what the campers from Sunnyside, Sunrise, and Aquarius had to say about their FAVORITE adventure:

Lily: the canoe trip was pretty fun; I felt like I got closer with my cabin

Lauren: passing my intermediate water-skiing and being in a TP exchange for archery and winning

Rachel: going to the ropes course; I had a great time bonding and doing team-building skills

Amelia: canoe trip and ropes course because I stepped out of my comfort zone and had a lot of fun doing it

Xime: canoe trip and being with my cabin

Bunny: an evening swim on our canoe trip

Libby: trying drama and going on canoe trip and ropes course

Isabella: going swimming on our canoe trip, meeting so many awesome new people, the ropes course, CIT games, trying tennis, ALL ABOUT CAMP!

Lilli: I loved taking a canoe trip with my cabin; we really bonded and had a great time canoeing and swimming

Valentina: canoe trip

Irene: CIT day trip

Amelia: going to ropes course and doing team bonding activities with my cabin – it brought us so much closer!

Cayley: day trip to Dam Lake and County O bridge

Barbie: being a 2^nd year CIT and hopefully will help me be a JC next year! Ropes course was challenging; I proved that I can do anything even if there are limits

Jae: everything! From bouncing from my cabin to my “live-in” cabin and making different, amazing, and funny memories with each group of girls and counselors to working on Co-Ed Show! It was an AMAZING last summer as camper/CIT, and I couldn’t have asked for a better one!

Sofi: getting to be with my best friends in the cabin and bonding with them more

Vale: ropes course was a huge challenge that I overcame

Kelly: going on a run in the Climax Forest with my friends in the morning; we saw deer in the meadow. It was a great start to the day and a moment I will always remember.

2018 was a summer where there were many ADVENTURES  to be had!  See what the campers from Hilltop, Silver Birch, and Treetops had to say about their FAVORITE adventure:

Catherine: going to the Aqua Tramp and playing Clue game

Lauren: ALMOST getting kicked off a horse (now he is my favorite horse!)

Brooke: canoe trip across the lake

Isabella: dropping a ski and going around the entire lake on one ski; I also loved our cabin’s canoe trip

Sofia: our cabin canoe trip because I had never done anything like that before and it was extremely fun

Maya: archery exchange at TP

Tess: the exchanges at TP; I was proud of getting picked to go, and I was nervous, but it was so much fun! I played well and was relaxed enough to have a good time.

Ava: trying sail race; I love to sail, and I had so much fun in sail race and learned so much this year

Annie: learning how to water-ski!  It was so hard, but when I finally got it, it was one of the best feelings!

Riley: knee boarding for the first time and our cabin canoe trip

Molly: I loved trying new activities and making a lot of friends

Lucy: I loved trying new things in sailing (like capsizing)

Ana: trying new things and meeting new people at both Woodland and TP

Katherine: our cabin canoe trip because even though it was raining, we still managed to have fun

Ari: canoe trip

Paloma: our canoe trip…I’m never forgetting that experience!

Ellie: I liked being able to help out at the barn

Monica: we went to pick blueberries and got stuck in the moss garden!

Molly: canoe trip and getting stuck on Sunny when the rudder broke

Tori: canoeing across the lake by myself (to pass advanced canoeing level)

Isa: I loved coming back and seeing all of my friends and spending time with them!  I loved that I got to know myself better and other people, too.  I loved “man overboard” – it was so much fun!

Valentina: riding through the trails with the horses

Caitlin: coming to camp – I love camp and had a lot of fun trying all of my activities

Makayla: trying canoeing for the first time

2018 was a summer where there were many ADVENTURES  to be had!  See what the campers from Starshine, Tamarack, and Driftwood had to say about their FAVORITE adventure:

Angie: going to see the fireworks

Annie: our cabin canoe trip

Maddie: going on a trail ride

Ivana: tennis, arts & crafts, and TP & Woodland Fairs

Eleanor: riding

Mariana: drama

Alice: the aqua tramp was so fun

Sydney: my favorite adventure was our canoe trip – it was my first one, and it was AWESOME!

Lilah: a canoe trip across the lake

Carlota: our canoe trip and campfires

Lou: our cabin canoe trip

Lizzy: the morning walk on our canoe trip

Paz: I loved the canoe trip

Kaitlyn: canoe trip (I’m sensing a theme here!)

Heidi: going on a trail ride was so relaxing

Caroline: definitely my first trail ride – my horse kept eating at the greenery!

Emily: I have always loved dancing and was scared of doing it.  I wanted an adventure at camp, so I DID IT!

Sydney H: taking care of myself (without my parents)

Delia: Going to the Climax Forest during “Alien Invasion”

Eleanora: Song Contest and Gold Rush

Libby: going to the Climax Forest

Caroline: our canoe trip

Dear JoAnne, 

Ever since my daughter returned home from camp, she refuses to wear anything that isn’t Woodland blue or tie-dyed and Crocs with a million Jibbitz.  All she talks about is the fun she had at camp, stories about her cabin mates, and how many days there are until camp next summer.  She claims that she hears a bell ringing periodically throughout the day.  She won’t stop singing camp songs or looking at the online photos on the Woodland website and Instagram.  She even makes her bed every morning and asks if she can “hop” during dinner.  She insists that I ask you for Dan’s lasagna recipe and is now putting ketchup on potato chips.  Help!  Can you please explain to me what is going on with my daughter?

 A Concerned Parent

Dear Woodland Parent,

Thanks for your letter; I can assure you that what your daughter is experiencing right now sounds like a typical case of  “campsickness.”  Not to worry…YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  I receive calls and emails from parents every year at this time wondering what is happening to their camper(s).  Trust me, campsickness is not necessarily a bad thing; it just means that your daughter(s) had an AMAZING summer, and they are sad to leave their camp friends.  It is normal to miss the nonstop activity and fun that camp offers at every turn.  Coming home to an empty room can be a bit of a shock after the excitement of constant interaction with a community of girls.

I have every confidence that she will adjust to being at home again; it just takes a little time.  You can let her know that we will be corresponding with her (and you!) over the course of the winter via mail, email, and various social media.  There are all kinds of ways she can stay connected to our camp family, and before you know it, we will be headed to Woodland for another fantastic summer!

Woodland Love,

JoAnne

p.s. The theme for 2019 is: Your Time to Shine in ‘1-9!

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!