Category: Create Your Own Scene in ’17

2017 was a summer where we CREATED OUR OWN SCENE! See what the campers from Starshine, Sunnyside, and Tamarack had to say:

STARSHINE

Aubrie: I was myself, and I was proud of it

Lucy: I achieved my goals

Ellie: I took risks and explored all activities at camp

Katherine: this summer I went with the flow

Katie: I think I changed with my cabin, but I grew a lot, too.  I can do and deal with things I couldn’t do before.  I can sail, handle a horse, and swim a lot better.

Annie: I tried new things like riflery and sailing

Katie (CIT): I had fun during Co-Ed Show practice, I was happy and excited for things, and I was a good Live-In CIT.

SUNNYSIDE

Lauren: standing up for myself

Emily: being myself

Abbi: making new friends

Molly: I think by just having a positive outlook and forcing myself to be enthusiastic and happy for all 6 weeks.  Even when I was sad, mad, or unhappy, I kept a pretty good attitude.

Tori: by trying new things and not doing what others were doing – I did dance, tennis, drama, and canoeing

Monica: by not just taking activities but really improving in them

Isa: by listening to myself

Viv: I tried my hardest and tried new things

Jenna (CIT): I took sailing as one of my activities

TAMARACK

Lauren: I was just myself and met new friends

Valentina: I tried new activities I never thought I would like

Tory: I tried new activities and passed more levels

Xime: trying new things and having fun

Maitane: being a better person and trying to have fun in everything

Lilli: I read during Rec Swim and wrote letters

Libby: by thriving and working hard in each activity area

Rachel: I enjoyed this summer with my best friends

Jenna (CIT): I took sailing as one of my activities

2017 was a summer where we CREATED OUR OWN SCENE! See what the campers from Silver Birch, Treetops, and Driftwood had to say:

Libby: making everyone laugh

Eleanor: playing with the animals more

Delia: I was myself and wasn’t afraid to be myself

Kaitlyn: doing things I wanted to do

Lilah: doing new things

Carlota: believing in myself that I can do anything

Lou: making great friends and trying new things

Lizzy: trying new things

Betsy (CIT): I was the best Live-In CIT I could be this summer, and I stuck with swimming lessons.

Andrea (CIT): I have been scared of sailing, but I tried it again and really enjoyed it.

Tess: improving in every activity because I worked hard

Anika: making new friends

Dani: being with my friends

Ari: trying new activities and challenging myself

Maya: I tried many new things!

Brooke: Having FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ava: I did things that I wanted to do and not because others did them.

Makenna: by helping others and encouraging them as well

Ella: getting “Camper of the Day!”

Issy: trying things I have never tried before.

Isabella: being “Camper of the Day!”

Sofia: making new friends and enjoying everything

Sydney: getting “Camper of the Day!”

You may think my dear, when you grow quite old. You have left camp days behind. But, I know the scent of wood smoke will always come to mind. Little paths at twilight and trails you used to find.

You may think some day you are quite grown up and feel so worldly wise. But suddenly from out of the past, a vision will arise. Of merry folk with brown bare knees and laughter in their eyes.

You may have a little house built to your taste in  the nicest part of town.  But someday for your old camp swim suit you’d change your latest gown and trade it for a balsam bed where stars all night look down.

You may find yourself grown and wealthy; have all that gold could buy.  But you’d toss aside the fortune for days ‘neath an open sky with sunlight on blue waters and white clouds floating high.

For once you have been a camper then something has come to stay deep in your heart forever which nothing can take away.  And heaven can only be heaven with a camp in which you play.

Mary S. Edgar

See you next summer!

The summer is almost over and camping days will be through;

We’d like to express our appreciation and say THANK YOU!!!

For the many times you lent a camper your helping hand;

For Lip Sync and Song Contest you tirelessly did plan.

For tucking campers into bed each and every night;

And helping them to overcome a small or large and scary fright.

For singing all those crazy camp songs;

Or just helping girls try to get along.

For taking campers on really awesome canoe trips;

And teaching girls to ride and giving them tennis tips.

For searching high and low for a gold painted rock;

Or helping campers dive from Woodland’s very own dock.

For going along to Cathy’s and eating a scoop or two;

(A counselor’s example is something important for all to do!)

For the spirit displayed at Olympics and Saturday night shows;

The difference you made? Sometimes you’ll just never know!

For zany campfires and wild things done to your hair;

For all the little things you do to show you really care.

For being hostess, making coffee, and just being on the ball;

For putting your arm around a child, a simple gesture says it all.

We Created Our Own Scene at Woodland in 2017;

Cheers to the super star counselors and staff – our dream team!

So here is a toast for everything you do;

From the bottom of our hearts we say THANK YOU!

From taco bar to lasagna, we had amazing food to eat;

The kitchen staff worked hard to keep us going on our feet.

For Chet this was year thirty-four and he knows all;

Together with Evan they are always on call.

Jess & Amy, our camp nurses of multiple years;

 We are grateful for their smile and words of good cheer.

Jess teaches girls to swim and ski, yes it is true;

Aman is the gal who takes the little ones on hikes and to Farm Zoo.

Daphne scores targets and wears camo from time to time.

To Silver Birch this terrific trio brings love & sunshine.

Jackie saves bread tags for Treetops in case you didn’t know;

Colette has many talents and always goes with the flow.

Arantxa can be found at the courts and helping campers take aim;

Ffion is keen in crafts and drama and to camp we are glad she came.

Grace can flip, ride and sail and do it all you see.

From Driftwood to Starshine, she made the move with ease.

Qualifier rounds and Rec Swim keep Caroline on the move;

It’s on the dock and at the Rec Hall where Elena finds her groove.

Paige summons Zulu and is the queen of sail race;

While Sofia teaches girls to swim and at canoeing she is an ace.

Sam gets up early to take care of her campers at the barn;

Then off Tamarack she goes to share her wit and charm.

Kate is a gal of the ring for riding is what she does best;

Chelsea posts pics on Instagram and is at the barn with the rest.

Claire sails on the high seas and goes to coed show practice at night;

Tori takes charge of Rec Swim – having her here is such a delight.

Alexis has a love for tie-dye and teaching ducks to swim in a pool;

Add Regina to the mix – with the CIT’s they have kept their cool.

Spoon assassins for Natalie and teaching tennis, too;

Sara is dying for more pancakes and her very own canoe.

Thanks to Calla and program notes we know what is coming next;

We can’t forget about Olympics and Co-Ed Show, she simply is the best.

For all this and more we thank-you for everything you’ve done;

Without you at Woodland, summer days wouldn’t have been as much fun!

Now that campers are into their 6th and final week of camp for this year, we thought we would give you a glimpse of what kind of camper you can expect from head to toe upon their return home….

Six-week campers have a good foot to stand on, two feet in fact. Feet that have been stepping one foot in front of the other, as they have taken steps giving them newfound independence. Feet leading your camper down paths untravelled, to step onto new shores. Your camper’s feet might be a little dirty from all the tromping through trails, and they might be a little tired from all the running, skipping, and dancing that comes with camp discoveries. But through the summer, these feet have carried your camper to places they’ve never been, planted themselves firmly into the ground with newfound confidence, and they have left footprints marking their way as evidence of their adventure.

Your camper’s hands held onto backpack straps tightly at first, then began waving to old friends and new faces. Hands giving high fives with successes, reaching out to others when they needed extra support. Your Woodland camper has creative hands that make and mold and paint in unique and exceptional ways. Hands that grab onto reins or canoe paddles, hands that work together to reach new heights and open new doors.

Let’s not forget about your camper’s eyes. A Camp Woodland camper’s eyes sparkle with a sense of adventure. These eyes widened at the sight of the many possibilities that were on the horizon several weeks ago. Eyes seeking opportunities not obstacles. Eyes watching new friends grow, and eyes gleaming as they realize they’ve grown too! Eyes capturing the most intricate pictures and memories of all their endeavors. Eyes shining with excitement at each new day, and eyes barely able to keep open at the end of each exhilarating quest.

Finally, the most important part of a Camp Woodland camper is the heart!  A heart overflowing with joy as memories from camp experiences are held ever so close. A courageous heart, that bravely tackled the newness, and even as the heart races, it carries on, over new obstacles and into the hearts of the friends we make here at camp. A heart that beats to its own tune, not like the other hearts you might know. This heart outpours in the forms of laughter and song. This heart has room enough for friends to stay and adventures to continue on past six weeks. The heart of a Camp Woodland camper, the essence of their very core, came to camp to be inspired, and in turn, inspired the hearts of each person it met.

How lucky we have been, as you shared your Camp Woodland camper with us for 6 weeks! We are looking forward to seeing you for Applause Weekend and celebrating all we have accomplished this summer!!

Kudos to Ansley D, a GA camp friend, for this awesome blog inspiration!