Another great opening day for Saltash Mountain Camp 2010! After sadly sending home many campers we gladly welcomed a new group of campers for the second session of camp. Some campers are also spending both sessions at Saltash Mountain camp. These full session campers are excellent at welcoming new campers and have lots of camp wisdom to share.
After swim tests and trunks were settled, cabin groups worked on painting some terrific new signs for their cabins. Then, it was time for some field games before settling in to some evening cabin time. The next day consisted of getting ready for cabin trips! The pack out process went smoothly and all of the trip gear and meals were collected and prepared. During the evening, campers got a chance to be oriented to where all of the important camp places are through an exciting game. Staff were at various stations answering questions to a whodunit mystery based in the wide west. In the morning, cabins left for their first trip of the session. Now all of the campers are out getting to know their cabin groups and learning trip skills.
After spending three days under amazingly friendly Vermont skies and star studded nights that provided viewing of Venus, Mars, Saturn Mercury campers have returned. News friendships and lots of inside jokes were obvious as we celebrated with very zany trip skits. The first day of in-camp activities showed the many interests of our campers as they enthusiastically participated in activities such as spoon carvings, canoe sailing, and costumed kickball. The highlight was an open art exhibit in which campers and staff walked through a series of watercolors, drawings and poetry all the while sipping hoity-toity lemonade and eating appetizers catered by the Sam Arfer (SAM head chef) Café.
Service and community centered thinking will be very much on our minds this session. Today we opened with quotes and reflected on service. Campers then volunteered to join a day trip group that worked for the community. Some choices included working to build a shelter for F&W campers in Memory of Phil Tobin an F&W community member, touring and helping to weed at a (Community Supported Agriculture) produce farm and moving very heavy logs to beautify the SAM Camp cabin area. All campers were encouraged to only work from a place of joy and relish their hard work with an afternoon water activity. They did so beautifully.
We closed today with an activity focused on better getting to know the members of the SAM community. “Identity Nights” allow campers to actualize what makes up our identity. As we journey through our life we will always be learning about and working to understand ourselves these night provide room to find the right words form our thoughts. Recognizing first that we all have different views of ourselves than our peers might; we split into small groups and shared how we thought members of our community might see us. These included parts of ourselves that make us unique such as what kind of friend we are, our attributes, our cultural and family differences etc. On a slip being circulated members of the small groups wrote all kinds of positives about each participant. As usual the CAMPERS WERE AMAZING! The safe atmosphere provided lots of opportunity for sharing self judgments and differences yet affirming that we are all awesome and unique. Campers gained better understanding of what others are experiencing and how to be supportive. Solidified by a “Hug Night” this community is well on its way to super rich!!! Phew what a great day!!