It was an incredible season of unplugged and unforgettable fun at F&W! Each camp director was asked to share an extra special moment from this summer at their camp. Here's a round-up of this year's "sparkle moments"!
Tamarack Farm
TF partnered with Merck Forest and Farmland in Rupert, VT. Campers and staff did an overnight trip to their site, exploring and diving deeper into their immersion areas from a different perspective. It added so much to our curriculum and to their overall learning experience at camp. And it felt great to work with such a values-aligned organization in Vermont!
~ Kate Kyros, Tamarack Farm Director
Firefly Song
Senior Lodge Apprenticeships give our oldest campers a chance to dive deeply into one area. At the end of the session, we had a chance to enjoy a meal prepared by campers who apprenticed in the kitchen. They created a pasta bar, sides and dessert, and the rest of us were in awe of their efforts and results.
The Waterfront apprentices learned a variety of canoeing and boating skills, and then turned it all on its head to perform for the whole camp a set of “Waterfront Olympics,” using props and tools decidedly not well suited for each the task, all accompanied by hysterical commentary from a small group of counselors posing as former Olympic champions and experts. For example, they built their own paddles out of noodles, kickboards, buoys, and so on; they paddled backwards or tried to maneuver boats in nearly impossible ways (all with appropriate floatation devices on, of course!); and they had various crazy races made much more difficult by the tools they were required to use. The balance of narration, performance, and a nod to the Olympic tradition made for a wonderful event, celebrating the accomplishments of our oldest campers and their hard work throughout the session.
~ Clarissa Thompson, Firefly Song Director
Timberlake
Saying goodbye to Timberlake as an outgoing director was hard, but the sendoff was epic. The whole Timberlake community surprised me with an incredibly heart-warming beading ceremony. It made me laugh, it made me cry--it was very TL. It was the most perfect parting gift, because now I'll take with me the memory of standing on stage, seeing the row of people in front of me, seeing their faces flickering in the campfire light, remembering one of our core ceremonies adapted to be the sweetest goodbye. I'll never forget that.
~ Jarod "W" Wunneburger, Outgoing Timberlake Director
SAM Camp
It's so hard to pick a favorite moment, but the SAM Dance really sparkled this year! In second session, we hosted folks from Firefly Song, Tamarack Farm, and Barn Day Camp! Even better, many of the BDC'ers brought their parents and grandparents, many of whom were F&W alum. It felt like a huge family reunion! The SAM Jam Band played jigs and waltzes til the moon was out, and dancers went home home happy, tired, and full of chili.
~ Adair Arbor, Saltash Mountain (SAM) Camp Director
Barn Day Camp
We had a fun, creative, adventurous, and playful summer at Barn Day Camp this year! Our talented and diverse group of staff shared their enthusiasm and skills with the fantastic campers and families. One great highlight was our adventure Days and overnights! A particularly enjoyable one was a long day hike over to Plymouth where campers got to learn about the art of making and tasting delicious cheeses at the Plymouth Cheese Factory. On this day trip, campers also learned about some traditional farming methods with Farmer Fred. We also had some pretty incredible camper creations, like the "Goat-a-Pult" - a camper designed invention to launch grasses to our beloved goats. Helpful and fun!
~ Emily Mathon, Barn Day Camp Director