What a few days it has been up here! Two nights ago for the first time in a long while I went to the West End basketball game with our 15U team. This team is very special to me. A few of the players’ fathers were my campers who I coached 37 years ago at the same camp. Going back to our arch rival’s home court brought back memories for me – both good and bad. CRH has taken its licks in this often one sided rivalry. But our boys came to play and after a few minutes of nerves we won by 40 points. Watching their campers scream and yell brought me back to the first must see West House game in 1984. We made it to the finals – in spite of my coaching and after a call to Director John Klein and Program Director David Solomon who is now my partner and camp co- owner. The entire senior camp arrived to cheer us on in the finals. They barged through the door in the middle of warm ups and help cheer our boys to a win I will never forget.

Today at camp we had some much needed rain that lasted from lunch until bedtime. We were still able to send 2 groups to the beach and 3 groups to the movies this morning. This is our first more than 10 minute sprinkle since camp started. That’s great news for our campers but awful news for our grass. You will see for yourselves this Saturday. Today’s rain allowed us to relax this afternoon. Of course as only we can at camp – the afternoon was filled with ping pong tournaments/indoor movies and outdoor games on our athletic fields. Dinner tonight was a giant dance party in the dining hall.

Our four oldest groups just left for the bowling alley we have rented twice a week since pre-camp. We are getting the kids and staff out of camp but in a controlled environment. We rent the entire movie theater before they open to the public for a 9am screening. Beach days are now 2 groups at a time unlike past summers where the entire camp went at once. We also test every employee of the other establishments we rent out. It has gotten the kids a much needed sense of the old days while allowing our staff, who we chauffeur in our vans, to also control their days and nights off. This summer has been about taking our foot off the brakes a little while testing enough to allow me to sleep at night.

Without sounding political after having the Governor at the Realm last Friday I follow Ronald Reagan’s great quote – “Trust but verify …..”

See you all Saturday for the first visiting day since 2019….

Woody