It truly was a BIG day in The Realm today! Families arrived around 9am to spend the day with their campers. The best part was how involved everyone got with land sports! Gaga, Ultimate Frisbee, Spikeball, Softball, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball… Parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, all joined in on the fun for a day of activities!

The weather was perfect… not too hot and not too cold! Campers showed off their swimming, waterskiing and sailing skills on our beautiful Lake Ossipee. Sounds of laughter filled Camp Robin Hood as families were reunited today. Spending time with the people you’ve missed for the past four weeks is so magical and the feeling of family is so strong that those campers who didn’t have visitors never felt alone.

Lunch on visiting day is quite the scene… Nicky (who returns for a PVD special appearance,) Yensi and his crew, run the most incredible dining experience. Beautiful bagged lunches with delicious sandwiches, pickles (the real deal!), homemade red skinned potato salad and fruit allow for a quick and easy pickup before enjoying a relaxed lunch on our quad or beachfront! And the cookies! Oh the cookies… Oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, double chocolate, M&M’s… cookies as big as your head! Usually dessert is reserved for Sundae Sundays, but today was an exception. (Hey – it was Sunday in Australia today!)

The afternoon continued and before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye. Some of our campers will be heading home tomorrow and new campers will be arriving. The first half of the summer has gone by so quickly, it’s amazing to see the bonds that have formed among campers, both new and old.

We are so thankful that parents and families were able to join us today and see how happy their campers are! Robin Hood is a special place. As one mom put it “a secret gem.” How right you are… and we’re so thankful that you share your precious jewels with us.

Today started off with our Saxons and Scribes heading off to Katahdin, a four-day mountain trip! They will spend the next few days camping out, cooking for one another, hiking and making memories that will last a lifetime! More on their trip when they return home…

Our 10U Girl’s Soccer team headed to Forest Acres and, like our 10U Boy’s team, dominated the tournament! We placed 2nd overall and the girls came back beaming with pride.

Junior campers from every boy’s group enjoyed traveling to Camp Winaukee for their annual Swim Meet. Medleys, relays, individual stroke competitions… our boys placed 5th overall out of 12 teams!

The Arrow’s hosted a play-date for Birchmont for 13U Softball and Soccer. They had a lot of fun and it was great prep for Green & White!

Our intensives are going strong with Bootcamp with Erzy, Mountain Biking, Jewelry Making, land and water sports. Dances are being practiced for our Parent’s Visiting Day Talent Show and tonight’s sunset was as beautiful as any other!

A BIG thanks to Bruce Fleming, acclaimed high school tennis coach, for hosting clinics today on our tennis courts! The campers loved working with you and your expertise and enthusiasm was felt all day! Of course there were groups at riflery, archery, gaga, soccer, games on the quad, swim lessons in the lake, waterskiing, sailing, too.

It’s crazy to think that tomorrow we will have been here for two weeks! Where is the time going? Thankfully, we can always refer to what Dick says… “Make Every Second Count.”

The morning began at 6:30am for about 40 Hooders, all from different groups, who made the first swim to the island of the summer. Accompanied by lifeguards in canoes and kayaks, some even made it there and back! They all returned home in time to be honored at flag-raising.

Leaving directly from breakfast was our 15 and under soccer team for a tournament at Indian Acres and our 11 and under softball tournament at Birchmont. This afternoon our 16 and under girls played volleyball followed by basketball here at home against Forest Acres. Our teams did an amazing job – some wins and some losses but EVERYONE had a great time!

The Yeomen left mid-morning after bunk inspection for a mountain trip. They climbed Mt Chocorua. It is a great mountain with excellent views of Lake Ossipee. The mountain is bare on top so it offers great views of the area. They did the Champney Falls Trail and were back for dinner.

Also departing mid-afternoon for some time out of camp are the Bards. They are going to Rocky Gorge to enjoy the natural rock slides, swimming, and time in the sun. The slides are on the Swift River with a natural pool at the bottom. It is ice cold mountain water coming down from the White Mountains. There is even a small waterfall that you can duck under. A great time in our beautiful New Hampshire wilderness!!

Our Shires had an evening out in North Conway, enjoying dinner and an ice cream birthday party.

Kids in camp enjoyed tie-dying at art, softball clinics with Woody, lots of waterfront activities and more! The evening ended with fields full of activities, kids swimming at the waterfront, and a few groups enjoying candy canteen. Another idyllic day has ended here at Robin Hood.

Every day is a holiday at Robin Hood. A “holiday” in the vacation sense as we lose track of time, days, current events. And a “holiday” in the celebratory sense as we celebrate each part of the day with camp customs that make The Realm a world of its own.

Blue skies graced our day, as did perfect temperatures and a gentle wind. Campers enjoyed their Intensives in the morning and a full afternoon that featured every activity offered in camp.

Special events of the day included a Bow and Archer hike up Mt. Major. The two groups left second period and enjoyed lunch on the trail before heading back to camp in time for their later afternoon activities.

The 10 & Under Basketball Team traveled to West End and brought back the hardware with great pride. The boys played their hearts out and demonstrated great sportsmanship just as their older camp brothers did in “The Big House” last night.

Tonight Woody declared a picnic dinner on the quad. Yensi and his incredible staff served “fried” chicken, potato wedge fries, coleslaw and then a great vegetarian option of stir fried kale and braised tofu. Note to our health-conscious parents: we don’t use fryers – the KFC-style chicken and crispy potato wedges were cooked in our convention ovens to give them this fried taste. The staff brought out ice-cream treats for dessert and then all of camp headed to the waterfront for tonight’s evening activity.

The Court Jesters “played” our staff in a spirited, musical, comical basketball game down on the waterfront court. Line dances were mixed in to the Jesters game, bringing all of camp onto the court. We love seeing our campers, staff and even camp brass dance (or try to!).

The sunset was spectacular and since camp was already at the waterfront, everyone got to enjoy the magnificent ending of the day.