Beautiful morning in the realm! At 6:30 am a group of 14 jugglers were at the waterfront with Rick (our program director), fishing poles in hand and worms on hooks! They pulled in a few pan fish off the docks. Great way to be outdoors and start the day at camp. Meanwhile as I sit at my desk I see a few joggers go past with a staff member as they make their way around camp from fields to waterfront, a good in-camp course. We start early here with 8:00 am reveille with breakfast in the tent at 8:30. And what a breakfast it was! Belgian waffles and sausages plus many other items like fruit cups, bagels, hot and cold cereal – it just can’t be beat! Now while reveille blows at 8:00 for general camp our kitchen crew, led by Yensi (our head chef) and Leo (his assistant) are in the kitchen at 7:00 am to put out this wholesome and nutritious breakfast.
Well, according to our local weather station today is to be a “scorcher” – New England term for a hot one! It is to hit 90 degrees. Campers reminded at breakfast to drink lots of water and wear sunscreen. Woody at breakfast threw out a challenge – cleanest bunk in boys and girls camp will be first in line for Sunday sundaes – an ice cream feast tonight after dinner. Alright let’s talk about what is in store for the day. All groups will have 1 or 2 team sports and will have coaches at each one be it soccer, softball, basketball or volleyball. A new sport we started last year is pickleball. It was very popular so this year we added a new pickleball court and today Lancers and Archers will get to play on it with Scott (our Athletic Director). Now on top of the above team sports looking at the schedule we also have tennis, riflery, gaga, 9 square, archery and arts and crafts. Let’s get to our waterfront where everyone will want to be today. All groups will be able to cool down and get wet in one of these areas: general swim, kayak, canoe, waterski, tubing, paddle boats and boards and a new fleet of sailboats which range from small ones to our new big cat. All these are looked out over and rigged by our own Captain Will. Now is the above all of our activities? No way but this is what I can see on the schedule today. Took a ride out to the stables where I met Abe, Benny, Archie, Jasper, Dale, Anne, Nico, Fierro, Gypsy and Chip. They are our herd for the summer. Our riding program is run by Diane who has been running riding for over 30 years and during winter runs our office. Most if not all of you have been in contact with her. But during summer she returns to her first love – horses and riding. Some of the action out at the barn includes riding, jumping, trail rides and some grooming. The campers that do the riding program ride twice a week. I also hit arts and crafts this morning. A very popular place for all groups and always offers a place to sit down and be creative with clay or on paper with markers. During the course of the summer we will see come out some great drawings and paintings, friendship bracelets, clay pots and figures, and this year we hope to introduce, for senior campers only, some work in stained glass. This is what I see and hear as I sit in my office looking out and when Briar and I take a cart and cover camp. It is so much fun seeing camp alive, loud, and happy. I start in April and it is just toooo quiet. The campers and staff having fun all over camp 6 periods a day keep me alive and well and make life worth living for me. Thank you all for making it happen by entrusting us with your children. We will show them a great super summer with all Robin Hood has to offer – 94 seasons of it.
Thanks – Chuck and Briar.
This was written by Chuck Illig, our Co-Head Counselor, in his 56th summer here at Robin Hood.A
