What a busy day we had today in the Realm! When we arrived at the flagpole Woody announced that the Foresters and Shires would not be joining us for breakfast. Instead, they were treated to breakfast sandwiches from Dunkin Donuts and then whisked off to play mini golf! After two years of always being on property the kids got a little taste of the outside world – although completely controlled by us. We rented out the entire mini golf course, so our mini bubble remained intact. They had a great time and got to see a little bit of NH from the windows of the bus. Other exciting news from the Realm today – ZUMBA with Waldir has started up once again! People have been begging for it and today the Shires got to participate. The barn was rocking! I also saw the Jesters playing wiffleball on the newly installed Friedman Field. One camper took 2 swings and put 2 balls over the fence – kind of amazing! She got to sign her name on the foul pole. This afternoon the TP’s went on a nice pontoon boat ride and when they got back the Scouts hopped onboard. Our newest campers got to see a little bit of the lake and waved to all the boats passing by. That was a BIG hit! I also noticed that our favorite game invented here at camp – Danish Longball – has returned to the quad after a two-year absence. This game is played exclusively on our quad because of the slight incline of the land and due to the presence of the large dining tents we had to use, Danish Longball was on hiatus. Now it is back and the campers are psyched (so is the staff!). We are heading over to dinner shortly and then it will be time for evening activities. After Taps blows tonight our senior campers will be starting league play “under the lights”. We have rented these huge lights that will allow for awesome soccer, volleyball, basketball and tennis at night. I don’t know what to expect really but I am looking forward to seeing how it all comes together!

And then once again it will be time to call it a day here in the Realm. Another day chock full of activity, laughter, skill and character building here at Robin Hood. It is a gift to be able to see it all unfold.

Sweet dreams from the Realm!

Michelle

Good evening everyone. Wendy Corbin here. I’m the head of girls camp and thrilled to be back at the Realm again this summer.

Well, it was a hot one today! The campers spent most of the day at the Waterfront where a cool breeze was coming off Ossipee Lake. The schedule was packed with kids swimming, sailing, water skiing, paddle boarding and canoeing.  We were all cooling off and having fun.  We also set up our water inflatables. This activity is a perfect remedy to 90+ temperatures. There is a giant slip-n-slide and a corkscrew water slide.  The kids loved it.

Another way to beat the heat is yoga in the shade. So nice to see groups relaxing and meditating.  Over at Arts and Crafts the pottery wheel was spinning. I can’t wait to see some of the projects being created.

We hope you are having as much fun as we are, but I highly doubt it.  Camp Robin Hood is truly a magical place. The groups are bonding and incredible memories are starting to be made.

Sweet dreams from the Realm.

It’s really starting to catch on around here. The kids have been here for almost 100 hours now but it seems like home already. Walking around the Realm and hearing the joy and laughter warms my heart. The 18 groups are becoming separate but equal families. They are acting like brothers and sisters in every way. 

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 56^th summer here at Robin Hood.A