Today was the day that I finally got to spend most of my time roaming around camp and seeing all of our activity areas and campers in action! It was a great day for that really as girls camp all decided to dress up in crazy and colorful outfits. They called it Brittany Snow Day. They tried to explain why but I didn’t really get it so I just smiled and rolled with it. All of you who questioned why your daughters asked you to buy and subsequently pack tutus and metallic crazy leggings it was for occasions just like this! Take a look at the pictures from today – I’m not sure if the counselors or the campers had more fun! Anyway I closed my computer and headed outside at 10:00 am. I saw so many cool things! At the waterfront I saw people on peddleboats, people on the SUP boards, people playing on the water trampoline, sailing, skiing, it was awesome! I even saw people doing water aerobics – that was a new one for me. I might join in next time. After lunch I focused on the land-based activities. There was some great basketball going on, kids doing some agility drills at soccer and something else I had never seen before at the tennis courts. Junior campers were being fed balls and then they started playing something that apparently is called tennis baseball. The camper would hit the ball and then run to the post and if they made it before the ball was returned they were safe. Or something like that. I didn’t really understand it but I know for sure that they were hitting and running and laughing and that is what counts. I saw kids playing some interesting character games in drama, making string bracelets at arts and crafts, spinning on the spin bikes followed by planks and other very difficult fitness moves. Evening activity just wrapped up – we had a game of Hunger Games, a reverse scavenger hunt, a standard scavenger hunt, a gaga game and the archers had their 3^rd league game of baseball while the lancers ended the night at a bonfire on the beach! What a great day to be outside! I generally spend too much time behind my desk so it was great to go mobile today and see this all happening live. I hope that you enjoy the pictures from today and get a good feel for what is going on up here. I can’t say enough how normal it feels which is amazing after this spring. I think we have all been craving some normalcy and this is just what the doctor ordered. Wishing you all a great evening – sweet dreams from the Realm – Michelle

Greetings from the Realm,

My name is Wendy Corbin and I am one of the administrators this summer at Robin Hood.  A little bit about me:  I was a camper and counselor at Camp Hiawatha – the former sister camp of Robin Hood – till it closed in 1984.  After meeting my husband, Peter through camp, I came back to join him here and spent three summers as a group leader and head of girls camp from 2003-2005.  For the last 15 years I have been raising our twin boys and running Corbin’s Crusaders, an after school sports program and day camp in the New York area.

It’s a strange world and a very different summer.  Although we are wearing masks, physical distancing and a constantly washing our hands, being back here feels very normal.  As both an administrator and a parent of twin boys in the Forester group, I have a unique perspective to bring to the team.

As the Safety Officer, I have spent the last couple of months studying both the New Hampshire State Guidelines and the CDC recommendations to safely open our camp.  Our medical team and full administration has created a plan and system to insure that camp is safe.  I am the person responsible for executing these plans.

Camp is humming along.  I’ve watched the Tumblers learn Basketball, the Bows play Tennis, the Foresters at the Waterfront, the Shires at Nine Square and the Scouts playing Bocce.  As a parent, I feel we have given these kids an opportunity to feel normal especially after such an unusual spring.  I love seeing the campers doing activities and making friends.  You can feel their smiles behind the masks and see it in their eyes.

I’m so thankful my boys get to experience the magic in the trees like your children and so many of us have done for the past 93 years.

Wendy Corbin
Camp Robin Hood 2003-2005, 2020
Camp Hiawatha 1976 – 1984

The day here in The Realm started with a phone call at 6am from the lab in Manchester telling us that all the tests from opening day were NEGATIVE! WOW! How could the day get any better. But it just got better from there. At 6:30am 10 Tinker/Pagers tumbled out of the bunk to go fishing with Rick, our program director. To their delight they pulled in a few fish and threw them back in the lake, so there will be no fish fry tonight. What a great way for them to start the day.

At 8am the rest of The Realm was awakened by Reveille and Woodys booming voice over the loudspeaker telling all that it was going to be a BIG DAY. Breakfast was egg muffins, assorted cereal, juice and choice of fruit. A good start to the day all under the two dining tents in from of the dining hall. 

The morning was full of activities with everything up and running, from archery to waterskiing. 

Even through masks, you can tell everyone is smiling. 

Since you all didn’t get a chance to come into camp on opening day, I will take sometime to fill you in on what it looks like here. Covid has made camp look a bit different but in many way it is still the same Robin Hood as it has been for the last 93 years. We were required by the American Camp Association and the State of New Hampshire to implement guidelines to protect  our staff and campers. 

Overseeing all of this with Woody ws Dr. Arash Babaoff who you all had the chance to meet on opening day and who you may have had the opportunity to speak with on the phone. We have been fortunate to have Arash on our medical team for the past 14 years and to be alongside us through this journey. 

Here are a few of the highlights: 

1. Each morning and evening all campers and staff are asked about symptoms and have their temperatures taken. 
2. All groups are divided into “cohorts” within their groups. In the bunks cohorts sleep in the same area with beds spaced 6 ft apart and campers sleep head to toe. 
3. Bathrooms in each bunk are marked for use by specific cohorts. 
4. We have built a 15 minute break in between activities to allow for hand washing. This also allows the department heads to disinfect all equipment for the next group. 
5. At meals campers are all called up by group cohorts. 3 lines for serving and routes are marked on the floor to help direct traffic in and out. Marks on the floor show us where to stand to be 6 ft away. Much of the food is individually packed and paper plates and plastic utensils are used. There is hand sanitizer on all the tables and all hands are sprayed with hand sanitizer before entering the dining to get food. After meals tables are sanitized and wiped down. 
6. We have added foot pedals to all of the water dispensers so there is no touching involved. 
7. Masks are worn at all times except when eating, swimming, or sleeping. 
8. In our infirmary, which was just dedicated to Dr. Arash for his tireless efforts to help us open, we have 10 nurses and currently 2 doctors on staff. 
9. Next to the medical center we have an isolation tent set up which can hold 8 or more campers and a trailer with separate bathrooms for their use. This was put in with the hopes that we do not have to use it. 
10. There is also a sizable tent outside of arts and crafts so campers can still enjoy ceramics and art and be outside and protected from the sun and rain. 
11. Throughout camp there are signs reminding campers and staff to wear masks and to wash their hands regularly. 
12. Another big tent was added for staff use to be able to relax on time off. 
13. One of the biggest changes is that we are on complete lockdown for the summer. No one is leaving camp. We have created a bubble on our over 180 acres and 1 mile of waterfront. 

I may have missed a few things but as you can see, we have taken all of the precautions required by the ACA and the State of New Hampshire.

You as parents, did your job keeping your campers quarantined prior to arrival at camp and making sure that they received the correct testing. 

It was a great first full day of camp and everything is up and running. 

Good Night From The Realm