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Camp Robin Hood Vocabulary

Going into summer at camp can be scary the first time and even stranger if you don’t know what everyone is talking about! At Robin Hood we have some unique terms that we use around camp. Here’s a sneak peek of some of the words you’ll hear this summer:

Andy Friedman
Founder of Camp Robin Hood in 1927 and was its first director. Andy ran CRH with his wife Duff until the 1970s.

Andy Says
There are quotes written by Andy Friedman on blocks of cement and signs all around camp. See if you can find them all!

Adirondack
The circle of Adirondack chairs located in the quad where many campers and staff get together to talk, play circle games, eat snacks, and more. Many former campers favorite memories were made at the Adirondack chairs!

Boy’s Campfire
A weekly campfire for boys camp. During the first fire of the summer, all the new campers are introduced to the rest of boys camp by their camp big brothers.

Benches
Each bunk has benches outside where the group convenes before going to any sort of activity or camp function. The group leader has the group count-off to make sure every camper is there before proceeding to the next activity.

The Brass
The leadership team at CRH full of administrators (i.e. Chuck, Diane, Woody, Michelle, Scott, Lizz)

C.I.T.
Counselor in Training. The Saxons and Scribes (oldest campers who are 16 going into their junior year of high school) fall under that category.

Count-off
The method of making sure all the campers are present. They are each given a count- off number and they shout them out in order. Count-off is especially crucial at the Waterfront and when the group is out of camp.

Candy Canteen
A group can earn time at the Candy Canteen. The GL (Group Leader) can take the group to the office where they can pick one candy bar of their choice

Cozy Corner
An ice cream shop outside of camp that is very, very good. Groups can get a special trip to Cozy Corner with The Brass throughout the summer

Excursion
At the end of camp, each group goes on a trip out of camp to various places of entertainment and such.

Evening Activity
This activity takes place after dinner and is the final activity of the day. Each GL along with their staff will plan a fun activity. This could be a boat ride around the lake or a game of infection. The possibilities are endless

Flags
During Green and White (color war), each team makes a team flag that is hung in the dining hall until the following summer when they are then moved and displayed in the Chuck Illig Playhouse with decades of other flags.

Flashlight time
A time before bed where campers can take time to themselves to read, write letters, color, and anything else they choose to do before bed.

Founder’s Day
The day each group in camp presents a gift to the camp at a banquet dinner. Traditionally held on the camp’s founder, Andy Friedman’s, birthday. Founder’s day presents are put all around camp to be seen by the rest of camp for years.

FYA
(First Year Aid): A first-year staff member who was previously a camper at Robin Hood. These staff members are typically going into their Senior year of High School (12th grade).

Girl’s Campfire-A weekly campfire for girls camp on Sunday nights. At the first campfire of the summer, every new camper is introduced to the rest of girls camp by their camp “big sister”. We sing Robin Hood songs, and learn girls camp cheers!

Green and White
Robin Hood’s color war. The entire camp is split into two teams for 5 days and competes in a wide array of activities such as land sports, water sports, drama, art, and more!

GL
A Group Leader oversees an entire bunk of campers and staff.

General Staff: General staff are counselors who are not yet a GL but not the AGL. They are with the campers all day.

Inspection
The period of time after lunch where campers clean the bunk. Campers get rewarded for having a clean bunk!  

Intensives
A period in the day where campers can select an area that they would like to focus on for the week. There’s an activity for every camper to become more experienced in by participating in intensive periods!

Judges
Former Green and White counselor captains who return every year during the 5 days of Green and White to officiate the games, and reunite with friends and former campers. To become a judge is one of the highest honors at Robin Hood!

John Klein
The director who took over camp after Andy passed in the 19070s. When he retired D.C., Woody, and Sol took over. John was a camper, outstanding counselor, and leader at Camp Robin Hood for many years.  

The Marina
A marina is located on the far right side of the lake where campers may visit on a double period to canoe, kayak/ and more.

The Magic in the Trees
The culture of Robin Hood that sets it apart from other camps. You’ll feel the magic all around camp!

Ogunquit/Beach Day
One day out of the summer we take the entire camp to Ogunquit Beach, Maine for a day of fun in the sun.

Outpost
A camping trip for junior campers where they get to pitch a tent, build a fire, make dinner, and sit around a campfire under the stars at night.

Pizza Barn
A delicious pizza restaurant in Ossipee that campers and staff have gone to for 30+ years.

PVD
Parents Visiting Day. Where parents get to reunite with their children, meet the staff, and see camp.

The Realm
The nickname for Robin Hood for decades!

Rendezvous
Meeting place located beside the quad where campers and staff may gather during free time.

Reveille
The bugle sounds for the morning wake-up time.

Secret Summer Sister
Also called “SSS”. Each member of girls camp draws the name of another girl in camp to secretly give gifts to throughout the summer.

Specialty staff
Specialty staff are counselors who run specific activities (sailing, archery, etc.)

Taps
The bugle sound for bedtime at  9:00pm.

Trees
The set of trees in deep left field on the Home Run Diamond. Hitting trees is a home run and considered a great achievement for campers.

Scribe song– the oldest girl’s group is known to come up with their own song that they will sing together in the talent show each year.

Senior Girl’s Quad
The newest bunks for the older girls! Complete with a ping pong table, carpet ball, and a firepit for s’mores!

Carpet ball
A favorite boys camp porch game.

Scribe/ Saxon Speeches
Where the oldest group of campers can reflect on their time at Robin Hood, and give advice to younger campers. These speeches are typically held on the second to last night of camp.

Andy Says: A Message from 1947

Throughout the year I periodically flip through past Robin Hood yearbooks. It’s gives me a chance to look back on our storied past and ahead to the next with joy and respect. As I was going through old yearbooks I came across something that blew me away – a message from Andy Friedman, the founder of Robin Hood. I’ve shared with you his message, from the 1947 yearbook, that still holds true and is more impactful even today.

 

Andy Says excerpt from 1947 Yearbook

 

 

Meet the Brass at Camp Robin Hood – Chuck Illig

With more than 150 combined summers at camp our Leadership Team, affectionately called “The Brass” by campers, staff, and alumni, understands the unique responsibility of preserving the Robin Hood experience. In this series of blogs, you’ll meet each member of The Brass as they share some of their favorite memories of summers in the Realm.

Meet Chuck Illig, who has been at Camp Robin Hood for over 50 years! Chuck has the best stories, knows the most CRH history, and is the most quotable out of all of us. As Head Counselor he is an inspiration and guide for our leadership team, campers, and staff. Summer doesn’t start until Chuck greets the buses!

  • Name: Chuck Illig
  • Camp Nickname: Chuck
  • Years at Camp Robin Hood: I just finished my 53rd summer in 2018
  • Position at Robin Hood:  Head Counselor / Director of Operations
  • What’s Your Favorite Camp Memory: Every opening day, the moment when the buses pull in – there is just nothing like it.
  • Favorite place in the Realm: Can’t pinpoint one – just love being there.
  • Favorite Camp Song, Quote or Food: “Friends, Friends, Friends” as that is what camp is all about.
  • What does magic in the trees mean to you: Just like the trees – you come here, you grow, and camp grows on you.

The best quotes come from Chuck!

  • Advice to young campers: Try everything, stay all summer for the whole taste of camp – you will be glad you did.

Meet The Brass at Camp Robin Hood – Scott Rimer

With more than 150 combined summers at camp our Leadership Team, affectionately called “The Brass” by campers, staff, and alumni, understands the unique responsibility of preserving the Robin Hood experience. In this series of blogs, you’ll meet each member of The Brass as they share some of their favorite memories of summers in the Realm.

Meet Scott Rimer, who has been our Athletic Director for 3 years and has over 20 years of summer camp experience before joining us. Scott also has the task of coordinating all of our campers favorite out of camp trips and excursions each summer.

  • Name: Scott Rimer
  • Camp Nickname: Scotty
  • Years at Camp Robin Hood: I just completed my 3rd summer in 2018
  • Position at Robin Hood: Director of Athletics and out of camp trips
  • What’s Your Favorite Camp Memory: Obviously beating West End this year or anytime I get to go on an excursion with the Foresters of 2018
  • Favorite place in the Realm: The back porch of the office or the upper basketball court
  • Favorite Camp Song, Quote or Food: There is an “Andy Says” quote right outside my bunk on a set of steps. It reads, “Look forward, not backwards.” I look at it at least once a day and find that it means so much not only at camp, but also in life.
  • What does magic in the trees mean to you: It means that there is some force, some impetus, some dynamic energy that exists at Robin Hood, probably from all the happy people who came before, that drives people to be one. It drives people to be kind and loving. It drives people to be accepting and tolerant. It drives people to break out of their comfort zone and live free of all the implications of the world if only for seven weeks. The “magic” does not discriminate between boys and girls, between young and old, between Americans and foreigners, or between campers and staff. It is truly a feeling you get as soon as you pass under the front gate sign. Lucky for us it gets trapped by all the majestic trees that cover the campus.

    “Do not take anything for granted. Try it all. Learn from your failings and try again.” -Scott

  • Advice to young campers: Do not take anything for granted. Try it all. Learn from your failings and try again. Have no regrets when you make your Saxon/Scribe (your final summer as a camper) speeches. Then take all that this place has given you and give it back to your campers when you are on staff.

You can learn more about The Brass, the leadership team at Camp Robin Hood, here. If you’d like to learn more about summers in The Realm and enrolling your child contact us today!

Meet The Brass at Camp Robin Hood – Michelle Brockmann

Since the 1940’s, Camp Robin Hood has been owned and directed by former campers. We are proud to continue that nearly 90-year tradition. With more than 150 combined summers at camp our Leadership Team, affectionately called “The Brass” by campers, staff, and alumni, understands the unique responsibility of preserving the Robin Hood experience.

In this series of blogs, you’ll meet each member of The Brass as they share some of their favorite memories of summers in the Realm. Up first is Michelle Brockmann, Assistant Director at Camp Robin Hood and one of the many camp moms in the Realm who are available to make every camper feel at home each summer.

  • Name: Michelle Brockmann

  • Camp Nickname: Camp Mom
  • Years at Camp Robin Hood: I just completed my 29th summer in 2018
  • Position at Robin Hood: I am an assistant director at camp – I help in all areas including staff training, staff support, camper well being, logistics of transportation and money, whatever needs attending to really.

  • What’s Your Favorite Camp MemoryI have so many favorite memories – the day I met Jeremy (my now husband) when I interviewed for the waterski position, our wedding day at camp, so many occasions when I saw my children try new things, make new friends, achieve new goals. So hard to pick!
  • Favorite place in the Realm: My favorite place in camp is the waterski area – love looking at the lake from the dock.

    “We are always here for each other, we are a family, we are home.” –Michelle

  • Favorite Camp Song, Quote or Food: The welcome song. We sing it to guests who visit during a meal. “Come around any old time and make yourself at home” is the first line. I like the message that sends – we are always here for each other, we are a family, we are home.

  • What does magic in the trees mean to you: The magic in the trees – to me that signifies the opportunity to create magic in a special place with great people. After many years of coming to camp I have realized that although the physical campus is beautiful, it is the people who make it magical. All of us – campers and staff alike – come with the same common goals of making friends and trying all kinds of new things while feeling safe and supported in our efforts. So we, the inhabitants of the realm in the past and of the present,  are really the magic in the trees
  • Advice to young campers: Don‘t be afraid to be yourself here. It is safe to be yourself here. Home life is different from camp life, home friends are different from camp friends. Try new activities here and discover new talents here.

Finally, I would like to add something that I am very proud of…our girls camp. When I first arrived here it was in its infancy – it had begun three years earlier. There were about 30 girls at that time. I have watched it grow into the fabulous program that it is today. I remember adding age groups and picking the group names over the years as our population grew and eventually our numbers caught up to the boys camp numbers… and surpassed them!

I adore watching these little girls become confident women. They are a constant source of joy in my life. I have seen so many of them transition from camper to counselor to color war captain to getting married and having young campers of their own. I am blessed to have been a witness to their journeys and to call them my friends. I am humbled by the friendships that camp has afforded me and I am eternally grateful to John and Joan Klein for hiring me and making me part of their camp family.

About Camp Robin Hood’s Girls Camp – In 1980, then owner and director John Klein and his wife Joan decided to add what is now the biggest part of our camp family and legacy – Girls Camp, making Camp Robin Hood the brother/sister camp we know today.

You can learn more about The Brass, the leadership team at Camp Robin Hood, here. If you’d like to learn more about summers in The Realm and enrolling your child contact us today!