From raindrops to fire works in Camp Wawayanda

07/07/2014

Greetings from Camp Wawayanda!

The past week has been eventful. It saw campers battling the elements, with the typical energy and enthusiasm that is characteristic of our youngest sleepaway campers. Although there were times that storms forced us to find a dry, safe place to play, the rain never dampened the spirits of campers who know that summer is where you make it happen, not where the sun shines. However, the majority of our time has been spent in the great outdoors, as you can see below;

Boys in Forest explore the waters of Biscuit Brook

Forest Village are born curious, and discovered countless opportunities for adventure within this small stretch of water behind the welcome center; Biscuit Brook. From using the multicolored sedimentary rocks to paint their skin, to dam building, or even learning that the water they are stood in flows to New York City to become the drinking water they know and love, in just a few months time, the campers could have spent happy hours under the supervision of our lifeguards and counselors.

Campers enjoying the dance dressed as 'Athletes and Mathletes' — Campers enjoying the dance dressed as ‘Athletes and Mathletes’

Later came the dance, where campers chose between dressing as Athletes and ‘Mathletes’. The whole of Wawayanda helped turn the hardcourt into a disco, and for those with two left feet there were numerous sports and games available. It’s always a pleasure to be a part of an event in which bad dancing is not only accepted, but encouraged. Usually its mine.

Directors cast a watchful eye over the all camp talent show.

A firework explodes over Lake Cole in the 4th of July celebrations.

And finally came Sunday. After a restful start to the day we celebrated the 4th of July in style at our all-camp event; ‘It’s a Small World’. Our international staff proudly hosted booths that gave campers an insight into their home cultures, at times with face-painted national colors, and at others a tasty foreign delicacy. Here we can see all of camp watching each village perform in the talent show, and campers laughing at those counselors foolish enough to enter the watermelon eating contest. After came the fireworks above Lake Cole, making sure the end to our first week was colorful (and very loud!).

A village chief's notes on how her village will make her camper's overnight unforgettable — A village chief’s notes on how her village will make her camper’s overnight unforgettable

With the end of the session starting to creep around the corner, we look ahead to see what unique experiences can be crammed into our camper’s final days at Frost Valley. Here we see the rough notes of our Lakota Village Chief, Hannah, as she makes plans with staff for their Overnight. Weather permitting, every camper who stays with us will get the opportunity to sleep under the stars, eat a pizza cooked over a fire, and explore the woods around a campsite they helped their counselors to pitch. And once the sun sets, it means only one thing… S’mores!

More to follow soon!

Alex Draper
Asst. Director of Camp Wawayanda

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ashley Loftus

Ashley is in her third year working at Frost Valley YMCA. Hailing from Co.Waterford in Ireland, Ashley is on an 18 month training visa, working as the Assistant Wawayanda Director in Summer and as a Program Instructor year round. Her background is in digital media with a degree in Digital Media and Communications from the University of Wolverhampton. Ashley found herself working for theater companies and after school programs for youth's and sought some new experiences here in the States that would fulfill her passion for working with young people and in the outdoors.