Rainstorms and Smiles!

07/02/2013

The weather today was rainy in the Catskills! But it was also beautiful and we had a blast! Fortunately there wasn’t any thunder so we threw on our rain jackets and stomped in some awesome puddles.

First things first AdVill hit the high elements: Zip Line, Giant Swing, Leap of Faith. Campers who didn’t want to climb in the trees went on hikes and got to tie dye. In the afternoon campers headed out to the water front while others found a mountain creek and explored the rippling pools, small waterfalls, and rocky beds arched over with drooping branches of hemlock.

As dusk fell over Frost Valley, our AdVill campers began preparing for the night by shrouding themselves in black and red – pigments very difficult to spot in the darkness. Lessons in stealth would be the theme for the evening. The campers soon trickled in to an area of camp that would be the stage for a game we call French Revolution. With a “guard” placed in a specific location, armed only with a flashlight, the camper’s goal is to approach the guard undetected. During a countdown in darkness, the campers must move stealthily towards the guarded zone, and try to enter it if they can. At the end of the countdown, the guard turns on his flashlight and searches the void, and calls out of the darkness those he spots with his light. The campers silent and deft enough to enter the guarded zone undetected by the searching beam secure victory for the team.

As the second full day of camp came to a close, our stealthy – and sleepy – campers retreated to their tents for their nightly repose from daily excitement and activity. Slipping into their sheets, the sounds of the forest night and the gentle pitter-patter of rain on canvas sent our campers to the world of pleasant dreams.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zach eigenbrodt

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Zach couldn't keep himself out of the woods when growing up. He started working at a Northern Wisconsin YMCA Camp as a wilderness trip leader while in college and fell in love with getting kids into nature. The smiles on kids faces after returning from a once in a life time wilderness experience is why he is here today. Zach brought his talents to Frost Valley YMCA, in 2014, when he started as the Trips Coordinator and soon was promoted to Adventure Director. Zach loves all forms of Wilderness exploration, though some would say his heart lies most with canoeing.