This summer at camp we’ve been learning about what it means to love God and love our neighbors through service and gratitude. We start our week by learning Jesus’ greatest commandments: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself (as you might imagine we’ve been singing Love Round II quite a bit this summer). Then throughout the week different groups lead chapels with different themes such as serving others, practicing patience, kindness and forgiveness, as well as working together. This week H-8 gave a really great skit about helping others using John Cena and The Rock, and tomorrow’s chapel includes some very interesting renditions of some of our favorite chapel songs by P2.

Along with our summer theme, we have activities that campers complete to help engage with loving God and their neighbors. Campers have filled out ‘fruits of the spirit values posters’ which ask campers to think about problems in the world they would solve (so far my favorite has been the JFK assassination), kind people in their lives (a lot of campers have been listing their counselors and fellow bunkmates!) and things they are good at so they can brainstorm ways in which their talents can serve others. On Tuesday’s, we fill out chapel cards, where campers give a small portion of their store cards to our chapel fund. The chapel fund helps campers who might not be able to come camp otherwise as well as funds a young girl in the Philippines with medicine, general hygiene products as well as school supplies and tuition. So many people are grateful for the money the campers have donated, and we hope they feel proud knowing that even at such a young age they can help make a difference.

One of my favorite activities we’ve done this summer has been top secret service missions, where groups perform intentional acts of kindness for other groups around camp. Last session P8 created a nature center piece and name plates while they set P1’s table, and P7 cooked out and gifted P8 with homemade banana boats. Meanwhile this
week the SPF girls are planning to serenade their secret service target, the SPF boys with a homemade song. It’s been a blast watching groups plan and scheme ways to brighten someone else’s day. We’ve also been sending groups out on Random Acts of Kindness Scavenger hunts, where they run about camp giving people compliments, helping specialists clean their areas, and learn fun facts about some of our staff members! These scavenger hunts end by the whole group ringing the friendship bell, and golly is it exciting to hear the groups recount their scavenger hunt adventures and the new friends they’ve made. Last week H-5 was particularly excited as they ran throughout camp and complimented our dining hall supervisor Lexie’s hair. Aunt Doreen has also been in a
bunch this summer helping groups make cards to give to staff members, as well as making boxes filled with nice notes and sweets to be distributed to local police and firemen, as well as sent abroad to family members of campers who are in the military.

We are so excited that we are getting to spread the love of camp to those who do so much for us each day.

One homestead camper affectionately called me the chapel lady last session, however, a more accurate title may have been the labyrinth lady. since every group comes to the labyrinth to do a great activity called U Rock. We usually do this activity towards the end of the week, and have campers walk through the labyrinth blowing bubbles and saying things they are thankful for, popular ones have included their
families, friends, pets, camp, nature, and pizza. When campers get to the center we pass around a rock, and campers tell one another why they rock. Last week with P8 we did the compliment throne and everyone in the group complimented everyone else, and H6 last week ended with a smiley, giggly, group hug (and a few tears from their counselors).

It’s a great thing to watch so many groups reflect upon their week and the ways in which their cabin mates have helped them out and made them smile.  When we close each session, we tend to do it in style with a Eucharist service. Each group has a part in making the service successful, from making bread, to singing songs and performing skits. This summer we’ve heard great renditions of Justin Bieber’s “Love
Yourself”, and Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” rewritten to talk about camp and chapel. However, the greatest part of eucharist is definitely our closing song, “Lean on Me” when campers circle up and put their arms around one another, it’s a great reminder of the family each unit forms in their time at camp.

I hope that when your kids venture home they will keep the lessons of loving God, and their neighbors close to their heart, we’ve definitely seen it’s impact on our community here at camp.

Peace,
Bethany (Our Christian Education Director/ Chapel Lady)

On Wednesdays we cook out.... and that often means, as the laws of nature go, that it will probably rain.  There are even superstitions that if we sing the Johnny Appleseed grace at lunch it WILL rain.... so obviously there are opposing superstitions that if we don't sing it.... it will rain....  Tradition goes that the Dining Hall closes to thoroughly clean and we call it blitz.  And to let it all totally dry we keep out for the evening and everyone cooks out dinner.

So, yes.  It rained.  And it thundered.  And then it rained some more.  
They were even calling for possible flash flooding - but that didn't happen.  Homestead did not venture out to their homes in the woods at Outpost - but instead set up games all over the Dining Hall.  Matt, Oliver and Brooks grilled all of their burgers on the deck of the Dining Hall.  Cat, Bethany, George and Ali ran an impeccable assembly line for campers to get their buns, cheese, condiments, chips, fruit, veggie burgers, and peanut butter & jelly options.  Teri called the groups up two by two while the groups continued to play games and sing.  Everyone had a grand old time and even finished early.  Cat & Brooks set the boundaries for an epic game of capture the Counselor.  Connor, the Day Camp 2 counselor, skillfully hid under a pile of mulch but was ratted out when Day Camp's adopted specialist Kat was captured.  Alec, the H1 Counselor, managed to successfully camouflage himself deep in the fig trees by the Log Cabin.  Stephen, the CIT Leader, joined the game late and used the anti-strategy of just running.  He was most shamefully cornered and captured behind the Rec Hall.

And then there was the Pioneer Potluck.  EVERY UNIT STILL COOKED OUT and had a pretty fun time doing it!!  P1 made monkey bread.  P2 made french toast with fruit compote.  P3 tried their hand at making quiche.  P4 made pans and pans of trainwreck - a breakfast skillet scramble and camp cookout favorite.  P5 made loads and loads of potatoes.  P6 threaded tons of fruit kabobs. P7 made dutch oven biscuits and sausage gravy.  And P8 made a mountain of dessert pancakes.

Meanwhile in the Adventure Pathfinder Site - they went ALL OUT.   They rotisseried (I'm sure that's a verb...) chicken over their fire.  They made bruschetta as an appetizer and sauted vegetables from the camp garden.  AND they made brownie cupcakes using orange rinds as their muffin tins.  Way to go APF!  As their counselor Simon has been prone to say, "Can you smell that?  It's.... a d v e n t u r e."

All the thunder subsided and everyone got to attend their regularly scheduled free swims - THANK YOU, LIFEGUARDS!!!!

All in all, it was a wild and wonderful Wednesday Night Cookout!!

peace-
Teri V, The Program Director

Session two has kicked off with an exciting start, the weather this week has been amazing and all the areas around camp like the Waterfront, Craft Shop, Pool and Low Ropes course have had their hands full with enthusiastic campers. Since it was the beginning of camp, the adventure staff were taking all our campers through the Low Ropes course yesterday, which consisted of P3 getting across the tire traverse, H5 getting across the giant spider web and, H2 trying to balancing their group of eight on a small block of wood. It presented a few challenges but all our campers made it through and all grew closer in the process. 

​The Pool was another great spot to be in the sunny weather, P1 was there to cool down after their Low Ropes block. They were also joined by P2 and P4, which made the game of octopus a whole lot of fun. All of Girls Homestead ended their day there with a girl’s free swim, which was a great way to get our campers to interact and make new friends.
There was activity in all areas of the camp, H8 painted with sand at the God Shack in the morning and P8 spent their time after low ropes and free swim to play a few ice breaker games on the ballfield. The Archery course has a lot of people come through to hit bullseyes all day, Day Camp 2 used the course in the afternoon and the Adventure Pathfinders and P7 used the bigger compound archery course near the High Ropes course to practice their aim. H11 finished their day with a hay ride around camp, the camp songs they were singing could be heard from a mile away… and they were pretty good.

H1 was in the Craft Shop before lunch making their pirate costumes to wear.  Meanwhile P6 and H4 were making their tiles with Maddy, the Craft Shop director. There were so many colors to choose from and that made for an exciting environment for all involved. I can’t wait to see how they turn out!

The Waterfront was another awesome spot as the sun was out, the humidity was minimal and the wind was rolling through the bay just enough for a Sail. P5 was out on the sail boat, as well as H6 who also wrote their chapel cards at the beach. H7 took the banana boat out for a spin just after lunch, followed by Day Camp 1 who all jumped off! It was a thrilling afternoon. H9 were out canoeing in the afternoon and had a blast heading to Santa Clause Island for an adventure and to look at animals around there. H10 did the same and went for a quick swim and play on the blob (the Waterfront’s newest addition is an inflatable tube with a floating mat attached to it). H5 and the rest of Boys Homestead finished their day at the Waterfront with a Pirate themed bonfire, which got campers to make a pirate skit, sing a pirate song and then tell the rest of the group a joke.  It was Arrrghsome!

Overall, the week is off to a great start. Today is another great day with even better weather! We are all hoping it lasts. The Waterfront is in a constant hum with all campers doing at least an activity, if not two down there and the High Ropes and Rock Wall are moving people through at a steady pace, I was up the top watching P5 climb the Wall and go down the Zip-Line. It looked like a lot of fun.

We had so many care packages for campers today, Thank you to all the parents who have put together care packages this week, the kids are loving them! And for all the letters, our outgoing mailbox has been filled up two days in a row! Hopefully you will be receiving one in your mailbox soon :)

Cheers!
Maddy B, The Office Manager

Two week sessions are by far my favorite sessions at camp. I get to see campers make things they never thought they would be able to create. 

Since we have more time to work with materials then a one week we get to use clay. It’s a tricky material at times considering weather and conditions. It was especially humid during these two weeks meaning the clay didn’t dry as quickly as it would in a temperature controlled building or cool weathered week but having more time then usual I gave it as much time as possible. 

The clay needs to be especially dry or as my ceramics teacher would say it needs to be “bone dry” before it goes into the kiln so that when the kiln reaches the temperature at which the clay bakes there is no moisture to escape. If there is moisture, then unfortunately the clay explodes. 

After the clay goes through the kiln the campers come back to the Craft Shop to glaze the clay meaning they put a coat of paint that is made up of extremely tiny pieces of glass that melts and fuses back together once put through the kiln again so its shiny & awesome. And viola campers have amazing mugs, pinch pots, coil pots, and wind chimes. 

Never in my four years as a worker of the Craft Shop have I seen such beautiful pieces. In the past, I constantly saw campers struggle to come up with ideas for their hunk of clay but I figured all they needed was a way and so now we all have custom hot cocoa mugs. If not for hot cocoa then maybe for pencils. Do people even use pencils anymore? Well if you do then camp has the mug for it. 

Ciao for now or until fourth sessions clay update. 

Peace. 
Madeye.

(aka Craft Shop Maddy)

Things heated up quick when P4 had a "burning hot" fire competition. Campers learned how to quickly build fires with the resources around them. 

After leading chapel Saturday morning the Adventure Pathfinders went on a two hour canoeing from Wolf Creek back to camp's waterfront.   Once they arrived back at camp, a hot meal of pizza in a pot awaited them made by the waterfront staff. 


Meanwhile, all of camp was preparing for the Wild Wild West Sunday’s Central.  Saturday Night at the Movies were all western themed and the campers were delivered freshly popped pop corn.


After waking with thoughts of central and the wild Wild West in our heads, we filled ourselves with breakfast and headed to Eucharist with Father Jeff Ross from St Peter's in Lewes. 

Just after siesta the big day began.  All of the staff dressed in cowboy and cowgirl costumes along with the campers and some even talked with heavy country accents to add to the flavor of the West. The central was set up as a carnival where campers were able to go around playing different types of games while winning gold to trade in for City Slicker Snow Cones, “pancons” (pancakes with apples and bacon), rootbeer floats, sweet tea, apple churros and other delicious snacks.  

The Sailing Pathfinders built a great mini gold course.  P7 built a rodeo relay with pool noodle horses.  The Adventure Pathfinders lashed horses for everyone to lasso.  H2 built a Tumbleweed Skiball game.  H11 made the Sherrif Shootout Balloon Darts game.  P4 made the Rootin' Tootin' Ball Shootin' canon ball drop game.  P5 built Pistol Pete's Shootout with water guns to shoot ping pong ball off of golf tees.  P6 painted faces and braid hair.  H1 Hunted on the Oregon Trail.  The Environmental Staff lead fiddler crab races.  The Ropes and Waterfront Staff built a saloon and themed rooms for us to tour in the Rec Hall.  P7 hosted an old fashioned milk bottle toss game and a great bottle pickup game.  H10 built a California Gold Rush racing game with straws and ping pong balls.  H9 had spin art for everyone to make. The Pool Staff hosted Kissing Kate's X's & O's Frisbee Tac Toe.  The Kitchen Staff introduced two new games - Snake Eye Dice & and the Rattling Ring Toss. Wild bandits robbed the saloon all day.  And campers had the opportunity to arrest each other as well as staff members. The medicine show stole the crowd's attention with “sword swallowing,” hula hooping, a “chubby bunny" competition and other weird talents.

The day concluded after a final robbery or the Lafontaine's Savings and Loan bank and an all camp bbq at the beach. Campers played volleyball and hung out on the dock while they awaited their hamburgers and hotdogs.  After ice cream campers cooled off in the pool for free swim. Here the campers practiced new jumps and dive in the pool such as the “walk on water” and “salmon dive.”

All of camp was happy to sleep in an extra hour this morning - except for Day Camp who arrived this morning at normal time.  And we're all excited for the "Tastees" to arrive tomorrow for Taste of Camp!


beceith<(")

(aka Becca & Keith - and that's a "penguin")

Session two has officially begun with a bang, literally! We had a little bit of thunder in the morning, but it left us with a mild breezy day that we all are grateful for after the heat we have become used to. 

The units spent the day getting to know each other and participating in an awesome variety of activities. New friendships are being formed all over camp as we begin to settle into a daily routine. P6 started their day with some good ol’ fashioned exercise and participated in an 80’s themed workout right after breakfast! They also teamed up with the ladies of H7 to try and protect eggs with creative materials as they dropped them off of one of the highest structures on camp, the EC Tower. H1 got to enjoy watery thrills together as they went on a banana boat ride. H4 also got to enjoy the bay as they went kayaking. And a little further inshore, P5 worked on their camp craft skills by making their own torches!

Another great thing about the rain we had today was it gave some groups a chance to get crafty! To name just a few of the activities that happened in the craft shop today,  H8 painted their own tiles, P4 made original clay creations, and H11 began making wind chimes. All of those crafts will go through the kiln and come out later in the week looking amazing!

Our courageous adventure staff was working hard around the rain, as many groups participated in our adventure courses today. H2 worked together to climb suspended ladders at the high ropes course, and H9 also worked as a team to conquer the obstacles at the low ropes course

Our Pathfinder groups wasted no time living up to their names today. In the Sailing Pathfinder group, the campers spent their first afternoon on the water, learning the basics of sailing on the sunfish sailboats. The Adventure Pathfinders began christening their brand new campsite by starting their lashing project, an awesome “Adventure!” sign modeled after the Camp Arrowhead sign that hangs in the dining hall.

After dinner, campers finished off the day with a wide variety of nighttime activities. H3 went on a sunset walk through our marsh, which was extra gooey and fun today because of the rain. H10 and H6 got to practice their camp songs as they went on a hayride that went all around camp. And the ladies of P2 and P6 swam away the last of their energy with a monk swim in the pool. Then all of camp settled down, did reflections, and went to bed with dreams of another awesome day tomorrow. Here’s hoping for fair skies and fun memories made when the sun comes up!

Very Happy Campers on the Low Ropes Course :)  
Thanks for sending this one in Mary!

Session 2 - Pioneer Boys working on wind chimes

P6 wrote this song for Eucharist to the tune of “Payphone” by
Maroon 5.  Kathy generously shared the lyrics with me in advance... enjoy.

"I’m at the crossroads trying to find hope
  I want to change let me rely on you
  Everything’s gone wrong, I need to find God
  I look to the sky in search of you
  Yeah. . .

I know it’s hard to remember
  That you’re always there for me
  It’s even harder when I pray
  Cause I can’t tell you’re with me
  They say that you’re right there
  But I can’t see with my eyes
  All this time I’ve been searching
  
I’ve finally opened my eyes
    You turned on the light
  Now you’re in my sight
 And I’m mesmerized
  You’re here til the end
  And after this life
  I feel the Holy Spirit inside of me

I was at crossroads now I found hope
  I always rely on you
  Nothing can go wrong, now that I found God
  I look toward the sky and he shines through
  The Holy Spirit does exist

I finally understand the jist
  All the parables have proved it
  No more doubting your spirit
  Yeah. . ."