Our fifth and final session is already flying by! Due to technical difficulties we weren’t able to update you all Monday night, but here are some highlights from this session so far.
      The ladies of H6 and H8 tested their bravery on the plank at the high ropes course while H10 and P2 got adventurous at the rock wall. The men from P3 and P7 also experienced excitement at our high ropes course as they tried out our high ropes swing. H5 and H9 got in some group bonding on our low ropes course, testing their minds and bodies with challenges from our low ropes supervisor Ben.
       So far session five has been full of crafts. For the first time we’ve been holding some of our craft shop blocks poolside and the results have been great! The gentlemen of H13 made boats and held a competition to see whose stayed afloat the longest while the ladies of H7 and P5 started making “world beads” with dirt from camp. H2 made sand candles down at the waterfront and P1 worked on painting some tiles in the craft shop. The guys from H3 and P4 tried their luck at tie dye while our oldest campers, the Adventure Pathfinders, made their own mini totem poles to take home.
     A lot of groups have also been taking advantage of our natural environment. H6 made tea from sassafras leaves and H8 held a cookout on the beach. H1 and H4 both went on guided nature walks and P5 got up to watch the sun rise over the bay. Our Pioneer campers finished off their evening Tuesday with a bonfire at the beach while some of our Homestead groups went to water aerobics with our fabulous pool staff. Overall it’s been an amazing first few days at camp. This may be our last session but that doesn't mean we're slowing down so keep checking the blog for more updates!
-Anne and Shaun

     Fourth session is finally here! This session is one of our favorites, and its great to have so many familiar faces with us here at camp. With so many returning campers we have hit the ground running, kicking off the session with exciting activities for all. H6 had a blast on the water, banana boating and then heading to a bonfire with other Homestead units on the beach. This morning they even got up for a sunrise boat ride! H1 joined in on the fun with H6 as they engaged in a swordfight. H7 spent their first day being creative with clay at the craft shop and making pickles with Libbie in the Environmental Center. H4 had a special lunch on the boat with Anne and Megan from the pool and craft shop, while the ladies of H8 braved the low ropes course and went canoeing.
      Our older campers have been having a great first couple days as well. The ladies of Pioneer and our Sailing Pathfinders joined the pool staff for water aerobics last night. P5 went sailing and made sand candles with Megan while P4 made a prayer flag for the chapel. The Adventure Pathfinder girls went on a canoeing excursion where they army crawled through the marsh while their male counterparts practiced Tai Chi on the beach.

 More exciting activities to come so keep checking for new posts!
-Anne

      Third session is packed! We are so excited and grateful to have so many campers at Arrowhead. The weather was warm today and it luckily didn’t rain on any activities. In the morning, homesteaders participated in swim block. A few campers are even learning how to swim! In the craft shop, some groups started making beautiful tiles while H10 turned cold pricklies into warm fuzzies. H7 made learning the Golden Rule fun with glitter. Day campers and the ladies of H6 braved Walt’s Wall this morning as well.
      Today was also the first day of LTG PF (Leadership Training Group  Pathfinders)! The LTG PF program is new, focusing on molding leadership skills. For their first block, they made life maps and shared them with each other as a “get to know you” activity. These maps highlight key moments of their lives where they experienced a change. They also made journals that they will write in throughout the week about their experiences and take home with them to further track their progress as leaders.
       For dinner, Sarah and Brooks’ day campers dressed as super heroes. During free time (the hour after dinner) campers had plenty of exciting activities to choose from. In the craft shop, Megan and Maddy offered tea staining. At the Carmine Environmental Center., Libbie hosted a snake feed and campers made pinecone birdfeeders. At the waterfront there was beach volleyball and kayaking. Mike opened the back and sides of the rock wall for campers looking for a challenge. Brian opened the plank for any pirates brave enough to walk it, “arrr”.
      This evening, some homestead groups participated in a beach bonfire complete with music and volleyball. P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6 went to the first nighttime water aerobics block hosted by our super positive pool staff! Campers and staff alike broke a sweat to popular songs like “Call Me Maybe” and “What Makes You Beautiful.” Meanwhile P1 and P7 listened to scary stories in the Rec Hall. 

Sweet Dreams!
-Anne, Laura and Megan

The second day of second session was filled with exciting events. P2 trained for the Hunger Games on our low ropes course with Ben while H1 and H2 caught a record shattering 443 fiddler crabs to feed to the turtles in the Carmine Environmental Center. P4 wrote a poem about the marsh and got competitive in a game of water basketball. Our Homestead campers ventured out to outpost to cook out dinner over a fire and enjoy a game of capture the counselor. Homestead cooled off in the pool while the Pioneer groups had a bonfire on the beach and then everyone headed off to bed. 

Left, right, left, right, left…
In honor of America’s birthday, camp started off 4th of July celebrations by marching from the waterfront to the flag pole where staff members recited the Bill of Rights and sang the National Anthem. Clad in red, white, and blue, campers continued their day by participating in a variety of patriotic activities. P7 decorated commemorative hats for their own unit and specialists around camp. APF used colored sand to design a “Happy Birthday” mural for America. P4 and P5 competed to make the most patriotic warrior. Also, H10 waved their new glittered flags around camp to spread cheer!

The whole camp cooked out dinner on the beach while listening to classic jams like “Born in the U.S.A.” and “This Land Is Your Land”. Following the delicious meal of hamburgers and hot dogs, Pioneer played a spirited game of capture the flag while Homestead units tested their skills in minute-to-win-it games! Afterwards, all units gathered again at the waterfront for more fun and festive music before heading to bed.

Happy Independence Day!
-Anne, Laura and Megan

Yesterday we began our second session! After everyone checked in and took swim tests, we ate dinner. After dinner on arrival days we have introductions in the chapel, where Walt introduces all the staff so the campers are familiar with them. To end the night, campers and their counselors roast marshmallows in the woods.

The first day of camp is a busy one. Our staff started the morning by leading a special chapel to introduce this summer’s Christian Education theme, “it’s all about love.” After chapel, P7 began making wind chimes out of clay while our Homestead campers headed to the pool for swim block. Later in the day, H6 campers braved the rock wall and our new Day Campers ventured over to the high ropes swing. H7 did the low ropes course with Ben where they climbed the “Swiss Alps” (used teamwork to cross from tire to tire in a line of swings). Our Sailing Pathfinders practiced their knots and received their manuals while their Adventure counterparts cooked up some delicious stir fry for their lunch.

Tonight was a very musical evening here at Camp. Spencer, a member of our adventure staff, serenaded folks in the craft shop while the Pathfinders and P6 had a blast at our first ever “Meeting for Singing” at the pool. While our traditional Monk Swim evening block required campers to be silent for the first ten minutes of the block, Meeting for Singing allows the campers to speak, but only through song. Homestead campers enjoyed a rockin’ bonfire on the beach and now are all safely tucked into bed :) 

To quote some of our favorite lifeguards, "stay positive!"
-Anne and Laura