Right its time to cool off and we are heading to the pool. First things first -  let me introduce you to our staff. Our pool director this year is Nicola (one of our Camp America staff from Wales), our Assistant Pool Director is Katie and we have two lovely lifeguards Morgan and Ned.

We have two pools here at Arrowhead our largest is 10 feet at its deepest point and 3.5 feet at its shallowest, our small pool ranges from 2.5 – 3.5 feet.

Having both pools is a great advantage and weapon against some of those hot, sunny Delaware days. Campers can attend a range of swim times throughout the day, we have swim blocks, free swim, monk swim and polar bear swim.

Free swim is offered to campers as an optional choice and allows them to socialise with others outside of their unit.

Each unit attend one swim block a day, which involves structured activities provided by our lifeguarding team. These include, water aerobics and numerous games such as, Sharks and Minnows, Water Basketball, Water Volleyball and Water Relays. One of the most popular of these is Sharks and Minnows, to explain it’s essentially a game of tag with a twist. A player may only be tagged while above water but are safe below the water line…the aim is to get to the other side of the pool without being converted into a deadly shark. Minnows for life!

Our Monk Swim and Polar Bear Swim are poles apart, excuse the pun! Polar Bear Swim occurs at 7am and gives campers a chance to swim before breakfast. Monk Swim runs at 8:15pm for Homestead and 8:45pm for Pioneer. The first 10 minutes is a silent swim time and recently this has been followed by a lively sing-a-long. It’s a great way to end the day and proves to be very popular amongst our campers. 

Ciao Ciao for now

Whit your Brit
(aka Whitty, Office Manager)

Greetings.  

Lets go…its time for day 3 of session 4. So I thought I would begin with introducing you to a typical schedule here at camp. As many of you know we are decentralized, so campers experience all the activities we offer with their unit, led by their conselor and CIT. We find that this is a great program as it promotes a strong sense of community and for me personally it is this very thing that made me feel so welcome during my first summer in 2009. I know that fellow staff (past and present) and campers can relate to this.

Our mornings begin at the sound of the wake up bell at 7.30am, followed by breakfast at 8am. This morning we enjoyed pancakes and sausage with all the trimmings and a cold glass of OJ, we also had the option of our cereal and yogurt bar too. Chapel is normally led by a different unit each day with the exception of the first full day at camp.  This is led by a group of staff and with the aid of some wise handpuppets we introduced the campers to this year’s current theme, ‘Walkin’ in the Light’.

After chapel, programming begins, we split the day up into hourly blocks, 3 before lunch, 3 after lunch. Dinner is at 5.30pm after which campers enjoy free time followed by a final block at 8.15pm.  (Free time is exactly what is sounds like - campers are able to decide which activity they would like to do – giving them a chance to revist their favorites)   Around 9 units start their reflections and get ready for bed .  Units use this time to reflect on their day and learn a little more about each other.

The schedule differs slightly on a Wednesday, as its Wednesday night cook out. Homestead campers visit outpost, their home from home in the woods. Each unit sets up a dining area using tarps and ropes, build a fire and cook their dinner.  This is followed by roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.  There will be more to come regarding our Wednesday afternoons/evenings shortly, I believe Ryan our Boys Homestead Unit Leader will be taking you through this week’s cook out.

Ciao Ciao for now.
Whit your Brit
(aka Whitty, Office Manager) 

Well we are heading into session 4 of the summer…how this has happened is beyond me…time is flying by. First off I would like to welcome all those arriving this evening, we can’t wait to meet you and this session is set to be a great one.

So we have had a chat here at camp regarding our blog and we have had an idea! In order to give our readers an overview of our camp program I am going to write about a different activities as I am able. 

As for today I will take you through our arrival day and first evening. Our staff  arrive back to camp, enjoy lunch and ready the camp for the arrival and welcome of new campers. The arrival process can be quite busy but our wonderful CITs have everything under control and manage the luggage line in superhero style.

Campers are welcomed into the dinning hall and are introduced to their counselor and fellow campers. It’s great to see the unit meet and get to know each other.  There were a few intense games of Jenga today. Once everyone has arrived a unit photo is taken and then it is off to the pool for a swim test.   The thunder storm actually changed our normal routine this week – we’re still catching up with units.

As a welcome night dinner we have chicken tenders and macaroni cheese.  We also have a full salad bar.  And tonight’s vegetarian option is “Hip-Hop Halupki.” What on earth is that? Well…its cabbage rolls stuffed with a yummy mix of lentils and veg in a tomato sauce.

After dinner everyone heads to the chapel and all the staff are introduced to the campers. Each unit then depart with a bag of marshmallows for roasting.

Well good night one and all, its time to get some rest for our first day of adventures tomorrow. 

Best Wishes - 
Whit your Brit 
(aka Whitty, the Office Manager)