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Second Rotation Kicks Off

July 16th, 2013

After a great First Program Cycle, Second Program Rotation kicked off with a bang this past weekend. Campers had the chance to modify their electives while still focusing on our core activities: Tennis, Swimming and Team Sports. Campers were excited to try some new program areas and refine skills developed in the first three-and-a-half weeks of camp. We had a great Friday Night Campfire this past weekend as well as a phenomenal Dance Show featuring more than 140 campers. We’re in final dress rehearsals for tonight’s production of Guys and Dolls and the music, scenery, costuming, and sets coming out of the Theatre seem phenomenal. We can’t wait to see the show! We had more than 28 intercamps last week alone and continue to have fun, remain competitive and participate in baseball, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, swimming, climbing, soccer, softball and gaga competitions.

More than 120 campers are now members of the coveted Camp Laurel Five Year Club. They donned their new, personalized 5 Year Shirts and headed out on their annual trip last night. A great time was had by all.

Our tripping department continues to shine. More than 100 campers have participated in overnight camping excursions through Maine and New Hampshire. We’ve hit Bradbury State Park, Rangeley Lakes, Tumbledown Mountain, Three Rocks, Camden State Park, Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park and more. Campers love traveling in small groups of 8-10 with three tripping counselors and always report it as one of their favorite summer highlights.

This Thursday night is Group Sing. One of the summers best evening programs takes place under-the-lights in the Hockey Arena as each group writes, rehearses and presents an original song written “camp style.” It should be another great night and we can’t wait!!

Healthy Competition

July 15th, 2013

“Healthy Competition” is a term that is often used at summer camp. While they also offer a wide selection of niche and hobby type activities, traditional summer camps focus heavily on sports. The emphasis, however, is more about encouraging campers to be active and improve their skills. This is not to say that campers do not participate in sports matches. In fact, many camps not only facilitate game play through intra camp leagues, but inter camp leagues as well. Thus, “healthy competition”, as it is used at camp, is an expression to describe contests with positive encouragement, regardless of the outcome, and not merely a synonym for “no competition.”

Po Bronson, co-author of Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing believes that the camaraderie that results fromh healthy team competition encourages children to learn at a faster pace and alleviates the stress of learning a new skill or attempting to improve existing abilities on one’s own. Another aspect of camp competition that makes it healthy competition is that it’s limited in scope and time. It takes place only as long as camp lasts and does not extend beyond the camp environment. This, according to Bronson, is a key element of “healthy competition, “In finite games, you compete and then you let it go, and you have rest and recuperation – that’s actually really important for kids,” said Bronson. “It’s the continuous sense of pressure that is unhealthy for them.”

The stress of not making a team or of underperforming is not a pervading force in camp athletics. Says Bronson, “What kids do need to learn is losing is not that big a deal. They need to learn to lose and go ‘Oh, whatever,’ and move on and keep playing…You want to get them to turn up the work ethic in order to win.” At camp, losing is not a big deal, because every summer is a new summer–new tryouts, new teams, and new possibilities. The constant rearrangement of groups also helps campers shrug off losses. Another day brings another activity and a new group with which to compete. A loss in one activity does not translate to a closely monitored record that eventually defines a team and, sometimes, individuals. The teams are constantly changing and so are the competitions.

The break between summers also makes growth measurable for campers. When children constantly train and participate in a sport, it’s more difficultfor them to see themselves improving, even when they are. The ten month gap from one summer to the next provides campers with the time and distance necessary for improvements to be noticeable. The distinct parameters of camp that restrict it to a single season—summer—also remove the constant pressure of advancing skills as quickly as possible so as to always be able to perform at peak level. Every summer is a new summer–new tryouts, new teams, and new possibilities. As a result, campers tend to maintain a healthy attitude about camp sports, which makes them naturally receptive to the idea of genuinely healthy competition. At camp, it’s not so much about winning and losing as setting goals and measuring one’s progress from summer to summer.

“What kids need more than anything is not to win or lose but a close race, a fair competition where everyone feels like they’ve got a fighting chance,” says Bronson. “Where everyone feels like they have a fighting chance” is exactly what summer camp is, and why it’s an environment naturally conducive to healthy competition.

Camp Laurel Totem…

July 12th, 2013

According to Wikipedia, a totem is “is a being, object, or symbol representing an animal or plant that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, group, lineage, or tribe, reminding them of their ancestry.” Camp Laurel has had four different totem poles that have symbolized our camp spirit. The first, “Herman,” looked over the camp in its early years and stood on the Acadian Lawn near the Whippoorwills’ cabin. By 1978 Herman began to show signs of decay and was safely taken down at the end of the summer. A part of Herman was burned in the Opening Campfire of the summer of 1979 and a new totem pole was commissioned. Counselor Randy Watts from Colorado, experienced in wood working and 3-D design, was tasked with creating a new “spirit” for the camp.

With a cedar tree trunk lying on sawhorses, wood carving wedges and a box of crayons and chalk, Randy began the project. He sketched rough drawings on the trunk and instructed campers and staff how and where to cut. Most everyone in camp that summer took a turn with the tools and there was a fair degree of uncertainty as to how the final product would look. Incredibly, by the end of the summer, our new totem pole, “Allen White Cloud,” was standing on the beach looking up toward Tanager, the Dining Hall. Randy named the totem pole after a camper from his cabin, Allen Pantuck, and a horse, White Cloud, that had been at camp that summer.

Randy returned to Laurel in the summers of 1980 and 1981 and with the help of the campers and counselors carved two more poles. “Excelsior,” (NYS’s motto – ever upward) shows a person climbing to the top of the pole. Randy actually lay down on the pole and we traced his body to be carved into the design. Excelsior has a riddle carved into it with the answer being the location of a time capsule prepared by the campers to be opened in the new millennia.

“Ralph” sits atop the camps’ Cove and watches out over all the camp meetings. Ralph is a traditional totem pole with native animals in its design. Again, campers and staff worked together under Randy’s guidance to carve the pole. On his own Randy used an axe to carve an old tree trunk in cove into a face known as the “Spirit of the Cove.”

This past spring, Excelsior’s base was found to be rotten and it had to be taken down. In keeping with tradition, we burned a piece of Excelsior in our opening campfire on the first evening of the summer. Perhaps we will begin work on a new totem to let the “Laurel spirit live on, and on…”

A Whole New World

July 9th, 2013

At one of America’s Finest Summer Camps, a first year camper, upon stepping off the bus on arrival day for the first time, immediately exclaimed, “I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life!” The awe of that young camper at that moment was very reminiscent of the scene in The Little Mermaid in which the young mermaid Ariel finds herself on land for the first time and, with her new legs, begins experiencing a whole new world. She is mesmerized by the smallest human things—flatware, trinkets, and mirrors. For young campers who finally get to come to camp for the first time after sometimes waiting their “whole lives,” there is a sense of wonder in being in a new place with different people and things. They are surrounded by literally dozens of activities that perhaps they’ve never tried and, sometimes, of which they’ve never even heard. Like Ariel the mermaid, they sometimes hear about the world of camp from older siblings for years before finally getting to experience themselves. With that newness and the adventure of being in a place one has dreamed for a very long time comes a sense of openness and a willingness to try new things. New campers often want to try EVERYTHING!

And why not? What better way to discover which things one loves than at summer camp, an environment in which many new campers are away from their parents for the first time? There is no sideline pressure from over-zealous parents and coaches at camp sports. There are no teachers to mark right from wrong. Instead, new campers are surrounded by supportive counselors, staff, and friends, many of whom are also first time campers and that natural empathy creates an atmosphere conducive to bonding and the formation of lasting friendships.

As campers maneuver the new world of camp, they share like experiences. Whether big, like taking on a high ropes course for the first time as a cabin or small, like learning how to bait a fishing hook, learning what camp is all about becomes the foundation for the transformation of the new world of first time campers into the special world of camp. Because the menu of camp activities constantly expands and evolves, there is a perpetual newness to the summer camp experience. Even though, for older campers, camp becomes a special place to which campers get to journey once a year, that essence of being a whole new world lives on summer after summer and is what drives campers to spend their winters counting down for that annual journey to experience it.

The Action Never Stops…

July 9th, 2013

Paul Rabil. Swim Meets. Tennis Tournaments. Climbing Competitions. Bradbury State Park. Lake St . George. ChefCamp. Morning Marathon. Crack o’ Dawn Fishing. S’mores Sites. Bounty Social. Flag Football. Sports Night. Sailing Regatta. Bec Swim. Bago Sprint. Luau. Hoe Down. Davis Cup. ACFL. Rockport. APES. Baxter Hoops. Wakeboarding. Stand Up Paddling. Golf Plus. Fireworks. Ribs for Cookout. Metals. MYOS. One-on-None. Sequoia Hockey League. Funtown. Camden State Park. Freeport.

We’ve been at camp for two-and-half weeks and the action hasn’t stopped in Readfield. Hold onto your hats…the best is yet to come!!

July 4th Fireworks Light up Echo Lake

July 6th, 2013

It was an amazing week at Camp Laurel. Everything is in full force and campers are developing new skills, refining old skills and trying new activities all over camp. Our Intercamp and tournament calendar is as active as ever and we are competing in lacrosse, hoops, baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer, climbing and more. Lake Swim prep is underway. Each campus has already ventured out on an S Day trip. We’ve been to Boothbay, the Old Port, Funtown, Aquaboggin and even Kahuna Laguna.
We had Ronnie Rahm the hypnotist, a fantastic camp brother and sister campfire, and today we hosted Maine’s largest intercamp rock climbing competition. To top it off, Boston Cannons Major League Lacrosse player Paul Rabil is with us today for a morning and afternoon of skills clinics and chalk-talks. This is Paul’s third year at Laurel and he continues to delight and surprise our campers and staff alike. Of course, last night was the spectacular Fireworks display over Echo Lake….central Maine’s largest fireworks extravaganza. It was incredible!!

We have so much to look forward to this week. We’re sending out 4 camping trips this morning and then Sunday is Traditions Day at Laurel. We’ll partake in the Bec Swim, Bago Run, Sequoia Olympics and more. Not to mention our 8th graders depart for Adventure Bound for their overnight. We’re enjoying the fantastic weather in Maine and spending countless hours in Echo Lake…where we swim, sail, paddle-board, kayak, ski, wake-board, canoe, fish and more. It’s been a great week at camp!

Quest, Tournaments, Instruction and More

July 2nd, 2013

From the Tennis Courts to the Dance Studio and everything in between, the last week of camp has been incredible. Every program area has been humming in high gear. Take a look at Laurel Today.

We played in more than 20 intercamps this past week. Not to mention camping trips, Golf Plus, the 12-way 8th grade Wildwood Dance Extravaganza and S-Day trips to Boothbay, Funtown, Splashtown, Aquabaggon and the Old Port. This past Sunday we had a phenomenal Quest Day with the Cool Collegiate’s bringing home the coveted Chinese food at Alliquippa prize. Ronnie Rahm the Hypnotist once again captivated us in the Fieldhouse.
Rehearsals for Guys and Dolls are in full swing. The music coming out of Rockport is awesome! Campers are getting up on waterskiis all over Echo Lake. And Fitness is all-the-rage once again under Trumbull’s watchful eye. What about Chefcamp? Never been better with Chef Sarah! As the sun goes down, groups can be seen at the Alliquippa and Lean To for campfires and s’mores….and wait, tonight its Skillz Night and Baxter /Sequoia Counselor Match. We can’t wait!!

Anatomy of A Summer Camp

July 2nd, 2013

Summer camp is often thought of as a whole, a single place where campers convene for several weeks each summer. Few think of summer camp in the context of its smaller parts. Yet, for campers, the special memories that make up “summer camp” in their minds are not merely the product of a whole, but a collection of memories related to its various parts. The overall experience of summer camp not only comprises a special place in the heart of campers, but the memories connected to favorite spots on campus. What are these parts, and why would do campers find them so dear? They’re places that, without, summer camp just wouldn’t be summer camp.

Cabins/Bunks: Some camps call them cabins. Other camps call them bunks. What they have in common is that they are private spaces that a handful of campers at each camp have in common. They live in their bunks, sleep in their bunks, and attend activities with their bunks. Every bunk has its own playlist, inside jokes, special nicknames for each other, and unique games that it enjoys.

Dining Hall/Dining Room: At home, the dining room is just a place for campers to eat. But at camp, it’s such an important place that it’s spelled with capital letters. The camp dining facility is not only a place where the camp convenes for meals, but a place full of song and cheer.

Lake: The lake is the hub of a summer camp waterfront. It’s the place where campers go to swim, boat,waterski, tube, and socialize. It’s so special that, at most camps, every camper goes there at least once a day. Lots of friendships are formed and memories are made on the docks and beaches of the camp lake.

Flagpole/Campfire: Every camp has a special place where the entire camp convenes in the morning and/or evening to officially kick off or end the day. This is where sports and competition wins are celebrated and special occasions are marked, and each camp does something just a little bit different to inflict personality into its assembly location to make it a memorable place for campers.

Fieldhouse/Rec Hall/Playhouse: This is another facility that goes by a different name from camp to camp, but is home to memories of camp shows, sing-alongs, athletic events, evening activities, and just about a million other activities. For all intents and purposes, it’s a campus all-purpose building, the place where the entire camp gathers to celebrate activities that are as indispensable to the camp experience as to the camp itself.

Of course, as merely buildings, these locations make up just a fraction of summer camp campuses. But they’re so full of literally decades of memories that the spirit of the camp emanates from them, and every camper has a nearly endless list of memories that involve them. Not just summer camp, but the anatomy of it is essential to the summer camp in the making of camp memories.

One Week: How Can It Be?

June 29th, 2013

In just a week, how can it be? We’ve settled into our cabins. Reacquainted with old friends. Made all kinds of new friends. Took our swim tests. Got set into tennis levels. Played in 11 intercamps and tournaments. Had Open Calls for Guys and Dolls. Explored the new mountain biking park. Met, rode, washed and jumped with our 22 horses and ponies. Caught all kinds of fish on the Sweetwater Fishing pontoon.
Got psyched about amazing Athletics department heads in Baseball, Soccer, Lacrosse, Basketball, Fitness, and Gymnastics. Reveled in the new stuff going on in Metals, Ceramics, Studio Art, Chefcamp, and Rockport Music Production. Had 16 pizza, cake and coke birthday parties at the Log cabin Snack bar. Loved the new ribs at cookout. And in between we even got some sleep. It’s been a great first week at camp!

First Week Kicks Off Strong

June 25th, 2013

It’s been an amazing first week of camp. The planes and buses rolled in from all over America and we had a great arrival, fantastic Opening Campfire with the presentation of new 7 Year Patagonia Jackets and 8 Year Watches to our illustrious group of returning campers. Staff also received gifts for their 10th year as members of the Laurel family. It was program 24/7 the next day as we dove right into all activity areas. The athletic fields are alive, art studios are hoppin’ and the waterfront is as popular as ever.
We have an amazing group of staff and they’re tuned in and psyched for what lies ahead. The Counselor Cabaret last night was incredible. Tonight is the Bec and Bago Sports Night Draft. Baxter is all about Battle of the Air Bands this evening after tonight’s delicious lemon chicken dinner. If you were flying over Camp Laurel right now, you’d see a beehive of activity at Riding, Tennis, Gymnastics, Skiing, Mountain Biking and More! 2013 has begun with a whirl!!