College Days is in full swing. After an amazing break-out, we divided into our two colleges: Villanova and Temple. We’ve been competing for four days in Athletics, Track and Field, Swim Meet, Sailing Regatta, Chaos, Relay, Tug o’ War. The action hasn’t stopped for five minutes. Super Seniors are leading the way and it’s getting down to the wire. Tomorrow is Float, Plaque and Grad Sing. It’s anybody’s race…and it’s gonna be hot!!
The Official Blog of Camp Laurel
Moosetrack News
Blog
What I Learned at Camp
Summer is winding down. Wait – we just got here!
That’s how fast camp goes. One day a kid boards the bus with nervous anticipation. The next, he heads home on the same bus with a smile and a lifetime of memories.
They don’t even realize that – in addition to having tons of fun – they’ve grown a lot.
The other day, we asked a few of our campers what they learned this summer. Here’s what they shouted – er, said:
- Counselors are cool. We talked about everything.
- Before I went to camp, people said the food stinks. It didn’t.
- I learned I could swim a lot farther than I thought. But the waterfront guys told me I could do it all along.
- It’s impossible for my counselor to pack everything back up the way my mom did before camp.
- It’s okay to wake up early if you don’t know what time it is.
- I’m not sure, but I may ask my parents if I can do yoga when I get home.
- Sometimes when people say “hurry up, you’ll be late,” they really mean it. Sometimes they don’t.
- I always thought I liked lacrosse better than soccer. Now I’m not sure.
- I saw my sister less this summer than I do at home. But it was still nice having her here.
- No one will clean up your cabin for you, except you.
- It’s really nice if your parents write a lot, even if they don’t say much in their letters.
- It’s hard to canoe when your paddle falls in the water.
- I have eight new best friends.
- When they tell you to bring a sweatshirt and a blanket, they know what they are talking about.
- I was positive I couldn’t live without my cell phone. Now I forget where I put it in my room before I left.
- How come no one ever told me that waterskiing was so much fun?
- It’s good to go on trips away from camp. And it’s good to come back.
- I like my new nickname a lot.
- When I came to camp I missed my dog. When I go home I’m going to miss my horse.
- Maine is an awesome state!
- It feels like I grew five inches, but the nurse says only one.
- I still can’t sing, but our play was amazing anyway.
- My goal in life is to come back as a counselor.
“Sports Camp” Isn’t Just a One Sport Term
It’s no secret that summer camps offer campers the opportunity to sample many different sports, but what may not be evident is why this may be preferable to sending children to a camp at which the focus is exclusively on one sport. Dr. Jared Wood, a sports psychologist, believes children should be encouraged to try many different sports in order to find their favorites. He warns that focusing on one sport too early in youth often “unnecessarily limits a child’s interest and skill development.”
Many child development experts recommend that children be given the opportunity to try out a 
sport before committing to it because it’s important for them to develop their self esteem prior to joining a team and engaging in intense training. When children enter a sport with confidence, they’re more likely feel that they can do well and, therefore, strive to do well. Many summer camp sports programs subscribe to this recommended combination of skill instruction and giving children the opportunity to use those new skills on the field or court. Summer camps also emphasize skill development over winning or losing. Campers learn sports skills in a supportive atmosphere and are taught by specialists who are proficient in their respective sports Many summer camp sports programs are headed by college or high school coaches who lead counselors who played at the high school and college level. This type of approach permits campers to try out various positions and get comfortable with the rules and general flow of a sport without feeling pressured to do well by overly zealous parents and coaches.
Another benefit of summer camp sports programs is that they offer a healthy mix of team and individual sports. Child experts point out that some children prefer and perform at their best as part of a team while others are happier and better off playing individual sports. By being able to simultaneously sample tennis and lacrosse, for instance, campers can get a feel for which one leaves them feeling the most motivated to further develop their skills while still being able to have a healthy appreciation for the other.
The variety offered at summer camp also gives campers the opportunity to try sports to which they 
may never have been exposed or would not otherwise have the opportunity to try. Many a camper has tried a sport for the first time at summer camp and then gone on to play on a travel team, high school team, or even a college team. Sports psychologist and author, Richard Ginsburg, Ph.D., suggests that children should be at least “12 or 13” before being encouraged to commit to one sport. Dr. Wood agrees, “It’s pretty clear that early specialization is much more likely to lead to burnout than it is to a scholarship or Olympic medal.”
So when you’re determining which type of summer camp is right for your child. Consider the benefit of a summer camp that offers a diverse array of sports that will permit your child to sample a variety of choices.
The Action Never Stops!
Nonstop action is what Camp Laurel is all about as the days keep flying by. Tuesday started off with a delicious Dunkin Donuts surprise for breakfast. On Tuesday evening, Frosh and Junior Acadia and Apache treated us all to a Beatle Maine-ia, a revue of Beatles songs that totally rocked the house! Wednesday was an S-Day and Baxter, Sequoia, Bec, and Bago ventured out of camp to catch a movie while Acadia and Apache had camp to themselves all afternoon. Apache had their annual Ping Pong tournament while Acadia had a Ga-Ga tournament. Thursday evening featured our second Dance Showcase of the summer. Congrats and great job to all the campers and staff who participated! What a show!! Still much more to come this week including the Senior Acadia and Apache performance of 101 Dalmatians and the Sports Night Championships and Tailgate Party.
Triathlons, Trips, Shows and More!
Another awesome week at camp with lots going on! On Sunday, the Super Seniors returned from their 7-day trip with big smiles and stories about how fun and relaxing it was. We also brought in the experts from Sherpa Fit this past weekend to run a triathlon for 42 campers who decided to compete in this amazing Run-Bike-Swim program. It was fantastic!! Our Junior Acadian girls went blueberry picking at a local organic farm and brought back some incredibly juicy and sweet berries. Apache and Acadia hit the town to catch a movie, while Bago competed in the Greek Games and Sequoia had Viking Day. Monday featured a new camp tradition started last summer…The Julius C Band! Julius C came in from New York to put on an incredible interactive concert. It was a rockin’ performance once again! We can’t wait to have them back next summer. Lots still to look forward to coming up this week, including tomorrow’s production of Beatle Maine-ia.
Sing, Sing a Song
There is something about singing that brings people together. Perhaps that’s why singing (and music in general) is such an important part of camp. The silly or sometimes sentimental words of a “camp song” can set a mood, evoke a feeling, and create atmosphere. Music is a universal language that everyone understands. Perhaps this is why so many American summer camps open and close their summers with sing-alongs. Sing-alongs are fantastic ways to say both “we’re together again” and “until next time.”
Ask campers to name some of their most favorite moments of summer camp and, most assuredly, 
they’ll name more than one that involves singing in some way…that first exciting night of camp, campfires, zany and often spontaneous dining room rituals, fun times with fellow campers and counselors inside the bunk, and saying goodbye at the end of the summer. More importantly, ask any current or former camper to sing his camp alma mater and he’ll do it as if it’s second nature. The words of a camp’s alma mater are magical—a way to instantly transport one back to camp and those summers filled with fun and friends.
Many parents say that their children even sing camp songs constantly throughout the winter as a way of remembering their time at camp. Some of them even admit that they can’t resist the temptation to join in.
Camp Rolls On…
Great things are happening at Laurel this week! On Tuesday, Junior Bec and Bago returned from their overnight trip to Boston and won’t stop raving about their incredible trip: Duck Tours, Fire and Ice, Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, plus much more. On Thursday evening, Senior Bec and Bago returned from Montreal and they had a absolute blast!! Jet Boating was a once-in-a-lifetime thrill! The Super Seniors are still out on their 7-day trip all over Maine and New Hampshire and all reports have been wonderful. Meanwhile in camp, Acadia, Apache, Baxter, and Sequoia have had the camp to themselves and are taking full advantage. We’ve had tons of intercamps, camping trips, Crack of Dawn fishing, special Log Cabin visits, S’mores, and much more! It’s Cookout tonight. We gotta go!!
Visiting Day and Off We Go…
What an incredible Visiting Weekend! Guests joined us from all over the country to visit their campers, meet their counselors and spend the day at Camp Laurel! Even with the heat, everyone had an awesome day!! On Saturday evening, we enjoyed cabin and campus parties. Sunday was a full program day with all program areas running at full speed. Sunday evening was Sports Night highlighted by some unbelievable games during Baxter Hoops and the Apache’s now-famous Honey Badger Hunt. Monday was an S-Day and our older campers headed out to Montreal, Boston and Ogunquit, leaving Acadia and Apache to rule the roost. We took everyone bumper-tubing followed by some great in-camp special events. It’s going to be a great Week # 5 ahead…
Visitng Weekend…
Camp is moving and shaking as we get ready for Visiting Day tomorrow. Tuesday was the Big Show where Baxter, Sequoia, Bec and Bago joined forces to put on a spectacular showing of High School Musical. The crowd went wild as our older campers shined in the spotlight! It was out-of-sight!! Wednesday was an S-Day with trips going out all over the state. We had campers out for the day to Aquaboggan, Rummels, Old Port, and Funtown/Splashtown. Thursday was an annual camp highlight…Group Sing! Each group in camp sang a popular song with the lyrics customized to a camp theme. It was waaaaay cool!! The Super Seniors took First Place despite a brilliant showing by all campuses! We can’t wait to see all of the families who are visiting on Saturday! Safe travels!!
Second Rotation Begins…
What an exciting past few days at Laurel! On Saturday we started the Second Rotation of program and every camper received a brand new schedule. We’ve already heard great things from campers who are trying new activities for the first time. Sunday featured one of the highlights of every summer—Carnival! We brought in bounce houses, an obstacle course, a dunk tank, and everyone’s favorite…Steve’s Fried Dough Stand! New this year was a professional photo booth where campers got instant photo prints of themselves and their friends…it was a huge hit! Monday night was our first Dance Show which showcased some incredibly talented Laurel campers who showed off the moves they’ve been learning all summer in the Dance Studio. Very impressive! Some highlights of the coming week include the Big Show (High School Musical) and Group Sing….and ore than 30 intercamps and tournaments. We’re psyched!!