Monthly Archives:November 2019

We are grateful for our youngest campers in Sunrise!

As the last week of November rolls around, I am reminded of watching Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving Special every year around this time on TV.  Charlie Brown ends up serving Thanksgiving dinner for his friends thanks to Peppermint Patti’s self-invitation when he is really supposed to go to his Grandmother’s for a traditional Thanksgiving meal.  Charlie Brown enlists the help of Snoopy to help set up for the feast and, low and behold, a non-traditional fare ensues.

When Charlie Brown’s guests sit down to dinner on an assortment of lawn chairs placed around a ping-pong table, his friends are surprised to find popcorn, toast, jelly beans, pretzels, and ice cream sundaes on the menu.  After a much disgruntled Peppermint Patti voices her opinion about the food selections, Linus reminds the group about the true meaning of Thanksgiving and how important it is just to be together by retelling the story of Myles Standish and the Pilgrims on that very first Thanksgiving Day.

After having recently celebrated the Woodland Camp Reunion this past weekend, we are thankful for the opportunity to get together with camp friends at the start of the holiday season.  It was so fun to see campers, staff, and alumni gather 3 months after the close of the summer of “Your Time to Shine in 1-9”.  It was a special time for friends to reunite and catch up on the events of our days away from camp while knowing that the summer of “A Place to Grow in 2-0” is now closer than it was in August!  We were even able to share a similar fare to Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving feast (popcorn, grapes, juice boxes, candy corn, 100 Grands and other tasty treats!) while huddling close to the TV so that we could watch the highlights of the summer of 2019 on the big screen.  Camp memories were relived and shared, stories retold, friendships rekindled, and plans for next summer were formed!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all campers, staff, alumni, and friends…we are grateful for your membership to the Woodland/Towering Pines Family!  Many blessings in the year to come!

What each cabin is thankful for…

Sunrise: having really nice counselors and making new friends

Silver Birch: new friends, having the time of my life, my cabin mates, friendship, camp, JoAnne, the weather, getting Camper of the Day

Starshine: food, activities, being able to come to camp, having fun, being at camp with friends, having great counselors and cabin mates

Hilltop: coming back to camp and the people, winning Gold Rush, thankful for everything from the food to my parents, cabin mates, friends and counselors, for this summer being the best I’ve ever had, everything, getting to try new things

Treetops: getting someone easy in Spoon Assassins, being at camp with nice people, making more friends, being able to have this opportunity and trying new things, riding horses and improving my skills, staying 6 weeks, learning how to waterski, making friends and learning skills

Tamarack: being at camp and getting my 5 yr pendant, having fun, my friends and this safe place where I can relax and be myself, my amazing cabin, everyone in my cabin, having amazing counselors and cabin mates, getting close with all of them and having the best summer ever, for close friends that I can always talk to, my friends, counselors and cabin mates,

Sunnyside: being with cabin mates again from 2016, trying new things and all the opportunities at camp, the friends who are here for me no matter what, having such an amazing cabin, my cabin mates and the staff, having the ability to keep coming back, having the experience I can’t have at home, being able to grow the camp bond with so many people

Aquarius: being able to be CIT’s with my friends, cabin mates and the food, the opportunity to come to a place where I can grow, be myself and learn more about myself, my friends and the memories we made this summer, my friends, campers and counselors

Woodland girls never miss an opportunity to show camp spirit!  Whether it be dressing up for the weekly Sunday morning assembly Woodland spirit, making a tie-dye t-shirt with the current summer theme backdrop, going to Towering Pines for a class activity or special event, or being in the end-of-summer Coed Show, we are always proud to sport “Woodland Wear!”  As  you can see in the photo above, the Silver Birch girls are oh-so-cute in their coordinated Woodland t-shirts at the annual Song Contest at the end of the 3rd week.

On the last day of camp, the countdown begins for the arrival of the first day of the following summer, so it is fun to have a few “milestones” to mark the passing of time along the way.  International t-shirt day in mid-November is definitely one of them (we are closing in on 200 days until camp 2020!).  So, grab your favorite camp gear (t-shirt or other item), take a photo, then post on your favorite social media platform using #camptshirtday!

The inside scoop from the girls of Silver Birch 2019: 

In what ways did you SHINE this summer?

Angie: When I was hanging out with my friends.

Audrey: Trying new foods because when I am at home I don’t really try new foods at all because I am scared but now I know not to be.

Ivana: Passing my beginner in tennis, to 20 yds in archery, to level 5 in swimming. My counselors helped me shine!

Mariana: I met new friends!

Marion: I passed to level 4 in swimming.

Elizabeth: Making new friends and having so much fun!

Katherine: Sailing and archery.

Sophie: I made so many new friends and really improved in so many things!

When were you at your BEST this summer?

Angie: When we played games as a cabin.

Audrey: When I know I can do better at swimming.

Ivana: When I was helping people in Spoon Assassins.

Mariana: I liked when I was able to teach my counselors in swimming (and being in charge)!

Marion: When I tried new things.

Elizabeth: At the beginning of camp when I was meeting new people. Being my best is trying my hardest.

Katherine: Passing to 20 yds in archery and to level 4 in swimming.

Sophie: Learning to post in riding and doing good in swimming.

Describe a CHANGE you noticed in yourself while at camp:

Angie: I’m no longer afraid of the dark because my friends helped me with this.

Audrey: Taking a risk of trying fruits and vegetables and other stuff like different kinds of foods.

Ivana: I don’t cry as much anymore!

Mariana: My shooting improved.

Marion: I can do a back handspring.

Elizabeth: Doing better at trying new things.

Katherine: I accepted myself more.

Sophie: I really came out of my shell and found a way to fit in at camp!

What lessons were learned from something CHALLENGING this summer?

Angie: I learned to always stay calm when you are frustrated.

Audrey: Trying new things even though I was terrified at trying them. Now I know to try new things because I might like them!

Ivana: Passing levels and that if I try my hardest, I can do it!

Mariana: Passing levels was challenging, but I learned persistence and to work hard to achieve my goals.

Marion: Archery was challenging because it was my first time.

Elizabeth: Passing a lot of different levels.

Katherine: If you try your best, you will succeed.

Sophie: Sometimes swimming was hard, but I still did it and did great!