Camp Woodland Blog
We Welcome You to Camp Woodland
We’re Mighty Glad You’re HERE…!
You can’t open a summer camp without the people. The moment we have all been waiting for is FINALLY here…our favorite people have arrived! Dressed in their snazzy Woodland polos, the counselors were literally jumping up and down with excitement, clapping, and singing the welcome song as cars came into camp on Opening Day. Everything we’d been talking about during pre-camp training was coming to reality!
Even the less than perfect weather could not detract from the delight of the day— old camp friends reuniting, new campers being welcomed and suddenly finding themselves swept along as cabin groups began setting up their bunks. Soon groups of girls led by their counselors were exploring camp, warming up the tether balls, and getting to know each other. Lunch was a perennial favorite: mac & cheese, salad bar, and chocolate chip cookies. All hot and gooey, Dan’s homemade mac & cheese is a pasta dish (and comfort food) that always pleases the crowd. With pizza, another salad bar and rhubarb crisp for dinner, the girls got to enjoy several camp favorites on the 1st day! The natural beauty of Woodland was sparkling all day long (even with a little “dew”) and into the evening as the bus with our campers from Mexico pulled into the drive. It truly was an extraordinary day.
The first weekend is always packed full of action and fun! On Sunday morning Lucy Landsports and Wendy Waterfront set the stage for activity instructors from each area to take turns making short presentations, performing skits, and engaging campers in short games to give them a glimpse into the summer ahead. These silly presentations are great ways for the girls to meet the counselors and pick up on the joy they have for what they teach. It demonstrates that there is big fun to be had at the barn, waterfront, tennis courts, art room, target sports ranges, farm zoo, and Rec Hall.
Today is the start of several days in a special rotation of activities designed to help campers feel like they are settling into the flow of camp. Getting to sample many of the instructional offerings, making tie-dye t-shirts, and taking a group photo are instrumental to having shared experiences and building community as a cabin. By mid-week your daughters will be pros with camp routines. They will anticipate the ring of the Woodland bell to signal moving from one exciting activity to another. They will know all about “hopping” and the “job wheel” and will have had enjoyed getting “canteen” after Rec Swim. They will have joined in signing “Oyster Stew” and the “Woodland Song” after dinner.
Monday evenings after dinner are designated as Cabin Nights that continue the process of cabin unity and bonding. Fun choices that vary each week including cabin canoe trips and trying out the Aqua Tramp at Towering Pines. Themed activities such as Nature Week or Water Week are typically scheduled for Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday evenings. Dinner on Wednesday is a cookout at the picnic tables by Treetops followed by Campfire at the beach where your camper will be working with her cabin to prepare a song or skit (and write the first “official” letter to update you on all that has been happening since arrival at camp!). Camp will feel more like home with each passing day and the week will FLY BY in no time!
Open New Doors at Camp Woodland!
Camp Woodland’s 55th season is officially underway, and we couldn’t be more elated! We also know that there are a lot of mixed emotions from campers and parents alike on Opening Weekend. Shedding tears and feeling your heartstrings pull tight after giving one last hug is NORMAL. You packed, prepared and did everything you could to get your camper(s) ready for an AMAZING summer. We know that you love your daughters very much and that you will miss them while they are with us.
WE THANK YOU for giving them the gift of camp! Now it is our turn to do what we do best – Woodland has been in the business of youth development for 54 summers. Our theme this year is “Open New Doors,” and we are very much looking forward to seeing all the ways your daughters will expand their horizons with new friends, new foods, and new activities.
Stay tuned…it’s going to be an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G summer!