Camp Jewell YMCA

Camp Jewell YMCA

October 29, 2013

Colebrook, CT

http://campjewell.org

There are so many things to Ooo and Ahhh about at Camp Jewel. They have impressive year round facilities and a well thought out layout. Their staff was super friendly and welcoming. We got a tour from Craig, the Senior Program Director, he showed us Chapel Island, all of the secret forts and hang outs in the woods, and of course the Whiffle Ball Stadium. The stadium is used for a yearly tournament, the world series of whiffle ball, but the real purpose was to make flag raising and announcements fun and exciting. There is an impressive DJ booth where they blast Thunderstruck to signal for assembly. Each director has their own theme song to signal their arrival or time to speak. Yet above all of this cool and unique stuff that camp Jewell has, the thing we loved most was the large gathering space, located adjacent to the Whiffle Ball Stadium. This area filled with games and activities designed to covertly encourage relationship building. Camp gathers here in the afternoon and after dinner to play on their newly surfaced basketball, pickle ball and four square courts, or to play gaga on one of their three gaga ball rings. There is carpet ball of course and last year the teens build benches around the long carpeted trough so that campers could sit and cheer on their friends while they wait to play. There in an indoor bouldering cave with a garage door that opens towards the rest of the free play action taking place in this gathering space. To top it off they have a mini farm across the driveway. This was my personal favorite. Campers are encouraged to climb over the fence and play with one of their 4 friendly goats. Pet the lamas, lambs, 700 pound pig Stanley, or wander among the very vocal geese. This presents a new experience for many campers, leveling the playing field and helping campers step out of their comfort zone. Thus finding ways to interact and play with new animals as well as secretly forming new friendships. 

-Laura

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Friends Camp

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Friends Camp

Oct. 25, 2013

South China, Maine

http://www.friendscamp.org

Friends camp is founded on Quaker philosophy and has an unique and refreshing view on empowering camp staff to create magical and memorable experiences for campers. The facilities are modest and camp property is kludged together crossing a road to get to their waterfront property. Nat, the camp director, walked us around the facilities and told us about an average day at camp. Campers can chose from a variety of electives taught by counselors, the elective. What is different at Friends Camp is the degree of creative freedom given to the counselors to lead all kinds of unique sessions. Some of the electives align with Quaker beliefs like volunteering at a local soup kitchen or using their pacifist beliefs to lead a protest. One session Nat told us about what a group of kids lead by their fearless counselor conquered the Tempest and then attended a local theaters Shakespeare production at the end of camp. One group may choose to put on a production at camp or stitch together a quilt of all of their secrets. Nat spoke of the trust inherent in the culture that allows counselors to teach their passions and in turn inspire campers really invest and take part in the elective they have chosen. Camp as a whole sounded like a place where a freedom and creativity are common place week after week summer after summer.

-Laura

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Camp Runoia

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Camp Runoia

Oct. 24, 2013

Belgrade, ME

http://runoia.com

At Camp Runoia we met Pam the director and Jines the assistant director. Pam is the daughter of a couple that bought the camp back in the 50’s. Camp has a nostalgic old camp feel about it. The cabins and the buildings are rustic and we could see remnants of the silly fun and the giggly girls that occupy them during the summer. They have a beautiful waterfront and boat house that carries a lot of the history and tradition of camp on its walls. They also have a theater and performing arts center and a top rated horseback riding program. Pam is very involved in the community of camps in Maine and has invested a lot into creating a memorable and valuable experience for her campers.

-Laura

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Fernwood Cove

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Fernwood Cove

Oct. 23, 2013

Harrison, Maine

http://fernwoodcove.com

Driving up to Fernwood Cove we were instantly impressed. Camp is filled with brilliant white buildings and clean hunter green trim. We met up with Beigette who toured us around camp. Beigette had a bike accident a few years prior and has recovered to a motorized wheel chair that allows her to scale the newly installed ramps and accessible entrances to buildings. Fernwood Cove is a testament to the fact that anything is possible, and the way that camp has adapted for Beigette is just one of the many ways that they have dreamed big. Beigette and Jim bought the camp when Beigette was only 24! Since then they have created a cornerstone of  camping in Maine and the North East. Fernwood Cove is an all girls camp that consists of two three and a half week long sessions. The girls who come to camp can choose from fabric arts, pottery, gymnastics, jewelry and silversmithing, horseback riding, sailing, rock climbing, culinary arts, and performing arts. Their program areas are state of the art. After the tour we sat in their office and got a chance to pick their brains on how they did it and what they learned along the way. They gave us some fascinating advice about staff management and how to create and foster a culture that makes camp a place where counselors and campers are invested for life.

-Laura

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YMCA Camp Coniston

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YMCA Camp Coniston

Oct. 22, 2013

Croydon, NH

http://www.coniston.org

Camp Coniston is a picture of success. John Tilly, the executive director, toured us around for almost 5 hours and we could have listened to his wealth of knowledge for 5 days. He spoke eloquently of camp’s “front gate”. When you arrive on camp you are intrigued and excited by the nostalgic classic camp feeling of the buildings and the setting. You can see their private lake from the parking lot, framed by the office building and the lodge. As you approach the office, complete with wrap around porch and 2 story tall cedar pillars, the climbing tower and dock system come into view. Camp is Beautiful, with a capital B. John is rightly proud of the work and vision that went into making camp what it is today. He says that success comes from the willingness to change as well as listen to the needs of parents and campers, as well as staff, often in that order. To give some insight into the magic that happens at camp John told us the story of the last few hours of camp each session. Campers frenetically dance around the dinning hall to clean up from the last dinner. John says that dancing takes place on the stools and that the loud memorable energy is contagious and like so much of camp, can only truly be understood by participating in it. The night continues with campfire and moments of silence punctuated with fireworks and cabin parties. The next morning campers dance that summer’s last dance in the dining hall, often times with parents happily crying in the foyer. The magic of these last few hours no doubt helps bring their campers back year after year, Coniston this past summer had a 93% retention rate. They have dedicated time energy and creativity into scripting out the last few waking hours of camp and it has in John’s eyes paid huge dividends. 

-Laura

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YMCA Camp Chingachgook

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YMCA Camp Chingachgook

Oct. 21, 2013

Kattskill Bay, NY

http://www.cdymca.org/locations/CampChingachgook/Home.aspx

Chingachgook was founded as a wilderness and sailing camp. Located on the beautiful Lake George in the Adirondacks of New York their program takes advantage of their beautiful surroundings. Campers take 3 days during 2 week long sessions and paddle to a nearby island or climb one of the 46 high peeks. Lesley the summer camp director talked about how when prospective families come to tour Chingachook they are very up front about their wilderness based program. They advise parents and campers to find the right camp for them much like picking a college. Campers who are not looking for an outdoor, adventure based experiential learning experience may not necessarily succeed at camp. Lesley spoke passionately about the importance of camp for every child but how there are so many camp and so many different niches that camps fill and that finding finding another camp that resonates with what that child and family is more important. Another corner stone of Chingachgook is their beautiful and iconic waterfront. They run an intense sailing program and they also are host to the YKNOT sailing program that provides people with physical disabilities a sailing experience and a chance at mastery. Talking with Lesley and Derrick the wilderness director over a beer last night we learned more about the deep set values and how dedicated their staff are. They have campers who are begging for a chance to be one of the magic making counselors. It was also interesting to talk with Lesley and Derrick about their successes as a camp as well as their shortcomings proving they are always looking to expand and improve on what a great camp can provide.

- Laura

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