As the summer winds to a close, lets look back at a few of the fun times had by campers and staff, learning how to paddle on the Clyde, brave a first overnight, tackle a low ropes course, and more.
Earth Sisters Tackle Jay
by Jessica Weston
The summer camps season is always a busy one filled with adventure, excitement, and of course happy giggling children. I found it helpful to pause and reflect in my down time to remember some of the highlights from the summer before they all get muddled together in my memory. One of those highlights came during my favorite camp, Earth Sisters. On the third day of camp, we took the girls far from NorthWoods and began a hike up Jay Peak via the Long Trail. It was a hot, sunny day and many of the girls were struggling to make it up the mountain. Their attitudes remained positive, but their pace was getting slower and slower. By the time we made it to the lunch spot halfway up, many felt too
exhausted to continue. Having never hiked Jay Peak myself, I was excited to get to the top and see the spectacular view. We ended up splitting up the group, with half continuing to the true summit, while others stayed behind and took a more leisurely hike to see the views at the lower mountain. The second half of the hike was even more brutal than the first. With steep inclines and rock scrambling, we were all starting to get worn out, drenched in sweat, and low on water, but each time we took a break the girls said “no! no! we have to keep going!” And so we did. Some of the older and more experienced campers started playing the word game “Contact” with the other girls to distract them from the sweaty suffer-fest as we continued upward. Eventually we reached the top, went to the bathroom, filled our water bottles, and climbed the stairs above the tram to the true summit. It was then, without much direction from my part, that a group of the girls stood together and held each other’s hands in a victorious pose, looking at the mountains below them. I was very proud to see all of these girls, once strangers 2 days prior, come together and push one another to achieve their common goal, and celebrate accordingly.
exhausted to continue. Having never hiked Jay Peak myself, I was excited to get to the top and see the spectacular view. We ended up splitting up the group, with half continuing to the true summit, while others stayed behind and took a more leisurely hike to see the views at the lower mountain. The second half of the hike was even more brutal than the first. With steep inclines and rock scrambling, we were all starting to get worn out, drenched in sweat, and low on water, but each time we took a break the girls said “no! no! we have to keep going!” And so we did. Some of the older and more experienced campers started playing the word game “Contact” with the other girls to distract them from the sweaty suffer-fest as we continued upward. Eventually we reached the top, went to the bathroom, filled our water bottles, and climbed the stairs above the tram to the true summit. It was then, without much direction from my part, that a group of the girls stood together and held each other’s hands in a victorious pose, looking at the mountains below them. I was very proud to see all of these girls, once strangers 2 days prior, come together and push one another to achieve their common goal, and celebrate accordingly.
Young Campers Preview an Overnight Experience
by Sierra Hargrave
For some children, heading off to an overnight camp can be frightening.
Before NorthWoods launched into its summer programs, staff put on a camp preview so that all children could have the opportunity to experience camp fun in a safe, short-term, environment. The one-night camp preview allowed children to get out of their comfort zones, to try new activities they thought they could never do, and to have a fun and exciting adventure with other children. In just one night, campers connected with one another, the environment, and signed on for week long camps. Success!
Keeping Cool During the July Heatwave
by Wyatt Peterson
We embarked on an adventure down the Connecticut River during the hot and humid weather in the first week of July. Paddling along with the thermometer reading 92 degrees Fahrenheit, we were constantly compelled to jump in the water! Sometimes it was accidental but usually the campers were driven to submerge themselves in the cool, early summer water. We tried other strategies for keeping cool, most importantly by drinking lots of water to keep the sweat pouring down our face and –my favorite way– dunking ball caps in the water and splatting them back on our heads. No cooling strategy could match full submersion though!
By the end of the trip I was unsure if we spent most of our time splashing around from the canoes or in the water. No matter the temperature of the air or water, it is quite invigorating to plunge into this precious resource. Where fish inhabit and numerous bald eagles fly from tree to tree, hunting for them, the Connecticut River also attracted us here, to learn about and appreciate even if for a blink in time.
