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Opening Day (Session 5)

July 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Another sunny opening day at the GRP! Campers and parents were greeted by staff and a couple of the camp dogs. Moose was lying around a bit on the job this time, but being a camp dog is hard work sometimes.

After most of the parents had gone, cabin photos were taken which can be viewed via your CampIn Touch page. Some of the campers have really grown over the past year. I can’t believe how much older they looked in just a year’s time.

After lunch (pizza, pears, garden salad) the campers gathered for the Respect Circle at the gazebo which is an opening day tradition. Missy and Sandy talked to the campers about respecting themselves, respecting each other and respecting all living things. Afterwards each camper and staff agreed to do so by saying, “I will.”

Next came swim review where campers also learned about waterfront rules such as the buddy system, the need to wear shoes to and from the lake and more. While one group was at the lake another played games on the front field, then they switched. Activity skits/orientation came next.

Dinner tonight was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and for dessert – yellow cake with chocolate icing. (Vegetarian options were also available.)

The day ended with the Upper Council Fire where Sandy read “Chief Seattle’s Letter,” the campers and staff sang songs and listened to stories. An exciting full day awaits!

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Opening Day: Session 4/Mini Campers

June 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We had another beautiful opening day here at GRP. Staff wore their brightest smiles as they greeted the mini-campers. A couple of our camp dogs, Moose and Bear, were also on hand to greet folks.

Before lunch cabin photos were taken which you can view via your CampIn Touch page. Lunch today was pizza, sliced peaches, salad bar and chocolate chip cookies.

After lunch the campers gathered for the Respect Circle at the gazebo which is an opening day tradition. Sandy talked about his time at the preserve when he was a child… how he learned from the mountain folks who eventually became his mentors. Then both Missy and Sandy talked to the campers about respecting themselves, respecting each other and respecting all living things. Afterwards each camper and staff agreed to do so by saying, “I will.”

Next came swim review where campers also learn about waterfront procedures such as the buddy system, the need to wear shoes to and from the lake and more. While one group was at the lake another played games on the front field, then they switched. Activity skits/orientation came next. (The activities the mini campers will do this session: arts/crafts, pioneer cabin, climing, archery, bb skeet and canoeing.)

Dinner tonight was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and for dessert – yellow cake with chocolate frosting. (Vegetarian options were also available.)

The day ended with the Upper Council Fire where Sandy reads “Chief Seattle’s Letter,” the campers and staff sang songs and listened to stories. (Here’s a link to a reading from a couple of years ago.)

Now they’re fast asleep in their cabins. A day of fun, adventure and friendship awaits!

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Opening Day – Sessions 2 & 3

June 12, 2011 By 1 Comment

It was a beautiful opening day at GRP. It was good to see so many familiar faces. I noticed some of the campers had shot up over the past year with a few of them being even taller than their counselors. After camp tours and cabin photos (more will be uploaded tomorrow) the campers had lunch where they learned about ort.

Now, I will admit here, that before I started working at GRP, I had no idea what ort was. On the other hand, when Elan, one of our mentors, talked to the campers about ort, they clearly did. She explained the differences between good ort such as apple cores, watermelon rinds, etc. and sad ort like bread, cheese and various other leftovers. Today’s Ort Report was impressive – hardly any sad ort at all which means they’re most definitely in Coolsville. (At this point you need to make a wave motion with  your hand and say the word Coolsville starting at a high tone and then ending low… drawing it out a bit as well C-o-o-o-o-l-s-ville.)

After lunch the girls and then the boys gathered at the gazebo for the traditional GRP Respect Circle. It’s a time when Sandy and Missy talk to the campers about having respect for yourself, respect for each other and respect for all living things. Each camper and staff member then promised to try their best to do these things by saying aloud “I will.” Very powerful and moving…

Swim review and fun field games followed with a delicious meal of fried chicken with all the “fixins” at dinnertime. The evening program was Capture the Flag which is a big favorite around here. I imagine the campers and staff alike will sleep well tonight… or maybe not. They’re probably so excited about spending their first FULL day at GRP!

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Opening Day – Session 1

June 4, 2011 By 2 Comments

What a fabulous opening day we had here at GRP! The weather was beautiful, the counselors were smiling as they met their new campers and the parents truly seemed to enjoy looking around the camp with a few even taking a short rest on the lodge deck. (I really think some of them wanted to stay and go to camp as well.) After the parents left, cabin photos were taken and lunch was served. The campers enjoyed a traditional opening day meal of pizza which was eaten quickly along with fresh veggies at the salad bar and a delicious cucumber salad served at the table.

After lunch the girls gathered in the gazebo for the GRP Respect Circle followed by the boys. It’s a time when campers and staff agree to respect themselves, each other and all living things. Next was swim review and fun games on the front field. I think the boys particularly enjoyed playing with Bentor’s dog Dante. The girls played Alaskan Baseball… I actually watched them play and I’m still not sure why it’s called that, but it looked like they were having a blast!

After various other activities and free time, the campers enjoyed a delicious, and I do mean, delicious meal of fried chicken with all the “fixins.” An evening program followed with cabin time and then lights out. A full day of adventure, friendship and fun awaits!

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A Super Saturday Opening for Sessions 1 and 1.5!

June 5, 2010 By 2 Comments

We had a beautiful start for our Opening Day for Sessions 1 and 1.5 today (photos online, requires a password or registration), and we are just so happy to welcome our new campers to the start of the 2010 summer!  Campers rolled in bright and early, and staff were eagerly awaiting them at the East Field entrance.  Campers and parents met counselors, co-counselors, mentors, directors… a bevy of staff! and then moved their belongings into cabins, and headed on up to the Lodge to finish registering.   Camp looks terrific, if we do say so ourselves (!), and it was great for parents to get a chance to see where campers will be eating, playing, and sleeping for the next few days.

After parents left, campers went on a longer tour of Base Camp, checking out locations like the Craft Lodge and the Gazebo, so campers know where some of their afternoon activities will meet.  After a yummy lunch of pizza, salad, (pb & j for a few!), we went to the Gazebo, for the traditional Opening Day Respect Circle.  Sandy and Missy Schenck speak with us about the history and mission of the Green River Preserve.  Then campers and staff are given the opportunity to agree to respect ourselves, each other, and all living things–we go around the circle, and all who agree say, “I will.”  This tradition helps establish our community’s expectations and sets a positive tone from the start of the session.

Next, we had activity sign-ups.  Staff put on brief skits that illustrate what campers might do in activities like A Bug’s Life, Archery, Creative Writing, Field Games, Low Challenge Course, Outdoor Cooking, Outdoor Skills, and Tipi.  The Tipi activity is particularly exciting, since campers have the unique opportunity for the summer to see how the GRP’s Tipi is set up.  Campers then headed to the swim lake to learn about Waterfront Procedures and to go through their swim review–now we’re all set for our first day of free time, coming up tomorrow–swimming lake, here we come!

At dinner (delicious fried chicken, broccoli and cheese sauce, roasted potatoes, and rolls), we celebrated one of our campers’ birthday–let them eat cake!  There’s no better evening program for your birthday than Bob-tag–we moved into the West Field for various tag games led by Bob, one of our staff members.  Ask your campers about Ant Hospital!

Now all have headed off to their cabins–campers and staff alike need lots of sleep–they have a big day ahead tomorrow!

We are so glad your campers are with us, and we look forward to the next few days!

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