Author: Elissa

Everyone matters in the Apache Relay. No matter if you are doing the elephant walk or diving to the bottom of the pool to pick up 8 spoons or are heading into the canteen for the infamous “unknown”, you count. It is a race that includes everyone. It was an outrageously fun morning and everyone loves Apache.  The encouragement we all give each other during this crazy race is stupendous. It just doesn’t get better than this.

Before dinner each team holds psych speeches that will inspire and motivate their teams. Tonight’s speeches stood out as what this war is about. Each Captain and Lieutenant wore the shirt of their opposing team and shared qualities of their opponents that was outstanding and deserved recognition. The theme was, friends first, war second. One Lieutenant said he was in awe of the Lieutenant from the opposing team because she exhibited such a positive spirit, not when they were winning but when they were loosing. When we win it is easy but it’s when we loose, that our true character comes out. This is the meaning of true respect and why Color War is so spectacular and important. We will loose more than we win but it is how we loose that will ultimately define us as winners.

It was skit night tonight and it was hilarious. Each team brought us back to the 80’s and 90’s. They rocked and rolled and referenced everything from a few decades ago. It was insanely fun and outrageously funny. The campers in the skit were brilliant and showed that even though they were not around during that time; they fully understood what the 80’s and 90’s were all about.

As day four came to an end, Gold 90’s jumped ahead by 221 points with a score of:

Red 80’s – 2,479 points

Gold 90’s – 2,690 points

There are over 1,400 points still up for grabs with a full day of final games tomorrow and like we always say, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO SING!!!!

Chenny out.

 

It was a glorious morning and a perfect day for more color war games and contests. Everyone was feeling the spirit with their faces painted and their hair sprayed with their team colors. Spirit and team pride runs deep here and everyone feels the excitement. Today our middy girls painted a strip of the opposing teams color down their noses. They did it as an act of respect for their bunkmates and girls in their division that were on the opposite team. This is what it is all about. Friendship trumped competition and no matter what happens in these games, friends are what matters the most. It was a sweet gesture that spoke volumes.

Boy’s side had their track meet today and girls side battled in the pool with their swim meet. The kids had so much fun as they relayed to their finish lines getting cheers praise for their hard work and effort. To sit back and watch the encouragement we all give one another here is life changing. There was an Inter girl in the pool and she fell behind a race she was in.  With every stroke she took, her teammates chanted her name saying, “ You can do it, we believe in you.” That Inter girl got a surge of energy and won her race. As she jumped out of the pool and celebrated her win, she told her teammates that with every stroke she took, she heard them encouraging her and that alone gave her the will to push harder. It’s amazing what you can do when you have a whole team behind you.

It has been three full days of Color War battle and the score before this evening’s event was:

RED 80’s – 1,990 points

Gold 90’s -1,987 points

We have a serious war here with only a 3-point difference. Tonight was a great event as we all headed to see the long-standing camp tradition of Rope Burning and Water Boiling. Counselors for both teams have been collecting wood and preparing for tonight. Their faces are painted with zinc to protect them from the burning fire that they have created and the entire camp, watches with great anticipation as to which team while burn the rope and boil the water first. Tonight’s win went to GOLD 90’s as they burnt their rope in record time of 21 minutes and boiled their water first. Red 80’s followed by burning their rope moments later and followed by boiling their water. Not an easy fete but both teams completed their mission. It’s an awesome Color War event to be a part of and to witness knowing that so many campers before us has sat on that same field, watching ropes burn and water boil. We are all so proud to be part of this long-standing tradition.

Tomorrow is the Apache Relay and we just can’t wait!

Chenny out.

It was a day full of games in between the rain. There was newcomb and softball there was hockey, BBG and water volley. There was basketball, volleyball, soccer and wiffleball. It was a day of play, spirit and pride. You have to see it for yourselves to fully grasp just how much fun your kids are having.  They are in a war that demands all of their effort and commitment. When they win, they celebrate together and when they loose they pick each other up and move on to the next game.

When you walk around camp and see the camaraderie and teamwork you realize that we all are experiencing something pretty tremendous. We are in a bubble of support and kindness.  How we all treat one another after a win or a loss is just as important as the battle itself.  Unfortunately, this just doesn’t exist outside our gates and though both Red & Gold are vying to be the victors of this Color War, it is done with great respect and support for one another.  It’s brilliant to see and magical to be part of.

As we all worked our bodies to the bone with a day of physical challenges, the night was meant to test our brains. It was Quiz Night and it was awesome. Each group had trivia tests that covered everything from pop culture to sports to history and everything in between. Then we all headed into Shields Hall to watch the counselors in a serious battle of the brains contest. After 40 challenging questions, the race was close but Red 80’s squeaked out the win tonight.

After 2 full days of Color War battles the current score is:

RED 80’s – 1,502 points

Gold 90’s – 1,487 points

Still early on in this race and way too soon to call but Red & Gold are neck and neck with a mere 15 point difference. You can see how badly each team wants it. We have three full days of Color War fun to be had. It truly doesn’t get better than this. By far the best week of camp yet!

Chenny out.

There was excitement throughout camp as everyone was psyched to get the first day of color war underway. There was a sea of painted faces, Red & Gold pom poms, crazy wigs and lots of tutus. The spirit was running high and everyone was ready to go. It was off to the soccer field for some crazy tugs of war. The coolest part of tugs of war isn’t the win or loss; it’s the visible sign on each campers face as to how bad they want it. It is effort, it is dedication, it is hard work and it is being a part of something bigger than you.  It is the essence of teamwork.

It was a great day full of Color War battle playing softball, newcomb, flag football, BBG, basketball, soccer, baseball.  There is a lot on the line and every game matters. From our Freshman to our CIT’s, you play a part in every single point for your team. There is so much team spirit and support here. It’s all about sportsmanship, effort, heart and soul. What you put into these games, you get out tenfold.

It was Red vs. Gold for mass games tonight as all of girls side played a mass game of  BBG while boy’s side played mass softball. After mass games, it was Contest Night and it was fun. Lower camp raced inside Shields Hall as they had balloon races, tunnel crawls, potato sack races and dizzy bat races. While upper camp raced outside Shields Hall on the basketball court with their fun and outrageous races of hippity hop, flying turtles and volleyball hops. The music was bumpin and the campers were loving the spirit so much that after lower camp was finished with their races, it was a perfect time for an impromptu Hava Nagila. Red and Gold together were dancing the Hora, just because.

Both teams have proven how bad they want to win Color War and it’s only the first day. From intense psych speeches to all day chants and cheers, both Red & Gold are bringing everything they have to this Color War. This is looking to be one memorable Color War!

Even though we have just began Color War, camp is coming to an end and we are only one week away from our last day here. All scheduled calls are over for this summer. We have only 7 more glorious days in our summer home and we plan to make every moment count. We battle on tomorrow!

Chenny out