Wilderness Skill Builders Back!

Our final trip has returned home!!  Our Wilderness Skill Builders liked canoeing a lot better than backpacking.  :-)   The fact that they didn’t have to carry all their gear was a plus, and the great scenery was cool.  Camping was great, and the fajitas and sandwiches were tasty.  Tonight on their way home they got a speacial treat eating out and getting ice-cream for desert before heading back here to camp.   Right now they are in the middle of cleaning up gear and participating in a closing campfire. 

See everyone tomorrow around 11 (or 2-3:30 for bus riders, depending on the bus!).

Session A Adventures Return!

Everyone is back on camp and loving life (although significantly more tired than when they left :-)   Here’s an update on each of the trips:

Backpackers -love the view, the downhill portion was the best and reaching the end trailhead today was a huge accomplishment.  Overall backpacking was fun for just about everyone, but, as one camper said  it “really tires out my legs.”  Some highlights include the view from the top of Table Mountain, finding a gushing spring near the lean-to, setting up tents and sleeping in them overnight, and telling other hikers about the location of the spring!

Climbers – the rock was great.  Everyone climbed at least once on each climb (some even made it up more than once!).  The guide and counselors were awesome and hanging out at the campsite with the bikers cooking dinner was a blast.  They definitely recommend bringing sleeping pads next time and although they forgot the stakes to one of their tents, sleeping outside was still a positive expereince. 

Bikers – riding through the puddles and getting as muddy as possible was definitely the highlight, although finding trickling water along one of the rocks that they could use for a “shower” afterward was also very cool.  Taking a break from biking and scrambling up a short hike to find fresh blueberries was amazing.  Everyone slept GREAT last night - sound asleep as soon as they laid their heads down. 

Now, everyone is getting geared up for their closing campfire.  Don’t forget to ask to see their new patch when they get home tomorrow (adventure created patches for the first time this year with a symbol of a tent and the number of years they have been here at Frost Valley!).

See everyone tomorrow at 11:00 AM (or for bus riders 2-3:30 depending on the bus!).

Grow it yourself!

 

This is the second summer at Farm Camp  for our chefs Anna and Elliot. They do an amazing job of preparing nutritional meals using as much food grown and raised at the farm as possible. And of course the food is always super yummy! Anna and Elliot are working on a Farm Camp Cookbook with simple, kid-friendly meals made with farm fresh ingredients. This summer all of the campers are learning to make pizza dough from scratch and choose their own toppings. The campers are proud of their hand made creations and definitively enjoy eating their hard-earned dinners!

Mustang’s Last Full Day

Yesterday was a whirlwind of activity.  Every group trotted and the girls have been really working hard at building their riding skills.  They are very excited for today’s trail ride along the Neversink.  This scenic trail parallels the Neversink River for over a mile as it winds through the woods.  This is where girls put their new riding skills to the test as they navigate through the forest. 

Last nights campfire was full of laughs, skits, and songs.  Many girls really came out of their shell to share with the group around the warm flames of the fire.  Everyone is excited for tonight’s evening program.  It is a challenge night between the Mustang Campers and the East Valley Ranch Campers.  It should be a night to remember filled with games, competitions, face painting, song, and much more.  Which valley will win bragging rights as the winning valley of Session A???  Check with your camper tomorrow morning at check out to find out and let them tell you all about it!

Bareback and trails at EVR!

Last night’s rain and storms didn’t stop the girls at EVR from having another great day. The sun came out and we started our day with field hockey, soccer, and a hoola-hoop competition – the current record is eleven minutes, WOW!  After everyone brought their ponies into the barn, they learned how to rope, which turned into piggyback bronc riding which was HILARIOUS.  It was EVR’s first unofficial rodeo.

Following lunch we had Al visit from main camp with his guitar, to lead the girls in a sing-a-long, which involved A LOT of dancing.  They had a much needed rest hour, followed by an afternoon full of riding!  Regular lessons, bareback lessons, AND an extended trail ride on the Latigo Loop. The girls had some extra bonding time with their horses and there were smiles all around.

Dinner was followed by a visit from the mobile camp store, where everyone bought lots of goodies!  We had delicious banana boats and a camp fire for evening program.  We can’t believe that there is only one full day left, but we are delighted to hear that all of the girls want to return to EVR for a full session!  Hurray!

WE LOVE EVR!

 

 

2011 Wilderness Skill Builder Session A

Hey Everyone At Home!

Wilderness Skill Builder is off to a great start!  After hiking up Table and Peekamoose Mountain Monday and Tuesday – enjoying the beautiful weather- the group came back to main camp just in timefor a massive thunderstorm last night.  The group did well (although they were up late listening to the rumbles of thunder and flashing of lights) and were really proud that they stay in their tents the whole night!  Most of them have decided that they are glad they did the backpacking, but once might be enough for now and they are really looking forward to canoeing because they don’t have to carry their gear.  :-)

They left main camp again this morning around 9:30 AM to head down to the Deleware River for their paddling portion of the trip and will be returning again tomorrow evening.

Mustang Village…Mid Week

Yesterday was an amazing day for Mustang Village.  Girls spent the entire morning at the barn riding and working with their horses.  They are doing an excellent job and are really gaining a sense of understanding of their new horses.  Each girl has their own horse and has been assigned to a lesson group based on their skill level.  Our outstanding instructors are planning activities for each day to teach girls all about horses!  Lunch was hamburgers and veggie burgers (a camp favorite) and the afternoon was warm and humid which was perfect for waterfront.

Mustang girls reached new heights at the climbing tower where they had the opportunity to try our 50 foot “Y Tower”.  Every girl received support and encouragement from the staff to climb as high as they could!  They really gained a sense of accomplishment as many of them were nervous to try the tower at the beginning.

A hike to beautiful High Falls ended the day.  The giant waterfall was really moving with the huge volume of rain we have received in the last few weeks.  However the evening was perfect for the hike outdoors and all of the girls were eagerly taking photos to show you when they return home. 

It’s hard to believe the week is more than half way over.  We are going to cram as much fun into the last two days as we possibly can.  The girls say they wish they were staying for more than a week, as they have just about got the hang of the routine and are ready to really start enjoying camp!