At last! Our pottery studio is up and running. I stopped in and found some of our Pokey girls getting a demo and testing out the new wheels. Check out the pictures!
Author Archives: megllawrence
First Day Filled with Team Building and New Friendships
The first day of camp is always filled with a bit of anxiety. Campers wonder how they will fit in with a new group of people their age and whether or not they will make friends. Our counselors take special care in planning activities that will help the campers get to know each other better. Staff members are trained to lead basic team building games and also work with the campers to set cabin expectations so that all members of the community are on the same page.
Now that we’ve moved on to the second day, cabin groups have newly formed bonds that slowly turn into long lasting friendships. Budding friendships can already be seen in so many cabin groups.
Dear Mom and Dad….
By now many parents will be getting their first letters from their campers. Some of these letters will detail the incredibly fun and exciting activities that take place at camp and new friends being made, today I hit a bulls eye during archery…last night we played this crazy game called Ultimate Sicko Ball–which is like four way capture the flag. Many other letters will describe the feelings of missing home. As parents, it is heart breaking to get a letter from your child describing how sad he or she is due to missing you terribly. However, feelings of homesickness in campers is totally normal and expected by our staff. It’s natural to love and miss the place you feel the most at ease and comfortable.
One way we help campers work through this is by encouraging them to write letters home. Writing is a therapeutic way to get thoughts down on paper and in many ways this helps campers over come those feelings of homesickness simply through acknowledging the feelings. We recognize that in many ways this frightens parents because by Friday or Saturday they are getting homesick letters from their campers, who more times than not, have since adjusted to camp life and are truly enjoying themselves.
In addition to writing letters, we also express the importance of participating in the activities and encouraging the campers to embrace the routine of a typical camp day–making camp feel a bit more comfortable and like home. By first acknowledging the feelings of homesickness and receiving support from cabin mates and counselors followed by attempts to distract and enjoy the experience, campers are able to overcome homesickness.
One way we keep tabs on campers and their experience is through our Daily Reports, filled out by each of the cabin counselors. Directors keep track of cases of homesickness to assist in helping the counselors provide support, as well as to keep parents informed of any cases of homesickness that don’t improve over the course of the session.
Your child’s experience is so important to us, and we want you to feel comfortable as well. As always when you have questions or concerns don’t hesitate to get in touch with our offices here.
Our Values Tree!
The Eight Core Values are an important part of Frost Valley’s culture. The campers are encouraged to reflect on the values each day and recognize when their peers have done something that emulates the values. To do this, we ask that campers and staff recognize their peer’s actions by writing the action down on a colored leaf which is then hung on a The Values Tree in the dining hall. Each color leaf represents a different value. Red: caring, Gold: Respect, Green: Responsibility, Blue: Honesty, Purple: diversity, inclusiveness, stewardship, and community.
Keepin Cool!
On hot summer days like today its super important for the campers to get lots of rest and stay cool! We set up a soak-er hose in our pavilion for campers to walk or run through as they are passing to their next activity. Its amazing what just a little water will do to keep you cool on days like today! In addition to the soak-er hose, the lake was a busy place today during all of the swim periods. Staff have been asking campers to reapply sunscreen frequently and more water breaks have been added into each period.
Session 2 Wawa Opening Campfire!
The rain didn’t stop Wawayanda from having an incredible opening campfire. Every village had a song or skit prepared by the counselors, Susky village even had a few skits prepared by the campers themselves! By the time we were through, the rain had stopped and we were headed back to the cabins for the first night’s devotion.
We’re havin’ a heat wave, a tropical heat wave!
Sunscreen and water are flowing like crazy. We’ve gotten a few calls from concerned parents about the heat and just want you to know that we’re doing everything possible to stay nice and cool. Campers have been encouraged to take extra water breaks, and many of the games have been moved to the shade. Wawayanda also had a mandatory rest hour to make sure that the campers are getting enough rest and able to really cool down.
Fighting Homesickness!
Dan Weir posted this article a few years back and it has a lot of great information about fighting homesickness! Check it out!
Camp is around the corner! Campers across the tri-state area and beyond are counting down the days to summer camp. As a parent, you may have your own countdown and checklist of things you would like to accomplish prior to your child’s arrival to camp. Making sure your child’s paperwork is complete. Packing clothes for their summer adventure, labeling every article of clothing your child is bringing to camp, deciding which book to send your child with to camp, making sure they have Grandma and Grandpa’s mail address, etc…. There often can be so many things to consider when sending your child to camp. There is one more thing we want you to help your child with to preparing for camp: homesickness.
Frost Valley YMCA will see close to 2000 children this summer. A majority of children that come to camp feel homesick at some point during their stay. For some children, it will only occur once or twice during down time. For others, homesickness can severely affect and spoil their camp experience. Being away from family and friends in an environment that is very unlike their own can initially be a very scary thing for a child. However, the Frost Valley YMCA camp directors and staff want to let you know that you and your child are not alone in homesickness and that we are here to help.
We have several tips you can take to ensure that you and your children have the best experience this summer.
- It’s normal for children to ask prior to the first day of camp, “What if I want to come home?” Most parents provide an answer that virtually guarantees intense homesickness. “If you feel homesick, I’ll come and get you.” Please do not make a “pick-up deal.” Promising this will undermines the children’s confidence and dramatically intensifies homesickness. As a parent, you will always have ability to pick up your child at anytime. The pick up deal often gives children something to be preoccupied with. We suggest talking positively about their anxiety and how they will have a great time at camp.
- Have your child talk to another child who has been to camp. Children who have been to camp can tell each other better than any adult.
- Pack some pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelopes, along with paper and pens. This will allow for children to easily write home when they need to communicate to you. This will also ensure you receive a letter!
- If you have time before camp, have your child spend practice time away from home. Time away from home will build confidence and teach a child how to cope with being away. A weekend at their grandparents’ or a friend’s house would work well.
- The cornerstone of homesickness prevention is parents’ attitudes. We suggest expressing confidence, optimism, and a positive attitude about camp to your children. Your children look up to you and will role model the tone you set.
- Have your child list a bunch of questions they have and give us a call. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you have about camp.
All in the Magic of Camp
They sat in the lower solarium–plotting. When the moment was right the campers moved unexpectedly into the Hird Dinner and sat amongst their older peers. Grace was sung, and a minute later the music started. It began with just a single Outpost Camper, one by one Lakota campers joined and a few more Outpost Campers. In no time the dining hall erupted into a dance party–influenced by the Glee Cast’s rendition of Raise Your Glass. The Flash Mob Specialty–suprising the Hird at dinner, landed a spot in my Top Ten All Time Favorite Camp Moments. The pictures only capture a small portion of what was one very magical moment of Summer 2011.[Gallery not found]
We’re SIIIINGING in the RAIN!
Yes that’s right, we are getting tons and tons of rain, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not having fun! Most of our activities have been indoors today, however we’re keeping cabin groups and villages busy with fun games like: shoe relays, The Newly Cabin Game, Dutch Auction, and of course…learning village cheers for Hoopla!
Stay tuned for lots of updates on your Wawayanda Campers and tons of pictures to be uploaded soon on Smug Mug! Cabin Photos were taken this afternoon during lunch and should be uploaded and ready to view at dinner.