Author: Brian Kooperman

There’s a saying in the camp world “10for2”. What it means is, we work 10 months out of the year for these 2 months of Summer Camp. There is so much preparation that goes into camp from visiting new & current camp families all over the country, hiring staff, programming and much more that I don’t want to bore you with. Although I enjoy all parts of this job, nothing compares to when the campers get off the bus and camp officially begins. I remember my own camp experiences like it was yesterday and my #1 priority is to make sure all of the campers at Bridgton Sports Camp have that same experience and walk away with friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.

Personally, a highlight for me every summer is the opening & closing campfires. The contrast between these two events will always amaze me. The opening fire, taking place within the first few nights of camp is very short because campers & staff don’t have the comfort level to talk/sing in front of people they have just met. Following three weeks of sports, inter-camp, trips, meals, & memories I can’t explain a final campfire to do it justice. A family had to pick their son up a day early this year and were able to experience this moment and were blown away by it. Every-one of our campers & staff stand up and talks about the goals they accomplished at BSC (Bridgton Sports Camp) and what camp has meant to them. Some of these campers were very shy at that opening campfire, some were homesick, a few are from other parts of the world and know little English, but EVERYONE gets up to speak. EVERYONE is comfortable and EVERYONE sings our adopted camp song, “Wagon-Wheel”, while I watch our senior campers arm in arm with tears in their eyes, realizing their camper experience at BSC is coming to an end.

We have created a strong community/family here at BSC and that is what I’m most proud of. I couldn’t/wouldn’t want to do this alone and realize how lucky I am to work with an admin team and staff that I consider family. These professionals care as much as I do about the success of BSC and work very hard to make sure all of our campers are safe & happy.

BSC 2015 was a huge success! Enjoy the rest of your summer and we have already started planning for 2016.

See you next summer at camp!

Koop

DEAR PARENTS,

TODAY WAS OUR FINAL DAY. COLOR WAR WENT DOWN TO THE LAST EVENT IN THE WACKY RELAY. ROOKIES HAD A TUG OF WAR TO BREAK THE TIE. WARRIORS WERE THE VICTORS. THERE WAS CHEERING AND SHOUTING AND THEN HIGH FIVES AND HAND SHAKES.

BOTH TEAMS GAVE IT THEIR ALL. WE WERE PROUD OF THE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP THAT WAS DEMONSTRATED!!

THIS AFTERNOON THERE IS ONE LAST MAJOR PERIOD BEFORE WE START TO PACK AND HEAD UP TO THE DINNING HALL FOR THE FINAL BANQUET AND CLOSING CAMPFIRE.

THE THREE WEEKS HAS SPED BY AND NOW IS THE TIME TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR BOYS WITH US. THEY WERE AN AMAZING GROUP THAT MADE CAMP A TERRIFIC EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE.

The boys had an extra hour to sleep this morning before the start of day two of color war. The skies were blue with a nice breeze to begin today’s competitions.They dressed and had war paint appropriate to their team.
There was a rotation of handball, soccer, and basketball. Each division played against each other. Scores were tight. Points are not only given to the winners of an event, but good sportsmanship is a key factor too.
I enjoyed watching the boys play sports that were not their major, and surprised at how athletic they are.
The last event today was a Sea Dogs Trivia contest.
Dinner was a cookout, and evening activity is a little down time or karaoke in the Wolverine Den.

The day has finally arrived. Color war broke this morning. Rumor was going around camp that there might not be one this year. It usually breaks before this. We just wanted to keep the guys on their toes. The two teams are the Warriors and Black Hawks.
The morning was all majors for points. For example Hockey had skills competition. They had 3 stations: shooting accuracy, passing, and a relay race. The period ended with a shoot out competition.
The afternoon was flag football, cook off and trivial pursuit. The different age groups rotated between the three activities.
This evening we are having the finals in BSL . Winners get their names on a huge trophy and a pizza party.

Morning on the fields. This morning soccer minors had a great game going. For the major period they had some really creative and fun drills. One of which was KING OF THE RING.

Baseball majors were divided and in the out field. Coach was hitting and they had to make the play at first.

On the ice courtesy of Coach Warde:
-partner passing- change direction and partner 3 times
-USA 2v2 passing
– Amarillo 2 shot warm up
— Gap 1v1
— Headman 2v1
— 3v3 transition game
— Finnish 1v0 station 1
— Seagull 1v0 station 2
— 3v0 center drive with cross and drop- station 3
— 1v1 with ringette- station 4

I watched some pretty intense weight training and fitness. This has become an extremely popular minor. The coach has even started a camper and separate competition for counselors called IRON MAN. Coach has been posting results and times on a chart in the dinning hall.
Arts and crafts has been a popular hang out. If campers don’t feel like tie dying they just sit and chill.
Semi finals in the BSC league are going on. CIT’s have a well deserved night off.

It’s hard to believe we are in our final week. Majors were in full swing this morning.
Baseball was split into catching and the batting cages.
Soccer majors were working hard as usual. I caught them in the beginning of the period while they were still looking fresh for a group shot.
Lax majors paired up and went one on one to shoot on goal.
Coach Warde just sent me a text:
–Underhandle in confined area- top hand, bottom hand, both hands
–1-5 passing – normal, cross and drop, head man
— 4 line shooting-quick feet, no stick handle
— 1v0 Russian flow series-4 options
— 3v3 3 nets 2 pass
Thank you Coach!!!

Plenty of worms were taken from the frig. today. I heard they are catching some nice size bass.
Campers were happy to be tubing and getting some great rides.
At line up this evening there were shout outs from counselors and campers. It’s always great to hear campers applauding each other for their accomplishments.
Tonights evening activity is BSL leagues.

Today was lazy man’s morning. Always a favorite day after a hard week of majors. Campers got home late from the Sea Dogs game and I heard the fireworks were even better then the 4th of July.

This morning was free play and this afternoon we had BSL leagues. Campers were divided into six teams. The Kentucky Wildcats, Farmington Beavers, Stanford Trees, Oregon Ducks, BMS Mountain Goats and the Crimson. They played blitzball slip and slide, handball and cricket. BSL leagues have been going on since the beginning of camp. We are getting close to the semi finals.
Phone calls are going on as I write……. Sure you are hearing all the camp news.

Great day at BSC. Clear skies for the SeaDogs game in Portland tonight. The fire works should be awesome.

This morning 16 and under went out of camp for a baseball tournament. At the last minute the other camp changed the game to softball. Close game and we gave it our best. We’ll try for a rematch but, it has to be hardball!!

The 12 and under boys hosted a basketball game here. The game was close and went right down to the wire. We played hard on offense and defense and won by 3.

It’s hard to believe we are starting our final week at camp. This coming week will be jammed packed and at some secret moment color war will break. No one knows how or when.

My blog is dedicated to hockey majors today. They had “dry land” this morning. No skates and on the football turf they ran at least 5 laps around the field. This was followed by a series of strenuous drills. The drills were demanding and took a lot of strength. The older boys were coaching and encouraging the younger ones that were having trouble. Looking at the pictures will give you a better idea of the different drills. Needless to say the hockey majors were totally exhausted and loved the idea of a free swim this afternoon. Some of the hockey guys opted to go out of camp for a street hockey match.

The 16 and under boys hosted another camp in a game of hoops. I forgot to mention we won last night, but were not as lucky this afternoon.

The weather is still warm up here but little to no humidity. The lake was in full swing. I got to see my first canoe over canoe rescue. Campers always enjoy tipping the canoe’s and now they know how to reenter them. Great rescue drill that is fun to do on a hot day.

Rumor has it that tonight is movie night.

A great time at Fun-town/Splash-Town. Campers tried their luck at several events and some big stuffed animals along with some crazy hats were won. Perfect weather for all the water rides. The seniors rafting trip I heard was awesome. An experience they will never forget!

Today campers got an extra hour sleep and it’s another hot one here at camp. I got up to the fields early and watched each sport do their stretches.

I even went to the lower field and finally got to see archery. I saw three bulls-eyes and I’m sure the archers will get a shout out today at lineup. Just heard there were NO fish caught down at the lake. Campers were making coasters in arts n crafts. Great place to be on a hot day just to chill.

Thank you Coach Warde:
— Swede warmup skate
— BA 1v1 Battle drill
— 1v1 back check, Angling drill
— 3v0 center drive
— 2v2/3v3 net front protect

Two age groups left camp for a soccer tournament this afternoon and tonight 15 and unders will be hosting another camp in a basketball game here.