Author: Jason Stone
A Day In The Life of a BSC Camper – Thursday June 28th
I know we like to talk about the amazing Maine weather here on the PawPrints Blog, but mother nature will occasionally jump in. We woke up to some cloudy weather and we knew the rain would eventually come. We did, however, get a little lucky…After a tasty french toast breakfast and a strong clean up of the dorm rooms, we went right into our majors. All 5 majors got a solid few hours in. We ran drills and scrimmages and took advantage of the cloudy day. Everyone worked extra hard and got a good sweat in. After that, the rain came in. We started lunch a bit early and extended the rest hour period which gave everyone some time to wind down before the rainy day afternoon schedule.
Sometimes, rainy days can be a ton of fun. We split up by divisions and rotated between a bunch of different activities. There was Bingo in the Humanities Center where campers had the opportunity to win a bunch of different prizes. Some of our younger campers were brave enough to jump on the microphone for some good old fashioned karaoke. Another popular stop on the rotation, was the indoor handball tournament on the hardwood basketball court. Split up into different teams, we had some round robin tournaments that left one winner for each division. A great way to get a good run in during the afternoon rain.
Because we have the ice rink at our disposal, why not take advantage? We ended the day with a free skate. Many of our hockey majors got to show off their skills, while also helping other campers (and counselors) skate for their very first times. (don’t worry, we have rental skates) – What a great way to end the afternoon!
The rain continued through dinner and into the evening activity, so we couldn’t do BSL tonight. So, we decided to go with movie night. Again, we broke out by division and watched some great movies. It was a long day, but a ton of fun. The forecast looks really great for the next few days with some hot weather coming our way over the weekend.
For more, don’t forget to log in and check out the daily pictures in your CampInTouch account.
Goodnight from Bridgton!
A Day In The Life of a BSC Camper – Tuesday June 26th
DAY 2: Majors, Waterfront, Campfire
I know we always go on and on about that Maine weather, but Tuesday couldn’t have been more spectacular. A nice cool morning just got nicer and nicer as the day went on. No better time for working on majors, waterfront activities and a campfire!
Majors
Up on the fields, the campers in their majors were hard at work. On the baseball diamond, Coach Mike had the boys doing a series of throwing drills followed by base running, and batting practice. Hockey majors were put through some vigorous drills in the morning and then scrimmaged in the afternoon. One of the drills I got to watch was 3 on 3 using their opposite hand. Over on the hardwood, Coach Whit came out strong (as always) with an array of different drills to improve the kids’ games and take them to the next level.
Waterfront
A classic picture perfect day here at camp always means…WATERFRONT! There’s nothing better than getting in a canoe on a beautiful day and exploring. The waterskiing and fishing boats were also out on the water the entire day. We caught a ton of fish (and then set them free), and a group of campers got up on waterskis for the first time in their lives.
Campfire
As per tradition at BSC, one of our first nights is always the opening campfire, and it was an amazing evening last night to have it. At around 8:30 as the sun started to set, and the whole camp congregated around the fire to talk about camp and what our values mean in our daily lives. Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Loyalty, Kindness, and Friendship are the values that we live by here at camp. It is important to us that our campers understand the importance of these. In tomorrow’s post, we will share those values with you in further detail.
8 years ago, when BSC was founded, we started a tradition of setting goals for ourselves. At the beginning of every session, the campers write their goals on a piece of wood. Those goals range anywhere from making new friends to improving in their game, to growing up as a person. At the closing campfire, they share those goals and tell their fellow campers what goals were met before tossing the wood in the fire. Koop saves the ashes and they are added to next year’s campfire.
We are excited to see what goals our campers set for themselves this year, and how they will work both on and off the court/ice/field to achieve them.
Until next time!
A Day In The Life of a BSC Camper – Monday June 25th
Session 1 – Day 1
Welcome to Camp
BSC Families,
Hello and thanks for joining us this summer. Welcome to our daily blog. Here you will read about what your son is up to here at camp! If there is anything else you want to hear, just let us know.
Maine: Some of the best weather you will find in the US. We have beautiful days and cooler summer nights. Nothing more you can ask for when you’re running around all day.
Just like most mornings here at camp, the day started when the whistle blew at 7:45am. All throughout camp you heard, “Goooood Morning Bridgton!! Everybody up! It’s a great day to be at camp!” – The classic wakeup call from our fearless leader, Koop. Heading up the hill to the dining hall were tons of new faces. New 8 year olds and new 15 year olds walking together to see what was for breakfast. And what better than chocolate pancakes and bacon for opening day. Don’t worry though…for the healthier ones, there is always a yogurt and fruit available.
Let’s walk through the different types of activities our campers participate in…
Majors
Ice Hockey, Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Baseball. Those are the “majors” here at camp. Every camper majors in one sport and then minors in a variety of other sports and activities. Majors are comprised of skills and drills. Our boys love their majors and really want to improve over the next 3 weeks. The directors of each sport are all experienced coaches who want to see their players succeed.
The first day of majors are always awesome to watch. Campers and counselors come out hungry and are eager to get going. The energy is at an all time high. Everyone wants to give 110% and prove that they are there to get better and to work. At our 6pm lineup, each director stood up and gave a recap of the major and there was not one negative thing that was said. All upbeat positive attitudes. Good vibes over here for day 1!
Minors
Sports
Every coach wants their players to be well rounded athletes. Hockey coaches want their players to play sports like lax to improve on their hand-eye coordination. Basketball coaches like their players improving their speed & agility on the soccer field. In addition to their majors, everyone also minors in different sports & activities. When at the minors, it is always fun with a little bit of a competitive edge. On the first morning of every session, we give our campers a weekly schedule with every single period laid out for them. It’s important for them to have structure here at camp.
Activities
At our core, we are Bridgton Sports Camp. However, we pride ourselves in being a perfect mix of a sports camp with traditional camp values. In addition to our sports, we offer an array of activities that allow our campers to try new things and take breaks from the sports.
Our waterfront always has some of our most popular minors. Waterskiing, wakeboarding, canoeing, and fishing are always running. Maine is known for its beautiful lakes, and everyone loves getting in there. Many of our campers have never been waterskiing or wakeboarding before and it is awesome when they get up for the first time.
In addition to the waterfront we offer many other activities. Arts & Crafts is a great place to go and cool down and make some pretty neat stuff. Street Hockey & Tennis always get intense. We have a great weight training & fitness / speed & agility program that aligns perfectly with our campers major sports. There are solid workout regiments that campers can work on during these periods that will help them improve on the court field, and ice.
Night One
After dinner, we have evening activities. Most of the time, it is Bridgton Sports League; aka BSL. We also have free play occasionally. Additionally, we have special events and trips which you’ll read more about as the summer goes on.
Tonight, we kicked it off with BSL. The way it works is every division is divided up into different teams. Our divisions are always college conferences. This year, we are going with the Ivy League for the Rookies & SEC for the Pros/Seniors. Games consist of Gaga, Handball, Kickball, Cricket, and some others.
After BSL, our youngest campers, the rookies, head straight to showers and start hanging out and getting ready for bed. The older guys have a little more freedom. The middle division, the professionals are able to play in the gym and hang on the fields until 9:15. After that, they head to their dorms to shower and prepare for bed. Lights out for them are at 10:30.
This concludes our first day of camp. We hope you enjoyed the read!
We hope that you follow us on Facebook & Instagram for some sweet photos from around camp.
Until next time…Goodnight from Bridgton!!
Yours Truly,
A Bridgton Sports Camp Staff member
Here We Go
WE ARE READY!
Good morning and welcome to our 8th summer at Bridgton Sports Camp. We are so happy that you and your family will be joining us.
As a camp owner/director I am always asked, “What do you do the rest of the year?” While I won’t explain that in this blog, I can tell you that it involves a lot of preparation for what begins tomorrow. This past week we have been busy training our staff & preparing for camp. I am extremely impressed with our staff & all of the hard work they have been putting in. They are eager to start and cannot wait for the campers to arrive.
This morning I walked around camp, and I can tell you that the facility is in fantastic shape. While checking out the empty grounds, I can just imagine all of our campers running, playing, laughing & yelling on the fields. To me, and all of us at camp, there is nothing better than those sounds.
Starting on Monday, we will have a daily blog that will be posted here and in CampMinder along with daily photos that will give you a window into what your child’s day is like here at camp. I will also try to personally write a blog every once in a while.
Additionally, you can follow us on Instagram (@BridgtonSports) & Facebook for more pictures & videos of camp life.
As always, please call or email me at any time to check-in, and you can be sure that I will call you if anything comes up on this end.
We can’t wait to see everyone at camp tomorrow!
All the Best,
If I Were a Parent: Teaching kids to be good sports
Original article can be found HERE
(CNN)
“That teams stinks.” “Those refs are trash.”
“I wish I never signed up for this.” Those were just some of the comments we got when we asked a group of elementary and middle school students to demonstrate bad sportsmanship. If you’ve been around kids in an athletic setting, you no doubt have heard comments like those — and plenty worse — from bad sports. Losing is not easy for many kids, and being a graceful winner can in some ways be even harder, so the question becomes: what can parents do to teach their children good sportsmanship?
Rule No. 1 seems simple enough but is too often overlooked by helicopter parents who are living vicariously through their children. Parents should model the behavior they want to see in their kids, said John O’Sullivan, author of “Changing the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids.”
“Kids are not very good at listening, but they are fantastic at imitating,” said O’Sullivan, founder of the Changing the Game Project, which says it seeks to “put the ‘play’ back in ‘play ball.’ “
“And so if you want your kids to display good sportsmanship, you should. If you don’t want your kids to yell at referees, you shouldn’t yell at referees.”
O’Sullivan, a former college and professional soccer player, said that as he was coaching his 11-year-old daughter’s soccer team recently, the opposing coach actually yelled to his players to try to hurt one of the girls O’Sullivan was coaching.
“I turned to him and said, ‘Are you serious, man? You’re telling an 11-year-old girl to try to hurt another 11-year-old girl? What is wrong with you?’ “
When we talked with kids themselves — most of them students at Lincoln Elementary School in Caldwell, New Jersey — as part of our “If I Were a Parent” video series, we got an earful about how parents are sometimes the worst sports of all.
“Sometimes, there’s a parent that every single play, even when the other team’s up by 30, it’s like, ‘why did you do that?’ from the stands, and they’re not even the coaches,” said Lance Jenkins, who began middle school in September.
Asked what impact parents who don’t display good sportsmanship could have on their kids, Toniann Garruto, who is in the fifth grade, said the kids won’t be good sports either, “because they’ll say, ‘Oh, my parents aren’t good sports, so why do I have to be one?’ “
It’s tough to know whether sportsmanship on the part of kids and parents has gotten worse from decades ago, but it’s certainly gotten more public, O’Sullivan said. “The bad behavior is more public, so every fight, every skirmish, every ‘soccer moms gone crazy’ is posted online … so it certainly seems like it’s gotten worse.”
Add the trash-talking that is common in professional sports, and you have plenty of examples for kids today of how not to be.
“If you consider trash-talking your opponents poor sportsmanship — I do — then they’re looking at their role models in sports doing it, and so they’re feeling like, ‘Well, they’re doing it, so I should do it, right?’ ” O’Sullivan said. “It’s up to parents and coaches to go out of their way to really address it. ‘That’s not what we do here. … I don’t care what the other team’s doing. That’s not what we do here.’ “
Casey Wescott, who is in the sixth grade, said that if he were a parent, he would try to focus on role models who are displaying good sportsmanship and show those examples to his child. “You show him or her a video of that player being a good sport and (say), ‘Don’t you want to be like, let’s say, Stephen Curry? Don’t you want to be like him?’ ” Wescott said of the star player for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
Grace Szostak, who is now in middle school, said that if she were a parent, she might read her kids some books with morals. “A lot of children like to take after their favorite characters,” she said, adding that she would show them television shows or YouTube videos with good morals, too.
One way to help a child learn how to lose and win is to keep games and competitions in perspective, said O’Sullivan, who has coached at every level from children to college. Chances are that the score of any game your child plays this fall won’t be remembered years from now, he said. “When you go and ask athletes for scores from games … they might remember a couple, but these early youth teams, in-town baseball games, they’re not going to remember that, yet parents are starting fights and going to prison over a bad call by an umpire, and that’s just insane.”
To help your child cope with losing, don’t get caught up in the moment, he said.
And as for teaching your child how to win and win gracefully, remind them how it felt when they were on the losing side. “The biggest thing that I always say to my team when you’re winning by a lot is, ‘you know what, you’ve been on the other side of it where you’ve lost by a lot. Do you remember how that felt? So don’t do anything that’s going to make your opponent feel any worse right now,’ ” O’Sullivan said.
We, parents and children, tend to get all riled up and unsportsmanlike when we become focused on the outcome, he said. When we’re winning and the umpire makes a questionable call, we might be fine with it, but when we’re down 1-0 and the umpire makes the same call, we freak out. Instead of being outcome-focused, we should be process-focused with our kids, encouraging them to move on from every play and every game, O’Sullivan said.
“Oftentimes, our first question to our kids after a game is ‘Did you win?’ Well, that puts all the focus on the outcome. Not ‘Did you enjoy yourself? Did you learn a lot? Was it a good game?’ Things like that, so change your first question.”
The Hidden Value of Camp
This post was found on Maine Summer Camp’s Blog here
The Hidden Value of Camp
Your kids want to go to camp for a variety of reasons: to swim, boat, craft, play games, sleep in a bunk, make up stories, sing songs, eat s’mores, and stay up late. Who among us wouldn’t want to spend many warm weeks of summer having fun with our friends? And while parents endorse all those endeavors, fondly recalling sing-a-longs around campfires, secret languages made up in the dark, and days on end spent in wet bathing suits, the real reason we send our kids to camp? It’s the independence.
We have no choice but to be protective these days as parents. The dangers are all too real. Sending our kids to camp lets us give them the freedom we remember from our youth. Freedom to play and be adventurous, to explore and discover nature and ourselves, away from the eyes of adults. Camp life is an alternate reality that is controlled yet wild. We can trust that our kids are safe, being watched over by counselors and staff, but with space to get immersed in the outdoors, to form their own tribes, to go a little native in the deep woods of Maine.
The kids know that camp is a special place. That it’s kind of a magical world that exists apart from and outside the one we inhabit the other ten months of the year. Campers are aware that it’s an escape from the pressures of the school year. What they may not realize is that they are acquiring skills, through play and everyday activities that help them grow and develop, independent of parental guidance.
You are giving your kids the incredible gift of self-discovery and the confidence gained through succeeding at tasks, whether a ropes course or simply getting up, dressed, and ready for the day all by themselves. The secret of camp is daily incremental growth intertwined with self-assurance. At the end of their weeks away you will be so impressed by your small person, how proud they are, how strong they have become.
It’s a sort of paradox, and a wonderful one. That a summer away at camp in Maine can change your child in these two distinct ways. First, that they happily unplug and commit to play and the quiet study of the world around them you thought had been lost in the unblinking eye of technology. And two, that they have transformed into a more capable, competent human being. More childish wonder and more independence, all at once. And it happened without them even knowing it.
Camp teaches kids something every single moment of every day, even when we all are at play.
From Koop’s Desk: Goodbye Summer 2017
Koop’s Desk
Goodbye Summer 2017…
On the final day of camp there are two emotions that hit me hard. The first is relief. From the day our staff arrive for orientation until the final camper is home with their family, I don’t take a second off. You trust me with your greatest possession and I do not take that lightly. My #1 goal each summer is making sure that each one of our campers is safe & healthy at all times.
The second emotion is pride. Pride in what we have accomplished at camp as a community. I have been in the camping world my entire life, and a former director I worked for always said, “A camp is only as good as its staff”. I have taken this line to heart and know how lucky I am to be working with our team.
Each Morning…
at 7:15am, our admin team meets to collaborate on the day’s events and discuss everything that is going on in camp. The team consists of Wade (our Assistant Director who I met over 20 years ago as a camp counselor and has remained one of my closest friends) and our Division Leaders; Jordan, Henry & Jason. There are two things that I admire most about these guys. The first, is their commitment to BSC. I know that every day, each of these guys works to make camp the very best it can be. They understand what needs to happen day in and day out in order for us to succeed.
The second, is that each one of them is pursuing their dreams in very competitive fields. They have taken risks, moved cities, and extended their schooling in order to do what they have always wanted. I want to thank them and all of our other counselors who worked tirelessly this summer to ensure that each camper was well taken care of both on and off the fields.
A Highlight For Me…
was the final campfire. Each summer I debate recording this event so parents can see how special it is. However, I believe it would take away from how sacred it is for our campers and counselors. Almost every camper gets up in front of 160+ people (something I wouldn’t have been able to do as a child) and talks about their experience at camp. They thank those who have guided them throughout the summer, and expresses their feelings towards BSC. The respect and admiration everyone has for each other is evident in these moments. All are silent and are giving their undivided attention to who is speaking.
In The End,
it is all about the kids! Most campers arrive at camp expecting to focus and improve in their “major” sport. Our talented team of Sports Directors (Coach Wade, Warde, Lesure, Verrill, Green & Alonso) have been with me a long time and run incredible programs. However, BSC is more than this. Not only are our campers improving their skills in their respective sports, but they are learning and implementing life skills. Some are dealing with homesickness for the first time, roommate situations, and personality conflicts. When our campers are able to conquer their fears, resolve conflicts away from home with our guidance, and step out of their comfort zone, that is what summer camp is all about.
Camp is more than just the sports. It is about learning from each other and growing with one another. And at the end of the day, it is about how we all come together as a family. That is what the BSC community is to me. It is a family, and I couldn’t be happier to share it with all of you.
Thank you to everyone who made this summer one of the best we have ever had!
It’s never too early to discuss next summer. Details will follow shortly as 2018 summer enrollment will open after Labor Day on Tuesday September 5th.
Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I look forward to speaking with all of you over the winter. Camp will be here before we know it!
Koop
Camper – A Day In The Life: Monday July 31st: #Monday
#Monday
The first day of our final week….
Morning Session
After an incredible weekend, our last week of camp started off really strong. We have been so lucky with weather this summer, and today was no different. As the whistle blew at 7:45am, campers walked out of their dorms to a perfect 70 degrees and sunny. No better way to start the day. Perfect weather, walking to breakfast with friends and counselors…the way life should be.
Breakfast
One of my favorite meals of camp ; breakfast sandwiches with a toppings bar. The yolk dripped out of the eggs as we stacked bacon on top and spread a little ketchup and hot sauce for good measure. And as always, wash it down with a mandatory glass of water (stay hydrated!) and our famous chocolate milk. There was silence in the dining hall as everyone was focused on their food while watching sportscenter on the TV.
Cleanup
From breakfast, it was time for cleanup. Yesterday, our inspection winners from week 2 had the opportunity to take a ride on our pontoon boat into town during rest hour. Once we hit town, we docked and hopped off to get some ice cream. Today began our final week of inspection. One more boat trip into town for ice cream was at stake. It was a solid cleanup and then it was time to hit the fields (and gym and ice).
Majors
A great morning of majors and minors it was. After an easy Sunday, everyone gave 110% today. Knowing that there are only a few Major periods left, campers & counselors knew how important it was to start the week off really strong. Drills were perfect and scrimmaging was intense and competitive. Even though it wasn’t a suit up Saturday, counselors were dressed up and ready to play. The goal is to show the kids how to play at a higher level and make them better.
Minors
Minors went off without a hitch. Arts & Crafts was buzzing because everyone wants to finish up their projects before going home. The waterfront too. Final canoe, fishing & waterski periods were running at full force. Last opportunities to get up on ski’s for the first time! Street hockey had some really good games and tennis had a little round robin tournament. Flag football had full field games while weight training & fitness guys were sweating and working hard. Overall, it was a solid morning and everyone was ready to wind down a bit and head to lunch and then rest hour. Need a good nap and some chill time to prepare for the afternoon.
Afternoon into Evening
Nap time was over & everyone was well rested and ready to finish the day on a high note. We had our first ultimate frisbee inter-camp game of the summer. We hosted Camp Wigwam on our football field for a pretty sick game. It was our 15 & under team playing and a good portion of the camp came out to support. Campers and counselors got really into the game. Even though we lost, everyone was cheering and getting rowdy. Always necessary to support BSC!
The remainder of the day was filled with Ice Hockey majors and a few more minor periods. Soccer & Basketball were playing full games, and so was Baseball & Lax. Great stuff to watch. I made my way into the ice hockey rink to watch some afternoon scrimmages. What an amazing program that Coach Warde runs. The beginning portion was spent doing a few drills that focused on footwork and puck handling. After that, it was all game play. All of our goalies rotated and got the chance to play. After freezing in there for about an hour, I made my way back to the field where I jumped in a little spike ball tournament. Love spikeball! Probably one of the most popular activities at camp this summer.
As the day was winding down and dinner was approaching, little bit of rain hit us. This actually wasn’t too bad, because it definitely cooled down outside and by the time dinner was over, the rain was done.
Night Time Show
At 8:15pm, we all made our way to the theater for a little surprise show. It’s tough to describe what the show was, but I feel comfortable calling it a mix between a magician, a juggler and a musical light show. Super creative and campers got a kick out of it. They were cheering and laughing the whole time. Some lucky audience members even got called up to volunteer.
A great day, and a great start to the last week. Tomorrow afternoon we head to Portland to watch the SeaDogs play a little baseball.
Until then…….
Goodnight!
Camper – A Day In The Life: Thursday July 27th
The Day
Thursday was one of those classic perfect camp days we strive to have.
Due to the long trip day Wednesday, we went for an hour late wake up Thursday morning. The whistle blew at 8:45. As usual, the rookies jumped out of bed to gather in their common area and hangout; eager to go to breakfast. The professionals do not move as quickly, but after a few nudges, they got up and made their way to the dining hall. And, as always, the seniors were last to make it to the top of the hill.
Breakfast was a delicious cheesy egg and hash browns meal. Oh, and blueberry muffins were also on the buffet line which are always amazing. When cleanup was over, it was time to hit the fields (and court & ice). After a day off from sports, campers were excited to be back out there. Majors started off really strong. Everyone was into it and giving 100% effort. Lax was fully suited up and ended the session with a sick scrimmage. Ice hockey was amazing to watch as always.
Throughout the day, minor periods were solid as well. It was a beautiful day, so the waterfront was in full force. A few kids got up on a wakeboard for the first time ever which we love.
The Night
After dinner we had a lot going on. Basketball inter-camp AND a skating social. The social was for our boys who just finished 5th & 6th grade. Those consists of our oldest rookies & our youngest professionals. Right when dinner ended, those boys ran back to their dorms to shower and try and make themselves look nice. Dorms smelled like Axe and there was plenty of hair gel going around! After final mirror checks the boys made their way up to the ice rink to put on skates and meet the girls. As expected, each group started off in their own areas of the rink. However, it just took one brave young man to head over to the girls and start chatting. Once this happened, everyone else joined in. Next you know, there were giggles and yelling all throughout the rink. And then boom, each camper was paired up with a young lady and they were skating while holding hands. Probably one of the cutest things I’ve seen all summer!
While the social was going on, the rest of the camp congregated in the basketball gym. Every year, we host a night game versus Camp Micah. We call it The Battle for Bridgton (since Micah is also in Bridgton). The boys playing are our oldest campers so the skill level is always at it’s best. Micah also brings a bunch of their campers to come watch the game as well. We make a bunch of signs & banners and hang them up around the gym. The coolest part is that we make it a white out. Every camper and counselor dresses in all white. Face & body paint are also very popular. The atmosphere is unbelievable – just like a high school game. From the opening tip until the final buzzer, the crowd is intense and cheering on our team. Last year, we lost in a very close game. This year, however, we sought out redemption. We took the lead from the start and never looked back. The trophy is back at BSC and will remain here until next year!
Goodnight!
An incredible night for everyone in camp. Back at the dorms, campers were super amped up either about the game or the social.
Until next time!
Camper – A Day In The Life: Wednesday July 26th: Trip Day
Trip Day!
One of the most exciting days of camp every year – Trip Day! After a day and a half of mediocre weather, we woke up Wednesday with clear blue skies and perfect Maine temperature. Our rookies & professionals were getting ready to head to Funtown Splahstown and the seniors left at 6am for a white water rafting adventure. It was an awesome day for everyone.
Funtown Splashtown…USA
At 10:30, the rookies & professionals boarded the bus. The ride was filled with excitement. Returning campers were busy planning their day and telling new campers which rides and what games are a must do. We split up into a bunch of groups of 5-7 campers with 2 counselors leading each group. They are able to explore the park together. Some groups began in Funtown, while others immediately needed to get wet at Splashtown.
Funtown has some awesome rides. The log flume is always my favorite because it’s an exciting ride and it’s great to get soaked to cool down. The best part of the flume are the pictures taken on it. It’s always fun to head to the booth after to see what kind of funny faces were made. The most popular ride in the park however, is probably Excalibur. An old school wooden roller coaster with a sick drop. In addition to the rides, there are a ton of games to play. Pop-A-Shot, ring toss, balloon popping, milk jugs, and so much more. Almost everyone leaves the park with either a basketball or a stuffed animal. I wonder if those stuffed animals end up making it home??
At 5:45, everyone congregates at the tent and we head over to the dinner area. Everyone gets a meal ticket that allows them to choose between a pizza, a burger, a hot dog, chicken fingers, or a caesar salad. Dessert includes either some soft serve ice cream (my fave), fried dough, or Dippin’ Dots. After dinner it was time to head back to camp. We returned to the busses and pretty quickly, the sugar rush ended and campers started falling asleep. We returned to camp at around 9pm and it was straight to the dorms to hang out, shower, and get ready for bed.
White Water Rafting Adventure
After a really early wake up (5:45am) and a quick breakfast, the seniors boarded a lovely coach bus and headed out for their white water rafting adventure. It was a long & tiring bus ride, but it was well worth it. It was an absolutely perfect day to head out on the river.
When they arrived, they were greeted by the guides. They gave us instructions and a rundown on safety and how the day was going to go. Pretty quickly, we were split up into groups and jumped into the boats and began the day. It was an amazing experience. We had everything from calm and relaxing currents to class 3 and 5 rapids! Everyone even got a chance to jump out of their boats and take a quick swim.
Rafting came to a close and everyone got off the river together. Everyone shared their experiences and what they thought of the morning / afternoon. The day ended with a really nice chicken & steak meal right on the riverbank. It was a perfect way to complete the trip and hangout as a group. The perfect bonding moment for our oldest campers to have. Something they will always remember.
It was time to head back to camp.
A successful and fun filled day of trips for BSC.
Talk soon!
