Category: About Camp

You Win Some, You Lose Some

It was a gorgeous day in Maine today, warm and sunny with a gentle breeze, making for excellent conditions on the lake. Campers were thrilled to enjoy the beauty of the day on the boat and along the shore swimming and canoeing.

In inter-camp action today, our 13u boys played a big game of Flag Football. According to BSC coaches, our campers played hard and fast (7 touchdowns!) for an amazing win, made even better since it was on our home turf. Later in the day, an amazing effort was made by our 11u Kickball team, bringing them a couple wins and a couple losses. Evidently, you can’t win them all – even though we’ve had a nice streak of victories lately. Ultimately, another proud day here at BSC!

In Basketball action, coaches described an intense practice during Major periods today, with lots of learning happening on and off the court.In Lacrosse, coaches switched things up with a game of lacrosse golf, a favorite among campers.

Finally, after several camper shout-outs we had the Joke of the Day – used this time to see which division would line up for dinner first. Pros may have had the winning joke, but we all lucked out with the food. Dinner was our classic cookout – burgers, hot dogs, past salad, potato salad, juicy watermelon, and refreshing lemonade. It was the perfect day for a picnic on the grass.

Over 1/2 way through 1st session, the time is flying by and we are loving every minute of it!

Another Terrific Tuesday

In sporting news today,our 12u and 15u Basketball teams played hard at an inter-camp 3-on-3 tournament, but left without a win in spite of their best efforts. In keeping with our reputation of being excellent sports, we came home proud of our effort and complimentary of our opponents.

In Weight Training & Fitness, campers competed against one another to see who could hold a plank for the longest period of time. In Lacrosse, BSC athletes had an hour long scrimmage with both Major and Minor campers, making for an excellent bout on the fields.

In Arts & Crafts news, several attempts at our decorated rocket launch finally paid of during line-up. As fellow campers looked on, the snazzy rocked flew high into the sky, with a big landing in the back field.

Fun on a Sunday

After an awesome night of baseball and fantastic fireworks at the Portland Sea Dogs game, campers arrived home all tuckered out. They claim it was well worth it – check out the Portland Sea Dogs folder in our photos section!

Lazy Bones Sunday may have started off with a sleep-in, but after a special treat for breakfast we took advantage of the beautiful weather. Campers turned up the energy during games of Laser Tag and Wiffle Ball. The sunshine helped make it a particularly enjoyable day down for some Slip & slide action too. Down at the waterfront, our BSC swimmers and water skiers made some waves during their activities on Long Lake.

Sunday dinner included a variety of pasta options (cream sauce or tomato sauce, meatballs or marinara) along with salad and garlic bread. Topping off dinner was a really nice celebration of the BSC campers and staff who ran the Bridgton 4 on the 4th Road Race. All 15 participants received commemorative t-shirts and a round of applause to mark their accomplishments.

The evening consisted of phone calls home and some free time at the Gaga Pit and the Wolverine’s Den. Overall, another fine day at BSC! Tomorrow our regular activities resume. We’re ready!

After an amazing morning at our Majors and Minors, campers gathered in the dining hall for a tasty lunch of chicken nuggets, rice, and mixed veggies. Campers had reason to celebrate given BSC’s early win during the Indian Acres street hockey tournament, and as time passed, excitement for the fun-filled evening ahead began to peak. After a short rest and showers, campers put on their Bridgton blues and boarded buses headed to the big city of Portland, ME. Having a quick picnic lunch of pizza for dinner, they went on watch the Portland Seadogs baseball game and Independence Day fireworks. A perfect day as far as summer camp goes…made even better by a late wake-up tomorrow morning. We’re pretty sure all campers will sleep well tonight!

Happy 4th of July!

To celebrate our nation’s Independence, 12 campers and 2 counsellors participated in the “4 on the 4th” annual town of Bridgton run. Representing BSC in their Bridgton blue t-shirts, our crew ran the 4 miles with ease. We are so proud of them!

This afternoon, our Rookies played street hockey while Professional and Senior campers played a spirited game of Dodgeball. Dinner was a healthy and well-rounded meal of chicken breasts, rice pilaf, peas and a pasta option. Whoppie pies for dessert was an unexpected but delightful treat!

This evening, campers enjoyed a movie night in each of their respective groups. It was a nice way to end the week before we head out to the baseball game tomorrow

Sing-Along and S’mores

Today was a typical day at BSC. All campers really gave it their all this morning during the Major and Minor periods. Coaches were impressed and are looking forward to seeing how the campers’ skills grow and develop this session.

The waterfront was as popular as ever today. Campers did their best to snag a fish and waited patiently for their turn on the waterskiis and wake boards. Bridgton Sports League carried on today with games of Cricket, Dodgeball and Ultimate Frisbee on the schedule.

Dinner was an old fashioned favorite tonight – a cookout with all the fixins’ – hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and pasta salad. For the grand finale, this evening marks the opening campfire for Session 1, complete with a sing-along and s’mores. Fun!

Boogie Boarding, Bingo, and Bridgton Sports League

After a busy morning at all the Major Sports, many BSC campers were enticed by water-based Minors at beautiful Long Lake. Swimming, fishing, and water skiing were all popular activities on the water today, and even our youngest campers had a 100% success rate getting up on Boogie boards – definitely something to celebrate…Hooray!

For lunch, we had delicious whole grain turkey-lettuce-tomato paninis, along with sides of chips and veggies. In the afternoon, a couple of rain showers had us taking cover for a little while – just long enough to play a round or two of Bingo before dinner.

After a satisfying meal of roast beef, potato wedges and carrots the entire BSC crew gathered in the gym for a round of Bridgton Sports League (BSL) dodge ball. Those who weren’t dodging were cheering on their teams.

All in all, another fine day at BSC!

What a day at BSC today!

Campers worked tremendously hard all morning in their Major and Minor sports, giving coaches 100% effort on the ice, in the fields, and on the courts.

Having worked up a healthy appetite, campers were keen to sample the lunch menu – chicken salad wraps, pasta salad and garden salad. The dining hall staff also surprised us with cool treats after lunch … popsicles for everyone!

In special events today, rest hour was cut a bit short so that campers could cheer on Koop or Jordan Wade (BSC Lacrosse coach) in a game of 1-on-1 basketball. The stakes were high and campers were on the edge of their seats until the very end … If Koop won, activities were to go on as regularly scheduled. If Jordan won, campers were free to watch team USA in the World Cup on the big screen.

As it happens, Jordan won, but the US did not. Nevertheless, the campers showed off their national pride and were fantastic sports fans, as usual.

Bridgton Sports Camp has been abuzz with activity for the past 24 hours. Counsellors spent the morning making final preparations before the campers were due to arrive and by early afternoon, they were excited to welcome new and returning campers with warm smiles and high fives.

Throughout the day, Rookies, Pros and Seniors arrived from all over the globe – New York, Spain, Chicago, France, and California to name a few – via varying modes of transportation, with dozens coming in by bus, car, and airplane.

Great conversations were had around the dining hall, along with some cheers for the World Cup. Once all campers were settled in their rooms, we topped off the day with a chilled out evening at the Wolverine’s Den, eagerly anticipating what tomorrow will hold.

It’s a place where phone calls and emails are limited and cellphones are usually banned. But in the real world of camp, “bubble-wrapped” kids will get an experience of a lifetime.

The hardest part for parents of first-time campers is not only getting children to adjust to a digital-free world but also allowing them to find their own wings.

camp fire 600x 21 Tips to Prepare Your Child for Summer Camp

Catherine Ross, former camp director and communications manager of the Canadian Camping Association, understands the “leap of faith” it requires for parents to send their children to overnight camp.

“On countless arrival days, I greeted many cautious, apprehensive, wide-eyed new campers,” Ross writes in Our Kids Media’s Preparing for Camp e-book for parents of new campers. “Two or four weeks later, I waved goodbye to the same children – now happy, relaxed and definitely more confident.”

With Our Kids Media’s and Ross’ tips on preparing for camp, one of the most life-changing events of your child’s life won’t cause much anxiety for your family anymore.

Advice for New Campers

Familiarity can calm fears and worries about anything new. If visiting the camp in advance is not possible, check out the camp’s website, view the DVD and other materials sent by the camp, chat about your concerns with your parents, and get answers to your questions, Ross says. “Make the pre-camp preparation part of the experience so (campers) get excited and know what to expect,” she says. “The more you know, the less you’re going to be concerned of the unknown.”
Talking to friends who have been to camp can help make the new experience less scary.
To experience being away from home, sleep over at a friend’s or relative’s house.
Learn to be more independent by helping with chores, such as shopping with your parents, making the bed, organizing belongings, and packing and preparing what you need to bring to camp.
Advice for Parents

Share as much information as you can about the camp. Attend orientations for new campers, or go on a pre-camp visit of the site with your child.
When packing, include well-worn clothes that can withstand dirt and pine gum.
Avoid packing money or jewellery.
To prevent mixing up belongings with others, use iron-on labels, or label all clothes and equipment with permanent marker or bright nail polish. (Click here to see a list of suggested items to pack.)
Pack an adequate supply of medication with clearly labelled dosage instructions.
Store your child’s EpiPen, asthma puffer and other items he or she needs to access immediately in a fanny pack.
Include a list of all campers’ belongings to avoid losing any.
Let camp health care staff know if your child has recently discontinued medication, such as Ritalin, or has been exposed to a communicable disease.
If your child is apprehensive about camp, inform the camp director so counsellors can give even more attention to him or her.
Chatting about camp in a casual and positive way without dwelling on the negative or creating unrealistic expectations can help immensely in preparing the first-time camper.
Ask your child to think about what he or she wants to do and learn at camp. Allow your child to set goals and enjoy his or her own first impressions about camp to avoid clashes between your agenda and your child’s preferences. With camp’s focus on fun and safety, learning and achievement in a safe environment will happen at your child’s own pace.
If your child is committed to finish the session, he or she has a better chance of experiencing success and meeting goals. On the other hand, promising your child that he or she can leave whenever they want may encourage him or her to test this, or give up easily instead of gaining valuable life lessons.
Check your child’s hair for head lice or ensure your child gets treatment before starting camp.
Since most new campers never experience prolonged homesickness, parents should not raise the issue unless the child brings it up. If your child expresses his or her concerns about being homesick, reassure him or her that it is normal to miss home, and he or she will be okay and will not be alone at camp as counsellors will always be there to help. Remind your child about the many new and exciting things to do at camp that will make the time fly by.
Prepare short letters that are positive, newsy, encouraging and supportive to your child during the time he or she is away. Ask relatives if they would like to write as well. You can slip a letter in your child’s bag to pleasantly surprise him or her at the first day at camp. Pack paper, pen and addressed, stamped envelopes for your child.
Avoid packing or sending candy or food as most camps ban them for good reasons.
One of the most important tips for parents of new campers? “I think it’s involving the child every step of the way so there are no surprises,” Ross says.
– See more at: http://www.ourkids.net/blog/21-tips-to-prepare-your-child-for-summer-camp-1327/#sthash.xlYeCIwv.dpuf