On your mark, get set, CAMP!

That time has finally come! The time of year we wait for all winter long and wish all summer long would never end! I would have to say, for both the campers and the counselors, we all are very pumped camp has started!

I distinctly remember walking towards the hill yesterday and hearing Jeff and the Hi-ups directing girls to get in groups by which state they were from. Towards the top of the hill there were the larger groups of girls (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,), but as you looked a little further down, the groups weren’t so big (Virginia, Mississippi, Florida) and then, you got to groups like mine that were made up of people from one state (one from Arizona, one from Washington, one from Texas, etc.) Seeing all the girls from all over the country, it really made me love and appreciate Rockbrook so much more than I already had. It’s amazing how we can all come from different states, different cities, different lives, and still all find home in Rockbrook.

I asked one of my campers, Alexandra, what activity she was most excited for. She told me that she couldn’t wait to do riflery, in her three years at Rockbrook, that was the only activity she hadn’t done. I can’t wait to see her at snack break and ask her how it went. Seeing your campers grow, stretch themselves, and try new things is absolutely the most spectacular thing.

Sleep Away Camp Girls

When you ask people who attended a sleep away camp when they were a kid, you’ll find that they recall the experience, not only fondly, but also as one of the most important things they did as a child. A famous example here is Michael Eisner and his book about camp. There’s a lot to it, and we’ve discussed the benefits of attending camp before, but this photo speaks to the empowerment and self confidence girls often develop at summer camp. Being away from home and parents, being challenged and succeeding in different activities, and being friends with so many different types of people— all weave together to give camp its secret power.

Outdoors Camps

And speaking of relay races… here’s another classic summer camp activity. It’s the greased watermelon! There are several versions of this, but basically you take a good sized watermelon, coat it with shortening, toss it in the water (yep, it floats) and then you try to push it through the water as a relay. You can also set up two teams and play a little “soccer” with two goals. Lots of outdoor summer action in the cool water of the lake.

Girls Camps Games

Most Sunday afternoons at camp, we have an all-camp activity, a game or event where all of the age groups get together and play. Here’s an example where we split everyone up into three different teams (pink, blue and green!) and had different relay races… egg and spoon, leap frog, fill the cup, three-legged race, dizzy lizzy, balloon-knees, and so many more. These are all great games that require some individual skill, but also plenty of cooperation among each team’s members. In the end, one team might “win,” but everyone has a fun time playing.

Outdoor Kids Activities

Do you see the tiny bug on her finger? When you come to summer camp and spend so much time outdoors, you can bet you’ll run into some kind of cool spider, fly, ant, caterpillar, moth or butterfly just about every day. It’s almost an activity by itself— finding and learning about all of the different insects out there in the woods at camp. Some are little “creepy” looking (like these stink bugs !), and some you might not want to pick up (like this one we’ve spotted at camp before), but most are really interesting and neat to see.

Kids Outdoor Activities

Hey we’re kids, and we’re ready for camp! We want to play outdoors this summer, dress like a goof ball, and run around trying new activities with our friends. How much longer do we have to wait? Well, once school is out, it won’t be long. In fact, you can see the exact amount of time left before camp opens over on the sidebar. Check out the “Camp Countdown” on the right.

This photo is from “Jug Band” night.

Gymnastics at Summer Camp

Combine flexibility, poise, balance and some strength, and you’ve got an idea of the gymnastics program at Rockbrook Camp. We teach different classes for girls with different levels of experience so everyone can learn something and improve their skills. We use traditional gymnastics equipment like the beam, bars, and tumbling floor, but also enjoy fun exercises and musical/rhythmic gymnastics. It’s just one of the many skill-based activities available at camp each session.

Activities for Girls at Camp

One of the best parts of being at camp, and particularly an all-girls camp, is how easy it is to relax and find yourself acting kind of goofy. There seems to always be a chance to dress up in some crazy costume or combine some things to wear that are just plain silly. When everyone’s into it, and there aren’t any guys around, it’s great to just let loose and try on a different look. Thinking back on it later, back at home or school, it shows how what you wear really doesn’t matter that much to who you are.