Thinking Back to Summer

As we finish up the year, we thought it would be fun to look back at some of the fun from summer 2008. It was a great camp season, and we’re excited and looking forward to the new camp year! How about you?

Traditional Camp Photo

Since Rockbrook is 87 years old (It was founded in 1921), you can imagine that its got loads of traditions… traditional activities, traditional songs, traditional ceremonies, and so much more. Well, it does! One the most meaningful ceremonies is pictured here in the photo: the final campfire of the session called the “spirit fire.” Since the very beginning of camp, it’s been a tradition held to close each camp session. The Spirit Fire represents “the spirit of Rockbrook” by bringing all the girls together and giving everyone a chance to think about their camp experience, the good friends they’ve made, and how much camp means to them. It’s really special and magical every time.

When the Rising Bell Rings

Here’s something from this summer’s “Photo Phun” activity where the girls at camp run around with digital cameras taking pictures.  In addition to learning about photography and how to use the cameras, they play loads of games… things like scavenger hunts, nature alphabet, and photo stories.  This is an example by Deborah P. (passed along by awesome counselor Eva) that illustrates one of the classic RBC songs, “When the Rising Bell Rings.”  It’s pretty funny, but you have to click on the image to see the larger version and read the words.  Way to go Deborah!

Traditional Summer Camp

Here’s a great old traditional photo of camp back in 1928. It’s hard to say exactly what’s going on, but it looks like a canoeing performance of some sort. Four girls to a canoe, synchronized paddle movements, it brings to mind dancing. You can see the stone Lake View Lodge in the background, and to the right, Vesper Rock. It’s so great seeing these old traditional summer camp photos!

Carrier Pigeon 2007

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It’s on the way! …This year’s Carrier Pigeon, Rockbrook Camp’s summer “yearbook” has just been mailed out to all of our campers. It’s bigger and better than ever this year.

76 pages… 117 photos… 53 drawings… all the cabin photos from every session… 31 poems… and all sorts of other camper writings!

It’s so much fun to think back to all the fun from last summer— banquet, spirit fire, carnival, birthday night, granny bingo, rafting, the alpine tower, and on and on! We think you’re really going to enjoy looking through the whole thing.

So check your mail! It could come today!

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Photos of Summer Camp Friends

Here’s a set of photos taken one Sunday afternoon at camp. We were queuing up for our cabin photos and took these at the same time. They show our traditional uniforms (white shirt and shorts, plus a red tie) that we wear on Sundays and at other special events.

Summer Camp Photos

Look at this amazing photo of a summer camp cabin at Rockbrook circa 1950! The fifth and final in our series of archival photos, we love seeing the camp pennant, the trunks and tennis rackets. We have different bunks nowadays, and we don’t spend much time polishing shoes, but the feeling of the photograph seems strangely familiar. Here’s a more modern example of camp life.

Girls Camp Photos

We thought it would be fun to share a few photos from Rockbrook’s past. So for the next few days we’ll give you a glimpse or two into what our girls camp looked like in days gone by. Being a camp founded in 1921, there are some really neat shots. This first photo is of the craft cabin called “Curosty.” It’s still where the girls do fiber arts, weaving, knitting, beading, and such. Those looms are still in service!