Meet the Camp Staff: Amber's Camp Whitman Experience

Amber as a Moonlight Mystery counselor in 2011. 

How many years were you a camper at Camp Whitman? 

5 years.  I did 3rd grade camp, then I came back for water rec, art camp, and music camp.

What was your favorite camp activity as a camper?

I liked swimming because we didn't have a pool when I was growing up, so the idea of going swimming every day was SO AWESOME!

What's your favorite camp activity as a counselors? 

Cookouts. It's close between that and tie-dye and ice cream, but I feel like with the cookouts the campers always have a good time, and it's never the same twice.

Do you have a least favorite part of camp?

Showers...haha. Um...getting adjusted to the early mornings is hard, but it's worth it.

What advice do you have for first-time campers?

Double check your packing list. When I was a camper I always forgot essential things like a hairbrush. Your experience is much more fun if you have all the things you need.

If you could be any animal, what would you be?

An intense flying animal. Does a pterodactyl count? I'm scared of heights, so as a pterodactyl I could fly without being afraid of heights.

16-time camper Chris on his Camp Whitman experience

What was your first week of camp like?

Chris is now a second-year counselor

Well, the first week I came, it was the summer before my 4th grade year in school. . My mom and dad both came with me to see me off because I'd never been away from home for this long before. I met my counselors and felt instantly welcome. Everyone on staff and all of the campers were so friendly and open, I knew I would love it there. Though I don't remember many of the specifics of that week, being that it was eleven years ago, I do remember it was more fun than I'd ever had before and, much to my surprise, I didn't feel homesick in the slightest. I actually didn't want to leave and say goodbye when my parents came to pick me up at the end of the week. That week at camp decided for me what I would spend every summer doing for many years to come.

As a counselor, what are your favorite activities for 4th and 5th grade campers?

I really liked having two swim times, including the lessons. I also remember this really fun game of tag we played during morning watch involving making something out of play-dough and giving it to someone else to hold while we played (the idea that we tend to take more care of someone else's thing better than our own). Now, I generally like any sort of tag game and I still find the swim times to be amusing.

What's your favorite part of camp in general?

Pretty much all of the water stuff, specifically kayaking and other boating activities.

Returning counselor Ben tells us about his first week as a CW camper back in 2008.

"The camp was Extreme Whitman, and during this week I really got used to what Camp Whitman was all about. It was at this camp that I met my dear friend, Chris for the first time. We got along really well, although we wouldn't become as close friends as we are now until we both went to Music Camp two years later. All in all, that first week of camp I learned how wonderful a place Camp Whitman was, and I even managed to come out of my shell a little bit. After that I returned as a camper until I was too old, and then applied to become a counselor. I wouldn't be anywhere close to who I am today without Camp Whitman."

Ben as a counselor in 2012

Do you remember your first week at Camp Whitman? Share your story in the comments below, or email campwhitman2012@gmail.com.

You Know You're at Camp Whitman When...

• You live in this cabin. And you love it. 

(Each cabin has room for 3 campers and 1 counselor)

• Tie dye....tie dye everywhere...

• You're on the banana boat...

• ...and then you're not!

They don't seem to mind!

• Your table is table #1!

• There are a bunch of counselors doing improv show during the talent show. 

Whose Camp is it Anyway?

• Worship might look like this

All-camp worship on Sunday evening

• Or this:

Campers sometimes use the labyrinth for worship and meditation. 

• All the staff members are having their mug shots taken because there are some missing s'mores and the whole situation is veeeery suspicious...

•  4-square is very serious business.

• You've made lots of new friends, and the week has gone by way too fast!

For more information about how to register for banana boating, tie-dying, labyrinthing, and finding out what "table #1" is all about, visit www.campwhitman.org

Q&A About Day Camp at Camp Whitman

Last week in this post, we mentioned Camp's new day camp. Here are the answers to some questions about this exciting new program:

When is the day camp? Who can go?

Day camp will run Monday - Friday from July 1 - August 16, 8:30am - 5:30pm, with optional extended hours. Campers who will be in Kindergarten - 6th grade this fall are eligible for day camp.

What will I do at camp?

Every day will involve some games and crafts, Bible study, lunch, rest time,  and swimming. Campers will have the opportunity to enjoy boating on Seneca lake.

Enjoying some main field games!

Who will my counselors be?

The day camp coordinator is Courtney R, whose bio can be found here. CW counselors will collaborate with her every week to plan and lead all of the camp activities. All counselors have training in working with children at camp, as well as CPR and first-aid.

These counselors and lifeguards are ready for you!

How much does it cost?

Day camp is $40/day or $150/week.

How do I sign up?

Registration information can be found at www.campwhitman.org or by calling the Presbytery of Geneva at (315) 536-7753.

How can individuals, communities, and churches get involved?

A great way to get involved and help enhance the day camp program is by contributing supplies on the day camp wish list (below) . A lot of the things that we need can be found around the house!



• paper towel tubes
• toilet paper tubes
• Cereal Boxes
• Old newspapers
• Bottle caps
• peanut or wasabi pea cans
• #6 plastic empty bottles
• Shoe boxes

• elastic cord for bracelets
• Plastic eggs
• Potting Soil
• construction paper
• poster board
• bird seed
• paper bags
• Toothpicks
• Shower caps
• Shaving cream
• Sprinkler
• Bubble soap
• Watercolors or watercolor ingredients
• Water balloons
• Regular balloons
• Wax and wicks
• Large Sponges
• Cotton balls
• Crepe paper
• Borax
• Pencils
• Fishing line
• Googley eyes
• Face paints



For more information about how you can register to spend a week boating, swimming, and maybe finding out exactly what we have planned for all those craft materials, visit http://campwhitman.org/registration. 

Top 10 Reasons We're Excited About Camp This Summer (Part 2)

Part 1 of the countdown can be found here.

5.  We have a whole bunch of new graded camps!

In addition to the old favorites, we have some new options for campers in grades 6-8 and 9-12. New camps for 6-8 grades include indoor/outdoor culinary camp, wet & wild, explorers camp, and more. If you're in 9-12 grade, new choices include pay it forward camp and ultimate action camp. These camps will involve everything that is awesome about camp (swimming, kayaking, banana boating, field games, etc), but will also involve some new activities related to each camp's theme.

Are you ready???

4. Our camps for youth and adults with developmental disabilities are going to be fantastic!

Choices for our adult campers this year include Music & Art, Explorations, Sports Camp, and more. Also, we are very excited about our new Whitman Under the Stars camp for campers ages 11-21. During this camp, campers will have the opportunity to stay up late and maybe even sleep out under the stars one night!

Explorations campers and counselors enjoying the pond. 

3.  We have a new day camp this year!

Brand new for 2013 is CW day camp! This program runs every week of the camp season (July 1 - August 16) for campers entering kindergarten through 6th grade. Day campers will have the opportunity to participate in camp activities such as swimming, boating, field games, and crafts. Each week will have a theme, such as Wet and Wild, Mission Possible, Going Green, Creativity, Carnival, Pay it Forward, and Nature. More info about day camp can be found at http://campwhitman.org/joinus/day-camp

2.  It's ok to be a little bit silly and random at camp. 

Campers tell us again and again that they love camp because it's a place where they can be themselves and just have fun. That means that, if you're lucky, lunch might start with dessert, or one of the counselors will get up and sing a song about being a pirate. Silly things happen all the time at camp, and these moments make some of the best memories!

Levy got in trouble with some pirates and had to walk the plank. 

EXTREME painting!

Hmm...is that how canoeing works?

And the #1 reason we're excited about camp this summer is....

(drumroll please....)

1. Camp friends are the best friends!

We come for the s'mores, banana boating, and other adventures, but we stay for the friendships. The CW community is a strong one, where everyone is accepted, and camp friendships tend to last much longer than a week at camp. One of the best parts of a new summer is getting to see these camp friends again!

Some of the returning counselors have had the joy of watching a few of these long-time campers grow up to become counselors themselves!

For information about how to register for the opportunity to make friends, enjoy camp activities, and make your counselor get up and sing during lunch, go to www.campwhitman.org.

Top 10 Reasons We're Excited About Camp This Summer (Part 1)

Camp starts in just a few short weeks! Here are just some of the reasons we're excited about it:

10.   Camp traditions are the best traditions. 

It's been a long winter without any tie-dye, homemade ice cream, banana boating, or camp talent shows! Won't be long before we're cranking ice cream and boating on Seneca lake... and who knows? Maybe we'll have some new traditions start this summer.

Hold on tight!

Campers' tie-dye drying on the porch.

9. Old favorites are back! 

Programs like Nite Owl, Sailing Camp,  and Moonlight Mystery and more of the old favorites are back for our graded campers, and Pine favorites like Music & Art and Sports are back too!

Sailing campers on Seneca Lake. 

Music & Art campers wrote and performed a play for the talent show.

8. New CW clothing at the camp store!

The camp store has been re-vamped for 2013 with new t-shirts, and sweats, as well as water bottles, pens, bags, sunglasses, and more. All of Camp Whitman's new apparel is sweat-shop free and made in the USA!

Shout out to former CW staffer Pat, who designed the new  sailboat logo!

7.  Campfire & Vespers Time

What comes to mind when you think of summer camp? A lot of our returning campers and staff members would say CAMPFIRES! Each family group tends to like to wind down for the night with a fire at their site, complete with vespers/Bible study, stories, songs, and maybe some s'mores.

An all-camp fire at Sam's Point. 

Counselors become expert fire-builders during staff training!

6.  Brand new this year: Pioneer Camp! 

Pioneer Camp is taking place at the beginning of July for 2 days so that campers in grades K-5 can get a taste of what camp is all about. Pioneer campers can come from 8-5 each day, or if you're feeling adventurous, you can spend the night. It's going to be a blast!

Everyone loves the pool!

The rest of the countdown can be found here. 

In the mean time....what are YOU excited about doing at camp this summer? Tell us in a comment below!

More info about everything that Camp Whitman has to offer this summer can be found at www.campwhitman.org

Kicking Off the 2013 Camp Season!

Camp has been buzzing with activity over the past couple weeks as we prepare to move into another year of summer camp!

On May 18th, crews of area church and community members, as well as former and current CW staff participated in camp's volunteer day. Over 80 volunteers planted flowers, painted the interior of the main lodge, cleaned out an old shed, repaired cabin areas, spruced up the trails and pond area, and more. It was great to see so many folks come out and give their Saturdays to help Camp Whitman. A huge thank you from CW to everyone who was there!

On June 1, Camp Whitman hosted it's annual chicken barbecue and open house. Camp was open to the public for the afternoon, giving new and returning campers the opportunity to visit the site, meet some of the camp staff, and enjoy a great chicken dinner. We had the opportunity to hear some live music from Marsha (a CW board member), as well as Kristen Rickey (Kristen is former camper and staff member, and the daughter of Sam Edwards, former Executive of the Presbytery of Geneva and Camp Operator). We also had some other campers from years past come back to visit, which was awesome! All in all, the day was a great celebration of CW community.

Pictures from camp last year were displayed on the sailboat in the lodge. Only at camp!

The lake was as beautiful as ever!

Also, here's a sneak peak of what will be available at the camp store this summer: glow in the dark CW Nalgene water bottles (They glow in the dark, they feature the awesome new camp logo, and they're BPA free. What else could you ask for?).  More on the camp store later!

For more information about Camp Whitman's 2013 camp offerings and registration information, visit us at http://campwhitman.org!