12 Days of Christmas, Camp Style

Thank you to Benjammin' for adapting the lyrics!

On the 12th day of Christmas, my campers gave to me...

12 boondoggles, 

11 sing-alongs

10 glitter crafts 

9 expensive ducks

8 call-upons

7 punny jokes

6 cups of ice cream

5 warm fuzzies

4 mind games

3 tie-dye shirts

2 friendship bracelets 

and a hug like I was Herman the tree!

Merry Christmas, camp folks! We are already getting super pumped about some Christmas in July/August festivities coming up in 2014 :)

Meet the Camp Staff: Interview with Former Camper and Current Counselor, Michaela!

How many years were you a camper at CW?
I was a camper between 5-7 years. 

What was your favorite camp activity?
My favorite activity as a camper was banana boating. 

What's your favorite activity as a counselor?
My favorite activity as a counselor is campfire time and sailing.

Why do you keep coming back?
I keep coming back because it's easy to see that everyone bonds really quickly. 

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
If I could be any animal I would be a butterfly or a dragonfly.... It's always warm when you see them, they can fly, and I always feel relaxed when I see them because of family stories about them growing up.

Michaela thoroughly enjoying campfire time at the end of camp in 2013. 

CW Staff Participates in NYC Missions Trip

Day Camper, Gregory, trick-or-treating for UNICEF

     Over Columbus Day weekend, some CW staff had the opportunity to experience a Mission and Learning trip in New York City that was sponsored by The Presbytery of Geneva.  Over a three day period, our counselors were able to see how local Presbyterys interact with the UN and their involvement with UNICEF.

CW Staff who painted grass for the mural

Counselors adding clouds and windows to the mural

   


They also took some time to go to Coney Island to work on a mural for a school that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy.  This mural was painted to show how the school has grown and recovered since the disaster.

Breakfast on the Go for a couple of our staff

   

Counselor and camper, Ben and Daniel pointing
out landmarks around the UN

   


   







While there was time for counselors to explore the city on their own, the learning experiences were extremely beneficial and a huge thanks goes to the Presbytery, who made this opportunity possible, and to the organizations and churches that we worked with while were were in NYC, for making us feel welcome and exposing us to brand new experiences.

2013 CW Staff enjoying dinner at Bubba Gump

Staff at the 9/11 memorial site 

Our Fearless Leaders discussing the day's events

Meet our New Intern, Ileya.

Ileya at Camp Whitman this past summer. 

My name is Ileya Heins; I grew up in Prattsburgh, New York.  I graduated from high school in 2011 and I am currently going to Corning Community College (CCC).  This coming December, I will have my Associates degree in Human Services.  I want to continue my education and finish getting my Social Science degree.  I have worked at Camp Whitman on Seneca Lake for the past two summers and hope to work there this summer as well.

I am excited to be the Community Relations and Outreach intern for the Presbytery of Geneva this semester. I will be working on cultivating our existing community relationships (and creating some new ones too!) for Camp Whitman, be assisting with planning and attending the NYC Mission and Learning experience next month, and managing some of the 60th Anniversary events for Camp Whitman’s year of celebration. I have already learned so much in this semester from being in the office and am ready for the challenge! I want to thank the Presbytery for this opportunity.

I look forward to meeting and working with some of you this semester!

A Busy Last Week!

Everyone at lunch on Monday. 

Camp is busy this week with six different camps going on! We have Explorations and Born for the Wild camps happening in Pine, Wet 'n' Wild happening in Day Camp, and Explorers, Adventures, and Moonlight Mystery happening in Cedar, Oak, and Maple. We are super excited about all of the activities and adventures going on right now, and everyone seems to be having fun so far. Although... Moonlight Mystery seems to be having an issue with some missing sleep-out tarps. They're working on figuring out who took them so that they can enjoy this awesome camp tradition . 

Pine & D.R.I.V.E. staff get competitive...and a little bit messy!

This summer, Camp Whitman has been lucky enough to have two programs for people with disabilities working together onsite. Our overnight camps for people with developmental disabilities (known as "Pine" for the area of camp where the live) have consisted of several weeks of Explorations camps, in which campers are able to explore camp and try a little of everything, as well as some themed camps such as Water Fun and Born for the Wild.

We also have the D.R.I.V.E. program from Keuka College on site with us during the day. The group that comes to us from D.R.I.V.E. is able to experience some of the best parts of camp, such as canoeing and field games, combined with the opportunity to volunteer at camp and learn a lot while doing so.

The two groups have had a great time doing all kinds of activities together every morning. Two weeks ago, camp and D.R.I.V.E. staff members teamed up to provide some rainy day entertainment for the campers in the form of a pie scavenger hunt. Kier, Ben, and Ileya had to search through their whipped cream pies to find as many pieces of fruit as possible without using their hands. Their campers (and their co-counselors!) had a great time watching and cheering at this event, which is sure to become a favorite rainy-day tradition.

On your marks, get set...

Go!

Ileya appears to be winning!

Ultimate Action's Ultimate Camp Experience

Last week, high school campers in Ultimate Action had an epic week of sailing, kayaking, canoeing, leadership development, and other Camp Whitman classic activities. We had an awesome group of campers who were up for anything, and who were great friends with each other by the end of the week.

Some of the Ultimate Action campers with their counselors on Friday morning. 

Kayla driving the boat with campers tubing behind her. 

Explorations Camp Shows Their Creative Side

    After one day of camping our Explorations campers have had many opportunities to try some new things as well as participate in some camp traditions.  After an evening vespers service on Sunday, campers woke up today refreshed and ready to do some great activities with our counselors as well as the staff of the D.R.I.V.E program at Keuka College.  Just one of the activities that was very entertaining to watch was Counselor Painting.  Our campers were allowed to take this time to paint on the arms, legs, and faces of the staff that they will be spending the week with.  Not only did our campers get to show their creative side, but some great memories were made that will last all summer long.

Jeremy, a counselor painting Lindsey, our Coordinator for Campers with Developmental Disabilities.

A camper unleashing his creative side :)

The artists and their finished products.

Staff Training on the Beam!

Staff training is going on all week this week, with counselors getting lots of hands-on experience working with Pioneer campers, as well as getting to try out some of the activities that we will be leading with for our campers in the weeks to come. 

Tonight, we had the experience of completing several ropes course elements. When they come to camp, our campers get the opportunity to work as a team to complete several fun obstacles at the low ropes course. The staff did several activities, including the Beam. We had to work together to get all us over the Beam. We can't wait to have some middle and high school campers try it later this summer!

Patti was the first one over!

4th year counselors crossed the beam for the first time tonight!

Pioneer Camp's Fun in the Sun

After one day of rain, Pioneer Camp was off to a much better start today and were able to complete all of their planned activities for the day.  After a delicious breakfast we headed off on a tractor ride that took us all over camp to places our campers hadn't seen yet.  The fun continued once we disembarked from the tractor, and began to tie-dye the white shirts our campers had brought from home.  There were many creative designs and no two campers' shirts came out the same :) The rain also held off long enough that our Pioneers were finally able to go swimming in the pool!

Kayla, Cheria, and Payton enjoying pool time

Braydon is all set to jump in the pool!

Pioneers showing their love to Herman the hugging tree.

Pioneer Camp Update

Pioneer fun has continued this afternoon and evening with even more fun activities! Even though it's been rainy, we've been finding all kinds of ways to enjoy camp. On Monday afternoon, we did crafts, games, and moved into cabins. Everyone has settled in very comfortably for the night without any issues. We'll be up early and ready for another awesome day tomorrow! We might even get the chance to do tie-dye or go for a tractor ride.

Joelle teaching Pioneer and family campers how to make God's eyes. 

Brianna with her God's eye. 

Payton and Alex working together. 

Working on a water color project. 

Kayla and our Camp Director, Rhonda, working on a craft together. 

This is the Day....that Pioneer Campers Arrive!

Camp is officially underway with the arrival of our family campers last night and pioneer campers this morning. Pioneer campers are brand new to Camp Whitman and are here for two days to see what camp is all about. So far, we have played some new games, including lizard tag, musical fruit, and the mystery game. Right now, their counselors Ben, Chris, and Ileya are leading them in some fun Repeat After Me songs.

All-camp vespers last night at Sam's Point

Pioneer campers singing the Tarzan song before lunch. 

The rain won't stop us!

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