Opening Campfire
After a slight delay, we held the 3rd annual BSC opening campfire last night and I am pleased to report it was our best one yet.
In keeping with tradition, last year’s campfire ashes were placed in the pit and our youngest camper assisted us in bringing the fire to life. A veteran counsellor started off the night with an inspirational message about giving back to your community and doing good onto others. His wisdom really hit home with our young boys and men…you could hear a pin drop as he spoke of his own incredible effort to help those who are less fortunate. Camper participation was at an all-time high this year, with campers of all ages sharing personal stories about overcoming their fears, taking risks, and the immeasurable benefits of coming to camp. It was amazing to see the positive messages and brotherly nature coming from BSC campers. We topped off the night with a quick song (‘Stand by Me’) and sticky sweet S’mores, yum!
Today, unfortunately, was a rainy one, but we still managed to focus on the positive. Lunch was a delicious spread of chimichangas, rice, and cornbread. Dinner was equally appetizing with a menu of BBQ chicken, baked potatoes and veggies. We also lucked out in the dessert department with two of our favourites, chocolate chip cookies and ice-pops. Even better, after a few days of minimal mail (due to the holiday) the North Bridgton post office had so many parcels and packages for us, they offered to deliver. How sweet of them!
Tonight is Casino Night, another BSC tradition – tune in tomorrow to see if anyone had a lucky streak!
*NEWSFLASH* – check out our photo page to see how well our campers represented youth sport and Bridgton Sports Camp at the Portland Sea Dogs game last Thursday. We apologize for the delay, but promise it is worth the wait! We are so proud of them!
Great inter-camp day
It was another eventful day at Bridgton Sports Camp, folks. Today marked our first Suit-Up Saturday, where Hockey Majors and Counsellors divvy up into 2 teams (the Wacky Warthogs and the Powerful Pelicans) and go head to head against one another. The game was a close one, but most importantly everyone played hard and had a ball doing it.
Our BSC 15 and under Basketball Team took their turn at the Indian Acres Camp tournament, and picked up a big Win (49-21) against Fryeburg Academy, which put them in 3rd seed and into the semi-finals. As our BSC squad took on Winoca in the second preliminary game they also matched up in the playoff. With valiant efforts from every man on the bench, BSC went into the half down 1. After a recuperation and some coaching adjustments, BSC kept the game close as they rounded into the final minutes holding a 6 point gap. After several strategic fouls, BSC dropped the semi final 38-26. Not to worry, coaches came back to camp raving about the brilliant effort and excellent sportsmanship of the BSC team. It was something to be proud of!
Lacrosse coaches were also very complimentary of BSC campers today. New players were making big moves on the field and our tenacious goalies maintained some amazing energy in spite of extreme heat. One camper in particular, has the right to be proud after coming up ‘Sharks & Minnows’ champion 2 days in a row. Can he make it 3?
There were lots of notable plays and athletes among our Minors today too, making for 10+ shout-outs at line-up today. In Flag Football, coaches and campers bore witness to a few amazing touch-downs, while a few campers nailed the target each and every time in Archery this morning. Knee-boarders and Wake-boarders had a blast out on the water, doing some tricks and enjoying life on the lake.
You win some, you lose some
BSC campers were given a surprise honor last night at the Portland Sea Dogs game. During the singing of the National Anthem, campers were invited out on the field to hold the American flag with pride and meet some of the baseball players. It was definitely a moment for the memory books!
After a fun-filled night at the Sea Dogs game (topped off with a spectacular display of Fourth of July Fireworks), we switched gears quickly this morning, in preparation for several inter-camp sporting events.
The BSC Basketball team (13 and under) were off to Indian Acres Camp bright and early for a tournament, while the Hockey crew (12 and under) made their way over to Camp Wig Wam for a game of good old fashioned Street Hockey. On the home side of things, BSC hosted another group of Wig Wam campers for a 15 and under Soccer match. While all of our athletes played hard, the BSC goaltenders were especially impressive, getting a number of shout-outs from their coaches at line-up this afternoon. Coaches praised their ability to hold up under pressure and noted the importance of that ‘never give up’ attitudes. Well done, goalies, well done!
Happy 4th of July
Happy 4th of July!
It was nice to see members of the BSC team celebrating this great nation’s independence today. Many a camper and counselor were decked out in red, white, and blue in honour of the holiday.
A scorcher here in Bridgton today, the water-based activities were especially refreshing for our campers this morning. Those who didn’t get to cool off in the lake tried desperately to tell a joke good enough (staff reversed the rules, given the intense heat) to warrant a bucket of water over their heads, but to no avail. Better luck next time kids!
Tonight marks BSC’s annual trip to a Portland Sea Dogs baseball game. It was a spiffy looking bunch boarding the bus in their Bridgton blues. After a picnic lunch in a local park consisting of pizza, juice, and snacks, our campers will take in the ball game and a fantastic fireworks display.
Camp Day #2
We’ve had some rain over the last few days, but today was definitely our rainiest so far. There was also a big drop in the temperature, so we had to break out some sweaters and jackets for the first time this Session. Lucky for us, Koop seems to have it on good authority that the next few days will include just a little bit of rain, some clouds, and SUNSHINE. We’re holding him to it!
Regardless of the weather, it was a day filled with valuable lessons! Coaches spent some time talking about the mental game involved in sport, highlighting the importance of focus and concentration, which can make or break any play in a split second. They also spoke to the value of leadership, noting that any athlete can wear a ‘C’ on his jersey, but that doesn’t automatically make him a leader. Leadership is earned with hard-work, good sportsmanship, and the ability to be a good role model for others.
It was another excellent day on the water, with a few more catches among our fisherman (a big mouth bass and a sun fish) and several BSC campers showing off some impressive moves on the knee boards and water-skis. Hopefully by tomorrow the sun will be shining and the water will be warm for our swim test.
Day #1 in the books
Well, today was a first day for the record books!
Major sports started off in full-force today. Skill evaluations were completed, and the coaches were very complimentary of our Session 1 campers. At line-up, they were full of praise, giving shout-outs to a number of athletes who impressed the staff with their skill, effort, and determination. Way to set the bar high BSC!
There was some excitement among the Minor sports today too! For the first time in 3 years, BSC campers caught fish on the first day of the session, and one of those catches was a catfish to boot!
Dinner was delicious tonight, with a choice of pasta, pizza, and french fries. Plus, it was nice to see so many campers making healthy choices by adding a salad to their meal.
During evening activities, the Gaga Pit was a big hit and the Wolverine’s Den was a nice retreat for a few games of Ping Pong and hanging out with friends, once the rain made an appearance.
What else can I say? If Day 1 is any indication of how great the rest of Session 1 is going to be, we’re looking pretty good.
Camp Has Begun
Well folks, BSC’s 2013 camping season is officially underway!
Counselors, new and returning, from near (Maine) and far (Australia), were keen pupils during their 5-day orientation last week and very hard-working as we prepared for our Session 1 campers to arrive.
Campers from overseas arrived last night to warm welcomes and freshly made beds, and the rest of our Session 1 team filtered in throughout the sunny (and sticky, thanks to the humidity) afternoon.
Mother nature decided to extend our dinner hour with a pretty powerful rainstorm, complete with thunder and lightening. Feeling lucky to be under cover, campers and counselors took advantage of the extra time to get to know one another.
Now all campers are in their dorms, mingling, playing games, or settling in for the night. We have a big day tomorrow … Day 1 of Session 1. Can’t wait!
The Long-Lasting Benefits of Camp
Camp has become a part of the fabric of America — conjuring special memories of hiking, swimming, friendships, and adventure for generations. When children go to camp, they’ll likely come home gushing about the lifelong friends they’ve made, and the exciting adventures they had. What they probably won’t tell you about are the life lessons camp has given them — those skills that, if nurtured at home after camp, translate into a lasting self-confidence, an awareness of the importance of kindness, and a greater comfort in voicing their opinions.
For more than 150 years, camp has been changing lives — allowing all children to feel successful, especially those who may struggle with traditional educational settings. Camp is full of fun and excitement, but it is so much more — developing children who are better equipped to lead in the twenty-first century with skills such as independence, empathy, the ability to work as part of a team, and a broader world view.
Camp is a safe and nurturing environment that enhances social skills. Camp is for everyone, so children and youth have the opportunity to meet and interact with peers from outside their school environment.
Camp supplements traditional education. Camps use intentional programming to create a balance of experiential learning opportunities that are physical, emotional, and social.
Camp provides experiences that promote self-confidence and future academic growth. American Camp Association® (ACA) independent research shows that parents and camp staff, as well as the campers themselves, report significant growth in several areas, including leadership, independence, social comfort, and values and decisions.
Camp encourages a respect and love of nature. Children are able to learn about the natural world. Camp also gives them a chance to “unplug.” More and more experts are advocating the value of time spent in nature for children — and camp is a perfect place to do that.
Camp provides the opportunity to stay physically active. Camp is the ultimate outdoor experience with programs that offer physical activities and sports that enhance health and teach self-confidence.
Camp is a natural extension of the classroom. Research indicates that by participating in strategically planned, structured summer experiences, children reduce summer learning loss. Camp challenges children, keeps them engaged, develops creativity and their talents, and expands their horizons.
Summer Camp: Can It Make Kids More Responsible?
There aren’t a lot of Harvard students who’ve worked as camp counselors, but I can usually spot them: they have a combination of flexibility and interpersonal savvy that makes them good leaders. I always thought that the kind of person who chooses to be a camp counselor is likely already an affable and mature person. But many educators have come to recognize that summer camp, and specifically being a counselor, fosters precisely the skill that we value so highly in young adults: taking responsibility. Caring for younger children helps teenagers learn how to be more mature themselves.
Interaction within mixed-age groups is increasingly rare, undoubtedly a by-product of our “overprogrammed child” culture, with soccer leagues even for preschoolers who can’t find the goalpost. Girls can still gain this valuable experience through babysitting (though it seems like fewer girls are taking on such work), but for boys it is much harder. As Michael Thompson, the author of Raising Cain, pointed out recently at the Aspen Ideas Festival, teenage boys face something of a Catch-22 in that adults are reluctant to give an immature teenage boy responsibility for the young kids who would help him mature. Overnight summer camps provide just such a mentoring opportunity through an incremental leadership pathway that enables teenagers, usually starting at age 14 or 15 as counselors in training, to assume increasing levels of responsibility for kids.
Peter Swain, executive director of YMCA Camp Fuller, in its 125th year serving youth on the shores of Rhode Island and one of the oldest camps in the nation, is explicitly aware of this learning opportunity. “Seeing young, anxious campers grow into confident, capable leaders is why I have continued to do this job,” he says. “It’s great to see camp staff carry their camp values into their college and working life — it really means that the work of camp has meaning to society.” As Swain notes, “The path from camper to young staff is well-worn and thus clear to follow. And the role models are obvious and always there to see.”
Camps also provide a safe place for young staff to make mistakes without dire consequences. One of my sons, for example, now 17, learned to windsurf at camp, where he joined a special leadership track for senior campers in his final year. He returns to camp this summer as a junior counselor, teaching windsurfing to younger children. The gravity of supervising children in open water is not lost on him, but he feels up to the task because he’s surrounded at all times by senior staff and he knows the water and equipment well. There are few other situations where a young adult can take on a serious leadership role with as much responsibility and careful guidance as in a camp.
A study of 4-H camp counselors in Ohio (some as young as 14) showed increased leadership skills and improved motivation to stay in school and plan for the future. Many of the counselors were also able to learn from unsuccessful strategies they tried, like the fact that simply yelling at children doesn’t necessarily make them compliant.
Traditional summer camps do such a great job of supplementing the work of parents and schools that we often miss the complexity of what they’re up to. Some people think of camp counseling as a frivolous endeavor, something for big kids who can’t quite cut the umbilical cord of childhood. The stepwise leadership structure — which virtually guarantees high percentages of alumni staff — can create the impression that camp jobs are not real work on par with college internships in the financial industry or working in a lab but something more like a nostalgic hobby. Even high school students worry that a summer-camp job isn’t substantive enough to put on a college application.
But if we are serious about developing young leadership, we should get over these parochial views and take steps to make camp counseling more common. We should consider a tax credit or financial aid for counselors who might otherwise take a better-paying job. And employers and college-admissions officers need to hear how the camp-counselor experience prepares successful young adults through teamwork, empathy, cross-cultural understanding, ability to work with subordinates and superiors, creativity, working under pressure and managing with limited resources.
In most societies throughout history, older children have always cared for younger children. The anthropologist Margaret Mead called caretaking a “pivot” role: a person doing something for someone else that was once done for him or her. As she trenchantly noted: “Just as a child is getting old enough so that its willfulness is becoming unbearable, a younger one is saddled upon it … each child being disciplined and socialized through the responsibility for a still younger one.” Among all the foregoing benefits, here’s yet one more: camp counselors may come to appreciate their parents’ hard work too.
Winter Newsletter
Dear BSC Families:
Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, I received phone calls and emails from parents, counselors and even campers checking in on the well being of their Bridgton Sports Camp Family. While we weren’t directly affected, this is an event that will remain in our hearts and minds for a long time and our prayers go out to all of those who suffered an inconsolable loss.
Security at schools has moved to the forefront of parents minds as they return to dropping their children off at school. While we ask ourselves why and how this could happen, we sadly may never find an answer that makes sense. What we do know is that schools and camps have protocols in place to keep your children/our campers safe and it’s important that children are made aware of this. Bridgton Sports Camp has emergency action plans that Wade (assistant director) and I review/update on a continual basis. Children come to camp each summer to have fun, play sports, reunite with and make new friends. It is my job to maintain the integrity of summer camp, while at the same time ensuring the safety of your child. I will meet with Bridgton Academy this winter to review their updated security and emergency procedures and implement these changes into our plan.
On a positive note, between the devastation left behind by Hurricane Sandy and the recent event in Newtown, CT, I’m extremely proud of our Bridgton families for all of their phone calls and expressed concerns, thoughts and prayers for fellow campers and their families. We have built a strong community at Bridgton Sports Camp.
Following Hurricane Sandy many school districts have extended their school year. Therefore, to accommodate the families affected, we have decided to push camp back one week. The new dates are included in the newsletter.
Switching gears, our preparations for summer 2013 are going really well. Many of our coaches and counselors are set to return and our programs are being fine tuned thanks to the invaluable feedback received. We will have new equipment and activities ready to go for the summer and I can’t wait to share all of the details with you.
The attached picture reminds me of a personal highlight and it incorporates two of our camp values; sportsmanship & teamwork. Two summers ago, our 15 & under basketball team lost badly to Camp Wildwood in an inter-camp game. Last summer they all returned to camp, practiced hard, and were excited for a rematch. We played hard, took the game to overtime, and only lost at the buzzer. Our team was disappointed, but they shook hands with the opposing team and celebrated their efforts. I was proud of how well they represented Bridgton Sports Camp.
Enjoy the newsletter and I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year. Camp will be here
before we know it!
Koop
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