Ring toss, cotton candy, splash zone, nachos! It's carnival time at Gold Arrow Camp! As always, this afternoon was a blast for all campers and staff!
My office is above the dining porch, so as I write this recap of this first week of Session 2, I'm listening to our Junior Counselors sing along to Taylor Swift songs on the Dining Porch while they package up popcorn for the Bears and Tigers cabin groups for Big Campfire (Saturday evening). Our Junior Counselors are a terrific group of young adults with a huge number of years of GAC experience between them.
Our water provider, China Peak Ski area, had some issues with their water system on Friday morning, and we found ourselves without water for a few hours. Fortunately, we were able to get water delivered to camp within a few hours and kept a steady series of water truck deliveries on Friday and Saturday so that we always had plenty of potable water for drinking, hand washing, dish sanitization, etc. As of yesterday afternoon, the water problem was resolved at China Peak and our regular water delivery from China Peak resumed at the normal level. During the short period of time (a few hours on Friday) when we did not have running water, our operations team used creek water to keep toilets flushing properly. Because of the water deliveries, all normal water use was encouraged, including showers. We did encourage campers to use "start-stop" showers (turning off water while lathering) to conserve water, and many campers enjoyed the option of taking a "lake shower" (with biodegradable soap we provided). Many kids thought that was pretty fun. At Saturday's dinner, to be cautious with our water supply, we turned off the juice machines to conserve some water, which probably had the most impact on the campers, who really like their juice. As of today (Sunday), all regular water use (including the POG juice machine, hot chocolate machine, and regular showers) is back to normal. During the short period of time on Friday morning when we did not have water flowing throughout camp, we provided campers ... Read more
A highlight of the two-week session for our youngest campers (grades K-3), and their version of “backpacking,” is Bears’ Adventure. This one-night trip allows campers to experience sleeping outdoors under the stars and cooking over a campfire. Campers’ luggage is taken for them to the campsite, so they are not technically “backpacking,” because they have no pack to carry. With just their water bottle and their positive attitudes, they set out from camp singing and talking on their hike. The best part of Bears’ Adventure is the free time kids get to play and explore the area. For many campers, the longer sticks provide the perfect start to a fort. Others enjoy laying on their sleeping bags talking with friends or silently watching clouds move overhead. Some participate in crafts and games while enjoying being outdoors. For many of these kids, Bears’ Adventure is their first experience “roughing it,” and they absolutely love it. When they hike back into camp the morning after their Adventure, our Bears’ campers stand a little taller. And their dirty, smiling faces are the best indication that they have experienced the awe of nature. [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://goldarrowcamp.com/app/uploads/2019/07/BEARS-ADVENTURE-1.mp4"][/video] [gallery size="large" ids="5081,5080,5079,5078,5077,5076"]