Director Jud's Blog

It is hard to believe that our first week of summer camp fun has already ended. Time really does fly when you’re having fun! All the campers have settled nicely into their perspective cabins, and have spent some quality time with their bunkmates establishing a mutual understanding and living arrangement. When it’s time for lights out, we always hear a fair share of laughter coming from all the cabins and stories of late night talks in the morning at breakfast.

            Our first week was packed with thrilling summer camp activities! The Wakemasters have hit up Raystown Lake and have already set their personal goals for the session. “I’m going to clear the wake” or “I’m going to land that jump” are only a few examples of how motivated and determined our kids really are. Windsurf and sail has been a very popular activity so far. Who wouldn’t love relaxing and getting a tan on top of a windsurf board. The rock climbing extravaganzas have also begun and the campers are having an absolute blast conquering each rock placed in front of them. On another note, rumors from the barn have spread and all of the Horsemasters have picked their perspective horses to care for. Riding lessons have begun and all the horse chicks are looking forward to their first trail ride in the upcoming week. Basketball knockout games, arts and craft, tennis, softball and of course ultimate frisbee have all been a huge success thus far this session. And of course the campers are always ready for a cool dip in the lake after a hot sweaty intense game. The only way to describe the first week at SMA summer camp is action packed!

             Our first set of overnight trips began this past week. A crew of canoers, wakeboarders, windsurfers, and rock climbers all set out on fabulous adventures. Quality time was spent on the water for all groups, and yummy smores over the fire at night sealed the deal on an excellent trip. Although rain plagued the activities of some groups, the campers and counselors stayed positive and still came back to camp exclaiming that they had just been on the best overnight ever. All the campers returned to camp and were eager to share the stories they had from their respective adventures.

             In the late evening, the campers have had their fair share of activities to keep them busy.  The kids have an endless supply of energy, but sometimes we have to fit in some relaxing down time. Warm fuzzies and cold pricklies are a great way for campers to wind down at evening meeting and share their highs and lows of that day. But some nights the energy levels stay high and the campers have participated in great activities, such as roller skating, going for ice cream, or sitting around a campfire and hanging out with the other campers.

             In the upcoming week we have an even more exciting schedule planned. Our annual trip to Hershey Park is set for the 1st of July, Invention Convention, and the 4^th of July fireworks celebration in State College are all set for this week! The summer has officially arrived and week one already in the history books but so much more fun is up ahead. Check back for Week #2’s update soon!

Here are some cabin photos!