Director Jud's Blog

On August 16, 2023 every SMA Session 4 camper and staff member woke early and had a cold breakfast which would give us the fuel we needed for the day ahead.  We loaded into our camp vans and began the road trip that would take us from Stone Mountain Adventures to Ohiopyle, PA.  Home of the mighty Youghiogheny river (aha The Yough).  Here we met our Wilderness Voyagers White Water Guides, got geared up for the day and did a in depth safety briefing.  We were about to embark on our 4th and final White Water Rafting Day!  We had an AMAZING Day on the river!! All would later agree that we saved the best for last!!

Coming to the end of every session at SMA we take the whole camp on a weight water rafting trip. The river that we go to is the Youghiogheny River in the Pittsburgh District. The run is 7.5 miles long with a lunch brake in the middle. We do a number of different rapids through the day. There are between 4 and 6 people per raft including at least one SMA councilor. There are 5 guides with us all day helping and making it an amazing day on the river. On the second rapid of the day there are photographers on the rocks taking the pictures of every raft witch can be viewed at the end of the day. We sing songs and have raft wars in swim spots witch make the day that little bit better. As this was the last rafting trip of the year it was mission excepted to get the man, the myth, the legend Judson Wickersham Millar out of his raft. It was a huge successes and Jud was in the water. It was a beautiful day on the river with the perfect weather. Another success on the Youghiogheny River, SMA for life.  

Swaggers - Solomons, MD

The end of a 4 year and a fantastic summer at SMA 2 week teen camp with my favorite ever-changing dysfunctional family. I love this place so much. Everything about this place is awesome – the people, the activities, the simple feeling to this place that makes you want to smile instead of cry. SMA is the best place on Earth and I’m so glad and thankful to have found it. When I first came to camp I was terrified – I didn’t think I would like it here or fit in. This year I didn’t want to get out of the car because if third session didn’t start I’d still have time at camp to look forward to.

          SMA 2 week teen camp is a place that changes you. And in the best possible way. Every time I come here, I leave a better person. I don’t know who I’d be without SMA and honestly, I don’t want to.

          Before I run out of space, I just want to say thank you to all the counselors and campers for making this summer wonderful. And to the Millar family for giving me a home away from home like no other. I love you – every single one of you – completely and utterly, always and forever. Good-bye at this point seems unfair so I’m not going to say it. But I will say take care. Never change because you are amazing and wonderful just the way you are.

          Have a good year SMA-ers in the real world and count down the days until its summer again.