Gotta Love Camp! :)

So, we're finally into the groove of camp and everybody's loving it! We've definitely had an interesting start with the power and the phones etc., but nothing can break our spirit, and Rotman is just so amazing at getting everybody excited over every little thing. He's really the best and we love him! (I'm not just saying that because I'm marrying him!) The kids and staff alike feed off of our positive energy (not that they don't have plenty of their own energy), and we've had some absolutely fabulous programs so far, despite the rain, or the "liquid sunshine" as we like to call it! The kids are settling into the routine and the staff are getting the hang of this whole "parenting" thing! :)
We had the BEST campfire the other night with many different kids getting up in front of the camp to sing, demonstrate their skills, lead a cheer, tell a joke, do a skit, play an instrument, etc. It was AWESOME!! We have such a talented community and we're so proud of our campers who were brave enough to get up in front of everybody to perform.
We're already looking forward to the next one!
We've got a group of kids who are out hiking Mt. Katahdin right now, and the sports tournaments are starting up on Thursday. We've been having a bunch of team practices during electives, and lots of kids are excited to start playing on teams. We've got baseball, soccer, basketball, tennis and track coming right up, and loads of kids are choosing to participate in those activities. We've also started some cool new activities that lots of campers are excited about..you may have seen some of the pictures of Martha and I doing water aerobics with some of the kids, which was a huge success! We've had tons of kids down in the new wood-shop creating all sorts of terrific things, and we're always amazed at the new ideas that they come up with! We had so much fun last night with a Junior Trivia Night and Dance Party in the Lodge, and a Senior Dodge Ball Tournament in the Gym. Both so much fun, and tonight we have Staff Skits!

We're so excited for all the wonderful things that are sure to come! We'll keep you posted!

Our staff is amazing! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Our staff is amazing! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!


Hey there friends and family of Camp Caribou! We wanted to check in pre-camper arrival and let you know how our summer is going so far.
Camp looks amazing, really and truly, and we are so excited for the arrival of all of our 1st session and Full Season campers!! Our staff Orientation started yesterday, and we already have a wonderful feeling about this group. We have brought together so many interesting, passionate, personable, outgoing and engaging people, and everybody has something special and different to offer. We feel the same way about the camper population that will be joining us here one week from yesterday. We are proud to be bringing together a group of children from all over the world; children who come from warm, loving and supportive families. The last week before camp starts can be a tough one for families, as everyone scrambles to prepare the last minute forgotten items, and send in all the forms. Don’t worry; you’re not the only parent who hasn’t yet submitted everything!
The last week before camp starts up here is just as busy, but in a very different way. We are learning all about our new counselors, and re-connecting and catching up with the ones we already know. We’re making all kinds of observations and evaluations, and thinking about which counselor would be the best fit with which children. Social chemistry, common interests, logistical necessities, all of these things play a part when we’re making bunk assignments and essentially creating partnerships of surrogate parents that will become the role models and mentors for our campers. We take this responsibility very seriously, as these partnerships are the key to the extraordinary world of bunk life.


We spend a huge amount of time over the next week talking about and modeling how to create successful partnerships between co-counselors, and the skills and strategies that they will need to implement in order for their relationship to succeed. We practice the language, demonstrate the strategies, model the behaviors and coach our staff to tap into their “natural nurturing” skills. We ask them to reflect upon all the little things that their parents or caretakers did for them to let them know that they were loved, and prompt them to start thinking about all the things that they do on a daily basis to take care of themselves.. these are all things that they’ll have to verbalize to the children. Is it a little bit chilly in the morning? Are you reaching for your sweatshirt? Time to remind the kids to grab theirs too!
We’re so excited for a wonderful summer together, and the staff already can’t wait to see the kids! We’ll be spending this whole next week preparing for their arrival in every way that we can. Here is one of the tools that we use to impress upon the staff how a parent might feel when sending their child to camp for the first time. Letter to my Child's Staff Person

Caribou is Heating Up!!

With only 15 days until the first session begins, things on the peninsula are starting to heat up!!!  The Bull Crew (Bill, JP, Damian, Willcox, Bobby, Rotman, Frank, Lori, and Rafa) have been doing massive work to make Caribou lookin' beautiful.  The new arts & crafts and wood shop building is UNREAL,  it's double the size of the old building and there's a gorgeous deck over looking Pattee's Pond!!  The new tennis courts are smokin', the pavement has been set and they should be painted once the rain stops.

On June 1st, 8 members of the waterfront staff arrived at the 'Bou for a 4 day life guarding course.  Also on the 1st, the new trips staff, James Anderson and Tom Keough, came up early to scout out this summers wilderness trips. AND... the new ropes staff, Josh Bedford and Chris Redford, arrived at camp as well!!!  So yes, a lot is going on, and everyone is JACKED UP to get things going.  OHHH and the craziness continued last night as Tom Ivinson arrived!!! BOU YAH.  On June 14th the rest of the staff come up for staff orientation.

Camper News:  Noah Safar and Miles Backer competed in a local triathlon a couple of weeks ago and absolutely tore it up.  Miles blew everyone away in the water and Noah was a beast on the Bike!!  Great job guys... Caribou Represent!!

See you guys real soon, WHOA, camp is right around the corner.  START THE COUNTDOWN, LETS GOOO, 2012 is GO.