The past two days the sun has been out and we have been in a flurry of activities. We have been busy practicing the Fourth of July parade dance and the sunshine feels good to on our shoulders. Friday night was Halloween which is certainly a camp favorite. Games from Conk the Crow, lasso the longhorn to Cow Pie Fly and a dozen more were played for Halloween candy. Ducky was in the drivers seat and took campers on the Agawak fire truck through camp. Campers jumped aboard the hay ride with Bill driving while Sylvie took charge of the spooky hay ride story. The JC1 counselors put together a fun and some what frightful haunted house for those brave enough to enter and Iris, as fortune teller, read over 100 palms.  Our popcorn and Halloween cookie decorating station were hits but the biggest hit of the night would have to go to our CIT's who roughed it out at the pie in-the-face station. Thirty six jumbo cans of whip cream were emptied! It was a Spooktacular Halloween event and the display of costumes were impressive.

Some of the best days at camp are spent on the water. Our waterfront is the pearl of our camp and on a bright & sunny day there's no better place to be. Yesterday, was one of those days as we enjoyed tubing, the Blob, our giant water slide, our new Rockit toy, paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming in Blue Lake. Music was playing in our KWAK radio station, the PAs were active in the dunk tank and many campers enjoyed pontoon boat rides on the lake. At 4:45 pm we gathered on the front lawn of the office and I announced a "Party in the USA" ( red, white and blue) social theme with Camp Menomonie. Campers were excited for the social but they were probably more excited knowing Ducky's brownies were only a few short hours away. 

Campers ventured out to the Northern Highland State Forest recently to hike the Escanaba Trail and another tepee trip went out last night with campers disinterested in attending last nights social. We may not be able to transport our campers back to Emerson's quaint cabin in the woods but we can certainly encourage our campers to head outdoors. I firmly believe the great outdoors is crucial to ones mental health especially if you live in the city.  Did you know that researchers at University of Michigan discovered that just a few minutes walking in nature can reduce depressive symptoms, which is common for those who live in urban spaces. There's something real good about losing yourself in the woods.  

Today is Sunday lazy breakfast and Ducky will be flipping pancakes made to order and a movie will be playing in the lodge as campers get to chill until we assemble at the flagpole for Sunday morning clinics. This afternoon we'll be signing up for our 3rd series of activities and enjoying our breathtaking waterfront again. 

Tonight we'll gather around the campfire to sing our silly, wacky and traditional Camp Agawak songs. When we're siting fireside all our sense become absorbed in the experience and it seems to have a calming effect on all of us. Maybe, that's why I love a campfire so much. It gives us the chance to slow our pace and reflect on the week gone by.   

We have a busy week ahead and much to pack in the remaining two weeks of first session so tune in for more Agawak fun to come!

Smile on,

Mary