We’re back together again and it feels great. The buses rolled into camp around 3pm after a late start getting everyone to the bus stop. Poor weather and power outages in Chicago were the culprits. Everyone here at camp anxiously awaited the camper’s arrival. When the camp bells rang for the first time the entire staff went up to greet them. You just have no idea how anxious my staff has been waiting for this moment. The campers flew off the bus and straight into the arms of their old friends. Nothing left to do but smile smile smile!!!! My favorite line of the afternoon came from Isabelle A. She said “I’ve never been so happy to get off a fancy bus and be at camp.”
The first thing we traditionally do is have all the campers gather in the picnic area and I call off cabins with who their counselors will be. After the usual shouts of excitement and delight we all say ‘take them away!!!’. The next thing we do is have each cabin get together by the flagpole area and take a cabin shot. We know we may not have every cabin member there some may be coming in by plane some a day or two late but we want to get a picture of them as soon as possible. Then it’s off to their cabins where bunks are chosen. Don’t worry it’s not on a first come first serve basis. After the initial cabin unpacking the girls starting with our youngest went through physicals and then their swim tests. After that it’s off to the ski area to engage in what may be the most popular activity at camp…TUBING!!! Some girls have never been tubing before but I heard back that everyone was willing to gave it a try and end up loving it! Some girls were happier going faster some slower but our attentive boat drivers (and Minocqua Bats extraordinaire) Wes and Ross always aim to please!
By now it was dinner time and we all feasted on Ducky’s traditional first dinner spaghetti and meat balls. Breadsticks and green peas were the side dishes and it was wonderful as always. This was Ducky’s 17th first dinner at Agawak and each year I feel luckier than the year before to have him.
We continued with our physicals but shortly after dinner we all gathered in Happy Camper Hall for our Staff Show. They sang they danced they laughed; it was such a wonderful and fun show and our campers were very entertained and appreciative. By now everyone was getting pretty tired after a long day of travelling to get here but at the same time everyone was just excited to be in their cabin and hang out with new and old friends. It’s the first night so it’s a bit harder to get everyone to bed on time but hey its camp!!!
It’s definitely late now and my exceptionally dedicated office staff is still up with me taking care of business for tomorrow. We all feel it’s time we should go to bed so I just want to end by telling you how privileged my staff and I are in having the honor of sharing the summer with your daughters and I just know that the summer of 2011 will be the best summer ever! Good night to all.
Smile on
Mary and the office staff
