Monday was a beautiful sunny activity day here at camp.  Last night we had another heartwarming campfire.   The skies were clear and Blue Lake was peaceful.  It was a humid & muggy night sitting around the campfire.  Norah P. and Illana B. sang together like nightingales.  After their performance, they smiled at one another and couldn’t stop hugging each other. I watched as they returned to their wooden bleacher seats still holding on to one another.  One would have thought they were literally glued together.

 MP made all our first time campers scream with his scary Monkey’s Paw campfire story.  Shortly after, we settled back in as campfire girls Julia Zazove, Jamie Bronska, Emma Nitsun, Hannah Vigran and Emma Schwatz spoke of their love and appreciation of Agawak.  Our campfire girls made us cry as they spoke from the heart and reminded all of us not to take one single day at camp for granted. Their words struck a chord with all of us who live and breathe Agawak.  I’m always amazed how 200 campers and over 100 staff can hear a pin drop as campfire girls pour out their feelings to all of us standing in front of a roaring campfire.  Campfire is always a captivating night and this campfire was no different.

Tuesday was a super sunny day as campers were in full activities again. Campers were making banana chocolate chip muffins which they shared with the office staff. I’ll have to admit…the recipe is my mothers and I didn’t think anyone could possibly make them as good as her. I was wrong! Yummy!  In outdoor cooking they prepared Australian Jaffles!? It’s a type of toasted sandwich similar to our American pudgie pies.   Our jogging program has been practicing for the annual Mike Ross Run which will be held early this Saturday morning on the Bear Skin Trail in Minocqua.  I’m proud to announce that 90 Agawak campers will be participating in this annual fun event. Our campers completing 9^th grade will pack their pack backs Friday night and head to the local high school track for our annual Relay for Life! This event will last approximately 16 consecutive hours with zero sleep.  They will be walking and running for former and current friends, family members, teachers and anyone they know or have known who has struggled with cancer.  Relay for Life is an incredible bonding event for these older girls. Not only is it cause worthy but this event moves and touches them in so many significant ways that they aren’t even aware of until the event begins and the night unfolds.  My plan is to run and or walk a few miles with them in support.

Last night we had a sizeable casino party Mardi Grai style in happy camper hall. I’ve never seen so many happy campers dancing around in bright yellow and purple outfits. Evening program coordinators (Lainie Kleifield, Marissa Lachman and Alissa Warsh) did an exceptional job planning and organizing this electric event! All sorts of colorful tutus were bobbing up and down from wall to wall as campers were winning and losing Agawak dollars for their cabin.

Today is Wednesday and we will be in Blue and White Team meetings beginning at 10:30. From there campers will participate in 3 separate rounds of B & W big games which will consume our morning and part of the afternoon. Our afternoon will end with a B & W Triathlon and a free swim period followed by screaming and quick showers when I announce the social with Ojibwa tonight here at Agawak. 

Hope you’re enjoying your summer as much as all of us are here n the shore of Blue Lake!