Sunny skies greeted us Monday for a morning of full activities.  Camper Sydney Cohen and counselor Sylvie Siegel were honored at flagpole. Being camper and counselor of the day gets your cabin a fast pass to the salad bar for all three meals as well as cheers and specials hugs around the flagpole.

Ducky served up yummy hobo hash, which I encouraged all new campers to try. Hobo hash has been served at camp every summer since 1990 when John the cook brought the idea to camp. Hobo hash is potatoes, broccoli and cheese made on the large flat top grill.  One of the great things about camp is trying new foods and activities you think you won’t like.

Campers were climbing the Tango Tower, zipping through the woods and crossing the wake all morning long until the rain forced us inside for our first Blue and White lip sync practice. Songs were given out and groups were announced.  I’m confident this year’s strong group of CIT’s will make Lip Sync 2015 one to remember.

Much of the day was a blur for me as I spent it on the phone, sending emails and putting out “mini fires”.  I even put a red squirrel to rest.  Just when I think I’ve seen it all I find myself fishing a squirrel out of a toilet in Alumnae Hall.  Where's a maintenance guy when you need him?  Counselor Alice Brown offered to help but I just couldn’t let her do it.  The applause I received was enormous. Who know I had saved the day.

We have so many brave campers who have already summited to the top of the Tango Tower including:  Zoe Levitan, Avery Schlesinger, Katie Taylor, Sophie Smithson, Tori Yoblon, Emma Jacobson, Carlie Rae Newton and Meredith Leon.

Equally impressive are our first time skiers who have been braving the waters of Blue Lake:  Sadie Handmaker, Lexi Thomas, Ashley Strauss, Sophie Smithson, Julia Risk, Quincy Katz, Shriya Kilaru, Ginger Rosenheck, Daisy Glazier, Sophia Goldsmith, Sydney Kohn, Alexis Abrams, Daniela Fonseca, Ruby Rosenheck, Jasmine Freid and Ava Novak.

Our dancers are preparing for the 4th of July dance and will be preforming to the song “Hey Mickey Your So Fine”.   This summer 10 years girls Kiera Abramson, Spencer Weiss, Meredith Leon, Julia Zazove, and Gabrielle Pascal will have the honor of sitting on the fire truck as it makes it’s way through the down town of Minocqua this Saturday.  Roughly 150 Agawak dancers will preform as our juniors look on. 

Our rookie campers had the time of their lives. They packed in everything they possibly could. They left camp as happy campers filled with camp stories, songs and fun memories. Several of them just weren’t ready to end their camp experience so soon and are now going full speed ahead into first session. One rookie left and became camp sick within minutes of retuning home. Actually, she didn’t even make it home to CA. By the time the van reached the Costco parking lot the floodgates opened. So, I’m ecstatic that today our little camp sick rookie, Ainsley, will return back to camp and be reunited with her camp friends and family.

The power of camp is a hard one to describe. If you’ve ever gone to camp you understand.  Kids need camp today, like never before.  Fast paced school schedules; peer pressure, self-doubt and a myriad of other pressures can be tremendous even with a strong family support structure. Camp gives kids a chance to pull away from all of that to breathe and slow down. This break from all the craziness helps campers look at who they are and who they want to become. You can’t come to camp without forever being changed for the better. The longer you stay the more you are changed.

I know many of my former campers and staff are at home or work just wishing they were at Agawak.  We try hard each day not to take this fairy-tale summer home for granted.  Have an awesome day no matter where you are.  Make it count.

Smile on,

Mary and staff