What a whirlwind of excitement we’ve had here at Camp Agawak over the weekend.
Friday kicked off with the legendary Gonzo Relay – a camp tradition that never disappoints. All Final Four Teams teams had their A-game on, but in the end, Oklahoma came out on top, followed by UNC, Vanderbilt, and Clemson. We wrapped up Final Four with an intense tug-of-war and revealed the final standings: Oklahoma in first, Vanderbilt in second, UNC in third, and Clemson in fourth. Campers had so much fun competing and representing their college team.
The afternoon brought David Gichner’s magic show to Happy Camper. A nice break from the regular routine and a chance for campers and staff to be swept away by surprise and illusion. Campers leaned in, whispered guesses and cheered loudly, when the impossible suddenly became a reality. What made it fun was watching camper jaws drop in amazement, or hearing a counselor laugh harder than their campers. These moments of surprise bring us closer, remind us to embrace wonder, and give everyone — from the youngest camper to the oldest staff member — a reason to believe in the fun of the unexpected.
After the show, we cooled off in beautiful Blue Lake, enjoying the refreshing water and our brand-new inflatable water slide in the upper athletic field. And just when you thought the day couldn’t get any better, evening program took things up a notch with Blue and White Capture the Flag, one of the most intense and fast-paced games of the summer. Our campers went to bed happy, tired, and full of camp spirit.
Saturday brought more heat—literally. With temps soaring, the waterfront was the place to be. Campers bounced on the water tramp, shot off the rocket, sped down the slide at warp speed and cooled off under sprinklers and on our slip-n-slide. The afternoon turned into a full-on festival with Agapalooza – Agawak’s very own version of Lollapalooza! Campers enjoyed hair braiding, face painting, hair tinsel, a foam party, snow cones, s’mores at campfire, and live music all around camp. After a jam-packed day, the entire camp cozied up under the stars for an outdoor movie in Mary’s front yard– The Princess Diaries – a perfect chill ending to an action-packed day. Homemade brownies were handed out as campers headed back to their cabins for the evening.
Meanwhile, our PAs participated in a deeply meaningful Agawak tradition, the overnight walk at the local high school to support the American Cancer Society. Each PA created a beaded necklace, with every bead symbolizing a lap and representing a cancer their loved ones have faced. Our luminary ceremony honored and celebrated members of the Agawak family who have bravely battled cancer. Thank you to all who donated and supported this special cause—it truly means the world to us.
Sunday gave us a slower start with lazy Sunday pancakes before diving into activity clinics like sailing, paddle boarding, indoor cooking, and scaling the Tango Tower. With temperatures pushing 90°, tubing and lake time were a must to beat the heat. Campers also signed up for their last round of activities – hard to believe we’re already at this point in the summer! We’ll wind down tonight with campfire before heading into another exciting week in the Northwoods.
Stay tuned for more camp updates!
~Mary