Skylemar Blog

The dawn of Red and Gray 2021 was upon us. By 6 AM, the air was filled with the buzz only known to those who’ve been through it – a few hundred kids already running all over sharing the news as to which team they are on.  Each boy awoke to find a colored ribbon pinned to his pillow under the cover of darkness, denoting the team he will compete for, battle and “sweat” for, and sing and cheer his heart out for, over the next 5 days.  It’s Skylemar’s most storied tradition – the 73^rd edition of the greatest show on earth – our Color War.  You could almost taste the sweet smell of excitement from anywhere on camp.

But nope.  That smell was actually another Skylemar staple – the annual Red and Gray Buffet.  What better way to kick-off the favorite week of the summer then by having our own favorite “breakfast of champions” – a choice of bacon, sausage, eggs, cinnamon rolls, French toast, cereals, potatoes, muffins, yogurt, oatmeal, Danish pastry, fresh-cut fruit and on and on …the combinations were endless, and the boys heartily fueled up for the start of what will be an incredible week of action.

After breakfast and the routine morning inspection – the loudspeaker bellowed, “Red Team to the Pine Grove, Gray Team to the Mail House” as the teams gathered for the first of many “psych-up” meetings to come.  Each teammate locked arms in a circle of strength, as team leaders implored and inspired with words of encouragement, pounding cheers and pump-up music, looking for a week of maximum effort and hopeful of ultimate victory.

Then, both teams were called to the Fred Pierce Field, which again would serve as the official Opening Day venue like it has for the past 72 Color Wars.  As is our custom, all participants remain for the first full inning before heading out for Divisional play to every corner of camp.  A few moments later, after Super Tutor Marge threw the ceremonial first pitch, Umpire Shep proclaimed “Play ball!” and Color War 2021 was off and running.

The Stars played a double dip, with a game on both fields.  At the Fred Pierce Field, after a 4-pitch top of the first, Gray opened the bottom half with a first inning home run barrage to jump ahead 4-0, and never looked back in a 15-3 win.  Bennett and Reece each smashed 3 home runs, and Josh B hit a pair.  Charlie S also went yard for the winners, while Sam M took one deep for the Red in defeat.  However, on the middle diamond, Red’s fielders proved defense can still win by holding Gray off the bases in a 4-1 win to split the twin bill.

After the 1^st inning was complete, the other Divisions headed out all over camp for contests in just about everything, The Cubs went over to the Hockey court where Gray impressed with back-to-back shutouts to win both games.  Max P and Nate F scored 7 goals between them in Game 1, while Carter and Inigo provided all the offense needed in Game 2’s victory.

Gray also won Tigers football by a couple of TDs, with Anders, Thatcher and Oscar doing most of the damage.

On the Hoops courts, a tripleheader of games for the Freshmen — after losing the first game, Red came back to win both Games 2 and 3, each by just a bucket to eek out the Basketball point for Red. Then Red followed up over on the Hejduk Field with a hard-fought 5-3 win in Juniors soccer. And further, even though Gray won the swimming portion down at Trickey, Red Skiers and Kayakers carried Red to the finish line to win Seniors Waterfront – another extremely close morning contest, which went down to the final skier to determine the overall winner.

Gray got back on track though with news of their victories in Sophomores Bocce, then Golf – highlighted by Nathan K’s hole-in-one!

Jacob R hit the back of the net 5 times as Gray dominated Game 1 in Sophs Hockey at the rink

Only a half point separated the teams, with 5 contests decided in the last minute of action….and this was just the beginning.

In the afternoon, the Cubs put on quite a show down on the Pond.  According to Super Aquatics Director Peter, it was maybe the closest scoring he’s ever seen, with each of the 3 segments in question up for grabs ‘til the finish.  The 4×25 relay needed a “photo finish” to confirm the winner, and saw the Red hand touch first giving them the Swim portion win by just a point. Over on the boat dock, the paddlers were set for the two-heat, total time kayak races – decided by a measly 1.5 seconds combined in favor of Gray, setting up the ski-off to determine the overall Waterfront point, where Gray’s Santi prevailed.

Up on the Bunkline gridiron, Red Lts. Logan and DMar ran and passed it all over the field to win Stars Football, despite the multiple TD efforts of Ethan K to stay in it for Gray.  Over on the SkyLinks, Red jumped out fast, winning the first 5 matches, then completed the Seniors sweep with a win in the Bocce Garden as well.

Gray won both Sophomores Hockey games over on the rink.  Jacob R was unstoppable, hitting the back of the net 5 times in Game 1.  In game 2, outstanding goalie play by Aiden R and Elias G kept it close, 2-1.

Red dominated Freshmen Tennis, winning 4 of the 6 singles and doubles matches, cementing the victory by carrying the Skills competition as well.

The two most exciting contests of the day nearly ended at the same time, with cheers emanating wildly and simultaneously from both Sky I and Sky II.  Just as Ollie H was swarmed after putting the finishing touches on a nifty, 1-0, two-hit shutout in Tigers Baseball on the Freddie Pierce for Red, the noise level rose from the Hejduk as Jesse R scored the game-winner with 14 seconds left to settle a back-and-forth, high-intensity 8-7 nip and tuck affair for Gray in Juniors Lacrosse.  Whew! What a day….and we weren’t quite done yet.

Red now had the slightest of leads – 1 point, as we awaited the results of the traditional first night’s Color War activity – Ping Pong.  And this one didn’t disappoint either. Under the Pavilion lights in the most competitive, festive outdoor Ping Pong environment to date, the Gray team, down 2 matches with 3 to play, swept all 3 to win the Ping Pong point….and end Day 1 with the score tied, dead even, all square!  Unbelievable – 22 total events.  Tie score, we want more!

If you’re the parent of one of the 28 campers in the Stars Division who were not elected Captain, we know what you might be thinking…

He wanted this more than anything in the world.  He must be devastated.  Is he ok?

Perhaps he was a standout kid who’s been told he was “Captain material” for years.  Or maybe he was a like all the others, who quietly hoped for the miracle of being elected.

No matter what, there were some disappointed Stars last night.  No question, a few were stunned to learn that they weren’t chosen.  Some fought back tears as they were consoled in the back of the room.

So what did happen to the heartbroken ones when the rest of camp left the Rec Hall?  They walked arm-in-arm back to Sky II, talking about the night and the Color War days ahead.  They were good because they had each other.  It’s true – we checked.  2021 was no different than 1948 or any year in between.

They accept, they bounce back, and they become the best team leaders in the whole wide world.  Through their many years at Skylemar, they’ve learned a foundational lesson of leadership which can only be taught through experience. That is…you don’t need a title to be a strong leader.

The desire to be your best and do for others comes from within.  It’s a passion that burns inside, that’s shared by the people who make it happen, as compared to those who just watch it happen.

It’s 24 hours later, and the 2021 Election is an event of the past.  Now it’s time to focus on the games, songs and team spirit for the days ahead.

As this is typed, the Red and Gray Captains, along with their First Lieutenants, are hidden away drafting the teams.  They go through each Division selecting every teammate, with Shep there to officiate but never to influence.

If the Captains do their job well tonight, the teams will be perfectly matched and ideal for fair play.  There are no adults micromanaging, arranging or adjusting.  The kids elect the Captains, and the Captains draft the teams.   As mentioned last night, it’s no surprise to any camper that siblings could be separated and cabin mates as well.  We promise…it works.

Once the draft is finalized, the Captains will put a red or gray ribbon under the pillow of each team member.  It’s memorable, meaningful and magical … just a few hours ’til morning!

For most, it was a typical day with some extra excitement in the air. 67 little guys swam across the lake (with 32 staff members) at 6:30 in the morning.  Cubs and Tigers had their Tennis Tournament.   The Juniors took a trip to the Maine Wildlife Park and the cast of “Willy Wonka” was busy in rehearsal.  Activities included League Hockey and Softball, Waterfront, Archery, Lax, Hoops, Golf and the High Ropes Course.  The lucky ones got our most popular period…Sky Deck.  That’s when you go to Adam’s studio kitchen to learn culinary skills and make your own special meal.

On the other hand, it wasn’t exactly business as usual for the fifteen-year-olds of the Stars Division.  For them it was one of the most important days of their lives.

Already a close group, the thirty Stars seemed extra tight on this special day.  They had Porchtime with Shep, Golf, Gaga and Lax.  Lunch was the traditional Sky II Lobster Feast, just for Bunks 25 and up.  It was a really happy time, with the topic of conversation being the big, huge, gigantic night ahead.

We’ve been counting down the days for over a week.  Everyone’s eager and excited and it would be tough for the Stars to not have just a touch of “the butterflies”.   After all, it’s the biggest night of the year…

IT’S COLOR WAR ELECTIONS 2021!

The entire camp gathered in our favorite building, The Rec Hall.  Once all were seated in assigned areas, the 30 Stars entered to a standing ovation. Color War Elections have been a Skylemar tradition for over 70 years.   This year’s ballot was larger than we can ever remember, and each young man would truly be an outstanding Captain.  Every camper votes for two who they believe will lead Skylemar in a positive way.

This is democracy as it should be.  No political ads, fundraising or empty campaign promises.  A field of quality choices.  Every secret vote counts equally, and the simple majority wins.  Tonight’s “magic number” was 113, representing one more than half of this year’s total eligible Color War participants.

Shep introduced each on the ballot, dressed as tradition dictates in their favorite jersey.  He explained how the spirit of Skylemar’s Color War is based on fair play and kindness.  Those participating are in a unique situation that isn’t found in other competitions… we care about our opponents.  We live and eat with them; they are our best friends, and we care about their feelings.  Accordingly, it’s alright to want to win, but we must remember that people who we care about are on the other team.

We should play hard and strive to be our best.  But when the game’s over, it’s over.  We must be mindful not to ruin someone else’s fun by over-reacting when we win or lose.

Shep explained that once the Captains are elected, they will be drafting the teams themselves, one camper, one Division at a time.  This means that brothers may be on opposite teams, and you could end up with five bunkmates on one team and one bunkmate on the other.  This gives you the opportunity to demonstrate how cool it is to care.

He then asked all the former Captains to stand.  Four do so, and the crowd cheered.  Then he asked for those who were on the ballot when they were 15 but did not win, to stand.  A large group rose to their feet, and they received a standing ovation.  Point is, only two people out of 30 will have the title “Captain”.  The most important and valuable young men will be the 28 others.

The Stars cast their secret ballots and left the room.  After each camper voted, they put their paper ballot in the ceremonial pickle jar.  Shep then read each aloud, one by one, and George kept the tally.

When one candidate got to 103, the countdown began.  10-9-8 they screamed… the excitement grew wildly! 4-3-2… and when Aiden Froh got to 113, he became our first elected winner and was mobbed at the door as he entered the Rec Hall.  Moments later, after Shep read just a few more votes, Cooper Ray hit the number as well and became our second Captain – receiving the same supportive Rec Hall welcome!

After both Captains made their brief acceptance speeches, the coin flip for choice of color was the first official business to be taken care of.  Cooper won and selected Red, so Aiden is Gray.  Next coin flip was for selecting the 4 Stars Division Lieutenants who will help the Captains lead their teams – the choice being first and fourth picks or second and third. Aiden won this coin toss and chose the latter.

Aiden’s Gray Team will be led by Stars Lieutenants Reece Bello and Noah Villalona while Cooper chose Logan Butler and Dylan Markulics to help lead his Mighty Red Team.

Shep then proclaimed, “Camp Skylemar, these are your chosen leaders for Color War 2021!”

Staff Orientation, our 10-day training program before the kids arrive, touches on 101 points pertaining to the safety of each child in our care.  This includes discussions and activities about what it means to be a father, mother, teacher and hero.  After all, being a super-hero is what the job’s all about.

At one point, each counselor wrote down the name of someone who they considered to be a role model, as well as the traits that describe that person.   Perhaps it was a coach, parent, employer or grandparent.  We used a flip chart to brainstorm the important qualities that made the person such an influential mentor. Along those lines, this summer would be each staff member’s opportunity to be the person forever remembered by a child, for all these right reasons.  The hand-written cards from the session were then collected and for the most part, forgotten.

At yesterday’s Counselor Meeting, six weeks from the day those cards were written, they were returned to their rightful owners.   Once all were distributed, Shep opened with a question to think about.  “Who do you think has the toughest job here at Camp Skylemar?”

He explained that there were two possible answers.  He said, “If you thought of someone other than yourself, then you are correct.  If you thought of yourself, then you’re correct too, because of our high standards and expectations.”

“Who else had the toughest job?”, Shep asked.  After a pause he said, “The role model you wrote about on the card that’s now in your hand.”

Counselors again discussed the traits of their role model.  He was “caring”, “patient”, “selfless”, “supportive”, “respectful” and so on.

How can you be the best you can be for the next 10 days at Camp Skylemar?  Shep said, “The answers are in your hand.  He continued, “Keep that card, look at it every day, and remember, nothing good comes easy.”

If you think about it, it’s never easy to be a strong leader and a role model.  Those who are our heroes just make it look easy.   At Skylemar, there are a number of those special people who work tirelessly behind the scenes, to help both counselors and campers to succeed.  After all, a true leader strives to make others look good, not themselves.

This Blog is dedicated to our “dream team” of Skylemar leaders, who go above and beyond.  Thank you times a million, to our 60+ nurses, directors, assistants, Bunksters and Bunkles.  You stand as a role model for doing whatever it takes to help others succeed.

“TWO MORE DAYS!”, they chant.  “TWO MORE DAYS!”

The most anticipated event in the Skylemar world is around the corner.  The excitement builds every day as we get closer and closer.

But for now….

Bones Senior Drip Trip went out this morning.  Trip leader Blake took the Seniors to some of the places he enjoys near Bates College.  They went to a really good mini golf place as well as the beach.  It was a fun getaway.  Meanwhile, Sophomores and Juniors had an afternoon away at the ice rink.

The weather was fine for sports and excursions, but by dinner our friendly rainmaker was at it again.  We had to figure out a plan for “Talent Show #2”, because the ground was too wet to sit outside, and we just didn’t feel like masking up to be indoors.  So, we got creative under the “Big Red”.

Shep quickly created a stage at one end of the Pavilion, and Media Director John came up with a way to project the performers on to the screen at the other end of the structure.  The little guys could watch up close and in-person, while Sky II watched the “jumbotron”.

Once again, some had real talent, and some not so much.   As in the case every year, second session means we’re even more comfortable with each other, so the acts get sillier.   That’s ok, because part of the fun for the audience is watching the guys on stage have such a great time.

Some of the memorable performances included Ethan V and Hayes dancing to “Who Let the Dogs Out”.  Other talented dancers were Eli W, Kyle and TI.  Inigo spoke Spanish, Jagger painted, Keith O did comedy, Asher did impressions, Grady did under-leg ball tricks over and over.  Bode told jokes, Myer did a split, and KJ played the inflatable guitar to “Sweet Child of Mine”.  The whole camp sang along.

Tonight’s magicians included Palmer, Ryder and Thomas L.  Charlie L, Adam A, Eli D, Cooper E and Ethan K played the piano.  Archie was the MC while Oscar did the Rubik’s Cube blindfolded.  Nate and Theo of Bunk 10 did diabolo tricks.  Carter S, Reed S, Teddy S and Ollie H were brave enough to sing solos.  All were winners, going home with a mystery choice from the super prize bag.  Grand prizes (staff shirts) went to Keith O, Reed, Kyle, TI and Asher.

Oldest campers had an Evening Activity of their own. As usual, girls were on one side and boys on the other.  But this time it was a virtual social on the big screen.  First ever in the history of Skylemar and Mataponi.  Gotta make the best of the hand we’re dealt!

“WOW!” says it all.  It’s that powerful one-word sentence to describe a jam-packed schedule and an explosion of joy at Camp Skylemar.

It was a 6:30 AM depart for the JC trip to Acadia State Park.  Some slept through the three-hour drive, but once they arrived, they all saw that it was well-worth the trip.  Acadia is one of the most beautiful places in the country.

Meanwhile, just a bit later, the Tigers took a five minute drive to Steamboat Landing Mini Golf.  It was exciting for them to leave camp, and to them, this was far away.  Next, they went to a VIP opening of Causeway Dairy Bar.  They had special private seating on the upper deck of the restaurant overlooking Long Lake.

Back home, the Juniors and Seniors had their Championship Tennis Tournament.   Congratulations to all 50 players, and especially to runner-up James E and champ Alex N.  Well played!

GACU (Great American Clean Up) periods for each cabin throughout the day.  That’s when you take a power-shower, visit the nurses for a health check, and then get your feet soaked and nails trimmed at The Spa.  When we added it up, there was a grand total of 3,222 nails clipped today by Cory, Mitch, Luci and Adam.  Now that’s a big “WOW”.

Waterfront, Archery, Basketball, Golf, Chilltop, Gaga, Baseball, Ping Pong, Hockey, Gamblin’, Soccer, Challenge Course and then we headed to Hejduk Field for a big surprise…

It’s Blow-Up Carnival!  The field was filled with colorful giant inflatables.  There was the “Mega Obstacle Course”, “Bungie Run”, “Field Goal Challenge”, “Whack-a-Mole”, “Inflatable Ax Throwing”, “Slam Dunk Hoops”, “Rock Climbing Challenge” and “Human Foosball”.  Everyone kicked off their shoes and ran from one activity to the next.

Sno-Cones were just right for the hot sticky afternoon.  Red Raspberry, Blue Hawaiian, Pink Lemonade, Mandarin Orange and Bubblegum were the most popular flavors.  Can’t say that about Crème De Menthe.   No one except for the old folks had any idea that the green flavor was mint.

Following a pizza dinner and 7^th period, it was Capture the Flag for Evening Activity.  We divided by Division on to three different fields for the game the kids love.

After Taps, the Sky I Bunkline was quieter than usual (although Sky II is still having a ping pong tournament).  Every single child and adult are absolutely exhausted after this amazing wow-day. For sure, there’s nothing better than WOW …. you do know it’s just “MOM” upside down!

Noah, Nate, DMar, Logan, Alexander, Elijah, Sam, DMan, Reese, Stephen, Ryan and Jared…the greatest JC’s in the whole wide world.  These are the leaders of Skylemar 2021.

They are the tone-setters of camp.  Because they’re fun and upbeat, we all feel that way.  Each is adored by his cabin of little guys, and all are admired for their kindness, warmth, dedication and loyalty.  These are the young men who any parent would be proud to have as their own, and who our kids hope to be like when they grow up.

Part-time cabin and activity assistant and part-time camper, you might say that the JC’s (Junior Counselors) have the best of both worlds.  They have lots of responsibilities throughout the day with the kids, but also have time assigned to play sports with the Stars.  For Color War, they’re some of the most valuable members of the team.

Living together on the Hilltop with counselors Miles and Marcus is part of what makes their summer so great.  They’re a band of brothers, who when combined represent over 80 years of Skylemar experience.

The JC’s do whatever it takes to make campers smile.  They’ll wear a crazy costume, bang drums and jump up and down when someone yells “Flamingo Bingo!”.  They give the best piggy-back and shoulder rides and have a way of cheering someone up who might feel just a little bit down.

Giving up a driver’s license, cell phone, social media and video games is not something that comes so easy for a sixteen year-old.  But each of these extraordinary men are strong, intelligent, confident and wise.  They have a good handle on what matters and is most important in life.

We’re proud of our JC’s and are grateful that they’re here.  Our hope is to build them into incredible counselors, so they continue to make a positive difference in the world, one kid at a time.

It’s Tournament Day at Camp Skylemar!  Bacon Fest, Volleyball and Fresh/Soph Tennis.

The Snow Field was festival-like and exciting, with eight teams of Cubs and Tigers competing in a Skylemar favorite, Steal the Bacon.  The intensity of these little guys drew a big crowd of spectators.  Those not playing could also try Wiffleball, Jackpot, Kan Jam, Mini Lax, Frisbee Golf or Speed Test.  Music blasted from giant speakers, and Blake came down with his Gatorade truck.  Seniors and Stars had a Volleyball tournament of their own.  Meanwhile, Freshmen and Sophomores held a tennis tourney on the eight courts.  Needless to say, we had a lot going on.

Steal the Bacon (aka “STB”) is played on a grass “court” with players from two teams facing each other, each assigned a number (1-5 with 5 on a side).  A tennis ball (the bacon) is placed in the center between the two team player lines.  The ref calls a number, and the two opponents try to grab the bacon and bring it back across their line without being tagged.  There’s a lot more to it (ask your son), but that’s the basic premise.  When the two players approach the center, the focus and concentration run deep.  Should they grab the ball and run, or just fake the other out?

There’s something special about STB being reserved for the youngest guys in camp.  Playing it competitively is a rite of passage that most of our older guys have gone through, and they respect how seriously the Cubs and Tigers take the game.

Today, each team was given the opportunity to play two games that would help determine seeding for the tournament. JC DMan’s team got off to a strong start to the round robin play, as Max P, Dillon F, Nolan B, Myles F, Cooper F, Jero and Javier all had impressive performances. It came down to JCs Noah and DMar’s teams for the championship. Even though Chase W and Myer only had a few days to learn the game, they were key players for Noah.   After two hard fought games, Team Markulics emerged victorious as Skylemar’s 2021 STB champions. Oscar L-R, Hayes and Amir were the three stars of the championship match, with Ethan V, Caesar B-H, Thomas L and KJ crucial contributors as well. Coach DMar credited team chemistry and friendship as their keys to success.

Meanwhile, on the Volleyball court…

Eight teams from the Seniors and Stars Divisions competed in a single elimination volleyball tournament. The bracket was arranged with Stars on one side, and Seniors on the other.

In the championship match, it was Sam S, Aidan F, Bennett R, Ethan K, Luke A and Joey M of the Stars competing against Seniors Alex B, Isaac G, Charlie P, Jack P, Leo D, and Zay-Zay.  The Stars got off to a fast start, taking an 11-3 lead before the Seniors came roaring back.  Isaac G’s 8-point serving run was almost enough to complete the comeback, but the Stars held on for the 21-19 championship win.

Then over on the Tennis courts…

Fifty-four Freshmen and Sophomores signed up to compete in the tennis tournament.  The tone was set right from the start, as the tennis staff explained exactly how to cheer (quietly and respectfully) and whose responsibility it is to call balls in/out (the participants in the match only). It was an awesome display of player development and personal style.  Several matches went to tiebreaker rounds, and eventually only Gaines, Holden F, Charlie F, and Will S remained.

After two more very close, competitive semifinal matches, identical twins Holden and Charlie advanced to the championship round.  It took a tiebreaker to decide it as the evenly matched pair battled it out to the finish, with Holden ultimately claiming the title.

Evening Activity was a surprise guest performer.  A professional magician dazzled us all, especially when he made red Gatorade (from Blake’s truck, assumably) come out of a light bulb.  What a way to wrap up a great day!

JOY!

You could feel it in the air this morning as the camp gathered for Clinic Sign-ups.  The sun was shining, and we all felt especially comfortable and at ease together.  Three hundred-some brothers, ages 7 to 27, smiling, laughing and singing along to “I’m A Believer” by Smash Mouth.  Wish you were there to see the invisible love waves.

Counselors presented their commercials, and each time they went to the stage the kids cheered for their own.  “That’s my counselor!” Bode shouted.

First up was our phenomenal golf pro, Steve.   Before talking about his upcoming Color War Prep Golf Clinic, Steve presented the Gold Golf Club award to the one who was most dedicated for the past week.  Congratulations to Nate F (B6)!

Counselor Milly advertised his Archery Clinic, which will include “Big Game Hunt and King of the Court” – somehow played without a court.  The Challenge Course counselors performed a rap-style commercial.  Never disappointing with plenty of showmanship to spare, Trickey Pond’s Ski Dock crew offered “The Best There Ever Was”.   Other choices down at Trickey were the Sailing Clinic and “Sky Try” where you’ll get the chance to break new swimming records.

Lacrosse welcomed both new players and veterans.  They’ll work on how to shoot on the run as well as with your off hand.  Football offered “The Punt, Pass and Catch Challenge”.  “Soccer Team Prep” will cover passing, shadowing, technical finishing and shooting.  SkyPines offered orienteering and fishing for those who haven’t had the opportunity yet.

Gamblin’ in the Gym will include custom workouts.  Those who sign up for Suzie’s Theatre Tech Clinic will get to build giant candy pieces for the play “Willy Wonka”.  ‘3v3’ Basketball is always popular, thanks to our super great hoops counselors.

Shep’s Reading Clinic is a great way to relax and enjoy a good book (or maybe not exactly “good”, but what you have to read for school).  Most exciting was Adam and Blake Shep’s “Kitchen Tools Clinic”.  You get a tour of the big kitchen and learn how everything works.  You even get to help Blake put in a Sysco order!

The hardest part is deciding which Clinic to select.  It’s definitely an independent choice, and it’s really interesting to see where everyone’s going for the next five days during third period.

Lots of sports action in the afternoon.  The Cubs had a great time off camp for a Berry Picking Bonanza.  They went to a private farm and picked enough blueberries for our breakfast tomorrow.

Dinner was delayed due to the weirdest weather yet.  A hail storm!  Then the skies cleared, and the meal was a favorite – cookout!

Spirit Night for Evening Activity.  Once again, those love waves were in the air.  Bunk 11 led the program, and their own Matthew D got honorable mention for the Cool2Care award.  New camper Daniel M of Bunk 13 did too.  Congrats to Nick N (B15) for being awarded the Cool2Care Chain.  He was nominated for being “always nice and he speaks up when someone needs them to”.  The second chain went to Ben R (B19) for being “a perfect friend, never mean or rude”.

Lily’s Spirit Night sermonette echoed Shep’s reading about Jon Bon Jovi.  Both Lily and Jovi realized that so much of what they learned through sports applied to life overall.  Lily’s final point resonated with many in the audience.  She said, “You don’t play sports to become a professional athlete.  You play them to become the most professionally kind, compassionate and well-rounded person you can be.”

Aaaaaah! Now this is how Maine weather is supposed to be. Sunny with clear skies and just the right summer temperature, low humidity and a gentle breeze.   It was a good-mood kind of day.

So much to do!  Down at the ski dock the boats never stopped.  They had many days to make up for with all that rain.  Every field and court was buzzing with action, and it was great to finally play some League Soccer, Hoops and Softball too.

Now that we’ve had numerous rounds of negative testing, Dr. Jeff gave the word that it’s ok for kids of different Divisions to play together outside on this glorious day.  Although kids of the same age typically play sports with each other, it’s nice to be able to hang out with older and younger friends a bit, playing games like chess or bocce.

Special “cousin” relationships have definitely developed through cohorting.  Dr. Jeff has encouraged us to “blanket” those who are too young to be vaccinated with groups of boys who are just about entirely vaccinated. Therefore, when we had to be inside for rain, we’d match up the Cubs with Seniors & Stars, Tigers with Sophomores, and Freshmen with Juniors.  The older guys are psyched that they can now officially give piggy-backs to the little ones.

The younger half of camp really looks up to those older.  They talk about this at the Chocolate Factory, while making sweet treats.  Not only do they make something yummy for themselves, but they also get to choose an older bunk to make treats for as well… quite the perk for a “cousin bunk”!

No question, Skylemar boys are warm-hearted.  They may “forget” to listen or make “mistakes” once in a while when it comes to following rules, but they really do know how to show gratitude.  A group of early-morning guys went to The Nest (Luci’s room/office in the Garden Cabin) and decorated water bottles for counselors.  The adorable handwriting and misspellings made each a keepsake.

The Freshmen were especially lucky.  They got to go on “Blakes Great Adventure” to Pineland Farm.  No other people near them — instead there were goats, chickens, ducks, sheep, turkeys, cows, horses, rabbits, peacocks and more.  Afterwards they went to Range Pond State Park for a picnic lunch and beach fun.

Lip Sync Battle for Evening Activity.  It’s a night of laughs and cheers, when each bunk takes the stage to perform a dance to the song of their choice.  Even the most reserved get silly, so it’s especially fun to watch.  Truth be told…Skylemar counselors can dance!

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  We beg to differ.  Without a doubt, it’s dinner.

Whether at camp or at home, a casual dinner bookends the day.  It’s a comforting window of time to talk about what went well or perhaps not so well.  Typically here it’s just regular old impromptu conversation around the table, but sometimes there’s a question of the day or even the simple game “guess what I’m thinking”.  The togetherness piece is the valuable part, no matter where you are.

The boys rave about Skylemar food and call it “amazing!”  Chefs Junior, Benjamin, Carlos and their crew do a fantastic job of making it taste great and providing plenty of it.  The kids think it’s a huge buffet of choices each meal, but actually, it’s not much different than a meal you’d serve at home.  One main course, side dishes, salad and at dinner, dessert (yet another reason this meal is important).

Here we take the Subway approach.  We keep the pieces of the meal separate so kids can have choice within a handful of options.  For example, if dinner is spaghetti, you have the choice of no sauce, marinara or sauce with meatballs.  Then you decide if you want parmesan cheese.  One entrée can end up on a plate five different ways.

The Skylemar chefs do have some secrets, and for the first time in history, we’re willing to share:

• The secret to Skylemar grilled chicken?  Pound the boneless breasts, marinate in Italian dressing and grill.
• The secret to Skylemar meatballs?  Use a mix of half ground beef and half ground turkey.  Add breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, egg, seasoning and bake at 350 degrees.  The turkey cuts down on the fat.
• The secret to Skylemar lasagna?  Skip the ricotta cheese.  Layer noodles, sauce (we skip the beef too) and mozzarella cheese.
• The secret to fine ground beef for tacos?  Add a cup or two of water.  Water makes the beef crumble.
• The secret to making perfect rice?  Use boiled water following the standard rice to water ratio.  Bake in foil-covered 9×9 pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• The secret to getting the boys to eat their vegetables?  Put whatever’s leftover in soup.  Leftover salad bar items go into a giant blender with frozen fruit and apple juice for a delicious smoothie.  Make sure the fruit is either red or blue, because a green color is a vegetable give-away.

Here’s a frequently requested recipe for “Carlos Potatoes”:

3 pounds red skin potatoes

6 tb butter

3 tb minced garlic

5 oz Minor’s or Herb-Ox beef base

2 tb parsley

Cube and parboil potatoes.  Drain and spread on sheet pan.  Add other ingredients, toss to coat.  Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.

As for Junior’s Special Chicken Tender Sauce?  Sorry, but that’s a real secret.

From a glass half-full perspective, we did get out on the fields and courts today.  What’s come to be a daily rain event passed us by until after lunch.  At times we just accepted that we’d be wet anyway, like at the waterfront.  We were especially proud of new campers who got up waterskiing, like Thomas T, Connor B, Matthew R and Sebi.

The talk of the morning was about Backwoods, where kids learn about survival skills like how to build a campfire.  Today they explored the age old question:  Can you start a fire by rubbing two sticks together?

Perhaps potentially, but not really.  It actually takes some string as well.  It’s far more practical to use flint and steel.  Director Sid first demonstrated how to use an actual rock for this, which is definitely the hard way.  It was still challenging nevertheless to use the “flint and steel fire striker”, but Daniel M, Barron and Henry B were successful.  Jagger was even able to burn a leaf with a magnifying glass.

Now you know why we keep an extinguisher handy!

The golfers made it to the Bridgton Country Club, but had an hour’s rain delay.  Meanwhile, Gamblin’ was still a go.  That’s when we go to the gym for workouts.  Alex Gamble is the Fitness Director, so hence the name of the period.  Gamblin’ is a time when you challenge yourself to be your best.

After the rain clouds had turned the ground into a sloshy mess, the older kids decided to go ahead with their Gaga period.  A hot shower was definitely required afterwards.

Evening Activity was a surprise trip to see the Harlem Wizards.  We loaded the whole camp on buses and headed to the local high school.  The athletic director at the school was kind enough to let us take over their gym.

Skylemar’s relationship with the Wizards dates back many years to when Lee was a basketball coach.  They’re a talented group of traveling hoopsters who perform in the style of the Globetrotters, displaying a spectacular array of skill and showmanship.

Truth is, Skylemar’s talented Counselor squad was up for the challenge and just as impressive!  Tate, DT, Mitch, Sammy, LT, Colby, Blake and Rems dazzled with their fancy moves, slick ball handling and great shooting (we connected on 5 straight 3’s during one hot streak).  It was a fantastic show, and the Skylemar audience loved it.

The rain can’t stop us!  Good thing – because the forecast is for more tomorrow….

Welcome to the University of Skylemar.  All classes are in-person, and the only prerequisite is a willingness to have fun and be kind to others.

Those who don’t know Skylemar may think that summer camp is just about playing games.  Oh, but there’s so much more to be learned in this “academic” institution.  Here’s a list in random order of just some of the many lessons covered this semester:

The Game of Life:  Play hard, be competitive, but never forget how your actions affect another.

Shoes:  Not only how to keep track of your own, but what it means to figuratively stand in someone else’s.

Problem Solving:  What do you do with one leftover piece of cake when six people want it?

Respect:  Every single person has value and importance.  Remarkable, but we’re 99% the same.

Voice:  How to speak up when something’s wrong.  How to stand up when someone’s mistreated.

Screen Time:  You honestly don’t need it.  Enough said.

Happiness:  The secret to happiness lies in doing for others and appreciating when you get lucky.

The Puzzle:  Figure out a way to handle a situation that might not be so great.  For example, what do you do when you feel homesick?

Practice:  In any one day there are a dozen times to practice kindness. Compassion, too…over and over.

The Littles:  It’s ok to wait a little, be bored just a little or even be a little sad.  You have the power to fix it.

Appreciate:  There really is no place like home.  We take for granted a big bed, always-open refrigerator, tv and yes, a computer.

Love:  We feel it all the time, through the many “micro-happy’s”, like when you get a postcard from home, or a hug from a friend or high five from a counselor.

Flowers Have Power:  We feel good when our belongings are cared for (make your bed!), and we thrive when surrounded by flowers and trees.  Not exactly sure why, but it’s true!

Re-do’s:  Take a safe chance, fail and someone here will help you try again.

Yes, please:  Manners add beauty to the fabric of our lives.

And finally:  Win, lose, play or don’t… just keep it classy.  That’s how we roll.

First day of Second Session, and it poured.  Not just rain, but more like a deluge.  Even most of our early risers stayed in bed until The Morning Show at 8.  The original schedule was literally a wash-out, but Barney had Plan B ready to go.

Rainy can’t stop us from having fun.  The big hit of the day was Catapult Building in the Pavilion.  The kids were spread out on the tables in teams of 3 or 4.  Each was given a bag of supplies, which included duct tape, tongue depressors, straws, paper clips, rubber bands and so forth.  You were given the task of creating a catapult that would launch a ping pong ball off in the distance.  The ball that went the farthest was the winner.  What they came up with was incredible.  Our guys are brilliant.

The Karaoke Dance Party in the Lodge was a blast as well.  The Cubs and Tigers were especially adorable.  Hayes knew all the words to a Beastie Boys song he rapped.  Ethan K and Nolan B sang a song from “The Greatest Showman”.  Asher chose “Just the Two of Us”, while Barron and Balty sang “Bang”.  Counselors provided the backup vocals, and the kids all cheered for each other.

There was a slew of board games to play, plus pool, chess and ping pong.   T-shirt making was super popular over at Chill Top, and a couple of groups loved being in WSKY for video making and photography.

Suzie led Card Sharks in the Rec Hall.  It’s a game show that combines trivia questions and a giant-sized deck of cards.  Suzie’s from Las Vegas, so she knows her stuff.

Mitch and Beags led good old fashioned Dodge Ball in the Gym.  That’s always a hit.

As for Sky II?  They slept, played a little cards, and slept some more.  That’s what you want to do when you’re 14 or 15 on a rainy camp day.

The sky cleared in the afternoon, so we did get out a bit.  Still misty but we’ll take it.  Flag Football, Gaga, Archery, Basketball, Soccer, Lacrosse, Hockey and Tennis.  It felt great to run.

Evening Activity was the Counselor Talent Show.  It was an impressive display of talent and kinda sorta talent.  Cory, Nate, Colton and Suzie did some amazing singing.  Mitch inspired us with a perfect rendition of a rap from “Hamilton”.  Brittany did speed drawing, and Max drank a full bottle of water in one gulp.  Jonathan did real juggling, while Zac’s was imaginary.  There was the “Bunkstreet Boys” who even had a couple of dance steps.  RJ did impressions and Stef could guess his exact body temperature to the tenth degree (confirmed with a thermometer – he nearly got it right).   The night ended with our own Blue Man Group, including black light, rhythmic pounding drums (flipped over trash cans) and neon-colored paint splashing into the night.  Byron played the real drums in the background – he was spectacular, and so was the light show created.

Best part of the show was the audience.  The kids cheered, sang along, clapped and gave standing ovations… Counselors make their kids proud!

The dancing flames.  The crackling sounds.  The radiant energy.

There’s something about a campfire that mesmerizes us.  We stare into it for no particular reason.  Anthropologists hypothesize that it’s an evolutionary thing, tracing back to prehistoric times. Back then sitting around the fire was for survival and perhaps even friendship.  Scientists call it “Caveman TV”, and it’s been known to lower blood pressure.

Sitting around the fire is an essential at a Sky Pines Overnight.  Each night a different cabin gets to go with Sid and Sam, our Outdoor Ed directors.  After setting up the tents, they learn to build a fire and cook on the open flames.  There’s plenty of time for fishing and playing in Trickey Pond.  At night’s end there’s something about the magical flames that helps conversation to flow, and “the time we sat around the campfire at Sky Pines” is remembered forever.

Tonight’s Ring of Champions Campfire had beautiful flames, but this time the vibe was high energy, lively and dynamic.  That’s because Cory is in charge.

Director Cory is one of those rare and amazing people who exudes positive energy wherever she goes.  She’s fun, kind, creative and talented, and you can’t help but feel great around her.  And… she leads a heck of a campfire for 400 people.

She has a phenomenal voice that carries beautifully, and she’s a master of the “repeat after me song”.  She has this way of controlling the audience, where each person feels like they’re having an individual conversation with her, and all are enthralled.  The boys were all-ears as she performed her “candy shop skit”, which included yanking some of the least-likely counselors to be part of her act.

DT had us all standing up and singing along with “Get on Out of My Burrito, Huh”.  S’mores of course, and then here comes Adventure Man.  Adventure Man visits each Campfire and teaches us all survival skills in a funny way.

Rems, Suds and Tate sang “Waiting on the World to Change”.  Rems was especially impressive on the guitar.  No one tells the guys to lock arms and sway, but it’s one of those things that happen here.  Especially when you stare into the Caveman TV.

By the end of the camp season, they’ll have all the skills you’re looking for.  Strategic thinking, conflict resolution, problem solving ability.   They work well in a group setting, know how to negotiate, they’re organized and are good communicators.  They’re responsible, they get along well with peers and are devoted to the cause.  Did we mention hard working?  In just a few short weeks, many of them will be ready for hire.

Still working on your son, but in the meantime, this is who we’re talking about:  Skylemar Counselors.

Before taking the position, George tells each counselor applicant “it’s the hardest job you’ll ever love.”  He says, “if kids don’t make you laugh, this isn’t for you”.  He talks about the magnitude of the position:  round-the-clock mother, father, teacher, coach, big brother and friend.   He tells them to think about it before the lengthy hiring process begins.  Only those considered to be “the best” by teachers and coaches are considered.

The job makes parenting look easy.  Think about the effort it takes to get one or two sets of teeth brushed.  How about seven?  What about the energy required to host a sleepover a few times a year?  How about that giggly, silly, up-too-late party for a straight 42 days?  A little sibling rivalry now and then at your house?  Think about counselors in a one room condo with 8 fraternal twins.  Speaking of the house…how about keeping it clean or at the very least orderly, while all the kids are living inside?

No electronic “babysitters”, like video games or Disney+.   No games on the phone while the grownups finish dinner.   Instead it’s piggy-backs to all the meals, early morning basketball and late night card games.  A Skylemar counselor knows that his time is what a kid values most.

The kids adore Skylemar counselors.  They describe them as “fun”, and “they’re cool”, “they’re chill” and “they play with us”.  The ones who are favorites “know every kids name” and most importantly are “fair”.

What they all have in common is the reason they’re here:  To make the world a better place, one kid at a time.  It’s the mission they live, seven periods a day, plus Rest Hour and an Evening Activity.  They love your son and try their best to make each day shine.

Sure, counselors are not perfect.  Tempers can rise when exhaustion sets in.  Just like at home, it’s tough to be patient when someone’s not listening, when a few are arguing, you’re late for teaching baseball and then the toilet overflows.

But for every one of those not-so-perfect times, there are 100 great ones.  We watch our counselors dry tears and tie shoes, give hugs and high fives, encourage and forgive.  The gratitude we feel for these fine men who give their summer to our Skylemar boys never ends.

Crimson Tide, Fighting Irish, Green Wave, Orange, and Longhorns…what do they have in common, other than the fact that the first 4 (all except the Longhorns) are part of an answer to one of the great collegiate trivia questions — How many collegiate teams can you name that have nicknames NOT ending with the letter ‘S’? There are actually 13, but nope, that’s not it!

Instead, these 5 great institutions with storied traditions – Alabama, Notre Dame, Tulane, Syracuse and Texas – today, became part of one of Skylemar’s oldest traditions, Intercollegiate Day.

The boys had been divided up among the 5 universities a few days ago, and until today, had only met to rehearse their teams’ songs and cheers (more on that to come).  These 5 schools were chosen by each team’s counselor leaders to compete in a day filled with athletic events and a special regatta down at Trickey, and a night filled with Songs and Cheers to determine the overall IC Day winner.  The boys competed in the same 7 “classes” (this is school, you know) as usual (Cubs, Tigers, Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors and Stars), and all would participate in the same 6 events, too, each division rotating from one venue to the other throughout the day.  Some of the traditional events have been tweaked a bit by mastermind IC Day Director Nick Shep, who somehow found a way to enhance this annual competition into the most fun-filled, spirited IC Day ever!

And here’s how it went…

After breakfast and morning bunk inspection, a spectacular Maine day greeted the participants as all teams headed to the Snow Field for the official opening of this, our 73rd edition… and the Dash, one of the most celebrated of all IC day events. Nick Shep set the scene and called the runners to the starting blocks.  One sprinter per class for each team gave it all he had in a true test of straight speed, resulting in seven of the best races seen in years.  After Max P (B6) pulled away in the Cubs race to win for Syracuse, teammates Roman (Freshmen, B11) and Eddie (Sophomores, B17)) won their class races as well.  Grant (B25) won the Seniors for Texas, but a trio of ND Fighting Irish claimed the other 3 races – Jordan H (Tigers, B9) and Tosh (Juniors, B22) won tight races, then all watched Stars veteran DMar prove that he’s “the fastest man in camp”.

The boys then dispersed to compete in the 6 athletic events, moving from one contest to the next, by class, all over camp throughout the rest of the day (with a break for lunch, and of course, more songs and cheers practice).  Gaga created as much noise as any with both pits in use.  Each game began with all of the teams’ class participants inside the Octagon, in a 5-team round robin format, to determine the winner. A combination of Newcomb/Spike Ball for the younger classes, and Volleyball for the Upperclassmen, gave us the most competitive fun in the sand all summer. Down on the Snow Field, the older guys “survived” the intensity of a game they assumed they had long outgrown, but the Underclassmen still showed that STB belongs to them, as every game was decided by a single point. So exciting!

Buoyball, a Skylemar legendary creation (think baseball with a buoy (bat) and tennis ball), has been played here for years – but not with a kickball!  Both the Middle Diamond and the Freddie Pierce had games going all day, and the kids showed an amazing affinity for hitting and fielding an oversized ball (again round-robin style to determine order of finish (1^st to 5^th).  At Blacktop Hoops on both basketball courts, each class competed tourney-style, with 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5 games at all levels. The Juniors provided the most exciting Hoops contest of the day, when the very close, half-court 3v3 contest became engulfed with supporters, surrounded by most of the teams who had finished their morning activities. The last bucket was hard to come by, but when Sam M drove the baseline and scored to win it for Notre Dame, he was mobbed by the Irish faithful…quite a scene with Color War intensity!  The most non-stop action, though, had to be Lightning, a fast-paced soccer “knock-out” style game that kept everyone involved, even after apparent elimination (but with a chance for reinstatement on every shot taken or save made) – a revolving motion of passing, shooting, and goalie play.

Another special addition to the program began yesterday, when each team’s Stars participants were tasked with constructing a boat made of only cardboard and duct tape for the IC Day Cardboard Boat Race.  The boats were completed in just a few hours, then were blindly put to the test today, just after Rest hour, before the afternoon activities began.  The entire camp watched as the 5 boats made a valiant attempt to cross the ‘A’, but only Eli (B26) and his Green Wave vessel was successful for Tulane – entertaining the 200+ delighted onlookers.

With the daytime activities complete, all attention turned toward the evening closing event – Songs and Cheers.  Actually, this IC Day finale began long before the actual performance itself, as each team’s counselor leaders have been writing and preparing their set of 5 songs (Team cheer, Camp cheer, Team Fight song, Old Camp song, and Original Camp song) into the wee hours for days to get ready – all for the purpose of putting on that one best performance that might carry their team to victory.

And what a wonderful night it was.  Under the light of a starry night, the spirit of Skylemar came shining through.  The Team Fight songs and both cheers (Team and Camp) were energetic and lively, the Original Camp songs creative and heartfelt, and the Old Camp songs poured out with a pride several generations strong.  Several “collegians” performed as soloists/duets/trios/quartets amongst the 5 presentations – with teammates, bunkmates, counselors, and brothers locked arm-in-arm.  Necks strained and voices cracked, but somehow this was still the greatest show on earth!  The toughest job of the day was bestowed on judges Nurse Julie, Blake and Adam Shep who huddled backstage after with the task of deciding this one…until a few moments later when they handed Nick Shep their decision.  The crowd became silent as Nick thanked everyone for an amazing day – and proclaimed the 2021 IC Day winner…Syracuse University!

There are very few things in the world that we can’t control.  One, which we tell the kids about all the time, is that you can’t control another person’s behavior.  You can only control your own, setting an example for how you’d hope others to be.

The other that comes to mind is the weather.  No matter how we plan, the no-rain dance we do or what accuweather.com predicts, it is what it is when it comes to the rain.  Today’s radar predicted an hour of drizzle, but the clouds had another idea.

It’s called “the art of the stall”.  It’s what Shep pulls out when the kids are ready to head back to the bunk from breakfast, and the WeatherBug app says the rain is supposed to stop in 5 minutes.  But it doesn’t.  So… he decides to have an “outfit of the day” contest, between Luci and Tennis Director Ted.  The two must strut down the pseudo-catwalk of the Pavilion, and the kids got to cheer for whoever they thought was best dressed.  Mitch’s “applausometer” measured the decibels, so of course the kids screamed louder and louder.  End result – a successful 20 minute delay, which was long enough for the rain to subside.

Still too wet for regular outdoor activities, so we switched to IC Day Song Practice.  Tomorrow you’ll learn all about how the camp is divided into five college teams for a competitive day.  The most points are awarded in the Songs & Cheers evening event, so now was a good time to teach the words to the songs.  The counselors spend a tremendous amount of time writing, and they soon learn how difficult it is to get 40 boys to memorize words and sing in unison.

Still misty in the afternoon, but we played outside anyway.  Bunks 13, 14, 25 and 26 were lucky – they got to go ice skating in Bridgton.  The JC’s got away for a bit too.  They went on a private tour of Colby College.

COLORFUL CARNIVAL for Evening Activity!  The weather was dreary, so Shep had us put on our brightest clothes and bring on the fun.  Each cabin had their own booth to run in shifts, so that everyone had plenty of time to get around to play the many different games.  There were clowns and dressed up characters, music and plenty of treats.  The snowballs were yummy, especially with marshmallow on top.  The Kitchen Staff served fresh fried dough, but you had to play Limbo to get some.

Never a dull moment, rain or shine.  And tomorrow it will shine.  The stars in the sky tell it like it is!

She’s a one-man-show, jack-of-all-trades, talented singer, dancer and actor.  She’s sugar and spice and everything nice.  She’s the greatest drama director in the country.  She’s….

SUZIE!  SUZIE!  SUZIE!  (as the camp chants)

Best of all, Suzie knows boys and understands how to make drama cool and fun.  Never frustrated (well, almost never…), she appreciates that boys can’t sit still, or that they’d rather play soccer sometimes, or that a shower has to happen before rehearsal.  Thinking about auditioning?  All you have to do is tell her that you want a small, medium or big part.  The final cast is always a mix of ages, and despite the disjointed rehearsals due to cohorting, the show always miraculously comes together.

Tonight’s Big Show, “Elf” was Suzie-style all the way.  The kids were fantastic and adorable, and the audience watched intently.  It was a happy play, with vivid scenery, holiday lighting and cheerful costumes.  Eighteen boys were in the cast, and it was amazing how well they knew their lines and choreography.

The flow of a Suzie production is especially impressive.  She uses colored tape backstage to mark off where each boy’s costumes are kept, as well as where they’re supposed to stand quietly, or at least try.  In addition to the cast, 39 boys signed up for stage crew.  You see the word is out that if you’re in the stage crew, you’re part of the pizza party that follows. Instead of capping her stage crew to just a handful, she went ahead and gave each boy one single task.  Somehow, with just one run-through of the whole play (kind of …it was during a flag football game), it all went exactly to plan.  Like the unicorn she played for Sade’s Palace, Suzie is magical.

As to the one-man jack-of-all-trades part?  She does it all.  Casting, costuming, set design, props, choreography and directing.  She gets some much appreciated help with painting from Diane, Brittany and the kids, and welcome assistance from George H and Nate on the lighting and sound, but Suzie is one of those people in the world who knows how to make things happen.

Thank you, Suzie, for making the Gerhard Stage come alive!

The Cast of “Elf”

Santa Claus                        Noah (B25)

Buddy Scene 1-3               Eddie (B17)

Buddy Scene 4-7               Rowan (B17)

Buddy Scene 8-12             Aidan (B17)

Walter Hobbs                    Tyler (B20)

Emily Hobbs                      Dylan (JC)

Jovie                                    Xander (B17)

Chadwick                           T.I. (B17)

Walter                                 Cooper (B8)

Deb                                      Eli (B8)

Macy’s Manager               Noah (B28)

Mr. Greenway                   Nolan (B5)

Charlie/Kid/Elf                  Ethan (B2)

Barnard/Elf                        Eli (B1)

Elf/Policeman                    Jagger (B5)

Elf/Security Guard            Luca (B5)

Elf/Security Guard            Ethan (B7)

Clinic Sign-ups!  The whole camp gathered in front of the Rec Hall, eager to watch the exciting show.  Counselors performed skits called “commercials”, advertising what they’ll be offering during the Clinic Period in the days ahead.  After everyone presented, each camper independently chose what he’d like to do for an hour each day through this coming week.

First up was ‘3 v 3’ Hockey, presented by a group of former campers who are now counselors.  Next was Boating & Bracelets, where Diane and Mary Beth of Chilltop fame join forces down at Trickey with the boating counselors — you get to make bracelets on the beach, and take out a kayak, canoe or sailboat too.

Ted then took the stage with his signature raspy “aaaaaaah” (that the kids just love to repeat back), presenting his High School Tennis Clinic, geared towards those who want to make the tennis team at school.

Shep’s Great Adventure Clinic is a backlot tour of Skylemar.  You get to see all the places that the campers usually don’t get to go, like the Maintenance Department and the Kitchen (and the ice cream freezer).

Positional Skill Building for Lacrosse — you’ll learn to be a better attackman, goalie or defenseman (includes full-pads scrimmaging too).

Known for their outstanding commercials, The Ski Dawgs again did not disappoint.   You’ll progress from boom to short rope to long rope to slalom in no time with these expert waterskiing instructors.

Our favorite golf pro, Steve, offered his Straight & Far Golf Clinic. You get the opportunity to work towards earning the Gold Golf Club … and if you work harder than ever, you might have potential for the Green Jacket Award.

Fantasy Football includes mock drafts and lots of discussion.  Shoot & Dribble Basketball offers a welcome opportunity for all to hone your hoop skills (divided up by age on the courts).

Bishballerstine Monster Baseball was the funniest commercial of the day, and offers extra work on fielding, hitting for contact, hitting for power, throwing and baserunning.

Gamble offered Advanced Strength and Conditioning for our oldest campers.  The Giant Swing down on the Challenge Course was inviting for all ages.

Milly Rock Archery gives you the opportunity to work on the Golden Bow Award.  Sid & Sam’s Survival Skills Clinic covers shelter building, fire making, hiking and more.

Last but not least was Indigenous Cultures and Cuisines at the SkyDeck.  Wow!  How do you pick?

Wild Game Hunt for Evening Activity.  That’s when the counselors hide, and the campers seek.  It’s a favorite night for the kids, and a stressful one for their camp director.  Counselors seem to climb higher and higher into the trees every year.  All down safe and sound…though some never found!

Our crystal-clear, always refreshing, sparkling gem:  Trickey Pond.

Considered one of the cleanest bodies of water in the State of Maine, Trickey Pond is about two miles long, a half mile across, and about five miles in perimeter.  Fed by underground springs, Trickey is 55’ deep and home to landlocked salmon, trout, splake and small mouth bass.

Trickey’s also home to 200 joyful, splashing boys, who love this place more than any other.  In Maine, a “pond” and a “lake” are essentially the same, with only sunlight differentiating the two.  Sunlight penetrates to the bottom of a pond, but a lake gets no sunlight.  Our pond has the highest water quality designation from the Maine Department of the Environment, and the pristine water is clean enough to drink.  So we do all day!

We have wonderful neighbors living in year-round and summer homes across the way, who say that they wake up to our bugle.  One honored us with the title “Protector of the Pond”. Because Skylemar’s land spans over half of the lake’s length, a good portion of shoreline is untouched forest – ideal from an environment protection standpoint.

There’s a Skylemar alum on the other side of the lake as well.  In fact, the past two early mornings a total of 178 “Skylemar Polar Bears” (125 campers and 53 staff) swam across the lake and landed at the Finkelstein’s house (aka Bunk 71).  There, all were given a red and gray bracelet as well as a delicious donut.  Thanks to Assistant Director “Alaska” (who arranged the groupings for safety) and our large Waterfront staff who swam and boated along with the kids; the Polar Bear Swim is something the boys will always be proud to have accomplished.

The accomplishments never seen to end at the Skylemar waterfront.  Peter Solomon, the greatest Waterfront Director in the entire world, does an extraordinary job of balancing learning with fun.  He teaches his staff of collegiate swimmers, trained sailors and expert waterski instructors how to teach all abilities with patience and encouragement.

Peter conducts a symphony of activity, orchestrating a rotation of swimming lessons, ski dock activities, non-motorized boating (sailing, kayaking, stand up paddle boards) and free-play on the giant inflatables.  Swim lessons are customized to particular abilities, but it’s important that everyone has a great time in the water.  That’s why we wear life jackets when we play on the trampoline, swing, Beast (the giant slide), Pontoon and Iceberg.   If we stick with the rule that everyone wears a lifejacket, a strong swimmer can have fun with one who’s not as proficient yet.

So thank you, waterfront staff.  We’re grateful that you keep us safe and happy – always smiling down at Trickey!

Please consider a tax deductible contribution to:

Trickey Pond Environmental Protection Association

P. O. Box 417, Naples, ME  04055

IT’S SADE’S PALACE!!

The only casino in the world where the house never wins!

Every patron gets $1,000 in Skylemoney as they walk through the grand entrance.  Food and drink are comped of course.  After all, it’s a star-studded night.  The Palace is the place to be and be seen.

There were Wheels of Fortune, Craps, Poker, Blackjack, Checkers and Chess.  Lots of dice games, and of course slot machines.  There was Karaoke in the Skylemar Star Lounge, with some remarkable talent.  A fortune teller was on hand to predict if this was your lucky night.

George’s Grill served root beer, ice cream and pretzel-rod cigars.  Fortunately, three municipal trash men (one named Shep) were there to maintain Sade’s high standards of clean.  Gotta keep up that five-star rating, you know.

The crowd roared when Matthew H (Bunk 10) won the Megabucks.  He took home over a million with a single ticket purchase.

It was a who’s who celebrity roster this beautiful evening.  There were Shark Boy and Lava Girl, The Powerpuff Girls, a bunch of tourists, some hula dancers and a couple of heavyweight boxers.   There was Thing 1 and Thing 2, Spiderman, Dorothy and Toto, a cowboy, and Joe Exotica with his tiger, and Steve Harvey along with some Miss America candidates.  The cast of Star Wars made an appearance, and check this out…Bruno Mars! We were truly honored that The President, along with his Secret Service, spent the entire evening with us.

Big shout-out to Director Suzie and her amazing costume closet!

After a round of complimentary glow sticks, The Bank was open for business.  Well-mannered patrons exchanged wads of cash for a full selection of prizes.  There were trinkets and toys, inflatable balls and best of all, fuzzy dice.

Sade, for whom the Palace is named, was smiling down from heaven this evening.  She was our founder Lee’s sister (and this writer’s favorite aunt) who lavished love and attention on every boy since the day Skylemar opened in 1948.  It is with this special night that we celebrate her and the greatest guys in the whole wide world.

To Facetime or not to Facetime.  That is the question.

On one hand, it feels great to check in with those you love.   Following a year of parent/child togetherness, during a camp season without Visiting Day, it feels especially appropriate to at least have a five-minute chat once every 10 days.  The kids enjoy showing off their friends and their Skylemar home, and parents love seeing that great big smile.

That is, if he’s smiling.  Every once in a while, a call can be tough.  There could be 50 great things in a day, but when one goes awry (someone was “mean”, “annoying” or “I struck out at baseball”), the call can go awry too.  We want our children to tell us everything and anything, and sometimes we get what we ask for.

We know for sure that Skylemar is more important for a boy than ever before.  Being here means the opportunity to make two hundred friends, to take safe chances, to play sports and games from 7 to 7, to feel relaxed and not pressured.  Here you get lots of high-fives and hugs from college guys who are a whole lot cooler than “real grownups”.  On the other hand, being at camp also means that you’ll probably find someone in your cabin to be annoying.  It means getting upset when someone hurts your feelings.  It means missing mom or dad.

As parents, we strive to get everything “just right” for our kids.  We find the right school, the right rec league and certainly the right summer camp.  We strategize with other parents about how to get him in the right class, on the right team and yes, in the right bunk.

But think about this:  Perhaps in our efforts to get things so perfect, kids aren’t learning what to do when things aren’t just right.

You’ve heard this theory before.  The psychologists call it “resilience”.  At Skylemar, we call it “bounce-back-ability” and “making the most of hand you’re dealt”.

So what about those Facetime calls?

If your son sounds great and everything’s going his way, maybe ask him what he’s done for others, what he did right when nobody was looking or how did he make someone smile.

If he sounds sad or upset while explaining a situation, maybe try asking, “So what do you think you can do about it?”, “how did you handle it?”, “which grownup did you talk to?” or “what did you do instead?”  If he says, “I don’t know”, then help him with choices.

Today a parent asked their son, “What did you do in the rain?”  The boy said, “nothing”.  The exhausted counselors in the room had to laugh, for this was our rainy day schedule:

Cubs and Stars (youngest and oldest) had the Great Bake & Build Challenge.  Dr. Jeff has encouraged us now to “wrap” those who are unvaccinated with those who are, so today we matched groups accordingly.  Some of the “bigs” helped the “littles” with Gingerbread Bunk Decorating, while others got on the floor to build structures from the biggest pile of LEGOs the boys had ever seen.

The Freshmen had “Card Sharks”, which is a game show played under the Pavilion.  Sophomores had games in the gym, while Tigers played ping pong, pool and foosball.  Juniors had Paparazzi and board games, while the Seniors had Chilltop and Chocolate Factory.

And that was just the first hour.  There were four periods of activities like the above.  Meanwhile, piles of board games were delivered to cabins for “Bunk Time”.

Indoor Campfire for Evening Activity.  We sang “Boom Chicka Boom”, “Aristishaw” and “Chicken Fry”.  There were funny skits including “The Dating Game” between those dressed up like our camp dogs Moose, Trix, Cubbie, Finn and Summit.

Oh yeah… make-your-own sundaes for 400 this afternoon.

Take that, tropical storm Elsa!

Relationship building, communication and trust.  That’s what a Challenge Course period is really all about.

Director Dave and his dedicated Challenge Course team kick things off with a creative icebreaker activity on the Snow Field.  Then it’s into the woods for the low and high elements.

The low elements consist of cables between trees, assorted obstacles, swinging ropes and balancing platforms.  Each is designed as a challenge for both the group and the individual.  For example, take the Nitro Crossing.  For this activity the group must strategize a way to retrieve a rope using a foot loop, and then they have to get the entire group and a can of water (the “nitro”) over to the other side without spilling.  Bunk 20 had a unique plan.  They decided to take off their shirts and tie them together in a way to help them to achieve the goal.  Of course the shirts ended up wrinkly, but they made it to the other side.

The high elements involve the use of harnesses, helmets, belay gear and supportive teams on the ground.  It takes tremendous courage and will power to climb the tree to the zip line, scale the inclined log or to leap across the multi-line traverse.  The Challenge Course is a good place to take a safe chance, especially when friends and staff are guiding and encouraging.

Each participant is given specific responsibilities at the Course.  There are numerous safety procedures in place, both on the ground and in the trees.  It typically requires a staff of seven to execute the activity, and usually it’s just a couple of bunks there at a time.

The final wrap-up on the ground includes a debriefing discussion.  The guys talk about what worked and what didn’t, and they “spotlight” each other with positive praise.  If you didn’t try climbing today, there’s always tomorrow!

Tonight’s Evening Activity was the Divisional Parties.  That’s when each group goes to a different part of camp for pizza and a movie.  The luckiest were the Tigers.  They got to be in the Counselor Barn.

Heard this today: 

“My mom can’t talk until she has coffee.” 

We understand.

Going away from home for the very first time is an enormous step.  It’s a giant leap of faith that many don’t take until they’re at least 18.  Don’t mean to rush things, but Skylemar guys are ready for college.

Of course you’ve done all the prep work, but it’s amazing to see what a boy can accomplish all by himself.  He adapts to sharing a bedroom with a room full of brothers, makes his bed daily and even figures out how to clean a sink.  He keeps track of his own things (well, sort of…) and learns to survive without yelling, “Mommm!…or…Daaaad!  Where’s my soccer jersey?”  Instead he just wears a lacrosse jersey.

On Trickey Pond there’s plenty to do for the very first time that makes you feel better than ever before.  For some, it’s the first time swimming in a lake. It’s reassuring to see how clear the water is and to feel the sandy smooth bottom.   Learning to sail and getting up waterskiing has life-long impact, and proves the theory that if you try, you will succeed.

There are quite a few first times here which the boys remember well into adulthood.  Hitting a home run over the Fred Pierce Fence is a rite of passage, and many alums return to keep trying.  Same with a bullseye on the archery range.  The sweet sound of the arrow smacking into the gold center of the target is never forgotten.

When it comes to food, there are lots of chances.  There are new ones to try and plenty of choices to make.  For example, tonight’s menu board read “Pot Roast” as the dinner entrée.  Although we New Englander’s didn’t give that a second thought, a surprising number of kids asked, “what’s pot roast?”  Even more surprising was the number of guys who tried it for the first time and said, “it’s amazing”.  The post-meal discussion determined it was really just brisket or roast beef, depending on where you’re from.

The most powerful firsts involve settling an argument, standing up for what’s right and figuring out that the secret to happiness involves doing for others.  It’s all in an average day here at Skylemar, where everything is anything but average.

Big announcement from Barnicus, the Warrior of Clean … this morning.  It’s GACU!

That stands for Great American Clean Up.  Each Division gets a period devoted to the “cleanliness trifecta”.  This includes a health check-in at the Infirmary, showering/laundry-put-away at the cabin, and a visit to The Spa.

Funny how word gets around.  We once had a prospective parent on the phone who asked if it was really true that we had a spa at Skylemar.  She thought maybe we were too fancy…

Our “spa” is just a way of getting it done.  Gotta clip those nails and scrub those flip-flop feet.  Might as well do that with a little Zen music and cucumber slices on the eye lids to make it fun.  At the Infirmary, our phenomenal nurses take temps, do lice checks, and give reminders about looking out for ticks and brushing teeth.

It was also a League Day for many of the Divisions.  That’s when you play competitively for a double period within your age group.  Cubs and Stars had League Football; Tigers and Seniors had Hoops.  The other groups have theirs tomorrow.

After a full day of exhausting outdoor activity, relaxing on the lawn for Spirit Night was welcome.  Spirit Night is a time of appreciation and gratitude, that includes traditional readings, lessons to learn from, camp songs and popsicles.  Our leaders were from Bunk 18.

Here’s the structure of this Skylemar tradition:  First we sing “We Meet Again in Gladness”, and then there’s a poem that touches on a positive theme.  We light a candle (kinda – it’s battery operated) and the responsive reading goes like this –

We light this candle in fellowship with our friends

We light this candle with love for our families

We light this candle in gratitude for all those who have helped us

We light this candle in the hope of peace, kindness and compassion

We light this candle to reach out to those in need

We light this candle for those who are not here now.

We light this candle to see within and brighten our days ahead.

Next, we recite the Prayer for Our Country and sing a patriotic song.  Shep reads aloud on a topic that resonates with all.  For example, he taught us about Hank Aaron, and shared an impactful quote.  Aaron said, “The best will always hit their pitch.”

Counselor Ryan gave the sermonette.  He explained that sports do not define us.  They can drive us to be better but should never drive us apart.  He spoke about the difference between “kindness” and “nice”.  Kindness goes deeper.  It’s when you’re nice all the time, even when nobody’s looking.  Ryan challenged us to be who we want to be.  That’s not just in sports, but as an all-around Skylemar family.

Two of our kindest received the Cool2Care Chain this evening.  Congratulations to Andrew B (Bunk 30) and Max Baum (Bunk 10) for being shining examples of the type of people we should all hope to be.

If food is the key to a man’s heart, then that explains why so many nice guys are at Camp Skylemar.  Ours is delish, and there’s plenty of it.

Lucky for us, we have the greatest kitchen staff in the entire world.  Jr, Benjamin, Carlos, Superman, Byron, Adolfo, Fabrizio, Luis, Cesar, Sherri, Lily, David and Blake.  Between them there’s over 70 summers worth of Skylemar experience.  This all-star team knows exactly how to make people happy, and their “whatever it takes” work ethic is second to none.

For this talented crew, it’s Thanksgiving-style cooking for a family of 400 every day.  Three times a day, that is.   They understand that life here revolves around three essentials:  breakfast, lunch and dinner.   Every meal has to be tasty, abundant and somehow pleasing for all.

The quantities are staggering.  600 pounds of wings served for dinner tonight, along with 40 pounds of pasta.  900 burgers grilled yesterday, and 21 turkeys (with 150 pounds of mashed potatoes) the night before.

For breakfast, 720 eggs are cracked and scrambled, over a thousand pancakes flipped and 48 cantaloupes sliced.  After taste testing a number of peanut butter substitutes, we decided on “WowButter” – and go through over 30 pounds per day.  A dollop goes great in oatmeal too, along with raisins, granola and just a touch of brown sugar.

Our double salad bar, served twice daily, takes several people to make possible.  36 heads of lettuce need to be washed and torn, 42 cucumbers peeled and sliced, plus green peppers, tomatoes, and a rotation of other fresh toppings.  Junior’s yummy croutons are a favorite.  They’re made from leftover grilled cheese sandwiches.

Food prep begins weeks before the kids arrive.  Knowing that supply chain issues were predicted, Kitchen Manager Blake Shep, under the tutelage of Rich Snow (our retired food service and maintenance director), created a warehouse of dry and canned goods, so we’d never run out.  Freezers were stocked, and the crew spent days making 12,000 meatballs to cover the season.

A meal is built around what the kids typically like, like tacos, chicken tenders, pizza etc.  Then we add options like vegetables, side dishes, soup, sliced turkey, WB&J (wowbutter & jelly), fruit, yogurt, and PASTA.  40 pounds at lunch and dinner, so even the pickiest eaters have something they like.  The kids love to select exactly what they want from the giant buffet, and it takes 19 non-bunk staff members to serve the four lines.  Thanks to our new outdoor Dining Pavilion, we can use the Rec Hall just for service.

The importance of good food has been a constant at Skylemar since 1948, and we’ve always had a number of finicky eaters.  However, what has changed in recent years is the number of allergies and food intolerances.  This year we have a staggering 83 boys who need labels checked and special attention. We’re grateful to have Lily, a registered dietician, (and a beautiful person, inside and out) managing this.  Each meal or snack becomes a puzzle, and many entrees must be hand-cooked.  She does this all with love, doing her best to make life a little bit easier for those who need her assistance.  In fact, today she bought out a grocery store of gluten-free dino nuggets, knowing this would bring a smile to a handful of kids.

So…if you’re tempted to send a care package, hold back.  If he says, “send me candy”, be strong.  We promise that his plate overflows, and he enjoys plenty of treats.  After all, tonight was Movie Night, and a good concession stand makes the show.

Today, like every day, we celebrated.  Sure, it was the nation’s birthday.  But most importantly, it was a great day to be us.

Shep announced it was a laundry day, and the crowd cheered wildly.  Bet that doesn’t happen at home.  As far as the kids are concerned, it’s a magical system.  The dirty clothes come out of the bongos and into special bags with an opening at the top as well as zipper on the front.  The bags disappear and then two days later miraculously reappear inside the cabin.  You open the bag by the zipper and inside are perfectly folded clean clothes that you simply unpack like a suitcase and put away.  Definitely something to celebrate!

This time we outsmarted the weather.  Barney and Cory prepared three schedules:  one for a washout, one for just the courts being wet, and one if all was playable.  Each was needed, depending on the time of day.

After inspection, which went a little longer because of sheets needing to be changed, the weather turned nasty.  Time to pull out Schedule #1:  Movie morning!  Each Division watched in a different location.  The group in the Pavilion cuddled snuggly in blankets.  The air was almost winter-like, so a snack of chicken noodle soup was perfect.

By afternoon the rain had kinda sorta stopped.  It felt great to run around and play sports, even though we had to hold on basketball, hockey and tennis (Schedule #2).  After three days of rain, playing outside was something to celebrate.

Dinner went a bit longer because of a downpour, but Mitch kept us happy by turning on the tunes.  Of course we sing camp songs here, but there’s something about certain songs that gets everyone singing at the top of their lungs.  Those include (for some unknown reason) “Party in the USA” and “Sweet Caroline”.  They love the “da-da-da” part.

The clouds finally moved out, and we could actually have our regular 7th period (Schedule #3).  Seniors and Stars chose between hockey, Gamblin’ (fitness) and Archery.  Juniors had either Basketball, Volleyball or Chill Top.  Sophomores picked from Lacrosse, Baseball or Yellowhorn.  Freshmen had Football, Golf or Mini Golf.  Tigers headed to Soccer, Spikeball or Gaga, and the Cubs had Tennis, Ping Pong or Chess.

Evening Activity was the highlight.  We brought the entire camp down to the waterfront, because a friend from across the lake was putting on a top-notch fireworks show.  Shep placed each Division in their own “viewing area”.  The youngest cabins watched from inside of a motorboat, so there was no place to wander.

The fireworks over Trickey were amazing, but best of all, the show was here on our docks and beach.  The entire Skylemar family was gathered, which made us feel relaxed, protected and carefree.  Now, that’s a cause for celebration!

The Skylemar Talent Show is far more important than entertainment. For those who perform, it’s about taking a safe chance, being willing to make yourself vulnerable, and building confidence.  For those in the audience, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate Skylemar warmth and brotherhood.  At the Skylemar Talent Show, we are united as a powerful force of joy.

The weather was downright cold.  We thought about having everyone bring sleeping bags and using the outdoor stage and front lawn as usual for the show.  The damp drizzle put the kibosh on that plan, so instead we chose the most loved building at Skylemar…the Rec Hall.

All wore face masks, since only half of Skylemar is vaccinated.  Nevertheless, there was something about being in this 100 year-old building together that made the vibe just right.  Cubs in the front…through to the Stars in the back.  These “old men” of Skylemar (age 15) set the respectful and supportive tone.  Tonight they did not disappoint.

You see some who perform have talent, and some not so much.  Some are bold, while others are timid.  Some acts are silly, and the audience isn’t sure what’s going on.  It’s the self-proclaimed tradition of our oldest campers to make sure the audience is “shushed”, and no matter the act, each is cheered, and they make the performer feel extra great.  Their love waves are contagious, and we all feel the sense of pride that a parent does when their kid is on stage.

Dylan J (Bunk 16) bravely kicked off the night with some excellent breakdancing.  Dash H (B1) played the piano.  Two fingers! Spencer B and Cooper F (B9) did a dunk shot routine; Jack L (B13) recited the digits of pi and Bode (B14) did a standup comedy routine.

Thomas L (B8), Oscar LR (B9), Jordan G (B9), Bronner (B8) and Balty (B5) each did magic tricks.  Ryder (B14) even built a special box to make himself disappear.  The audience loves when a magician asks for a volunteer.  “Meeeeeee!” they all cry, with hands in the air.

Zayne M (B24) wrote and performed an awesome rap about Skylemar.  Coop E (B8) played an original song on the piano that he composed.  Nate C (B20) rolled around inside a bongo-bag.  Amir (B7) did some impressive yo-yo tricks.  Eli D and Jake P (B8) sang some kind of really high-pitched song and Bob (B21) did his annual “Bobservations” (i.e.  “There are 5 doors in this building”).

Jagger (B5) said into the mic, “Hey, guys, I’m gonna paint with my eyes closed.”  But he forgot to tell Suzie that he needed a canvas before the show, so she had to come up with something quick.  A white board and dry erase marker did the trick.  Eli W (B1) did a rubber band trick with his fingers, and Dash L (B3) told some jokes.  Luca F (B5) spoke Spanish.  Xander E and Aidan R (B17) did an “improv”.  Theo and Jake (B10) were all-stars with the diabolo and devil sticks.  There were a few other hard-to-explain silly skit-type things as well.

Ethan V (B2) had some nice dance moves.  Bunk 6 really had their act together with a dance to “Hey Ya” … even the counselors joined in!  Who knew that Hayes (B5) could tap dance so well?  We all knew that Kyle (B21) and T.I. (B17) could dance, and they proved it to “Uptown Funk”.

The crowd was patient and encouraging.  Lots of laughter, cheers and standing ovations.  All participants got to grab a surprise from the special “laundry bag of prizes”.  Those lucky enough to win got the most coveted gift of all:  a Skylemar staff shirt that’s way too big!

Mother Nature pulled a fast one and turned down the thermostat.  We went from shorts and t-shirts to sleeping in sweats.   Today was rainy, blustery, and about 60 degrees.

We have plenty of large indoor facilities here at Skylemar.  But since we’re cohorting by Division, we do our best at creating a Rainy Day Schedule with only one age group inside each building at a time.  That means we get creative with spaces and have activities where you might not expect.

There was Flamingo Bingo in the Rec Hall.  It’s the traditional game with a Skylemar twist.  When the winner shouts “FLAMINGO BINGO!” the JC’s magically run through the crowd, wearing crazy costumes and banging noisemakers.  It’s one of those things you just have to see.

The winner then picks a stunt card, along with a counselor to perform.  If the counselor completes the stunt (which he always does), the whole bunk gets a prize.  For example, counselors had to make a wowbutter & jelly sandwich wearing a blindfold, act out the words to the song “Taps”, pretend they were a ninja warrior, do 30 pushups and burp 5 times in 30 seconds or less.  When counselor Murph successfully pushed a ping-pong ball across the floor with his nose, the entire Bunk 8 jumped into his arms.

Meanwhile, others were at Chill Top making ping pong paddles.  There was Dodge Ball at The Gym, and Suzie’s Famous Trivia under the Pavilion.  One group was at the Chess Tent, while another was at WSKY Media learning about photography and video.  Those at The Lodge played pool, foosball, ping pong and more.

Campers got to dress up in outrageous costumes at the Photo Shoot in the Garden Cabin.  Those at the Chocolate Factory made yummy treats for themselves, as well as for the older cabin of their choice.  The Basement Party was a blast with Lego, bowling, assorted games and surprises.

Evening Activity was Situations.  That’s when each cabin gets a scenario, and they need to act it out.  For example, Bunks 1-6 found gold in the bottom of Trickey Pond.  They had to show how they’d retrieve it and what they’d spend it on.  Bunks 7-9 had to figure out a way to steal the recipe for Chef Jr’s Secret Sauce.  Bunks 10-14 made a commercial for the world’s best Cabin Insurance.  Bunks 15-19 had to come up with a wacky sport for the next Olympics.

As for Bunks 15-30…they got to watch.  They were a great audience who cheered, laughed and encouraged, no matter how silly or untalented the performers were.  That’s a Skylemar tradition for the older guys.

Speaking of talent, we’re super excited for tomorrow night!

A surprise visitor came to lunch.  It was Slugger the Seadog!

Slugger’s the mascot for the Red Sox AA affiliate, the Portland Seadogs.  We typically bring the entire camp to a game around this time, but this year we’re staying put.  If we can’t get there, we’ll do our best to bring it on at Camp Skylemar.

It started with a dance-off between Slugger and some of our most talented counselors:  LT, Noah V, Zach, Glickman, Ashton and Esh.  Each dancer represented one of the counselor teams:  Otters, Ermines, Bobcats, Woodchucks, Lynx and Skunks.  The kids love cheering for their own counselors, and Shep comes up with lots of silly ways for the adults to compete.  In order for kids to have wholesome fun, the grownups have to as well.

After a full day of activities (lacrosse, tennis, soccer, golf, volleyball, hoops, baseball, challenge course, football, archery, hockey plus lots more), it was finally time for the big game.  The Hilltop Hippos vs the Doghouse Drip Dragons on Skylemar’s version of Hadlock Field.

The fans in “the stands” (campers on the hillside) whooped and hollered for their counselors and JC’s.  We marveled at the many home runs smacked over the fence as well as some spectacular fielding.  In between innings there were dizzy bat runs, inflatable pizza & flamingo challenges and a three-legged race.  The round-the-bases run for dogs Trixie and Cubbie was hysterical.  They’re sleeping now…

What’s the favorite snack to eat at a Skylemar Seadogs Game?  Sea Biscuits, of course.  Driver Kristen went to the actual ballpark in Portland to pick up 400 of the tasty treats.  It’s vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two cookies.  A Chipwhich, you might think?  Nope, not at all.  There’s something about the wrapper that makes this far more delicious.

As the game finished and all were in bed, the rain started falling.  Our hope is that the steady rhythm on the roof will bring about some much needed sleep.  We’re a tired bunch here in Naples, Maine.

Nico caught the first fish of his life in Trickey Pond!  Sconsett, Jared R, Holden and Tyler were awarded Gold Golf Balls!  Atticus said today’s birthday party was the “best he ever had!”  Wes K ran for the winning touchdown!

These are the kind of Skylemar moments you remember the rest of your life.  Most importantly, you never forget those who helped, those who were kind, and those who did the right thing.  Tonight we recognized two of those campers with the Cool2Care Chain.

Skylemar’s Cool2Care motto was introduced by Nick Shep to Skylemar back when he was a freshman on the Dickinson College lacrosse team.  He had one of those impactful moments during “captain’s practice” when he wasn’t putting forth his best effort.  Since the coach wasn’t there, he didn’t think it really mattered.  A senior (who later became a Skylemar Lacrosse Director) pulled him aside and said, “Hey, man…it’s cool to care!”  This message was passed on to Skylemar and has become part of our world every day.

We teach that it’s cool to care about others both at home and camp, and it’s cool to care about yourself by being your best.  It’s cool to care enough to standup for someone who’s being mistreated.  It’s cool to care about winning a game by trying your best, but never cool to be a sore loser.  It’s what you do because it’s right, and not because someone’s watching.

Every so often Nick recognizes one or two campers with the Cool2Care Chain.  Those who “wear the chain” (until passed on to another) have demonstrated numerous acts of kindness for the Skylemar community.  Tonight’s recipients were new camper Ethan F (Bunk 11) and veteran camper Syon (Bunk 28).  These two guys are a couple of our many Skylemar stars.