Skylemar Blog

It’s true!  Today we did it.  We got to wear SUNSCREEN!

The boost of Vitamin D is exactly what we needed.  The schedule finally went exactly as planned, and this time we could enjoy Trickey Pond without a blustery drizzle.  The sun truly makes for a good-mood day!

Most eager were the Waterfront staff.  The 20-some member team, led by the world’s greatest waterfront director Peter Solomon, could now do what they do best – teach, inspire, and generate wholesome, wet fun.

When the kids arrive at the lake with towels in hand, they sit on the logs behind the “force field” (the red and white rope that determines if the Waterfront is opened or closed).  Peter divides them into groups, which typically rotate.  Some will go to boating, some to swimming and some to the ski dock.

Those headed to boating are greeted by director Paige, one of the kindest and dedicated teachers we know.  She and her staff show everyone how to kayak, canoe, SUP (stand-up paddleboard) and sail.  It’s especially empowering to know how to sail your own boat.

Swim Director Lexie and her amazing instructors are especially skilled at keeping lessons fun.  They get into the water with the kids, which helps those of all levels to feel most comfortable.   It’s not just laps with this team of collegiate swimmers.  They’re creative and teach in a way that kids don’t realize they’re being taught.  For example, they might challenge the group by having them make two baskets at Water Hoops, swim freestyle across the lanes, then swim the breaststroke to the trampoline, jump three times and go with the stroke of your choice back to the dock.

Perhaps the most popular side of the waterfront is the Ski Dock.  Here the boys learn to ski, wake surf, knee board and tube, all behind one of four motorboats.   Director Quinn and his fantastic staff encourage each boy to take his turn, and those waiting on the dock actively cheer for their friends.

To get up waterskiing for the first time is the kind of thing a person remembers the rest of their life.  To do so takes bravery, safe risk taking, listening skills and concentration.   The boat drivers and their assistants are extra patient, and are willing to let each boy try, try, try and t-r-y-y…again.  They too will get in the water or whatever to takes to make someone successful.

In skiing there’s a progression.  First time up is on the boom.  You’re pulled right up out of the water, so you get the feel.  Next you try short rope.  Once that’s mastered, you’re on to the long rope.  After crossing the wake, you might just try slalom.

First timers for 2023 include Matthew M (Bunk 5), Alex B (Bunk 6), Elijah E (B7), Luke P (B6), Spencer O (B5), Solomon (B7), Theo N (B26), Jack M (B7), Judah (B15), Alex G (B23), Levi F (B11), David G (B12) and Tim C (B11).  By tomorrow there will be many more.

Rumor has it…more sun for the next few days.  Bring it on!

The Daily Schedule:

There’s a brand-new version on each table every morning.  At first glance it looks complicated, but it’s an easy second language for any Skylemar camper or counselor.  Here’s how it works:

Across the top are the bunk numbers, 1-30.  Green means that one counselor is off.  Down the left side are the period numbers, 1-7.

If you happen to be in Bunk 11, you’d put those lines together and figure out that you have Hoops first period and Lax for second.  Then comes 3rd Period Clinic, which is the choice of Backwoods, Baseball, Challenge Course, Chilltop, Football and so forth.  Continuing down you’d see that Waterfront is 4^th/5th period, and 6^th period is Spikeball/Kan Jam.  7^th period choices are Baseball, Football, Gaga, Golf, Hockey and onward.  Super Game Show is for Evening Activity, and a happy birthday to Alex G and counselor DMan!

Now for the deeper dive, since there’s much more to know.  Starting at the top left, you’d see that it’s a Letter Writing Day.  Going across is information for counselors:  who’s off, who has Foot Patrol (the person who patrols the cabins and makes sure everyone’s where they’re supposed to be), and a “cheat sheet” for period start times.  The black bar at the bottom has additional staff assignments.

Counselors also need to scan each line left to right, to see when they’re working.  For example, first period is Waterfront for Bunks 1-6 and 8-10, and the names of the 20 counselors on duty are listed.  Same goes for each sport.

The bold black line in the middle refers to play rehearsal, as well as several other duties.  Below it is the Rest Hour shower schedule.

The beauty of all of this is that the paper is only for your perusal.  Each period is announced on the PA system, so that everyone knows exactly where to go without remembering anything.

You’re familiar with most of the activities, but here’s a few on this one sample day schedule that you may not know about:

Maine Wildlife Adventure – A trip to a zoo for animals that can’t be returned to the wild because they’ve been injured or orphaned.

Chocolate Factory – That’s where you make sweet treats for your own cabin as well as an older cabin.

Gainsville – Strength and conditioning with athletic trainer Nick of New England Fitness.

Chilltop – Arts & Crafts with Mary Beth.  Today the kids are making signs for the Portland Sea Dogs game coming up.

SkyPines – Overnight camping down by the water at Sky II.  Here the boys go fishing, play games, cook dinner on the open fire, and learn about the beautiful outdoors.

SkyDeck – Culinary Arts with Adam.  Each day a different cabin gets to make breakfast, and another gets to cook dinner.

Senior Special – The surprise on the 7^th period list of choices.  Tonight, Nick Shep had a radar gun competition.  Henry S threw the fastest pitch and Sherm had the fastest lax shot.

So there you go.  Now you’ve got it.  But look out, because tomorrow’s will be totally different!

No stars were above on this misty gray night, but we had our own.  The Stars Division is the oldest in camp (age 15), and we’re proud to have them as our leaders.  Together with the Seniors (14 year-olds), they live on the other side of camp at Sky II, and serve as big brother figures for those who are younger.

To be a Senior or Star and live at Sky II is something that most aspire to.  They have their own little “village”, with close access to tennis courts, The Gym and The Lodge.  Lights out is later, they get to go on “Night’s Out” in town, and best of all, they have “Happy Hour”.  That’s when the guys have the option for supervised hanging-out, or they can go to the lake for activities like wakeboarding, waterskiing, sailing, standup paddleboarding and kayaking.

At tonight’s Ring of Champion’s Campfire, Nick included the Stars in his annual introduction to Skylemar’s Cool2Care motto.  The concept is simple, and it’s what makes our world a better place.  It’s cool to care about being our best self and trying our hardest,  it’s cool to care about others, and it’s cool to care about the world around us.

Here’s what the Stars had to share with the rest of camp when asked for examples of what Cool2Care means to them:

• Doing the right thing when nobody’s looking…
• Saying “thank you” to those who don’t hear it enough, like the maintenance and kitchen crew…
• Picking up trash that wasn’t yours…
• Welcoming someone new to Skylemar as if he were your best friend…

The Ring of Champions is always a super-fun night, with lessons like this woven into the program.  Cory runs the show which always features classic and much-loved repeat-after-me songs (tonight was “60’s Party” and counselor Zach’s rendition of an old favorite, “A Roosta Sha”.  There are some hysterical skits like when Cory quiets the whole camp to near silence just to listen for a baby deer calling out to her mother —  then someone in the woods yells “Hey, Mom!” instead.

What’s a campfire without a “musical snack”?  Tonight’s was Sarah playing “All of Me” by John Legend on the guitar, and everyone sang along.  The other snack was s’mores of course, and then came a visit from Adventure Man.

Adventure Man, who sorta looks like Shep but dresses totally different, shares tips for surviving in the outdoors.  This time he pulled out his “Can of Calm”, and explained that this is what’s needed for a sticky situation.

Keeping our fingers crossed for no rain tomorrow.  The weather report indicates a 70% chance, but then again, that still means a 30% chance of sunshine.

It was as if the energy of 200 campers traveled up to the sky.  Maybe that’s where the “Sky” in Skylemar comes from.  And it definitely gave everyone something to talk about over breakfast.

It was a double cloud-to-cloud thunderstorm that hovered over us from around 3:30 AM until well past 5.  To start with the end of the story first…all is 100% fine.  No matter how the tale gets told, there actually were no trees down, no fires, no smoke, nothing terrible.  But it definitely was at least 90 minutes of FLASH-SNAP-BOOM which only a few slept through.

The lightning rods did what they’re supposed to do, and only the PA system and some computers were affected.  The electricity went out, but the generator kicked in.  Counselors were stupendous at comforting their boys, and fortunately, we were able to communicate with staff members through a text group.  Now that’s a good use of a cell phone!

By the time we sat down to cinnamon rolls, eggs, fruit, cereal, oatmeal and yogurt, the storm was a thing of the past.  After each meal we have what’s called “Announcements”.  That’s when Shep or one of the other directors talks about what’s ahead.  Sometimes counselors speak too, but today Suzie, her assistant Grace and camper Hayes N got up and danced.  The song “Move It, Move It” was a clue that the first musical of the season will be “Madagascar”.  All ages are invited to audition.

Next the music switched over to a song that we’ve all heard before, but couldn’t quite place.  As some pointed down the Bunkline, all eyes followed to see a masked hero riding towards us.  It was Sustainabatman!

Sustainabatman teaches us about caring for the Skylemar environment.  He urged all to use water bottles instead of disposables, demonstrated how to use the composting bucket for banana peels and apple cores, and taught us how to drink the leftover milk from our cereal bowls.  He invited us to join the Clean Plate Club, which means that you only take what you know you will eat.  Great stuff, Sustainabatman!

The foggy, drizzly, gray day switched us to a Rainy Day Schedule.  Bunks 1-14 played Flamingo Bingo – if you win you need to flap your wings.  Bunks 15-19 had Board Games in the Pavilion.  20-24 had Lodge Party, with pool tables, ping pong, foosball, and so forth.  Sky II had Porchtime with Shep, which is basically a time to talk and hang out with each other.

By afternoon, despite the wetness, these guys really needed to run.  After all, many were awake since before 4 AM but hadn’t had much time outside of a building.  The courts were too wet, but the grounds were fine for Mini-Lax, Football, Volleyball, Soccer Training, Gaga, Spikeball, Kan Jam and exploding soda at Yellowhorn.

Movie Night for Evening Activity.  Most of the camp watched “Minions: The Rise of Gru”, while the older guys watched their movie in The Lodge.  It was fun to be together, all spread out over the Rec Hall floor.  A happy part was the fresh popcorn and candy, which is a once-a-week movie treat.

More rain expected for tomorrow.  We’ll make the best of whatever it is!

Skylemar 2023 is off to a terrific start!  For the campers, there just aren’t enough hours in the day.  The younger half of camp woke at dawn, and couldn’t fathom why their counselors wanted to sleep till 7.

For the counselors, it’s kind of like having your first child.  But imagine if it were octuplets, and each happened to be at least 50 pounds.  Perhaps like you, they’ve read, studied and attended classes on how to care for kids.  You had nine months to prepare – they had two weeks.

Fortunately, Skylemar counselors are fast-on-their-feet, strong and resilient.  Yesterday’s explosion of energy has settled thick in the air, and it’s impressive to watch the staff match the enthusiasm of those half their age.   College students are super fun, and way cooler than any of us parents.

Since we know that boys are at their best when following routine, our programming structure is for the most part, consistent.  Each day has seven periods, five that are assigned along with two that they choose (three when they’re older).  This way everyone is exposed to each of our 40+ activities, while also having the opportunity to specialize a bit more in what they like most.  Counselors are challenged to keep their activity fun for those of all levels, especially because if you don’t feel good about your ability, then you don’t like the sport.  Keep it upbeat, have some patience, mix skill-builders with playing the game and anyone can be turned-on to a sport or game.

At any one time there were kids at the Waterfront, Football, Hoops, Tennis, Spikeball, Bocce, Soccer, Baseball, Golf or Lacrosse. Throwing (shotput today) was in the mix, and so was Archery, Pickleball, Ping Pong and Mini Golf.  Some of the activities may be new to you, like Gainesville (strength and conditioning), STB (Steal the Bacon), Chilltop (arts & crafts), Gaga (sort of like dodgeball below the knee) and Yellowhorn (science experiments).

There were plenty of firsts today.  For many it was their inaugural time in sparkling clear Trickey Pond.  Air temps were in the 80’s, but because the lake is spring-fed, the water’s typically…well…let’s just say “refreshing”. It does feel amazing once you go under.  Aquatics Director Peter and his outstanding staff assessed swim levels, and over on the Ski Dock, Director Quinn taught everyone the important hand signals for waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing and wakesurfing.  Lots of splashing and play time came next.  First to get up waterskiing for 2023 was Theo N in Bunk 26.

Scavenger Hunt for Evening Activity.  Teams are a combo of old and young cabins, an ideal way for all ages to get to know each other.  The goal of the Hunt is to unlock six clues.  In order to do so, there are items you need to collect and questions that must be answered.  For example, to unlock one of the clues you had to tell Dr. Jeff a scientific name for the kneecap, find an item that’s name has a “q” in it, find a feather and figure out when was the Doc’s first year at Skylemar. The running around, laughing and cheering continued until dark.

Tomorrow it all starts again!

Kaboom!

If only there was a way to bottle the energy that exploded at Camp Skylemar today, we could fly a rocketship to the moon. It’s our kind of solar power, generated by gigantic smiles, genuine hugs and a million high-fives. No matter the overcast skies and a misty drizzle, even those miles away might have felt the joy radiating from Naples, Maine.

The greatest guys in the whole wide world have finally arrived!

Those coming to Skylemar for the very first time felt blanketed in love by the amazing counselors who trained for weeks in preparation for this exciting time. First-day butterflies flew away quickly as new friends became family, and old ones picked up right where they left off, 364 days ago.

Bunk assignments were shared, and the boys dashed to their cabin. It felt amazing to come home to a freshly made bed alongside those who were soon to be brothers. After a tour around camp, it was time for the traditional first night meal…spaghetti and meatballs. It took 70 pounds of pasta, mounds of Caesar salad and 120 loaves of Chef Junior’s famous garlic bread to feed this hungry and happy crowd.

We all came together for Evening Activity in our favorite building, the Rec Hall. Shep bellowed “WELCOME HOME” to the exuberant crowd, and the counselors were each introduced. The boys cheered heartily, especially for their own, and the vibe was ecstatic.

Day is done, and all is well. For this camp director, it’s the greatest feeling of all time.