Presenting….Barnicus and Laundricus, Skylemar’s Warriors of Clean!  As they arrive after breakfast, the camp welcomes them with “Clap, clap, clean!  Clap, clap, clean!”  The back and forth comical banter between the two ancient characters teaches the boys the seemingly impossible – how to clean a cabin.

It’s called Inspection and we do it every morning.  Campers make their own bed, and then each “family member” has a chore — sweep, dustpan, toilet, sink, trash, etc.  Sunscreen gets applied, stand by your bed, and the inspector comes to give you a score.  The bunk in each Division with the highest score gets an ice cream party. 

Then off to activities they go! 

Lots of Tennis, Golf, Soccer, Lax, Baseball, Hockey, Track & Field, Volleyball, Challenge Course plus Strength & Conditioning. Pontoon Boat Party for Bunk 8, and fishing for 9, 20 and 21.   Bunk 9 also had Backwoods where they learned to make fire with flint and steel.  It really worked!  There was a treasure hunt at Chilltop for the little guys, and then they decorated the treasure chests to hold what they found.  Raft-making at Yellowhorn gave us some truly awesome creations.

At the Waterfront, swim evaluations are just about done.  Our phenomenal and much-loved Waterfront Director Peter Solomon (aka longtime collegiate swim coach and recent inductee into the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association Hall of Fame) leads his top-notch staff in making sure that each camper is comfortable swimming some laps, so they can be placed in classes appropriately.  The instructors get in the water with the kids and swim along, so no one feels intimidated.  These guys and gals are the best.

Groups were scheduled for Porch Time with Shep throughout the day.  That’s when you hang out with Shep, have some Scoobie Snacks, share thoughts and listen intently.  Today they went over the Skylemar Camper Code of Honor and made sure everyone was clear on the importance of kindness, being safe, and listening to counselors.  Each camper has the responsibility to speak up to Shep,  Arleen or the other directors if something isn’t right for them.  It’s made clear that the adults at Skylemar are here for each camper, 24 hours a day.

Clinics kicked off too.  That’s the choice period that comes third, when each camper selects one activity out of 17 choices to really work on for a week.  For example,  Tennis Director Ted and his staff are focusing on groundstrokes and volleys.  The energetic and super cool Basketball staff is working on ball handling and shooting skills.

Out on the SkyLinks golf course, they’ll have the chance to work on their swing and hit lots of balls.  Frog’s Football crew will have the boys running pass routes and working on their receiving skills.  On the Fred Pierce Field, our Baseball staff will keep their focus mostly on fielding and throwing techniques.  Lots of science experiments at Yellowhorn featuring volcanoes, elephant snot, ice sculptures and remote-control cars. 

Our world-class Soccer Director from “across the pond” Paul Harrison will hold our own World Cup, filled with daily skill games and fun-filled mini-competitions, matching the participants with a  national team to represent throughout the week.  Keeping the theme, Adam Shep will be cooking up the Food of FIFA over at SkyDeck  — each day, the opponents of that day’s World Cup games will inspire the cuisine.  Right here at home, Mary Beth and her Chilltop team will have the boys craft up some Sea Dogs Swag (signs, shirts, bucket hats) just in time for our annual visit to the Portland Sea Dogs Baseball game.

 “Sheppy and the Books”(sung to the tune of Elton John’s “Benny and the Jets”) is Reading Clinic.  It’s BYOB (bring your own book) or you can help yourself to one of Shep’s.  3v3 Hockey tournament all week and Coach Bruce promised to take those interested in Lacrosse to another level, with extensive training in all aspects of the game.  Track and Field enthusiasts will learn how to ‘explode out of the blocks”, and how significant that kind of preparation and effort can help in other sports as well, too.

Our most fearless campers will surely be lured by the excitement way up in the trees on the Ropes and Challenge Course.  The high ropes, zipline and Giant Swing will get a ton of action. Always a most popular option, the Waterfront offers fun all over Trickey Pond.  The Ski Dock this week will be packed with first timers as well as veterans who’d like to knock off the rust.  Over on the Sail Dock, campers will learn all the basics, from rigging the boat to its basic operation.  And finally, the Swim Dock not only gives all a chance to get wet, but play on all the toys (the Pontoon, Beast, Iceberg, the Rocket and the Tramps) while doing so!

Whew…  The hardest part is deciding which to pick!