Bittersweet, they call it.  On one hand, it's the saddest day of the year in the Skylemar nation.  Saying goodbye to those who have become so important to us over the past weeks is a very difficult thing to do. On the other, the day does culminate in joy, as arms are wrapped around...
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  The power of love. You could feel it in the Skylemar air, despite the messy drizzle falling.   There was packing and cleaning to do, but most of all, we just enjoyed being together.   Although we laughed and played as always, everyone knew that it would be a long time before most of us will...
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Once again Mother Nature gave us a picturesque, sunny beautiful Maine morning as the boys anxiously prepared for today’s final events. On the strength of last night’s Songs and Cheers win, Gray led by just a few points, though the outcome was still clearly in doubt.  The boys were a bit more torqued up for...
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Another sensational, bright, but cooler day in the 04055 – perfect for the Day 4 schedule in store. The boys went through their morning routine of breakfast, inspection and another pre-game team pep rally to get the juices flowing.  Gray had taken control, but Red was nipping at their heels, just a few points behind....
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Mother Nature once again had reared her head.  A bit of morning drizzle may have delayed our start, but it certainly didn’t dampen Gray’s spirit.  They had turned it around late yesterday and Harry’s Gray team was still flying high. The morning “psyche up” circles were charged with energy from both teams.  Will’s Red team...
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The boys, rested and ready after Opening Day’s whirlwind of PM activity, awakened to a glorious, bright Maine morning. Red had made an early statement, and Gray was anxious to respond. “Gray Team to the Pine Grove, Red Team to the Mailhouse” was heard over the PA just after breakfast and regular morning bunk Inspection....
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What better way to kick off Skylemar’s 76th Color War than the Annual Red & Gray Buffet – Chef Junior and his staff put out quite a breakfast feast!  Only problem was Mother Nature did not cooperate, dumping a steady rain through mid-morning, delaying the actual start of Color War. Barney quickly created a cool...
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Before it begins, Color War is sort of in the genre of professional sports. The guys talk about what they would do if they were Captain, just like sports pundits talk about coaches.   As people do with a fantasy sports league, the boys “practice” Color War.  They do mock drafts and talk about who should...
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It was a fairly typical sweltering hot day in the 04055 -- lots of waterfront action and shortened periods with plenty of shade time.  The sprinklers were on (today they were elephants), and refreshing treats were served. Lemon Sticks are an annual popular surprise here.  It’s half a lemon with a soft peppermint stick in...
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The Stars trip to Quebec was a tremendous success.  There’s nothing like going to a new country with 24 of your closest friends for a few days.  This is a trip that we’ve been taking for over 70 summers, and it never disappoints. They saw the sights, shopped, ate, laughed and had adventures to remember...
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Wild Game Hunt last night! That’s when the counselors hide in crazy places (like trees) and the kids have to find them.  Each counselor is worth points, and the Division who finds the most wins.  Can’t decide who loves this more – the counselors who dress up in wild game costumes and hide, or the...
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It’s an interesting question to ask a camper.  What does Arleen do all day?  Most frequent response: “She works.” A more elaborate answer: “She works on stuff.” The most specific answer: “She does papers.” Favorite answer: “She walks around and says hi to people.” Truth is, she tries to “do papers”, but sometimes accidentally pays...
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Rain came today, and then went, and then came back, and then went again.  That meant flip-flopping between rainy day and regular schedules.  Of course there’s nothing wrong with playing in a drizzle, but we do need to be mindful of what might be slippery.  We subbed in Pickleball, Golf, Ping Pong, Chilltop and giant...
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You just gotta love a Super Awesome Game Show, especially when Suzie, Barney and Mason are in charge.  It’s a divisional show-down, with lights, music and plenty of action. Cubs, Lions, Tigers, Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors competed against each other, in assorted stunt activities as well as trivia.   It was a totally fair game no...
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Polar Bear Swim once again!  Over 100 campers and staff members made their way across the lake.  It's an invigorating accomplishment to tackle first thing in the world. The Sophomore Division headed out on an excursion to southern Maine!  Blake and Myke led the trip, so first things first -- the kids each wrote a...
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It takes an extra special lady to even consider working at an all-boys camp.  At Skylemar, ours are supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  Just like Mary Poppins, they’re practically perfect in every way. Each outstanding gal comes to us with an impressive background.  They are top collegiate athletes, teachers, coaches, nurses and experts in their field.  Most importantly, every...
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What comes to mind when you think of Maine?  Lobster!  Even if you don’t eat them, it’s fun to learn about them. The Lions Division headed to Portland for a Lucky Catch Lobster Tour.  Before heading to the pier, they played Buoyball and had a picnic lunch at Payson Park.  It’s a beautiful spot that...
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It was a Bates College Bones Bonanza for the Tigers Division!  Bates, located just about 40 minutes away, is Blake (aka “Bones”) Shep’s alma mater, and our campers were excited to try out college life for a day. The Tigers were some of the first to be on the new turf of the Bates football...
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One of the many things that Shep’s good at is weather predicting.  Of course, he uses assorted apps and a NOA station, but mostly he says he “feels it in his eyes”. Take last night for example.  Bunk 3 was at SkyPines for an overnight.  That’s when you grab your sleeping bag and camp out...
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The official first day of Second Session.  Great weather... check.  New friends... check.  Pumped up staff... check. The morning was packed with activities all over camp.  Waterfront, Football, Baseball, Ropes, Hoops, Volleyball, Tennis, Track & Field, Golf and Olympic Training Center.  OTC takes place in the Gym, working with our Strength & Conditioning Coach Mitch....
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Welcome Home. It’s the phrase that Shep combines with a warm hug when each person gets to camp.  No marketing tag line here – it’s simply the truth.   Camp Skylemar is summer home to the greatest guys in the whole wide world.  Yup – we keep repeating that phrase too, because it’s also the truth....
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The love waves could be felt for miles.  Even a global tech outage, plane cancellations and roads closed due to a parade could not stop our superheroes from getting to Skylemar today. There is nothing more joyous than seeing a boy leap into the arms of his mom or dad, especially after a long time...
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It’s a bittersweet couple of days.  Those staying first session were glad to see their parents again, but it’s a tough thing to leave those you’ve spent every minute with for the past three weeks.  We watched several guys stretch out saying goodbye for as long as they could. Tomorrow is more of the same. ...
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Heartwarming Moment:  You may recall that Ethan P won 2500+ jelly beans by guessing the number just about correctly.  Today he set up a stand sharing them with all of camp.  You even got to pick your favorite colors.   Smile Maker: “My mom makes the best mocktails”, said a camper while preparing a meal...
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Ann Arbor, Baton Rouge, Clemson, Knoxville and Madison. The Big House, Death Valley (x 2) and Rocky Top – some of the most storied and historic venues anywhere, and home to some of the most prominent and spirited collegiate athletic programs in the country. But not on this day. Today, Naples, Maine was where it...
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Oh, the heat.  It’s so hot here you could fry an egg on a sidewalk. So we tried.  But the egg frying experiment was an epic failure.  It just makes a mess on a basketball court. We’ve gotten used to scheduling in high heat over the past few days.  Barney now puts the court sports ...
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Skylemar campers have won the jackpot when it comes to their parents.  There are no boys in the world who could ever be more loved or better cared for.    When your son is happy, you are too.  When he struggles, you are the one who feels the pain.  As his greatest cheerleader and trusted confidant,...
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It’s the Polar Bear Swim! 76 campers in Bunks 1-15 signed up to swim across the lake this morning.  They woke up at 6AM, and the first group was in the water by 6:45.  30 staff members also woke up early to accompany them for safety, swimming with the kids and in boats. It was...
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  You have to change your sheets. It’s one of those things that most boys can’t wrap their heads around.  Saturday is sheet-changing day, and one boy asked, “but if I did it last week do I have to do it today?”.  Name withheld to protect the adorable. This time we had some leverage.  If...
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  What do you do if you’re getting married, but the guest list is 300 over the limit? You host a Rehearsal Wedding. Directors Luci and DT (aka Danny) got “hitched” tonight, which was a first in Skylemar history.  The 46 campers in the bridal party (it was a signup, just like intercamp) made up...
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July 11 is Shirley Day at Camp Skylemar!  Shirley was Lee’s wife, who truly lived by the Cool2Care motto.  She loved people, Skylemar and ice cream.  Each year we celebrate her life with a spectacular spread of make-your-own-sundaes, and today was the day.  We’re grateful to have her watching over us from above. It was...
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Naples, Maine certainly has its place on the map.  But did you know the quaint little town is also home to the only gambling casino in the world where the house never wins?  Wish you could come, but you must be under 18 to enter.    Plus, you’d have to act quickly.  This gaming establishment is...
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There’s nothing more joyous than a Skylemar Talent Show.  There were 39 brave participants, some with talent, and some not so much.    No matter how silly or how many “wait, let me start overs”, the audience responded with cheers, whistles and claps.  Each performer is rewarded with a trinket from the Super Prize Bag.  Not...
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It was so hot today we had to take it sl-o-o-o-o-o-w.... We did our best to keep activities in the shade, and took water breaks every 20 minutes.  By afternoon it was sweltering, so we canceled the schedule and switched to a Wacky Water Afternoon. Lucky for us, we have Trickey Pond.  Skylemar has well...
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It’s a boy! The “gender reveal” for Nick and Sarah’s baby was celebrated with 200 boys and 140 staff this afternoon.  Now that’s a Shepherd kind of party.  Your camp directors opened the sealed envelope and there it was – the blue card!  THE CROWD WENT WILD! “I was hoping it would be a boy...
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Let the intercamp games begin! Soccer…Lacrosse…Hoops…Tennis…Baseball! Some games are home; some are away.  It seems like every day teams in different age groups are coming or going.  You can sign up to play in a U12 Baseball game on Monday, a Tennis tournament on Tuesday and then a Lax game later in the week.    We...
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Here’s the recipe.  You crack and scramble 1,080 eggs, flip 974 pancakes, make 8 gallons of oatmeal and then you’ve got breakfast. Lunch could be 200 pounds of chicken tenders or 980 grilled cheese sandwiches.  Of course, there’s a salad bar too, so that’s another 40 heads of lettuce, 60 cucumbers (our most popular vegetable),...
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Here's a follow-up on yesterday’s Cool2Care/World of Change effort… Camper X is an especially picky eater.  Mom suggested a reward system of paying him a dollar for every time he eats whatever is served.   “Hmmmm,” says Camper X.  “I don’t really need the money.”  He contemplates and then says, “But I could give the money...
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There’s always something to celebrate at Skylemar.  It could be that “the Wed Sox beat the Wockies”, as reported by an adorable voice on The Morning Show that’s blasted over the PA system.  Or maybe that it’s Laundry Day, or it’s chicken tenders for lunch or that a friend got up for the first time...
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Come as friends, leave as brothers. That’s how we roll at Skylemar. It’s cool to care about each other here, and we’re totally good with saying “I love you”.  Of course we say it with some swagger, like a chant -”LOVE ON TWO, ONE TWO (clap)” - or we give the sign language symbol (index...
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(Clap)(Clap) Clean! (Clap)(Clap) Clean! The chant spreads throughout the Pavilion, and in they come… Barnicus and Laundricus, the Warriors of Clean. The two warriors are our mythical characters in charge of cabin cleanliness.  They explain that after breakfast each camper makes their bed, and then does a chore that’s assigned with a turn of the...
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Lots of early risers at Skylemar, especially the first day -- we call them the “Sunshine Squad”.  Beginning at 7 AM, campers have their choice of an assortment of activities like Tennis, Basketball, Gaga, Soccer, Mini Golf, Yard Games and Dog Walking.  Meanwhile, others still have an hour left to sleep. Pancakes, yogurt, oatmeal, cold...
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It’s renewable energy at its best… There was a solar field of smiles at Camp Skylemar, when 200+ boys from around the country and abroad finally connected.  Old and new friends embraced and high-fived, while counselors did their very best to make sure that all felt comfortable and at ease.   For many, especially your camp...
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