When we need to turn a day around, it’s down the hill we go to Trickey Pond.  Jump on in, and you’ll feel the magic.  There’s something about these waters that seems to wash away the blues. About two miles long and a half mile across, Trickey Pond is our Skylemar gem.  It’s a lake...
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As you walk thru the archway at the Skylemar office, a sign hangs that says, “Come as friends, leave as brothers.”   That truly is the way it is here. Sure, there are those you find annoying or frustrating.  And perhaps there are some who you prefer over others.  Yes, there are times when someone says...
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It was tough to figure out the weather today.  It was hot until it wasn’t.  Then it rained until it didn’t.    Although we made it through morning activities, by lunch it was a Rainy Day Schedule.  There were Lodge Games, Dodge Ball in the Gym, Lego, Cupcake Decorating, Sushi Making and Board Games.  Meanwhile, the...
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A friend texted today asking “Is Cool2Care still a Camp Skylemar thing?”  You betcha.  We refer to these three words every day.  We have it on our bracelets, wear it on our t-shirts and feel it in our hearts. It’s not just something that we say… It’s something that we do. We might not talk...
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So many comings and goings.  It's trip season! Beach Day for the Freshmen!  But first, some community service.  They volunteered for an environmental nonprofit called Friends of Casco Bay and were assigned to pick up trash at Riverbank Park.  Once the work was done, they headed to Crescent Beach State Park for relaxing on the...
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  To be a dog at Camp Skylemar is a pretty sweet gig.  Plenty of pets, pats and belly rubs from the boys.  And if you get the opportunity to be in the Pavilion after a meal, there’s a plethora of scraps to find under the picnic tables.  Trickey Pond’s great too.  It may be...
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Almost in a league with the Navy Seals are Skylemar’s special forces.  40-strong, this elite group of master minds are able to inspire and motivate, plan and execute, organize and lead.  Frankly, they leave many of our warriors in the dust. They are the SkyWomen. On one hand, they are sugar and spice and everything...
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Grandma, Mimi, Ga and Honey.  Grandpa, Poppy, HaHa, Pap Pap. Ducky, Kiki, Pi, and Gigi.  Abuelo, Fubby, Pep and Big Daddy. Grandy, Cucu, Bubbie, Yia Yia.  Grumpy, Papa, Cat Grandpa, Papou. Lolli, Gigi, Suggie, Grammy.  Pop, PeePa, Ollie, Gdaddy. Po Po and Ghong Ghong, Nona and Nono. Didu and Dudu, NiNi and YeYe. Malu and...
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One of the best parts of Skylemar being just for boys is that it’s old-t-shirt, worn-in leather-couch comfortable.   It’s all so easy – just be kind, be eager to play and smile.  That’s really all it takes.  Of course we play to win, but when the game doesn’t go your way,' you know you can...
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Come as friends.  Leave as brothers.  That’s what it says on the arbor as you enter Camp Skylemar. Today we welcomed 80 new friends from Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Maine, Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida and Washington DC.  Those who traveled especially far came from Venezuela, Austria, Mexico, England, Spain and...
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Of course, it made sense.  The most beautiful day of the year was saved for the greatest parents in the world.  There was so much love in the 04055, it was if it overflowed into the bright blue sky. Boys of all ages leaped into outstretched arms of excited moms and dads.  Little brothers and...
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Despite minor interruptions like trips, intercamp games, power showers and letter writing, the show must go on.  And it sure did!  “Finding Nemo” was a smash hit on the Skylemar stage. It’s amazing what our magical Drama Director Suzie can make happen in just a few weeks.  Singing, dancing, music, acting, set design, lighting, costumes,...
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They say that parenting is the hardest job in the world.  We beg to differ.  Being a Skylemar camp counselor might just be a whole lot more. You see, becoming a parent is almost always a slow process.  In most cases you have nine months to prepare, and then the rest comes gradually, year after...
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Ann Arbor, MI… Knoxville, TN… Madison, WI and Charlottesville, VA – homes to four of the most prestigious state universities in the nation.  Today, all were well-represented in Skylemar’s 78th edition of our Intercollegiate Day. If the temp for this competitive day had begun to rise with yesterday’s 5K Relay and Boat Races, Mother Nature...
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If there’s one thing we hope that a boy brings home from Skylemar, it’s an attitude of gratitude. It starts with the little things, like manners in the buffet lines.  There are typically 10 stations (main course, two sides, two options, pasta, sauce, wow & jelly, salad bar and dessert). As a boy approaches each...
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Most of the time things are juuuust right... like when our sisters who attend nearby camps come to visit.  The siblings give each other warm hugs, have dinner together, meet friends, play tennis and hang out til it's time to go.  They’re happy to see each other, then seem equally happy to return to routine...
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We’ve talked about Cool2Care, and how it’s the motto we live by at Skylemar.  We try our best to be kind, respectful and care for others.  But here’s the thing.  We’re regular people so we also make mistakes. There are times when we might say something that offends someone, or we maybe leave a bunkmate...
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On a misty Saturday morning at 6 AM, 55 polar bears are spied in Trickey Pond! Ranging in age from 7 to 10, the giant pack is accompanied across the lake by 42 lifeguards, kayakers and boat drivers.   It’s a half mile swim across, and everyone wears a life jacket just to be safe.  Once...
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Lots of Intercamp action the last few days.  We hosted an 11U Baseball twin bill and sent teams on the road in 12U Basketball and 13U Soccer.  On the Fred Pierce Field, the 11U group was led by the pitching arms of Morgan, Colin, and southpaw Jonah P.  At the plate, Bradley C was the...
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There are just two rules when it comes to the food at Skylemar:  1) It has to be delicious; and 2)  You can never ever run out. With a combined 83 years working here, Head Chef Jr, Superman, Benjamin, Jairo, Julio, Tony, David, Byron, Miguel, Juan and Cesar make up the staff who know exactly...
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If you really want to know the Skylemar ethos, you just gotta check out the Talent Show. Tonight’s show included 32 acts!  That meant a total of 57 campers were brave enough to go on stage and perform in front of the entire camp.   Some acts were super impressive and proved that Skylemar really does...
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It’s one part Shep, one part all the counselors, one part older kids … and it becomes contagious.  Immediately the rest of the camp catches it.  And that’s how we make it Skylemar…. It’s the vibe!  It’s the cheers and laughter.  It’s that upbeat positive atmosphere that you feel most of all at Skylemar meals. ...
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What’s Murph Monday?  It’s what the brave, strong and dedicated do at 7 AM.   You run a mile, do 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats and then run another mile.  It’s fine to break up the exercises 5-10-15, and then do that set 20 times.  Wowza.  Congrats to Max P, Asher, Dillon F, Nate F...
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At Skylemar, it’s rare that someone knows the time of day, let alone the date.  No need for clocks – we go by our stomachs.   If we forget, there’s a bugle for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a reminder for snack on the way to Third Period. For the most part, time flies at Skylemar. ...
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Let’s take it backwards… After a day filled with good, hard play, we slowed it down with Spirit Night for Evening Activity.  It’s a weekly time when the camp gathers together on the Rec Hall field for a non-denominational service focused on gratitude, love and appreciation. Each week a different bunk gets to lead Spirit...
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How do we celebrate the 4th of July at Skylemar?  We start by cleaning up!  It’s GACU – The Great American Cleanup.  Shep calls it “the trifecta of clean”.  First you take a power shower, next head over to The Spa, then it’s on to the Infirmary for a health check. Where is this Skylemar...
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It’s the hottest ticket on the East Coast.  The waiting list is 364 days long -- definitely the place to see and be seen.  Hours are limited, so you must be on time. Leaving the Bellagio in the dust, it’s the one and only gambling casino where the house never wins.  It’s… SADE’S PALACE! You...
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If you want to be the coolest parent in the world, it’s important that you know what you’re talking about. Here’s a cheat-sheet of assorted “SkyLingo” to set you up for success: C2C – Our motto, aka Cool2Care. Sade’s Palace – It’s tomorrow night... lots of casino fun for those 16 and under! Drip – ...
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  Hot, humid and so much going on!  The schedule was jam-packed in all Divisions…Cubs: Bunks 1-3, Lions: Bunks 4-6, Tigers: Bunks 7-12, Freshmen:  Bunks 13-18, Sophomores:  Bunks 19-21, Juniors: Bunks 22-24, Seniors: Bunks 25-27, and Stars: Bunks 28-30. Lots of firsts today as well.  Marcus W (Bunk 11) caught the first fish of the...
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In any one Skylemar day there’s a whole lot of learning going on.  Certainly, we learn how to build relationships and live together as a community.  We learn about what it takes to be a good friend, take care of ourselves and the importance of doing for others. There’s lots of games that may be...
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"GOOD MORNING, CAMP SKYLEMAR!" roars one of the nation’s greatest sportscasters through the speaker in every cabin.  That’s the voice of the one and only George Simeon, producer and director of “The Morning Show”.  It’s sports radio at its finest, second in ratings only to The Rich Eisen Show. The talent is spectacular and includes...
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Now this was a DAY!  The weatherman said it was a rainy one in the 04055, but we didn’t mind.  Here at Camp Skylemar hundreds of happy smiles and warm hugs kept us feeling dry. Planes were late and driving was slow, but oh, so worth it.  To see old friends jump into each other's...
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