Skylemar Blog

Last night’s Songs & Cheers results sure flipped this Color War upside down.  Red had taken 3 ½ days to build a lead, then in one afternoon Gray not only came storming back but did enough last night to wake up with the lead.  There was a nervous energy in the air and once again Mother Nature set us up with another picture-perfect day. The significance of this morning’s activities cannot be overlooked.  Red looked to close the gap while Gray hoped to extend the lead, as both teams anxiously awaited this afternoon’s finish – our TUGS OF WAR.

Gray’s momentum carried over.  Their Stars captured the Basketball point in a pair of wild finishes.  The lower court game ended when Gray’s Jackson faced a pair of must-make free throws after being fouled, down 2 points with a second left on the clock.  He calmly sank both, putting the Stars Hoops point on the upper court’s result.  Gray came back late in the 4^th quarter to win and take Stars Basketball.  They followed with a sweep of 2 Freshmen Hockey games in the Rink.

Red was reeling when word of Gray’s sweep in Tigers Golf and Bocce came in, followed by their victory in Seniors Tennis.  It was looking like the rout was on, but then Red responded with a big win in Sophomores Soccer over on the Hejduk.  That left it up to the little guys to once again provide the most exciting, and for Red, the most important contest thus far.  They held on for an edge-of-your seat, 1-0 win in Cubs/Lions Baseball.  Off to lunch where Shep announced that Gray had won the all-camp Archery point as well.  Their morning success had put them in the catbird seat, as all headed back to their cabins for an extended “rest hour” …. in preparation for TUGS that would settle it all.

What a week we’ve had … and it would all come down to this.  Gray Team gathered at the Hockey court, Red Team at the Tennis courts for their last “psych up” meetings.  The noise reverberated all around camp and was heard by the huge crowd that had collected down at the Snow Field, a perfect arena for this, the traditional closing event of Color War.

When the teams marched down to the field, the atmosphere was already electric with the intensity built since Elections last Friday night. Shep called the two Captains together, then explained the process to the entire camp.  It would take 2 out of 3 TUGS in each Division to win the points (2) for each.  Gray’s hot streak coming in had them needing to win only 2 Divisions, while Red needed 6, a seemingly monumental task.  One by one, Shep called each Division’s “Tuggers to the Rope”. Once set, George blew the whistle and…“PULL!”

Each boy wants this win more than anything in the world.  He PULLS with every single ounce of strength.  Faces clench, contort, they yell – whatever it takes. Just PULL.  Muscles bulge…it’s as if they’d burst.  PULL!  Referee George carefully watches till one flag crosses the line and his WHISTLE BLOWS!  The winners leap into the air, screaming with joy.  The losers…slowly walk to the side lines.

Red reached down deeper than anyone thought they could.  In an incredible sequence of 2^nd round tugs (after losing the first time through),  Red went from the brink of elimination to within a tug of gaining a virtual tie before heading to Round 3 (4 of the 7 Divisions would need a 3^rd Tug to decide it).  Finally, it took 15 actual tugs to get it done … and GRAY is the winner of Color War 2025!

The Gray team cheered wildly, leaping into each other’s arms!  Lots of hearty hugs and high fives all around… the greatest feeling of their entire lives!  Until…they turned and saw their Red friends devastated.  Some on Red were hugging, but it’s a different kind of hug.  Some were crying, and some were face down on the ground feeling destroyed inside.  Gray friends found Red friends and offered a hand or an arm around the shoulder.

The oldest and the strongest lifted the Captains on their shoulders, and the Captains embraced.  This signified the ties that bind.  We are a Skylemar brotherhood.

This one will be remembered for the triumphant class with which Gray won, and the valiant display of heart and inner strength shown by Red in defeat. We’re so proud of the sportsmanship showed by both teams and for doing it the Skylemar way.

The Captains were carried down to Trickey Pond, with all the campers following.  Once on each side of the dock, Noah, Max and their Stars Lieutenants jumped into the water.  They swam to each other in the center, embraced and then it was everyone else’s turns.  Groups of three, four, five and six linked arms and leaped in with gusto!

That’s when the magical waters did their thing.  Trickey Pond washed away the competition, and again we are one.

After dinner and a 7^th period of activities, the sun sets, and the evening becomes very special.  Tonight is the culminating event which is loved by generations…Waterfront Ceremony.  The Captains led the torch-lit silent procession, adding each cabin of boys to the long line which snaked down the hill.  A bonfire roared on the lake, as we sat under the pines.  Skylemar songs were sung from out on the Pontoon, which set the warm and comfortable mood.  Captain Noah, Captain Max and Shep each spoke about gratitude.  Shep urged all to consider it a responsibility to share the Cool2Care message far beyond the hallowed grounds of Skylemar.

Now for the extra special part:  Each bunk was brought to the water’s edge for Wishing Boats.  It’s a block of wood with a candle on top.  Our legend holds that if you put the boat in the water and make a wish for someone other than yourself, that wish just might come true.

Seeing all the boats with flickering lights was a sight to behold.  There were hundreds of positive wishes for those other than ourselves.  And that’s how a kid changes the world.

It’s not like we hadn’t generated enough heat on our own yesterday, but Mother Nature brought us a bit more today.  The boys awoke to another glorious morning to set us up for Day 2, with the score all knotted up.  Same routine today… breakfast, inspection, and a quick team meeting to put their game faces on.  Then off they went from Trickey to the Hejduk and everywhere in between.

The Tigers played a pair of closely contested Hockey games in the Rink, but both went Gray’s way. In the first, Gray scored a pair in the first period, then locked down the rest of the way to hold on for a 2-1 victory.  In the other, Robbie scored the game-winner with just under a minute left to win it.  However, Red answered by winning two of the three Hoops games to win the Cubs/Lions Basketball.  Micah, Jonah and Theo Q were the scoring leaders in Red’s pair of wins.

In Sophomores Football, Dash led Red to a most exciting back and forth victory on the Rec Hall field, overcoming a spectacular TD catch by Gray’s Theo R late in the game that put the outcome in doubt. Ethan V then caught a 4^th and goal TD pass with less than a minute to go to seal it for Red.  Red Stars also swept the singles matches and carried the Skills competition which put another point on their side of the ledger.  And further, they overcame a strong performance by Gray swimmers with wins in the Ski and Kayak elements to carry Juniors Waterfront.

Over at the Hejduk, Gray dominated the first of two Lax games 8-1, led by James K, Matthew and Solomon. In the best finish of the morning, Red’s Sam E saved the day, coming out of nowhere with an incredible sliding stick check on the crease with a second to go, preventing a certain tying goal and holding on for a one-goal victory, and splitting Freshmen Lacrosse.  Down on the Freddie Pierce, Coop went deep over the right field fence to provide the early lead, while Thomas T made a couple of sliding catches in left field to protect It for Gray in their 9-4 Seniors win to close the morning activities.

Lots of elusive runs, great catches, incredible shots, tight races, spectacular plays, and close finishes have highlighted the action so far … and we’re only a day and half in.  Time for some nourishment and a good rest as the boys broke for lunch with Red now ahead.

This afternoon was more of the same.  Red extended the lead further with a 3-0 win by their Stars on Sky II’s Hejduk Soccer pitch. On the Sky I lacrosse field, Gray responded by winning the first Cubs/Lions Lax game, 7-5 behind the outstanding midfield play of Larkin and Lockett. But Red mitigated the loss with a win of their own in Game 2, to spit the point.

Red again surged ahead by winning another Waterfront meet, this time by their Tigers strokers and boaters.  But Gray responded convincingly by winning both Hoops games on the upper and lower courts.  Sam P and Nate F had it going and led all scorers in the wins.

Gray inched a little closer when they blew out Red in a hitting onslaught on the Freddie Pierce in Sophomore Baseball.  Then results came in from the Bunkline Field where Joaquin ran and passed his way all over the field in a 56-30 rout in Seniors Football for Red.

The most excitement of the day was down on the Snow Field.  The Freshmen went toe-to-toe in a double-dip of amazing nail-biting Soccer games.  In the first, there were 5 lead changes in a very well-played contest, filled with fantastic team play from both sides.  In the end, Gray scored with seconds to play to tie it up 4-all, leaving today’s last point on the shoulders of the Game 2 Freshmen participants.  With all other games finished and everyone on the hill overlooking this venue, the stadium atmosphere was electric.  The tension grew as no one could find the back of the net well into the second half.  With only two minutes left, Gray finally broke through a disheartened Red squad and their highlight-reel goalie Declan C who had kept them in it.  A wild celebration ensued, and some of the exuberant Gray onlookers had to be cleared from the field.  Then, with about a minute left, Red scored the equalizer, which not only tied it up but set off its own Red on-field explosion.  It was the Red celebrants that now had to be cleared just as Gray had a minute before … and alas, this one also ended in a tie, halving Freshmen Soccer.  What a finish!

Movie night under the stars, maybe the most picturesque, moonlit night of the summer was a perfect antidote for a most exhilarating, spirited action-packed day.  Red will sleep on the lead, but has Gray nipping at their heels.  Still just a couple of points separate the teams.

Stay tuned….

Today was the day.  For many, it’s the most important one of the summer.  For some… the year.  And for two… their lives.

The boys have talked about today since they arrived at camp.  In fact, they’ve chanted a countdown for the past 10 days.  Yesterday they cheered wildly, hollering “ONE MORE DAY!  ONE MORE DAY!”

The traditional Sky II Lobster Lunch helped to calm nerves.  It’s a meal of camaraderie, with lots of laughter and good vibes.  Over many summers, these now 15-year-olds have come to accept, understand and admire each other.  We can even think of a few who asked not to be in a bunk with this person or that, only to see now that they are very good friends.

It was a beautiful, Maine-like afternoon, with clear skies and comfortably warm temps.  Perfect for casual play, taking some ski runs and hanging with friends.  Dinner was delish — spaghetti and meatballs, marinara or alfredo, Caesar salad and garlic bread.  Eat big, guys… could be a long night ahead.

IT’S COLOR WAR ELECTIONS 2025!

Evening Activity couldn’t come soon enough.  The whole camp gathered together in the Rec Hall, the building that stands strong and tall, protecting our Skylemar family.  Wearing their favorite jersey, each member of the Stars Division sat proudly on the stage.

Shep welcomed all, and explained how Color War Elections is one of Skylemar’s oldest traditions, whereby the participants choose their leaders.  “You, the campers, will vote for two of these great guys by secret ballot, each one being the kind of person that we hope you will be like one day.”

He explained that the spirit of Red and Gray began with our founders and is based on friendship and fair play.  Color War is a unique situation, because this time you’re competing with all of your heart against people who you care about.  That doesn’t happen too often in life.

Skylemar’s competition happens only on the fields, courts, lake and stage, but not in the cabin.  There will be a winner of each and every game, as well as an overall winner of our 5-day Color War.  Whether you win or lose, Shep reminds that you must not over-react.  Don’t gloat, and don’t ruin someone else’s fun — sincerely shake hands after the game.

The Captains will be selecting their teams in secrecy on Saturday night.  It’s done by draft, which is what makes the teams fair in each Division.  It could be that brothers are separated, or that bunks are not at all equally divided.  The Captains strategically select each boy, with one goal in mind – winning.

Shep asked all former Captains to step forward.  A few did so.  Then Shep asked for all those who were on the ballot but did not become Captain to step forward.  In this category there were many.

The candidates were each introduced, and truth is, we love them all.  Each would be an outstanding choice for Captain.

Simple majority wins.  When one candidate gets one more than half of the eligible voters, than he is elected.  The magic number is 100.

Those on the ballot cast their own votes and then headed to the Garden Cabin to wait it out.  Each Bunk came up to the foot of the stage, and every camper wrote down two names on a piece of paper — then dropped their votes into the ballot box (white pickle bucket, circa 1994).  Once all the votes were in, Shep read off every one as Nick kept the tally.

The exact number of votes each person received is something we don’t talk about.  But what’s interesting about this year is that there was a much wider spread of votes throughout the Stars Division than in any previous year we can remember.  It took two full rounds of voting to elect two Captains, proving that there really were several great choices.

The vote tally grew and grew for the first Captain, the crowd started jumping, hands rose in the air…  and it’s… NOAH KLEHR!  The crowd mobbed him as he comes through the door.

After a second round of voting and reading off names (meaning that by now it’s 10 PM), the crowd again rushed to the door to welcome the second Captain… MAX BAUM!

Coin flips determined who chose color, as well as the order of picking Stars Lieutenants.  Max selected Gray, along with Cosme and Jacob R to stand with him.  Noah picked Carson and Jack L. to do so for Red.

Camp Skylemar, these are your leaders for Color War 2025!

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 that’s referred to as a “pond” because sunlight penetrates to the bottom.  Trickey is considered to be one of the clearest and cleanest bodies of water in the entire state that has over 6,000.  The center is 55’ deep, and you can see clearly down to the last ten.

Fed by underground springs, the water is naturally filtered.  In addition, Skylemar has a filtration system of our own, because Trickey Pond water is what we drink every day.  Interestingly, in blindfold taste tests against bottled water (Poland Springs, Aquafina, Deer Park, etc.), what comes from our lake is the #1 favorite.

Why is Trickey Pond so pristine?  In large part, it’s because of us.  Since Skylemar’s woods cover most of one side, there are no homes and roads to pollute the lake.  There are some homes across, and they are some of the most wonderful neighbors.  It’s a solid community, and we’re proud to support the Trickey Pond Environmental Protection Association.

We do our share to protect the lake environmentally.  You may have noticed that big green bushes have replaced the sand at the shoreline, to help with catching any pollutants from our dirt road.  Our maintenance department has installed “rubber raisers” which divert water from the road into the woods and culverts.  It’s fun to watch how they do their job after a big rainstorm.

Temps today were in the 90’s, so Trickey Pond was the place to be.  But since we have 350 people here, we couldn’t all go at the same time.  Sooooo…. we set up our many hoses and gave it a go!  It’s A Wacky Water Afternoon Rotation!

Hoses, sprinklers and baby pools.  The giant SkySlide.  Water balloons for H2O Baseball.  Bubble making too.  There’s a “car wash” that you get inside, and best of all, there’s a plunging pool for ice baths.

The best way to make a boy happy is to squirt him with the hose… or with permission, let him pour water over his counselor’s head.  We have orange buckets for that.  It’s interesting how boys like to be just a little bit daring.  That’s where the ice bath comes in.  Can you sit in it?  Can you dunk?  How about with a fresh bag of ice thrown in?

Treat of the day was a Baltimore Lemon Stick — take half a lemon and put a peppermint stick in the middle.  The peppermint is used like a straw for pulling up the juice.  It’s a lovely combo and perfect for a hot summer day.

SkyPotle for dinner (fan favorite) and Campfire for Evening Activity.  There’s nothing better than to see everyone up on their feet performing whatever actions go with the songs or laughing hysterically as they watch a skit.  We loved the “Moose Song” and DT’s  Repeat-after-me “Burrito” classic.  We sang along to “Wagon Wheel” and are amazed when the guys chain-up and sway, shoulder to shoulder.  No one asks them to do this.  It just kinda happens.

“Day is done, gone the sun”, and we’re ready to bring on a joyful day tomorrow.

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 Freshmen went Ice Skating and the Sophomores took a trip to Mt. Cranmore in New Hampshire.

And then… the sisters arrived for dinner.  Brothers were in assorted indoor places around camp, so we needed to do a round-up.  Once gathered, they had a cookout dinner inside, and then it was dry enough to head to the Lodge to hang out.

For the rest of us, it was a Band of Brothers dinner.  Kids of assorted ages sat as a “BOB”, with the Seniors and Stars doing an amazing job of helping those younger feel comfortable.  These occasional gatherings in Band of Brothers groups definitely support getting to know each other.  The Tin Foil Boat Building Contest was super fun too.  Each BOB got an 8” square of foil, and the idea was to turn it into a boat that would float and hold as many coins as possible.  The winning boat held 40 quarters!

On another note, it’s the last week for Clinics of 2025! At Sunday Signups it’s clear what’s on the mind of many as Color War prep dominated the sports offerings. Golf and Tennis will hone the swings a bit more and offer match playing tips in advance of both Camp Tourney and Color War matches.  Football and Basketball will both work on game-type situations as they get ready for Red & Gray contests to come.

Those choosing the Waterfront have plenty of options. The Sail Dock includes the full complement of paddle choices besides the sailboats, while the Ski Dock will see many on the long rope looking to sharpen their runs for Color War.  The “Trifecta” on the Swim Dock: 1) Catching thrown balls while leaping off the inflatables; 2) Olympic Time Trials to prep for the races ahead; and 3) Trickey Pond Records for those wanting a shot at breaking them. All will get plenty of action.  Let’s not forget Fishing on Trickey over at SkyPines, where the season-long contest for which bunk catches the most fish nears the finish.

Lacrosse will focus on the little things that go into being a great team player – ground balls, hustle and other “unsung” things necessary for team success.  Soccer will work on footwork and ball control in “El Futbol”. Baseball will play with every ball we have here, except a baseball or softball (i.e., lax balls, tennis balls, beach balls, volleyballs, etc.) in games of fun! And Archery will find those wanting a last chance to shoot before their score really counts in Color War.

Rafiki stopped by to see how many Chilltoppers would like to work with Props, Scenery and Stage Crew on our 2^nd session production of “The Lion King”.  “Who Let the Dogs Out” will have a different resident canine visit with this group at Shep’s Reading clinic every day, while Yellowhorn’s  “Old Favorites” will have the boys reprising their favorite (exploding) experiments of the season.

Track & Field will look to set new records in running, hurdling and shotput. The first camp “Strong Man Combine” will be held in the Strength & Conditioning clinic.  And Ziplining with Zippy and the Ropes course crew will give everyone plenty of opportunities to fly through the trees.

By 7 PM this evening we needed a switcheroo on Evening Activity due to the rain.  We pulled down the big screen and had an old-fashioned movie night inside the Rec Hall.   It’s the perfect place to be on a damp one like tonight.

Heard this today…

While waiting their turn for showers, Bunk 3 was coloring with highlighters at Arleen’s desk.

Arleen:  That’s really nice.  What’s it a picture of?

Blaine:  I do abstract.

Arleen:  What’s abstract?

Blaine:  It means you don’t know what it is.

… only at Skylemar.

And this…

One of the Lions had a remote appointment with a very prominent doctor in NYC, who is difficult to get an appointment with.

When told what time to be ready, the Lion said, “He’s just going to have to wait.  I have basketball.”

… only at Skylemar.

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 about it in every Blog, but you can feel it in what we write.  You can see it in the photos – kids genuinely caring about each other.  You’ll often see the C2C hand symbol: the thumb, pointer and pinky up, which means “I love you” in American Sign Language.  For us, it’s as natural as a peace sign or thumbs up.

In case you missed what it’s about, here’s a refresher.  C2C means that it’s cool to want to win and play your very hardest. When you do win, it’s not cool to over-react.  Instead, you need to remember what it feels like to be on the other end.  It’s the little things that matter, like giving a hand to someone who falls, no matter what team he’s on.  That shows that you care.

It’s cool to participate and be a part of it all.  Doesn’t matter if you’re good at it or not, or even if you don’t like a game.  When you participate it makes it more fun not just for you, but for everyone else.

It’s cool to care about your friends here as well as your family at home.  On a bigger level, it’s cool to care about the world around you, and do your best at keeping things tidy and not create waste.

Not sure if we use the term as a verb or an adjective, because sometimes they’ll say “that’s not cool to care” if someone’s rude.  For the most part, what we do is try our best to “live the motto”.

Take a look at our Stars, the oldest campers.  Today’s Meal Minutes were delivered by Diego V and Jack L.  They demonstrated that it’s cool to care for those campers younger than themselves and talked about how proud they are to now be a role model.  They thanked those who helped them over the years at camp and reminded all to be someone people can look up to.

For this week’s Cool2Care Chains, here’s what was said about each recipient:

Sometimes it’s the smallest folks that make the biggest impact.  This kid does the right thing consistently, whether someone is looking or not.  He’s kind, fun, warm, listens well and is wise beyond his years.          Paul M (Bunk 2)

This kid always has a smile and positive attitude.  He was incredible at the basketball intercamp the other day, showing outstanding sportsmanship, encouraging his teammates, being respectful to refs and congratulating opponents after the games, win or lose.  He competes hard and loves even harder.                      Matthew M (Bunk 18).

Speaking of respecting the refs, today’s POW for Bunk 17 was all about them.  POW stands for Person of Wisdom, and basically, it’s a class in something practical that boys need to know.  For example, yesterday’s POW was about changing a tire.  Soon they will learn to parallel park a golf cart too.

Now back to the refs:  Bunk 17’s POW was all about how to be a referee.  Athletic Director Mitch is very involved with refereeing in Wisconsin, and he taught the guys about how the job is a lot harder than it looks.  Our hope is that through experiences like this one, we’ll all be more respectful to referees when we get home.  After all, there is no game without a ref.

The Blow-up Carnival this evening was the opportunity for everyone to participate, and they did.  It was like a giant party on Hejduk Field. There was the Mega Obstacle Challenge, the Triple Threat Course, Toxic Lava Run, Dual Sports Bungee Challenge, Gladiator Joust, Sports Arena and Disco Dome — and great music too.

Best of all, there were snowballs, Baltimore-style.  That means the ground ice goes in a cup, your choice of flavor (yes, you can have some of each) and marshmallow cream on top.

Blow-up Carnival is a shoes-off event.  When you get to the field you leave your shoes in front of the sign that says your Division name.  That way you know exactly where you left them when it’s time to go.  Like we said, it’s those little things that show that you care which matter so very much.

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 Juan Papa, Halmoni and Harabouji.

We call them by assorted names, but for Camp Skylemar, grandparents are our MVP’s.  After all, none of our remarkable boys could have been invented without them.  These extraordinary role models are our superheroes, advisors and cheerleaders, who love our boys forever and always.

Ask anyone here about grandparents, and their face softens with a special warm glow.   Ask the Cubs and Lions questions about them, and your heart might just melt.

Question:  What does your grandmother do all day?

Favorite Answers:

“She shops.”

“She goes to restaurants.”

“She does something in Florida.”

“She’s a therapist.  She makes people talk.”

“She hangs with her friends and plays Bridge.”

“She does plants.”

Question:  How about your grandfather… what does he do?

Most Frequent Answer:  “He golfs.”

Cutest Answer:                 “He eats.”

Most Honest Answer:     “He naps.”

They share that Grandmothers “cook really good.”  But it’s when they spill the beans on Granddad that we see the twinkle in their eye.  “He talks to me about sports”,  “he lets me watch TV”, “he taught me how to gamble” and “he always sneaks me candy.”

When asked, “What do you like best about your grandparents?”, several said “they let me have sleepovers”.  One said, “they never yell” and another said, “they’re always proud of me.”   A few said, “they let me stay up late.”  But most importantly, many kept it simple and said what matters most: “They love me.”

So favorite Nanny’s and Pop Pop’s,  Mom Mom’s and Grand PaPa’s or whatever you’re called, please know that we’re grateful.

Whether you’re nearby or as far away as heaven, we ask for your blessings.  Please watch over us always, and know that we love you to the Sky and back.

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 sisters were lifted into the air.  It was a round of meaningful hugs for all!

Now let’s get to it — time to show off!  There was Hoops and Tennis, Gaga and Hockey… Lax and Soccer, Baseball and Football, too.  On to Trickey Pond for Skiing and Sailing – hurry up, there’s so much to share.  These are my counselors, here are my friends and that’s my bunk.  Let’s go!

Down the hill and now back up.  Whew!  Thank you, hayride.

Lunch at noon gave the chance to finally sloooow down.  Whether you picnicked on a table or on a blanket, enjoying a casual meal together was extra special today.

Still more time to show off in the afternoon, although the pace felt just a bit slower.  Our guys definitely know how to tire out the grownups. The clock struck three at just the right time.  Hugs, see-you-soons, a few tears and then…

IT’S CARNIVAL 2025!

The fields were filled with inflatable obstacle courses, axe throwing (the pretend kind), slides, things to jump in and the always-a-favorite dunking booth.  The chefs invited all into the big kitchen for fried dough, but first you had to dance to get some.

Power showers, 7^th period and finally…Movie Night.  The kids love sitting outside together to watch whatever movie’s trending, and the adults love that the kids are sitting.

Thank you to all who made it to Skylemar today.  For those who were unable, rest assured that your son was just fine, and promise he was lavished with love and care as well.

As Shep made his nightly rounds, he found not a tear in the house.  Just a whole lot of absolutely exhausted boys, counselors and a couple of camp directors.

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 78^th 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 stepped in to cook us up a bit more.  After the usual morning routine, IC Day Marshall Nick Shep called the Michigan Wolverines, Tennessee Vols, Wisconsin Badgers and Virginia Cavaliers down to the Snow Field for the official start of this time-honored tradition.  Nick explained how the day would work, with each of six Divisions competing in 6 uniquely formatted team events. Only the Dash and the Seniors/Stars Long Drive competition would have a select few individuals represent their schools.  Then, for Evening Activity, each university would take the Skylemar stage to perform a set of Songs & Cheers with the entire day’s results producing the eventual winner of IC Day 2025.

And the Dash started us off in front of a raucous crowd supporting each of their sprinters.  Winners included Wisconsin’s Bodhi, Max R and Max P, while Tennessee’s Lionel and Alex Sw also impressed with blazing runs to the finish line.  In the oldest Division, Nabil (Virginia) ran away from the pack to claim the podium’s top spot as the “fastest man in camp”.

After the Dash, each Division begun a rotation through their 6 activities for the day, with a midday break for lunch.  The morning vibe was electric, with fun-filled excitement at every venue.

In the afternoon, all gathered in front of the Rec Hall only to be “wowed” by the majestic drive that won it by Wisconsin’s Matthew R.  Off to another Songs & Cheers rehearsal (the boys have been practicing for 3 days) and some rest, before attacking the afternoon activities with refreshed energy.  It seemed unlikely on such a hot, steamy day, but the rousing school spirit continued to build for each team as the day went on, and the yelling and cheering, hugs and high fives were non-stop throughout.  Of course, it helped that the 90’ Skyleslide as well as Snow Cones were available to all participants as they moved in and around the various activities all afternoon.  The events were not only competitive, but most importantly as was heard all day, lots of fun.  Here’s a rundown:

The little guys (10U) favorite, Steal the Bacon, contested though in all 6 Divisions.  Clearly, the older guys really miss the game based on their enthusiastic play.  As in all the other contests, each “sport” was bracketed with a semifinal and final to determine the winners.

Blacktop Hoops felt like a Final Four in each Division, with highly competitive basketball action in 4 on 4 and 5 on 5 play.  Buoy Ball, another Skylemar favorite, had the boys competing on the Middle Diamond and Fred Pierce Field, and seemed to generate the most noise as runs were scored with each swing of the (buoy) bat.  There was a Gaga tourney, using both sandpits, and Volleyball too (Newcomb for the youngest group). Finally, World Cup Soccer provided some of the closest, most exciting matches of the day.  Best of all, each and every camper participated in all 6 events – now that’s really something!

When the daytime activities had ended, the score was so close that all 4 teams had a legitimate shot to win it all. Exactly 50% of the scoring remained for tonight’s Songs and Cheers, as everything thus far accounted for the other half.

The counselor team leaders have been writing original songs and cheers since late June when camp began, but that’s only a small part of how much they put into tonight’s performance.  They not only write the songs, but they have to somehow teach the words and tunes to their boys, all with just a few total hours of practice.  It’s a monumental task. The late-night hours of collaboration and creativity leading up to this night seem impossible – yet for 78 years, they get it done!

And they did it again.  Under a beautiful Maine sky, each collegiate team took the outdoor Rec Hall stage to perform five songs: Team Fight Song, Original Team Cheer, Camp Cheer, Old Camp Song, and an Original Camp Song.  The performances were a treat for all, and the spectators and entire Skylemar community responded with heartfelt applause and appreciation for what was presented. Each state university represented today would be proud of all the boys for a fantastic competitive atmosphere filled with teamwork, sportsmanship and fun.

And the 2025 Intercollegiate Day winner is …. the University of Tennessee Volunteers!

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 how to get it right.  Plus, they know how to keep a kitchen sparkling clean.  Just ask the Health Inspector who visited last week.  “Beautiful”, he said.

After decades of cooking for growing boys, there are a few things we know for sure.  For example, the way it looks, and the texture makes a big difference.  Always keep the sauce separate.  Have plenty of options.  Boys like to know what’s happening next, so Shep tells them the meals the night before. Quality definitely matters.

In fact, there’s lots that we do from a quality standpoint that our “food procurement consultants” say is “crazy” from a cost perspective.  For example, we crack our own eggs (900 for scrambled) and make homemade meatballs from scratch.  And ‘lots’ is what we prepare.  It costs $9,800 per day to feed the Skylemar family, and well worth it too.

We’re excited to share some great news — this year the boys have eaten more vegetables and fruits than ever before.  We’re talking double!  In one afternoon the salad bar alone goes through a treasure chest-sized bin of a spring mix, romaine and iceberg lettuce combo, 110 cucumbers (most popular), 85 tomatoes, plus much more.

The Senior Staff serves the food, which gives 30 of us the chance to see each boy in one of four buffet lines, at least three times a day.  Abby and Bella are in charge of special diets and picky eaters.  They custom make meals for those with dietary restrictions in a way that makes them feel just like anyone else.  They’re also great at coming up with an agreeable option for those with limited “likes”.

There’s definitely something for everyone in the buffet lines.  If you don’t like the main entrée there’s pasta, with sauce and parmesan cheese on the side.  Just about all of our boys like pasta with butter, with many adding some parm.  Only a few take the sauce, notes this pasta-server.  We make 40 pounds as a side dish, and 100 pounds for a full meal.  Bowties, penne and spirals leave spaghetti in the dust….

180 WB&J’s, cut into triangles, get made in a day.  That’s Wow Butters & Jelly, since we do our best to be peanut-free.  Our panel of experts determined that when it came to taste, texture and appearance, Wow Butter beat SunButter hands down.   Plus the name is really fun to say.

Mexican is our most popular category:  tacos, burritos, quesadillas and Skypotle.  Italian comes next, as in pasta, lasagna and pizza.  Asian is third, with chicken lo mein, egg rolls and beef with broccoli the highlights.  Then there’s good old American, with chicken tenders, steak subs and grilled cheese right at the top.

In addition to all the old favorites, newcomers to the menu these past few years are “Bowls”, which are super popular.  There’s Teriyaki, Asian and KFC.  It’s a big black bowl that you fill yourself.  Ingredients for Teriyaki bowls include rice, chicken/steak, edamame, carrots, broccoli, cabbage and wonton crisps.  The Asian bowl has lo mein noodles and broth, plus the add-ons above.  KFC bowls are Thanksgiving dinner (21 turkeys) leftovers – roast turkey, real mashed potatoes and gravy.

Caesar Salad is always a hit, and we go through a huge quantity.  It takes 72 heads.  Here’s the secret recipe to try at home :  Toss romaine in garlic powder — add Ken’s Pepper Parmesan dressing (not Caesar) — toss again — add parmesan cheese — add homemade croutons…. and toss again.

Jr’s grilled chicken is always perfect, every time.  Both kids and adults love it because it’s plain yet flavorful, and never too dry.  First, a chicken breast is cut horizontally… then in half, and pounded just a bit.  It’s marinated overnight in Ken’s Italian. Each piece is grilled just until charred, and then into the warmer it goes (which would be the same as an oven with a pan of water in the bottom) at 100 degrees for 2 hours. This process makes it juuuust right!

MPD (most popular dinner) goes to Wing Night.  They come in two flavors of buffalo: “hot” or “not” —  600 pounds for just one meal.

Lots more secrets to share when it comes to feeding our amazing boys, so you’ll have to stay tuned.  Thank you, Kitchen Staff!

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 of Bunk 24.  Eli D, Jake P, Ignacio L of Bunk 26, and Iggy, Leopold and Marc T of Bunk 27 and Yago of Bunk 28

As usual, the Clinics Commercials were lots of fun to watch.  The counselors really try hard to put on a show that makes everyone laugh, and hopefully entices campers to sign up for their Clinic.  Today we kicked off:  Long Rope Skiing, Farm-to-Table Skydeck (today they picked basil and tomatoes and made Caprese salad), Wimbledon Tennis, Reading Road Trip (when you read in lots of different places), Props & Scenery for “Finding Nemo”, Football Plays, Splish Splash at the Waterfront, Back2Back Lax Champ U15 Practice, Golf Under Pressure, Intercamp Take Down Baseball, Drop It Like Its Hot (as in things like watermelons. etc. from high up in the Ropes Course), Learn to Sail, Pass-Set-Spike Volleyball, Soccer Shooting, Robin Hood Archery, Cohesive Hoops and Strong Man Conditioning.

Leaving Sky for the day were the Freshmen who went on a day hike.  They headed over to Arethusa Falls in New Hampshire.  It was an uphill trek for 1.5 miles on a very balmy day, but well worth it when you got to the top.  Trip Leader Mitch said the guys were amazing and stayed together as one group the whole time.  No complaints up or down.

Intercamp Tennis here at Sky and Soccer game away. Meanwhile, the first two foursome’s of the year headed to Bridgton Golf & Country Club.

Also “intercamp”, but definitely not a game, was the social with a nearby girls camp for the Seniors.  For the younger guys here, it was Rock Gardening at Chilltop, where they painted a special rock for the garden in front of their cabin.  Way to go, guys!

“I said a boom chicka boom”, goes the favorite Campfire Song!  It was a super great night at the Ring of Champions.  DT’s “Burrito Song” was a huge hit, and Myke did a dramatic reading of a Drake song.  We sang “Country Roads” with Cory on the guitar.  The audience chanted “Aroostisha! Aroostisha!” so counselor Eli had to perform a reprise of last week’s song.  It’s a good one, for sure.  Adventure Man taught us all how to build a shelter with garbage bags.

Bunks 1 & 2 did an adorable skit called “Invisible Bench”.  Sammy J came out, and squatted like he’s sitting.  Ethan said, “Hey, Sammy!  What are you doing?”.  “I’m sitting on an invisible bench.  Come join me!”, Sammy urges, and Ethan squatted next to him.  The rest of them came out one at a time, reciting the same lines, and squatted next to the others.  Alfie followed with the punchline, “They moved that bench last week!”, and all fell down.  That’s our kind of humor!