Skylemar Blog

Relationship building, communication and trust.  That’s what a Challenge Course period is really all about.

Director Dave and his dedicated Challenge Course team kick things off with a creative icebreaker activity on the Snow Field.  Then it’s into the woods for the low and high elements.

The low elements consist of cables between trees, assorted obstacles, swinging ropes and balancing platforms.  Each is designed as a challenge for both the group and the individual.  For example, take the Nitro Crossing.  For this activity the group must strategize a way to retrieve a rope using a foot loop, and then they have to get the entire group and a can of water (the “nitro”) over to the other side without spilling.  Bunk 20 had a unique plan.  They decided to take off their shirts and tie them together in a way to help them to achieve the goal.  Of course the shirts ended up wrinkly, but they made it to the other side.

The high elements involve the use of harnesses, helmets, belay gear and supportive teams on the ground.  It takes tremendous courage and will power to climb the tree to the zip line, scale the inclined log or to leap across the multi-line traverse.  The Challenge Course is a good place to take a safe chance, especially when friends and staff are guiding and encouraging.

Each participant is given specific responsibilities at the Course.  There are numerous safety procedures in place, both on the ground and in the trees.  It typically requires a staff of seven to execute the activity, and usually it’s just a couple of bunks there at a time.

The final wrap-up on the ground includes a debriefing discussion.  The guys talk about what worked and what didn’t, and they “spotlight” each other with positive praise.  If you didn’t try climbing today, there’s always tomorrow!

Tonight’s Evening Activity was the Divisional Parties.  That’s when each group goes to a different part of camp for pizza and a movie.  The luckiest were the Tigers.  They got to be in the Counselor Barn.

Heard this today: 

“My mom can’t talk until she has coffee.” 

We understand.

Going away from home for the very first time is an enormous step.  It’s a giant leap of faith that many don’t take until they’re at least 18.  Don’t mean to rush things, but Skylemar guys are ready for college.

Of course you’ve done all the prep work, but it’s amazing to see what a boy can accomplish all by himself.  He adapts to sharing a bedroom with a room full of brothers, makes his bed daily and even figures out how to clean a sink.  He keeps track of his own things (well, sort of…) and learns to survive without yelling, “Mommm!…or…Daaaad!  Where’s my soccer jersey?”  Instead he just wears a lacrosse jersey.

On Trickey Pond there’s plenty to do for the very first time that makes you feel better than ever before.  For some, it’s the first time swimming in a lake. It’s reassuring to see how clear the water is and to feel the sandy smooth bottom.   Learning to sail and getting up waterskiing has life-long impact, and proves the theory that if you try, you will succeed.

There are quite a few first times here which the boys remember well into adulthood.  Hitting a home run over the Fred Pierce Fence is a rite of passage, and many alums return to keep trying.  Same with a bullseye on the archery range.  The sweet sound of the arrow smacking into the gold center of the target is never forgotten.

When it comes to food, there are lots of chances.  There are new ones to try and plenty of choices to make.  For example, tonight’s menu board read “Pot Roast” as the dinner entrée.  Although we New Englander’s didn’t give that a second thought, a surprising number of kids asked, “what’s pot roast?”  Even more surprising was the number of guys who tried it for the first time and said, “it’s amazing”.  The post-meal discussion determined it was really just brisket or roast beef, depending on where you’re from.

The most powerful firsts involve settling an argument, standing up for what’s right and figuring out that the secret to happiness involves doing for others.  It’s all in an average day here at Skylemar, where everything is anything but average.

Big announcement from Barnicus, the Warrior of Clean … this morning.  It’s GACU!

That stands for Great American Clean Up.  Each Division gets a period devoted to the “cleanliness trifecta”.  This includes a health check-in at the Infirmary, showering/laundry-put-away at the cabin, and a visit to The Spa.

Funny how word gets around.  We once had a prospective parent on the phone who asked if it was really true that we had a spa at Skylemar.  She thought maybe we were too fancy…

Our “spa” is just a way of getting it done.  Gotta clip those nails and scrub those flip-flop feet.  Might as well do that with a little Zen music and cucumber slices on the eye lids to make it fun.  At the Infirmary, our phenomenal nurses take temps, do lice checks, and give reminders about looking out for ticks and brushing teeth.

It was also a League Day for many of the Divisions.  That’s when you play competitively for a double period within your age group.  Cubs and Stars had League Football; Tigers and Seniors had Hoops.  The other groups have theirs tomorrow.

After a full day of exhausting outdoor activity, relaxing on the lawn for Spirit Night was welcome.  Spirit Night is a time of appreciation and gratitude, that includes traditional readings, lessons to learn from, camp songs and popsicles.  Our leaders were from Bunk 18.

Here’s the structure of this Skylemar tradition:  First we sing “We Meet Again in Gladness”, and then there’s a poem that touches on a positive theme.  We light a candle (kinda – it’s battery operated) and the responsive reading goes like this –

We light this candle in fellowship with our friends

We light this candle with love for our families

We light this candle in gratitude for all those who have helped us

We light this candle in the hope of peace, kindness and compassion

We light this candle to reach out to those in need

We light this candle for those who are not here now.

We light this candle to see within and brighten our days ahead.

Next, we recite the Prayer for Our Country and sing a patriotic song.  Shep reads aloud on a topic that resonates with all.  For example, he taught us about Hank Aaron, and shared an impactful quote.  Aaron said, “The best will always hit their pitch.”

Counselor Ryan gave the sermonette.  He explained that sports do not define us.  They can drive us to be better but should never drive us apart.  He spoke about the difference between “kindness” and “nice”.  Kindness goes deeper.  It’s when you’re nice all the time, even when nobody’s looking.  Ryan challenged us to be who we want to be.  That’s not just in sports, but as an all-around Skylemar family.

Two of our kindest received the Cool2Care Chain this evening.  Congratulations to Andrew B (Bunk 30) and Max Baum (Bunk 10) for being shining examples of the type of people we should all hope to be.

If food is the key to a man’s heart, then that explains why so many nice guys are at Camp Skylemar.  Ours is delish, and there’s plenty of it.

Lucky for us, we have the greatest kitchen staff in the entire world.  Jr, Benjamin, Carlos, Superman, Byron, Adolfo, Fabrizio, Luis, Cesar, Sherri, Lily, David and Blake.  Between them there’s over 70 summers worth of Skylemar experience.  This all-star team knows exactly how to make people happy, and their “whatever it takes” work ethic is second to none.

For this talented crew, it’s Thanksgiving-style cooking for a family of 400 every day.  Three times a day, that is.   They understand that life here revolves around three essentials:  breakfast, lunch and dinner.   Every meal has to be tasty, abundant and somehow pleasing for all.

The quantities are staggering.  600 pounds of wings served for dinner tonight, along with 40 pounds of pasta.  900 burgers grilled yesterday, and 21 turkeys (with 150 pounds of mashed potatoes) the night before.

For breakfast, 720 eggs are cracked and scrambled, over a thousand pancakes flipped and 48 cantaloupes sliced.  After taste testing a number of peanut butter substitutes, we decided on “WowButter” – and go through over 30 pounds per day.  A dollop goes great in oatmeal too, along with raisins, granola and just a touch of brown sugar.

Our double salad bar, served twice daily, takes several people to make possible.  36 heads of lettuce need to be washed and torn, 42 cucumbers peeled and sliced, plus green peppers, tomatoes, and a rotation of other fresh toppings.  Junior’s yummy croutons are a favorite.  They’re made from leftover grilled cheese sandwiches.

Food prep begins weeks before the kids arrive.  Knowing that supply chain issues were predicted, Kitchen Manager Blake Shep, under the tutelage of Rich Snow (our retired food service and maintenance director), created a warehouse of dry and canned goods, so we’d never run out.  Freezers were stocked, and the crew spent days making 12,000 meatballs to cover the season.

A meal is built around what the kids typically like, like tacos, chicken tenders, pizza etc.  Then we add options like vegetables, side dishes, soup, sliced turkey, WB&J (wowbutter & jelly), fruit, yogurt, and PASTA.  40 pounds at lunch and dinner, so even the pickiest eaters have something they like.  The kids love to select exactly what they want from the giant buffet, and it takes 19 non-bunk staff members to serve the four lines.  Thanks to our new outdoor Dining Pavilion, we can use the Rec Hall just for service.

The importance of good food has been a constant at Skylemar since 1948, and we’ve always had a number of finicky eaters.  However, what has changed in recent years is the number of allergies and food intolerances.  This year we have a staggering 83 boys who need labels checked and special attention. We’re grateful to have Lily, a registered dietician, (and a beautiful person, inside and out) managing this.  Each meal or snack becomes a puzzle, and many entrees must be hand-cooked.  She does this all with love, doing her best to make life a little bit easier for those who need her assistance.  In fact, today she bought out a grocery store of gluten-free dino nuggets, knowing this would bring a smile to a handful of kids.

So…if you’re tempted to send a care package, hold back.  If he says, “send me candy”, be strong.  We promise that his plate overflows, and he enjoys plenty of treats.  After all, tonight was Movie Night, and a good concession stand makes the show.

Today, like every day, we celebrated.  Sure, it was the nation’s birthday.  But most importantly, it was a great day to be us.

Shep announced it was a laundry day, and the crowd cheered wildly.  Bet that doesn’t happen at home.  As far as the kids are concerned, it’s a magical system.  The dirty clothes come out of the bongos and into special bags with an opening at the top as well as zipper on the front.  The bags disappear and then two days later miraculously reappear inside the cabin.  You open the bag by the zipper and inside are perfectly folded clean clothes that you simply unpack like a suitcase and put away.  Definitely something to celebrate!

This time we outsmarted the weather.  Barney and Cory prepared three schedules:  one for a washout, one for just the courts being wet, and one if all was playable.  Each was needed, depending on the time of day.

After inspection, which went a little longer because of sheets needing to be changed, the weather turned nasty.  Time to pull out Schedule #1:  Movie morning!  Each Division watched in a different location.  The group in the Pavilion cuddled snuggly in blankets.  The air was almost winter-like, so a snack of chicken noodle soup was perfect.

By afternoon the rain had kinda sorta stopped.  It felt great to run around and play sports, even though we had to hold on basketball, hockey and tennis (Schedule #2).  After three days of rain, playing outside was something to celebrate.

Dinner went a bit longer because of a downpour, but Mitch kept us happy by turning on the tunes.  Of course we sing camp songs here, but there’s something about certain songs that gets everyone singing at the top of their lungs.  Those include (for some unknown reason) “Party in the USA” and “Sweet Caroline”.  They love the “da-da-da” part.

The clouds finally moved out, and we could actually have our regular 7th period (Schedule #3).  Seniors and Stars chose between hockey, Gamblin’ (fitness) and Archery.  Juniors had either Basketball, Volleyball or Chill Top.  Sophomores picked from Lacrosse, Baseball or Yellowhorn.  Freshmen had Football, Golf or Mini Golf.  Tigers headed to Soccer, Spikeball or Gaga, and the Cubs had Tennis, Ping Pong or Chess.

Evening Activity was the highlight.  We brought the entire camp down to the waterfront, because a friend from across the lake was putting on a top-notch fireworks show.  Shep placed each Division in their own “viewing area”.  The youngest cabins watched from inside of a motorboat, so there was no place to wander.

The fireworks over Trickey were amazing, but best of all, the show was here on our docks and beach.  The entire Skylemar family was gathered, which made us feel relaxed, protected and carefree.  Now, that’s a cause for celebration!

The Skylemar Talent Show is far more important than entertainment. For those who perform, it’s about taking a safe chance, being willing to make yourself vulnerable, and building confidence.  For those in the audience, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate Skylemar warmth and brotherhood.  At the Skylemar Talent Show, we are united as a powerful force of joy.

The weather was downright cold.  We thought about having everyone bring sleeping bags and using the outdoor stage and front lawn as usual for the show.  The damp drizzle put the kibosh on that plan, so instead we chose the most loved building at Skylemar…the Rec Hall.

All wore face masks, since only half of Skylemar is vaccinated.  Nevertheless, there was something about being in this 100 year-old building together that made the vibe just right.  Cubs in the front…through to the Stars in the back.  These “old men” of Skylemar (age 15) set the respectful and supportive tone.  Tonight they did not disappoint.

You see some who perform have talent, and some not so much.  Some are bold, while others are timid.  Some acts are silly, and the audience isn’t sure what’s going on.  It’s the self-proclaimed tradition of our oldest campers to make sure the audience is “shushed”, and no matter the act, each is cheered, and they make the performer feel extra great.  Their love waves are contagious, and we all feel the sense of pride that a parent does when their kid is on stage.

Dylan J (Bunk 16) bravely kicked off the night with some excellent breakdancing.  Dash H (B1) played the piano.  Two fingers! Spencer B and Cooper F (B9) did a dunk shot routine; Jack L (B13) recited the digits of pi and Bode (B14) did a standup comedy routine.

Thomas L (B8), Oscar LR (B9), Jordan G (B9), Bronner (B8) and Balty (B5) each did magic tricks.  Ryder (B14) even built a special box to make himself disappear.  The audience loves when a magician asks for a volunteer.  “Meeeeeee!” they all cry, with hands in the air.

Zayne M (B24) wrote and performed an awesome rap about Skylemar.  Coop E (B8) played an original song on the piano that he composed.  Nate C (B20) rolled around inside a bongo-bag.  Amir (B7) did some impressive yo-yo tricks.  Eli D and Jake P (B8) sang some kind of really high-pitched song and Bob (B21) did his annual “Bobservations” (i.e.  “There are 5 doors in this building”).

Jagger (B5) said into the mic, “Hey, guys, I’m gonna paint with my eyes closed.”  But he forgot to tell Suzie that he needed a canvas before the show, so she had to come up with something quick.  A white board and dry erase marker did the trick.  Eli W (B1) did a rubber band trick with his fingers, and Dash L (B3) told some jokes.  Luca F (B5) spoke Spanish.  Xander E and Aidan R (B17) did an “improv”.  Theo and Jake (B10) were all-stars with the diabolo and devil sticks.  There were a few other hard-to-explain silly skit-type things as well.

Ethan V (B2) had some nice dance moves.  Bunk 6 really had their act together with a dance to “Hey Ya” … even the counselors joined in!  Who knew that Hayes (B5) could tap dance so well?  We all knew that Kyle (B21) and T.I. (B17) could dance, and they proved it to “Uptown Funk”.

The crowd was patient and encouraging.  Lots of laughter, cheers and standing ovations.  All participants got to grab a surprise from the special “laundry bag of prizes”.  Those lucky enough to win got the most coveted gift of all:  a Skylemar staff shirt that’s way too big!

Mother Nature pulled a fast one and turned down the thermostat.  We went from shorts and t-shirts to sleeping in sweats.   Today was rainy, blustery, and about 60 degrees.

We have plenty of large indoor facilities here at Skylemar.  But since we’re cohorting by Division, we do our best at creating a Rainy Day Schedule with only one age group inside each building at a time.  That means we get creative with spaces and have activities where you might not expect.

There was Flamingo Bingo in the Rec Hall.  It’s the traditional game with a Skylemar twist.  When the winner shouts “FLAMINGO BINGO!” the JC’s magically run through the crowd, wearing crazy costumes and banging noisemakers.  It’s one of those things you just have to see.

The winner then picks a stunt card, along with a counselor to perform.  If the counselor completes the stunt (which he always does), the whole bunk gets a prize.  For example, counselors had to make a wowbutter & jelly sandwich wearing a blindfold, act out the words to the song “Taps”, pretend they were a ninja warrior, do 30 pushups and burp 5 times in 30 seconds or less.  When counselor Murph successfully pushed a ping-pong ball across the floor with his nose, the entire Bunk 8 jumped into his arms.

Meanwhile, others were at Chill Top making ping pong paddles.  There was Dodge Ball at The Gym, and Suzie’s Famous Trivia under the Pavilion.  One group was at the Chess Tent, while another was at WSKY Media learning about photography and video.  Those at The Lodge played pool, foosball, ping pong and more.

Campers got to dress up in outrageous costumes at the Photo Shoot in the Garden Cabin.  Those at the Chocolate Factory made yummy treats for themselves, as well as for the older cabin of their choice.  The Basement Party was a blast with Lego, bowling, assorted games and surprises.

Evening Activity was Situations.  That’s when each cabin gets a scenario, and they need to act it out.  For example, Bunks 1-6 found gold in the bottom of Trickey Pond.  They had to show how they’d retrieve it and what they’d spend it on.  Bunks 7-9 had to figure out a way to steal the recipe for Chef Jr’s Secret Sauce.  Bunks 10-14 made a commercial for the world’s best Cabin Insurance.  Bunks 15-19 had to come up with a wacky sport for the next Olympics.

As for Bunks 15-30…they got to watch.  They were a great audience who cheered, laughed and encouraged, no matter how silly or untalented the performers were.  That’s a Skylemar tradition for the older guys.

Speaking of talent, we’re super excited for tomorrow night!

A surprise visitor came to lunch.  It was Slugger the Seadog!

Slugger’s the mascot for the Red Sox AA affiliate, the Portland Seadogs.  We typically bring the entire camp to a game around this time, but this year we’re staying put.  If we can’t get there, we’ll do our best to bring it on at Camp Skylemar.

It started with a dance-off between Slugger and some of our most talented counselors:  LT, Noah V, Zach, Glickman, Ashton and Esh.  Each dancer represented one of the counselor teams:  Otters, Ermines, Bobcats, Woodchucks, Lynx and Skunks.  The kids love cheering for their own counselors, and Shep comes up with lots of silly ways for the adults to compete.  In order for kids to have wholesome fun, the grownups have to as well.

After a full day of activities (lacrosse, tennis, soccer, golf, volleyball, hoops, baseball, challenge course, football, archery, hockey plus lots more), it was finally time for the big game.  The Hilltop Hippos vs the Doghouse Drip Dragons on Skylemar’s version of Hadlock Field.

The fans in “the stands” (campers on the hillside) whooped and hollered for their counselors and JC’s.  We marveled at the many home runs smacked over the fence as well as some spectacular fielding.  In between innings there were dizzy bat runs, inflatable pizza & flamingo challenges and a three-legged race.  The round-the-bases run for dogs Trixie and Cubbie was hysterical.  They’re sleeping now…

What’s the favorite snack to eat at a Skylemar Seadogs Game?  Sea Biscuits, of course.  Driver Kristen went to the actual ballpark in Portland to pick up 400 of the tasty treats.  It’s vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two cookies.  A Chipwhich, you might think?  Nope, not at all.  There’s something about the wrapper that makes this far more delicious.

As the game finished and all were in bed, the rain started falling.  Our hope is that the steady rhythm on the roof will bring about some much needed sleep.  We’re a tired bunch here in Naples, Maine.

Nico caught the first fish of his life in Trickey Pond!  Sconsett, Jared R, Holden and Tyler were awarded Gold Golf Balls!  Atticus said today’s birthday party was the “best he ever had!”  Wes K ran for the winning touchdown!

These are the kind of Skylemar moments you remember the rest of your life.  Most importantly, you never forget those who helped, those who were kind, and those who did the right thing.  Tonight we recognized two of those campers with the Cool2Care Chain.

Skylemar’s Cool2Care motto was introduced by Nick Shep to Skylemar back when he was a freshman on the Dickinson College lacrosse team.  He had one of those impactful moments during “captain’s practice” when he wasn’t putting forth his best effort.  Since the coach wasn’t there, he didn’t think it really mattered.  A senior (who later became a Skylemar Lacrosse Director) pulled him aside and said, “Hey, man…it’s cool to care!”  This message was passed on to Skylemar and has become part of our world every day.

We teach that it’s cool to care about others both at home and camp, and it’s cool to care about yourself by being your best.  It’s cool to care enough to standup for someone who’s being mistreated.  It’s cool to care about winning a game by trying your best, but never cool to be a sore loser.  It’s what you do because it’s right, and not because someone’s watching.

Every so often Nick recognizes one or two campers with the Cool2Care Chain.  Those who “wear the chain” (until passed on to another) have demonstrated numerous acts of kindness for the Skylemar community.  Tonight’s recipients were new camper Ethan F (Bunk 11) and veteran camper Syon (Bunk 28).  These two guys are a couple of our many Skylemar stars.

The heart is warmed a dozen times in any one Skylemar day.  Take this morning for example.  Thirteen year-old Harry H was enjoying the lake with a new friend, and they decided to race.  Harry, a skilled swimmer, swam beautifully and clearly out-performed the boy who had the idea for the challenge.   Ahead by half a length, Harry could have easily touched the dock on the other side and the race would have been over.  Instead, Harry flipped over mid-stroke and swam towards the friend.  He then flipped once more and adjusted his pace to that of his opponent.  Harry was still the victor in the end, but he made sure it was a respectable win.

Another heart-warmer was the Counselor Meeting held during Rest Hour.  We talk about what’s coming up in the days ahead, and re-visit important topics discussed during Staff Training Week (today’s topic was role modeling).  A counselor from each cabin gives a quick report about their kids.  He mentions any concerns and shares tips that all on the team should be aware of.

That’s the touching part.  Only three days in, and these never-before parents love their kids. They beam with pride as they talk about how well their boys are getting along (not realizing that it’s been less than 72 hours…).  They speak authoritatively to the others, explaining that one boy needs just a little more patience.  They teach each other the “tricks of the trade”.  For example, how do you make sure that your camper is wearing his retainer to sleep?  You shake the container.  What do you do if your camper wakes up before dawn just a little bit homesick?  According to Counselor Zach F, you take him to mini-golf.

It’s amazing how well the campers and staff are tolerating the heat wave.  Today’s schedule included sports played at half-speed, as well as less athletic activities like Cool Tools.  That’s when Bruce, a brilliant plastics engineer who’s here to inspire the boys, teaches them about hand tools for woodworking.

Drive-In Movie for Evening Activity.  The whole camp watched the giant screen from the Bunkline, relaxing on sleeping bags, under the stars.  Popcorn, candy and a couple hundred friends.  What could be better!

Hot stuff here at Skylemar.   96 steamy degrees during the day, and still a sticky 82 at bedtime.

Shep called it Minimal Speed Monday.    The morning schedule would go as planned, but sports were to be played at a slower pace.  We all carried water bottles, and the Sunscreen & Hydration Golf Cart was constantly on the go.

Morning Announcements included a “commercial” from Barnicus, the Warrior of Clean. It’s our Program Director Barney, who has a way of putting on a costume and making anything fun.  Even cleaning. Barnicus explained daily Inspection Perfection, which happens each morning from 9:15-10.  After breakfast everyone makes their bed, and then each cabinmate tackles a chore to keep the bunk organized and tidy.  Well let’s say tidy-as-can-be, with 9 or so people living in one room.  One guy has sweep, one has dustpan, one has trash and so on.  Don’t get excited…it’s one of those things they only do at camp.

Especially in this heat, we’re grateful for our newly built outdoor dining pavilion.  It’s an enormous 135’ long open-air structure that holds the entire camp sitting at 40 picnic tables.  The fresh Maine air flows right through, which makes it far more comfortable than being inside a building.  Best of all, the whole camp can gather here as one big family, without limitations.

By afternoon it was just too darn hot.  We changed the entire day’s plan to one that had more in the water, along with some relaxing activities.  Skylemar has two beach areas (The Waterfront and Sky Pines) used for swimming, non-motorized boating (sailing, kayaking, canoeing), fishing, snorkeling, waterskiing and wakeboarding.  When you weren’t in the water, there was Dog Treat Making, Archery, Lego Creations, Photography, Chill Top (arts & crafts), Chess, Ping Pong, Yellowhorn (outdoor science), Mini Golf and Yard Games.  The snow cone machine made its debut, and all enjoyed the unlimited flavors.

Tonight’s Scavenger Hunt was a huge hit.  There were six stations that the teams (two cabin groups from the same Division) rotated through.  Each had its own items to find, tasks to accomplish and quiz questions to answer.  For example, at Adam’s Skydeck station the team had to name five types of cheese, write a camp haiku, find something with a sticker on it as well as a piece of clothing with a button.  And of course, each teammate had to “drip” (hand sanitize) before moving on the next station.

Another hot one’s on the way.  Stay tuned for what’s in store.

No rooster required.  As the sun rises, out of the cabin they pour.  By 5 AM the basketballs were “babump babumping” and sets of little eyes eagerly peered into Shep’s “Lighthouse” window.  Counselors give up on the last hour of sleep, realizing that there’s just no way of holding back their family of super excited kids.  It’s the first day of camp!

George’s “Morning Show” airs at 8.  It’s an ESPN-style over-the-PA radio show, that keeps everyone up to date with the latest sports news.  Today’s edition was brought to you by Coop E, Nate R, Reed and Bronner.

Each day a different bunk has the honor of raising the flag, as we stand at attention for the National Anthem.  It’s one of the handful of minutes that the boys actually stay still.

A breakfast of Skylemar’s Famous French Toast Sticks, oatmeal, eggs, fruit and cereal goes well with the morning paper, aka “The Daily Schedule”.  The schedule is custom-made for each day by Barney, our Program Director.  It’s a precise blueprint for where each camper and counselor go at all times.  Who would have guessed we’ve been “contact tracing” for 70+ years.

There are seven periods in a day.  Five are assigned, and two are choice.  For example, Bunk 10 had tennis first period, and then the choice of Lacrosse, Steal the Bacon or Chilltop.  Next, they had Waterfront, followed by Soccer, Yellowhorn and Backwoods. After that was a choice of Football, Mini Golf or Bocce.  In between are three meals, Perfection Inspection and Power Shower Hour.   Sound tiring?  The day also includes Rest Hour.  But even then, they never rest.

The type of activity determines how many cabins attend.  For instance, Golf would be just one bunk, while Basketball would be several of the same age.  We refer to these age groups as “Divisions”.  You’ll soon receive a postcard from your son sharing his cabin number, which corresponds to these Divisions:

Cubs:  Bunks 1-6

Tigers:  Bunks 7-9

Freshmen:  Bunks 10-14

Sophomores:  Bunks 15-19

Juniors:  Bunks 20-24

Seniors:  Bunks 25-27

Stars:  Bunks 28-30

Ring of Champions Campfire was our Evening Activity.  It’s an all-camp event, with songs, hilarious skits and of course, s’mores.   Lots of fun for all ages.

Bring on tomorrow!  We can’t wait!

After a tightly-capped and shook-up year, it’s as if a soda bottle of joy exploded at Camp Skylemar.    The greatest guys in the whole wide world have arrived!

They came by plane, bus and car, ready for friendship-filled happy days.   Saying goodbye to those we love is emotional, so it was especially impressive to watch even our youngest bravely travel without a tear.

After the traditional meal of spaghetti and meatballs, everyone settled into their cabins.  Typically, a “household” is 5-8 boys, plus two or three counselors.  The older groups have more, since long-time friends who have been divided for so long yearned for togetherness.  It feels good to be home sweet home, at Camp Skylemar.

Staff Intros for Evening Activity.  It’s especially fun to hear the kids cheer with pride for their own counselors, whether they’ve known them for years or just a few hours.

As we sing each night, “day is done and all is well”.  Rest assured that your Skylemar star is safe in his bed, surrounded by friends and counselors who care.