Week one of Summer 2026 at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac is officially in the books! And what an outstanding week it was. The kids settled in quickly and got right to all of their new and returning camp favorites. The weather got HOT, but we cooled off in the lake and pool, and our traditions kicked off with enthusiasm. After campers arrived from near and far, they met their counselors and fellow campers, toured their bunks, and settled in, while returning campers excitedly greeted old friends and staff. The boys were introduced to their separate campuses, which are divided into three age groups – TJC (Juniors), LSR (Lower Seniors), and USR (Upper Seniors). Each campus offers its own distinct area for kids to play with their age group, including games like basketball, pickleball, Spikeball, Gaga, and more. To see a specific age group and bunk breakdown, feel free to check out our Campus Cheat Sheet.
Evening activity was our first weekly “Huddle” and Opening Ceremonies. Campers and staff gathered around the bonfire overlooking our lake, Stockbridge Bowl, welcomed one another to camp, and talked about our values. The Senecas sent paper lanterns into the air to kick off the beginning of summer. Then we proceeded to the field house to welcome all new campers and staff in a BIG high five line. Together we chanted our oath, watched the Mah-Kee-Nac 2026 welcome video, and ended the night with a big dance party complete with confetti in the field house.
The next couple of days were filled with regularly scheduled activities. The campers got to learn the flow of camp and try out the activities they’d selected for that week, which alternate every other day and switch each week. They spread out across the waterfront, enjoying fishing, boating, paddleboarding, swimming, Watermelon (a wall ball game they love), tennis, soccer, and, of course, the MKN favorite – Tramp Ball, like newcombe and four-square on trampolines. They also enjoyed cooling off on the “Slide and Swims”—our large inflatable water features scattered across the lakefront. We also held our first “Polar Bear Plunge,” campers and staff woke up early to jump in the brisk lake!
After a few days of settling in, we held our first “Founder’s Cup” event. The Founder’s Cup is a one-day all-camp competition. Every camper is placed on one of four teams: Lilley, Kruger, Rudolph, or Metzger. After the boys were sorted onto their teams, they played Behind Enemy Lines (Capture the Flag), completed an obstacle course for time, and competed in a four-way soccer and frisbee tournament. After a break for dinner, they were back at it for evening the evening finale, competing in a “Whatever It Takes” relay—a 20-step team challenge. The big winners of our 2026 Founders Cup were Team Lilley!
The following day, we had our first round of sports tournaments, which are optional, open to all who are interested and dedicated, and held both at our camp and neighboring camps. The first round included two basketball tournaments, a tennis tournament, and a baseball game. The campers (and staff) loved the competition, as always – and we took first place in the tennis tournament.
That evening brought another big annual event: the official Green & White Sorting. Green & White is our yearly color war, which takes place towards the end of Session One, and the sorting is a big deal because, once you’re sorted onto a team, you’re on it for life. The fanfare started with the Senecas (our oldest campers) walking onto campus in full body paint, carrying their team flags, and surrounded by bagpipe players. Everyone entered the field house, where lights and music amped up the energy. Each new camper stepped up one at a time to be “sorted” (à la Harry Potter) by their new team and welcomed with loud cheers from their teammates.
The week ended with a morning marathon (2.6 miles around camp) for SCOPE, an organization that provides children from under-resourced communities access to ACA-accredited non-profit overnight camps. MKN partners with SCOPE every year, and the funds we raise help kids build confidence, friendships, independence, and skills. It’s great for our campers to see the importance of giving back, and we love how enthusiastic they are about contributing to a good cause! You can support SCOPE using MKN’s special link.
That’s it for Week One. Don’t forget, you can get MKN news every day on MKN Today. Be sure to create an account and see/read all the daily happenings at camp!