Week three is actually sort of week 3.5 into four since we started on a Wednesday and are finishing up Session One now. And what an amazing week it’s been!
The week began with one of our biggest events of the entire summer – Green & White. G&W is our version of color war – a three-day, all-out, team-v.-team competition where the campers compete in a variety of sports, team challenges, sing-offs, and more until there’s one final winner at the end. Once you’re on team Green or White, you’re on it for life, so every returning camper is either looking to repeat last summer’s victory or turn last year’s loss into this year’s win. The first competition, which took place during G&W breakout, had Green in the lead.
The next day entailed morning-to-night competitions including the “Flag Find”, Countdown – which are one-minute interval games of volleyball, basketball, ultimate frisbee, soccer, and hockey- and “Program”—where each team has to write and perform original songs and skits build mini golf holes, create their own puzzle, and more creative competitions. We had beautiful weather for day three of events, which included the famous synchronized swimming & belly flop contests, the head coach tug of boat, multiple rounds of Sudden Death, which are games and sports that require just a single point to win, Human Centipede—where the whole team has to make a chain and navigate through a maze, and the “Royal Rumble” Dodgeball game.
The evening began with the program finales, which required both teams to present short films and Instagram reels for judging; then we all went to the sand-covered volleyball courts for the signature moment of Green & White – the Rope Burn. This event centers around our oldest campers, the Senecas, in a tradition they’ve watched, planned, and dreamed about for years. The White Team went into the Rope Burn with a three-minute lead, which meant Green team would have to burn their rope first, and it would have to be 3:28 minutes before White team’s rope burns.
Both teams built immaculate fires directly under the center of their rope. The Senecas worked their hearts out, and the fires stayed neck and neck until White eventually burned their rope first in one of the closest competitions we’ve seen in years. 30 seconds later, the Green team’s rope fell. As White team declared victory, they ran to “the rock” and painted it White for the 2nd year in a row in celebration.
While the campers were tired in the days after Green & White, they weren’t too tired for more fun, play and competition. We held the All-Star baseball game, which featured The Pink Saturdays vs. the Beautiful Sundays. Various sports enthusiasts competed in tournaments including flag football and co-ed pickleball. And one of our evening activities included our annual USA VS CANADA floor hockey game. Trip day took place Thursday, and everyone had a great time heading out for some off-campus fun. LSR and USR went to SIX FLAGS and TJC went to Brownstone waterpark, which was perfect for the humid weather.
On Friday, we held our very own World Cup event – an all-star soccer game featuring England vs. Scotland. Friday night’s huddle was an exciting time to honor returning campers with legacy gifts, including three-year shorts, five-year windbreakers, and eight-year varsity jackets.
We ended the week with a lovefest-filled visiting day, where we welcomed families from far and wide. Even the rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of campers seeing their parents and siblings—and vice versa. We love welcoming all of the families to join their kids playing tennis, trying their hand at Tramp Ball, kayaking on the lake, tackling the ropes course, and more. As we said goodbye to families, we held our annual shaving cream party!
The time has come to say goodbye to our first session campers, and get ready to welcome in our second session campers. Boy, are we fortunate to get to welcome so many campers and staff each summer into our extraordinary community. Stay tuned for next week. That’s it for Week Three/Four.
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