A High Pressure Overhead Brings the Best of the Best!

Dear Parents and Friends,

We’ve had an unbelievable weather day here today.  I woke up early this morning to come shoot some footage of our view because it was so clear.  All day long it’s been crystal blue sky and a breeze blowing throughout.  We’re under a big high pressure that’s going to be around for a few days and boy does it make a difference.  We lost the humidity that we usually have this time of year and traded it for cool sunny weather.  It will likely get down to around 57 here tonight and that’s chilly on the normal summer scale.  Good sleeping weather and we have several cabins who are camping out tonight. Campouts are good bonding times for cabins as they get away from the hustle and bustle of Main Camp and Downtown GV to go to the edges of camp, cook out over an open fire and then sleep in a shelter even closer to nature.  That sleeping bag you parents packed will come in handy tonight even for those who will be snuggled away in their cabins.  We have had a beautiful and action packed day here in the Valley!

I spent some time with Riverside today getting them ready for the river and their next trip out on Monday.  We were refining and fine tuning strokes and their understanding of what to use when and muscle memory to the point that it’s almost automatic.  After an hour and a half of drills we got everyone on the dock and did the GV Plunge.  Ask your Riversider about the “Plunge”.  It’s a fun water thing I’ve done with campers for years.  They also learned the Groucho Marx which is an interesting way to get back into your boat by doing a backward flip while in the water.

After breakfast, we began the last morning of B-Day Discoveries on Main Camp. For campers, this means a day of wrapping up projects and polishing skills in half of the discoveries they have chosen for the session. For some program areas, the lesson was totally wrapped up today. For example, weavers took their finished projects off the loom and tied them off, potters were working on glazing their wares and most craft projects were coming to fruition.  Those who are part of the Fine Arts production will share their hard work with the rest of camp next week. For those who are in outdoor adventure Discoveries such as biking, climbing, white water kayaks, and camping skills and nature, there will be off camp trip opportunities all next week.

I spent some time this morning in various activities including weaving, arborist climbing, bookmaking, pottery, the Mill, mountain biking and kayaking.  You will notice from the pics that our sports group was playing touch rugby.  That’s something of an influence from our international staff and all the good things they bring to the table each summer.  It’s always good to be out in program in the thick of it.  I usually am carrying a video camera which helps me into the fold.  Everyone wants to be on GVTV.

It’s been another great day here at GV.  Brookside visited with Mountainside tonight to ask questions about the MS program.  When Riverside and Mountainside are with us camp it’s like one big family.  It’s nice to have our older campers be seen and share some of the neat programing that happens in their realm.  Our outdoor world is where nature is available 24/7 is there to surprise, delight and investigate.  Stated in a recent Patagonia catalogue, “The world often expects children to put aside childish ways in favor of preparing for the future.”  Here at camp we know that playing outside is an important element in preparing children for the future.  We as adults should play outside more often as well.  Hope you got some play time in today.  Tomorrow is another day of opportunity.  Stay tuned!