An Amazing First Week of D Session!
The magic of Gwynn Valley has been alive and thriving, reaching new heights when we welcomed our D session campers this past Sunday! While a few storms rolled through—delaying swim assessments by two days—they didn’t damper the campers’ spirits. From trying brand-new activities to forming fast friendships, the energy and enthusiasm has been contagious. Now that we are well into the week, here are just a few of the exciting things we’ve been up to…
Tuesday, we celebrated our incredible staff from Ghana, Ireland, Colombia and Brazil during International Day! Campers woke up to a beautifully decorated Dining Hall, which was divided into four sections—each showcasing the unique culture, colors and traditions of one of the featured countries. The Brazil section, for example, was brought to life with vibrant displays of Amazon rainforest animals and plants. Each table included a country-themed fact sheet, along with plenty of stickers and temporary tattoos for campers to enjoy and learn from. At each meal, music by artists from the featured countries played over the speakers, creating an immersive atmosphere as campers enjoyed authentic dishes from around the world. For breakfast, we tasted arepas paisas from Colombia followed by feijoada from Brazil at lunch. In the afternoon, we enjoyed Irish mint milkshakes for a refreshing snack, and for dinner, we indulged in gobɛ from Ghana—finishing the day off with rich Irish chocolate pudding for dessert! But the fun didn’t stop there! After dinner in the dining hall, campers performed a traditional Ghanaian story about Anansi the spider. Then, our evening program featured three interactive stations where campers got a taste of the featured cultures in action. On the soccer field, we played Gaelic football; in the lodge our international staff taught campers how to Colombian Salsa and dance the Azonto from Ghana. We wrapped up the night with a Brazilian-themed trivia game, complete with fun prizes and new vocabulary. International Day was truly a celebration of culture and connection—one that brought everyone closer together and left us all inspired!
Our Mountainside campers have been eagerly preparing and deciding which adventure they want to embark on! Each day this week, they’ve set out on mini-adventures, getting a taste of what each full experience will be like. Now, the campers are patiently awaiting their turn to choose the adventure they’re most excited to attend! Mountainside has also played a program wide capture the flag, scoured camp for items on their Scavenger Hunt and will be going to the Farm tonight to help pick vegetables and visit the baby animals.
Today, Riverside returned from their four-day climbing adventure in Tennessee at Foster Falls. The weather treated them well and they enjoyed climbing rocks in the sunshine. We’re thrilled to have them back as they gear up for their paddling adventure starting this Sunday! Before they depart, Riverside will spend a few days paddling on the water and enjoying homecooked meals from our Dining Hall.
As D session continues to unfold, the spirit of Gwynn Valley shines brighter than ever. From the vibrant cultural celebrations of International Day to the thrilling mountain and riverside adventures, every camper is creating memories that will last a lifetime. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the session holds as we continue growing and exploring together!
-Kati Tanner, Communications Coordinator
