B Session Opening Day, June 17th

Dear Parents and Friends,

Opening Day for B Session was the best.  Beautiful weather, great kids and smooth arrivals.  Hope you all had a safe trip home.  As I write I’m sure most everyone is snuggled down in their camp beds after a very full day filled the anticipation of returning to camp or coming for the first time.  Gwynn Valley makes everyone feel welcome no matter your experience.  Dinner was the usual opening day meal of mac and cheese, fruit, salad, and fresh bread.  To top it off we had a giant cookie with their cabin name in written in icing.  I think all the cabins had the same.

Mountainside had their closing ceremony tonight and Anne and I attended to honor them and their time at GV.  Many of those campers had been in the program for as many as 7 years.  What a great crew up on Mountainside and also a great staff.  Hat’s off to the staff for putting together such a great session.

All activities in Main Camp were running full steam ahead today complete with all the camp having their swim assessments.  It takes a while to get through all those but it’s worth it and allows us to determine which campers need some help with their strokes.  We also held activity skits after lunch to help campers decide what they wanted to take over the days ahead for their morning activities.  This too is very important because there is so much offered in the morning and in the afternoon.  Cabins were introduced at campfire tonight via Cabin skits which are always great.

As morning activities kick off tomorrow know that your children are learning and “living the GV dream” as one camper said.  Camp takes children to a new level of community life that even school and family can’t always imitate.  Campers have a chance to make choices and become independent in their life with us.  It creates a sense of confidence and self.  Camp also offers a sense of belonging to something that is greater than oneself where we still practice the GV values of simplicity, acceptance, and a strong connection to the natural world.  We’re looking forward to a session of the simple joys of childhood for the days ahead.  Stay tuned!