Started the morning with a Breakfast Ride! Every Sunday some Birchmont horseback riders wake up before the bugle call and take in that unique perspective to see the camp rise and shine, led by Martine Howes, Head of Riding.  It’s so nice for us to see our horses walking across the fields in the stillness of the early morning before breakfast.

On Option Sunday, we all enjoy late reveille, followed by a full camp assembly at Quiet Hour,  a long standing tradition where Greg gathers the camp to speak of the richness of camping life and the opportunities to try new things and set new goals. Big Cabin Inspection begins, and it’s actually more fun than it sounds…Big Inspection is a weekly Sunday ritual where each bunk is judged on general neatness and organization. The winners for the week in each group are awarded prizes and announced in the Dining Hall to much fanfare and applause. We don’t expect that every young camper will begin the summer with 193the living skills of making their bed, and folding their towels, but learning with friends makes for the best lessons. It never ceases to amaze me that the perennial traditions at camp can gain a new spin every year. This summer campers took to upping the ante with some adorable antics in girls camp; as wildflower arrangements were put out on cabin stoops and campers tried to impress supervisors with original cabin songs and even a violin serenade.  Boys camp made welcome signs for Greg Pierce and Scott Shallcross of twigs, rocks and pine cones, just outside their screen doors. All cabins passed with flying colors!

All afternoon, we enjoyed the waterfront, played tennis, munched on canteen, and begun auditions for our musical production,” Mathilda”.  Our youngest campers, the Pioneers have all gotten out tubing on the lake on an absolutely gorgeous NH day of sunshine and clear skies. Dinner was delicious, an outdoor Barbque with marinated steak tips, rice, homemade tabbouleh and portobello mushroom caps with feta crumbles and fresh parsley.

And then off to our first DJ Social of the summer. As I write, that quintessential feel good song by Pharell Williams plays out over the fields,  and campers are shaking our Lodge like a room without a roof, because we’re HAPPY !  We are having a great Sunday, and hope you are too. Next week we begin our trip program, overnight camp outs, and gear up for Spirit Day at the end of the week. Looking at a great week ahead!!