First Session

June 29/30

Wow! What a great stretch of weather. We have had two absolutely beautiful, 85 degree days. The campers have been out in full force, water skiing, sailing, swimming, tennis and field sports. We have been pushing the idea of staying hydrated and wearing sunblock. We are about as far away from Christmas as we can get, but Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer would be impressed with some of the red noses around here. Our nurse Kez scolds them all soundly before she hands them a bottle of aloe.

Last night we had scheduled Water Night, but a quick moving thunder and lightning cloud kept us on our toes and we hurried to change to indoor Horseraces. Every camper dresses up like a character and then race across a grid on the floor while a caller rolls some dice to tell them when they can move. Campers who “bet” on the winning horse get a little piece of candy as a prize.

Today, a group went out to an island that is visible from our dock and jump off a “cliff” into the water. The rock is about 10 feet above a deep spot in the river. Most campers are nervous to jump off at first, but after a few false starts, jump with a scream. 100% of the participants jumped, with the counselors being more nervous than the campers.

Tonight’s activity is Peter Pan Night. This activity starts during dinner, everyone has to come dressed as either a lost boy or a pirate. It also coincided with “meat night” where we have ribs, buffalo wings, and sausages. Pirates kept popping in during the meal and Peter Pan was dancing about, playing his flute. It was absolute chaos, but everyone was playing along with gusto. We will all be pooped by the time we return to our cabins at 9:00.

It has been an exciting week here at Chop Point! Sunday kicked off the Fourth of July weekend as all of the campers and counselors went on a day trip to Camden, Maine. We started by hiking Maiden Cliffs and having a chapel service on a mountain overlooking the town. The breathtaking view on top of the mountain made the hike well worth the trek. After a picnic- style lunch, we had the chance to explore Camden. The town sits on the ocean and with its narrow streets, tiny shops and sailboat filled harbor, it is picture perfect.  The campers spend their time shopping, hunting for the best ice-cream shop, playing Ultimate Frisbee in the park, and watching the sailboats pull into the harbor.

The Fourth of July was celebrated in all of the most fitting ways possible! We went to town in the morning to watch a parade and afterwards, an all-American lunch was waiting for us back at camp. Burgers with toppings of all kinds, fresh-cut fries, and watermelon made the perfect lunch. In the place of an evening activity, we went back into town to enjoy the carnival and watch a fireworks show over the Kennebec River. Does the Fourth of July get any better than that?

Not even three days later, another holiday was already upon us: Christmas in July! The campers left their shoes out on “Christmas Eve” and woke up to find candy spilling out the tops of their shoes!  The kitchen staff and Jean cooked an enormous Christmas feast. The evening activity included “reindeer-run” relay races and a contest to build the best gingerbread house. As we enter the last week of First Session, we look forward to a week of gorgeous weather and fun activities.

Yesterday was filled with unexpected surprises that make the best kind of days. After breakfast, a small group of girls went out to a local strawberry farm and spent their morning picking enough strawberries for the entire camp. They came back with heaping boxes of strawberries that were made into fresh strawberry shortcake for the evening dessert. The girls enjoyed picking the berries as much as we enjoyed our strawberry shortcake!

Later in the day, the afternoon sailors went down to the waterfront  to discover a complete lack of wind. The boats still went out and for a minute, it seemed they would lazily drift and paddle around for the hour.  Suddenly, a wet sponge was launched through the air towards another sailboat. Within seconds, every sailboat had entered an enormous water war with each other. Each boat was equipped with buckets, paddles for splashing, and sponges to toss at each other.

Not a single person was left dry.

Today, the wind has decided to return in full force, and the sailing looks great! The Quebec City trip is on their second day of sight-seeing, and the Allagash Canoeing trip has safely returned to camp. By the Fourth of July, all trips will be back at camp just in time to celebrate together.

As a long time Chop Point friend, Norm Friberg, used to say, “It is a BEAUTIFUL day on the Kennebec!” And it certainly is. First Session is in full swing as we are settling into our daily activities for the next three weeks. The First Session campers arrived this past Friday, and after moving into cabins, signing up for activities and trips, and playing a plethora of get-to-know-you games, it was finally time to settle into camp routine.

As activities are continually running at camp, the trips have also started leaving. Yesterday, a group went to Boothbay Harbor to go on a scenic, whale-watching boat tour . The campers came back last evening with enthusiastic reports of the four whales they spotted. Much to the campers excitement, they didn’t just see any old whales, they saw Fin Whales, the largest type of whale found in Maine! This morning, two more trips left from camp. One group is heading to Northern Maine to canoe the Allagash River. The Allagash is recognized as one of the most beautiful, remote canoeing destinations in the country. The other trip is also driving North, to Carrabassett Valley for a three day mountain biking trip. Whether at camp enjoying the Kennebec, or out on a trip, it’s a great day to be a camper!

Be sure to check out the pictures from our Luau Night!