First Week

First Session has begun and we’re off to a great start.

Though Chop Point Camp is located in Maine and is known for its eight-month-long winters, the past few days were uncharacteristically sweltering. Those from the South were right at home. However, an obstacle like weather can’t stop the fun from being had. We spent the first night of camp playing “get-to-know-you” games, which are essentially camp wide ice-breakers to really get the friendships rolling.

The next day we spent the morning in the gym, competing against other cabins in relay races, a little thing we Chop-Pointers like to call “Wacky Olympics”. It’s so dubbed because not only do we make up cheers, play leap-frog, and participate in many other “wacky” games, but also because we are expected to show up in the most ridiculous costumes the ten minutes we are given after breakfast will allow. Bright colors, capes, inside-out clothing, crazy hair… just to give you a taste.

Daily activities are in full swing now; wind-surfing, sailing, kayaking, basketball, mountain biking, arts and crafts, guitar, water-skiing… The list goes on.

God has graciously decided to grant us some reprieve from the heat, lowering the temperature to a cool 65 degrees today. As a Mainer myself, I was right at home in shorts and a t-shirt. My friend and I played a little game called “Find the Southerner”, which was, more often than not, the person dawning a full winter jacket, sweatpants, wool socks, and rain boots.

The next two nights were for bonding with our cabins, Girls and Boys Night Out and In. The nights out are usually spent getting ice cream or going out to dinner. On Boys Night In they played several games in the gym, such as dodge ball. While the boys were out the next night, we girls spent our night in eating chocolate strawberries, making bracelets, and painting our nails. One of our counselors, Raelyn, talked to us about how important God is, especially at this pivotal point in our lives.

Tonight was originally going to be Water Night, but was cancelled due to the cold. Instead we are having Horse Races, where the campers dress up as different characters and compete on a chalk-drawn grid for candy. There are six lanes, so dice are rolled to determine when someone is allowed to move ahead. I haven’t seen all the costumes, but I know for sure that there are some princesses, Indians, cowboys, and dinosaurs out there tonight. I myself am a superhero.

Sitting here in the office, I can hear loud and clear the spirited shouting, clapping, and laughter coming from the other room, so I think I’ll go join in the festivities.

More updates of life at Chop Point Camp coming soon.

Click on the Picasa or Facebook link at the bottom of the page for some of the pictures that have been taken so far this summer.