What a glorious day we had at Pierce Camp Birchmont for our 10th consecutive Spirit Day!
Our boys had the home field advantage this year as our girls traveled to Wilton NH , while the boys hosted the day at Birchmont. All our campers were pretty psyched to defend our last year’s title. Every age group competed in all manner of athletic contests from the traditional field and court sports to heated games of dodgeball and Gaga .
We served up a fine lunch of Helen’s chicken patties, (a camper favorite from our post camp surveys) and the girls had turkey chili over at Evergreen.
The rafters of Evergreen were shaking from the resounding cheers and chants while the girls enjoyed their lunch. The boys, sang less and ate more, devouring everything including the homemade chocolate chip cookies baked by our wonderful bakers Monica and Diane.
The afternoon competitions were fierce and fun. Under a clear blue sky, kids were playing everywhere, or resting in the shade waiting for their next games to begin. Water coolers dotted every field, as kids from both camps socialized and compared notes about camp life. The 100% participation fueled a wonderful camaraderie for all the players.
The athletic day at each camp concluded with both camps competing in the host team’s chosen event. Evergreen girls chose their beloved Bucket Brigade, an event they taught our girls two years before. We learned our lesson well as we tied that event this year. The Birchmont Braves hosted our ever popular tug of war, a traditional Color War Field Day event here at Birchmont. The cheering on the field was deafening as our oldest boys pulled their young men over the line, but Kenwood answered right back winning the age group just below.
Our day here at Birchmont was finished with a well earned swim at the waterfront before dinner for all our boys, and an after dinner swim for our girls who traveled home and had the bonus of catching a gorgeous Lake Wentworth sunset for their efforts. Annie Lenox said it best, “Great Days Are Made Of These..”
Happy to say the Spirit Cup will remain at Birchmont for another summer, but the victory was not as important as the day’s take-away…The best kind of competitions are the ones which bring out the spirit of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and great heart.
Thanks to all the campers, staff, coaches, and drivers who made the day such a success. Special shout out to Greg Howes who coordinated the day with vision, enthusiasm and organization.
U.S. women were multi-sport athletes before focusing on soccer
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!
The races were run with great spirit as every age group had several heats with prizes for the winners. Everything from serious straight away sprints, to the giggle producing three legged and wheelbarrow races were run with gusto. The traditional end are tug of war contests just before the campers head to the ice cream and toppings bars to “make their own” sundaes! Our older campers, Lower, Upper & Super Seniors, boarded our buses to town to see the Wolfeboro fireworks display over the “big” lake after dark. Good old fashioned fun was had by all!
recall missing the last two days of camp and having my co counselor Sean McQuade tell me how much I would be missing by not being there for Candlelight night. In a subsequent summer, I came to find out he was quite right. It’s a wonderful night around a huge beautiful campfire where all campers and staff gather in a circle around the fire to help cap the season with thanks and reflections from the summer. Supervisors, group leaders and Birchmont “B” winners from each group each take a brief turn standing in front of the fire and one by one speak from the heart sending their own positive message of thanks, experiences and reflection. It’s a powerful and moving experience – if not downright emotional. Each camper adds their candle to an ever growing circle of flames until the fire is extinguished with a closing ceremony. Im sure it’s a memory etched deep into the mind of most alumni that have been present for it. Tonight , we mark a new opening night tradition at Birchmont.
campers to their new summer home. In some ways the bus ride to Camp Birchmont is the beginning of the camp experience. Campers are grouped by age, so there is an opportunity to make friends while sharing snacks, singing songs, and listening to the bus counselors answering questions in rapid succession like “How will I find my bunk”, ” My brother is on another bus, when will I see him?”,” When do we have try-outs for the talent show?”,” Does anyone know I’m allergic to eggplant?”
Many families dropped off their children on the grounds and many more came in from flights from Logan airport and soon Birchmont came alive for another summer adventure.
Name games, balloon relays, fun in the Old Time Arcade with pop-a-shots, and Hockey Dome, tomorrow we will start our full camp day, and its going to be great!