Opening Day Session 3
Session 3 is underway! We want to welcome all our Session 3 families and campers. Opening Day went off without a hitch…it was another great day at Huawni. Every session is unique in it’s own right, and Session 3 Opening Day was unique as well. The Krahe Family was back out and about handing out pop ice. The Krahe cooler was very popular of course and our campers and staff were so grateful! I also had the pleasure of seeing one of my own former counselors, Toby W. It is so neat seeing Toby pass his legacy of Huawni down to his two boys! This is always encouraging! I had a chance too to talk to numerous first-year parents as they dropped off their children for their first summer camp. This was a big day for y’all…..and we are excited to get your children in the flow of Camp. After we eat Ms. Ada’s famous, famous MOST FAMOUS (so famous we made a t-shirt about it this year) FRIED CHICKEN, the Huawni Staff will perform for our campers the Opening Night Show (ONS).
First Letter of the Session!
A really cool moment happened later this afternoon after most parents had left. Koy L., a first-year camper, came up to me on Flagpole Hill, and handed me a letter to his mother. It was one of the sweetest things I’ve seen on Opening Day. Here it is.
Opening Night Show
Opening Night Show is a long-standing Huawni Tradition where our counselors perform various skits for the campers. Our goal is for campers to feel comfortable and at home for their first night of Camp. Laughter is a great way for this to happen, and tonight there will be lots of smiles and laughter from our campers. We hope to catch some of those on film. Be sure and follow our Instagram and Facebook pages and you’ll likely see some of these. ONS is truly a throwback and simple night that kids love.
Cabin Time
Also tonight after campers clean up counselors will host the first cabin time in each cabin. This is an opportunity to go over Camp guidelines, for campers to learn more about each other, and for cabins to create their cabin bucket lists. The bucket list is a fun Huawni tradition where cabins write out things they’d love to do over the next two weeks. Popular bucket list items may include night swimming with their cabin, star tripping, cabin sing song, or movie night. This will be the first opportunity for campers to get out of their comfort zone and meet some friends for the very first time. It’s crazy to think that some life-long friendships will actually begin this very night. We say that life is meaningful relationships, and tonight campers will begin to experience just that!
Running Deer
This session kicks off our second group of Running Deer Campers. We have 28 Running Deer campers and we are so excited!! The Running Deer Program was started a few years ago— it’s essentially a special summer for our 10th and 11th grade campers where they’ll get unique experiences, more responsibility, and begin to process bigger life questions as they get closer to college. Today they had their green shirts on and were pitching in by helping to carry trunks!! This group really stepped up today helping others!
Homesickness
For many of you, it was your first time to drop your child off at overnight camp. This can understandably be a very nerve racking and emotional event. As hard as it is, we believe that homesickness is great opportunity for growth. Why is this so? I encourage you to read these two blogs I’ve written based upon the book Homesick & Happy by Michael Thompson.
Homesick & Happy Intro
Homesick & Happy Chapter 1 – Off They Go
Staying in touch with your camper and camp pics
We highly encourage you to utilize letter writing as well as sending your camper emails through your CampInTouch login. Also, be sure to log into your CampInTouch account to see the photos we will be posting daily. And finally, be sure and subscribe to our blog page by going here and clicking on the subscribe via email blue button.
Parent Book Club
One of the biggest benefits to camp for your campers is unplugging from the busyness of life and growing in ways they’ve never had the opportunity to grow before. Again this summer for our Huawni Parent Book Club I will be blogging on the the book Unschooling Rules. Although the title of this book hints at being about education, it also gives an insightful look at how our kids learn and grow. It’s very relatable to the Camp experience, and you can check out our first Summer Parent Book Club post here.
We are so excited and honored to be spending the next two weeks with your children. Two weeks at Huawni is like 3 or 4 months in the real world relationally. We always say the days are long, but the weeks are so short! Our desire is that your child would leave our gates better knowing their true significance and purpose. Our hope is that you will tangibly see this while during the session (through letters, pictures, blogs, etc.) and when you pick them up on Closing Day. Here we go!
What was your favorite part about Opening Day? Comment below!
