Day 3: Build that Fire Higher Higher!

D-A-Y T-H-R-E-E, that is how we spell DAY 3!!!

Good Afternoon Red Fans, good afternoon Blue Fans!! Yesterday was another great day of spirit, friendly competition, and fun during the 2012 Camp Towanda Olympics. The morning started off strong with another track meet, this time on boys side. It was amazing to see how fast those legs could run. By the time the meet ended and lunch started, the score was closer than ever! Morning activities on girls side were just as exciting and made us realize how amazing these teams are! Just as the one team pulls in the lead, the other one comes up from behind.

After a baked ziti lunch and a much earned rest hour, the sun settled in a cloudless sky–just in time for the girls swim meet and afternoon activities.  Wishy-washy washy-wishy, all the girls can swim like fishies!

Before the pinnacle evening activity, we took a pause from Olympics to have Friday Shabbat dinner as a camp family…the 2012 Dorm Girls lit the candles with the Dorm Girls of 2019 and 2020 (This years’ Debs)!  A special moment in time!

Rope Burning was last night and, as always, it brought all of camps’ hearts together. An alumni Guest Judgie crowd of over 60 judged and spectated the fired up crowd! Win, loose, or draw, Rope Burning is one of the most outstanding evenings to be a part of. Whether you are cheering on the side, passing down the wood, building the fire, judging or spectating, you can feel it–the sense of achievement and pride in your camp family. Maybe it was the size of the fires this year, or maybe it was the true Olympic spirit the seems to be radiating from the outside world into ours, but it was such an outstanding display of sportsmanship, teamwork, and determination. We are proud of both of our teams and extend a very special congratulations to the Red Jesters on their victory last night.  Their fire was “no joke”!

Both teams celebrated as if they won the FINAL 4 with milk and cookies and then ETB while counselors chiseled away at the scenery and  team plaques for Sunday Night’s sing.

Today is apache relay and tonite is the cumulative broadjump contest (which should be live on the Camp Cam!). We are doing our best getting you live coverage.  Hopefully our blog, Facebook and CampMinder pics are filling in the gaps for you all at home!

We had to share some perfectly put words from an Alumni/Parent/Guest Judgie just to give you a sense of what it feels like to witness this Camp Towanda Olympics firsthand:

On a day when the lead in Olympics changed hands more than once – a pretty amazing thing in and of itself given that there have already been thousands of Olympic points awarded – and the evening concluded with a spectacularly thrilling rope burning, it was especially clear to me how fortunate I am to be both a Towanda parent and also an alumni Judgie.   And today, more than ever, it was easy to see that one of the things which is most amazing about the way Olympics is conducted at Towanda is how naturally it teaches the kids the meaningful relationship between having a rich competitive spirit while at the same time maintaining the overriding importance of true sportsmanship.

When looked at from a parent’s perspective, it’s easy to understand how instilling in the children this keen value of fairness will have a lifelong – and no doubt very positive – impact on so many of the relationships which they will form as they travel down life’s road.  And what’s particularly special is how the kids so naturally learn this life lesson; it really is beautiful to see.

Rope burning tonight was the perfect example of that.  To have the entire red team cheer on the blue team after red had burned down their ropes in near record time was positively wonderful.  This sportmanship, this spirit, this remarkable demonstration of the bonds which are created and fostered at Towanda, all combine to create a powerful testament to the value of what’s being learned here at camp, and all while the kids are having the time of their lives.  Lucky for them, and lucky for us.

Day 2: Swim & Track Meets were a “Knockout”!

Day 2 of Olympics could not have been more picture perfect! Glorious blue skies and sunshine set the stage for the day’s events, Girls’ Track Meet and Boys’ Swim Meet!  After eggs and tots, an all campus clean-up (which was a judged event) and inspection, all the campers headed to their respective activities.  The entire Girls’ side raced to the soccer pitch where the girls’ track meet was taking place.  Tennis Robert sounded the horn and they were off! Girls’ Head Counselor Amy Miller took the mic, announcing all 58 races and events.  The girls ran Marathons, 40-70 yard dashes, 1/2 laps, 1 laps, 2 laps, 4 x 1 relays, 4 x 1/2 relays, Potato Shuttles, Softball Throws and the big All-Star and Counselor Relays!  The girls raced by the Judgies in flashes of RED and BLUE.  No matter the race, every camper finished with pride hearing their teams cheer them on! “We will we will attack on the track!”, “Come on Red, Beat Blue”, “Come on Blue, Beat Red” and so on and so on.  LOTS OF CHEERING!  The CCs, Generals and Counselors ran alongside their campers on the inner circle of the track helping them keep their stride to the finish line.  While the campers ran a few great races, those CCs and Generals ran all 58! Now that is teamwork, commraderie and what the Olympics is all about!

While the girls were running, the Jets/Cadets played Basketball, Middies Soccer, Juniors Team Handball, Inters and Nationals hit the GHOST court, the Seniors/Club Softball and an epic LITS Football game (best of the summer!).

By mid-day it was time for American Pie bugle call for Mac & Cheese and a delicious salad bar (plus a Jonesy cookie or two!).  Rest Hour was filled with tennis matches and rope burning wood collection for tonite’s big event, an LIT soccer game that ended in a shoot out, and CITs Ghost and Counselor Volleyball! All getting cheered on by their campers!

In the afternoon, it was time for the Boys to hit the pool! They set up their cheering section on the hillside looking out at the lake.  The waterfront looked incredible with the backdrop of blue and red shirts cheering on their teammates in the pool!  No matter the race, breaststroke, freestyle, backstroke, relays or kickboard races, the teams wished each other luck and swam their hearts out! The brotherhood these kids feel for each other is so apparent and so strong.  Even though they were racing against each other, there was so much respect amongst these friends, bunkmates, teammates and opponents. Most importantly, everyone (including the Judgies!) had a blast at the Swim Meet…all 55 races!

While the boys swam, the Debs/Dillies kicked it at Kickball, Tweens dribbled away at Basketball, Juniors “called the ball (or it’s gonna fall”) at Newcombe, Inters and Nationals got to bust some ghosts at GHOST, Seniors had a go at Soccer, while the Dorm went gaga for Gaga.  And the LITS topped it off with a great Softball game.

Evening activity was Knockout!! A Camp Towanda event held on all the basketball courts.  Did all those campers realize that practicing Knockout all summer at Under The Lights would help them in this Olympic Event!?

The night ended with our staff getting in on the games: Counselor soccer and KMP Ultimate Frisbee.

Only 6 points separates the Red Jesters from the Blue Royalty. So what does that mean? The counselors did great splits; the coaches are doing their best; the kids are SO into it and the Judgies are making it happen!

Stay tuned tomorrow for the Day 3 Olympic Daily Digest.  Did you miss the Day 1 recap? Check it out here on the Blog: we challenge NBC for the best Olympic news coverage anywhere!

As we head into tonite’s emotional and intense rope burning, we wish both teams the best of luck.  We know it will be a memorable evening for everyone.

Good luck Red Jesters. Good luck Blue Royalty.

Day 1: What’s your favorite color?

Day 1 of Olympics was off to a spirited start! Cheering has reached an all time high for the summer and is sure to continue over the next 5 days! Every event begins with the chant: “G-O-O-D-L-U-C-K we wish you all good luck today!” And is reciprocated by the other team with a chant of thanks. That sets the tone for the games and the amazing displays of sportsmanship we are seeing! Although the camp is divided in red and blue, the campers are supporting all their friends and bunkmates. The Debs/Dillies, Middies, Juniors, co-ed LITS and Counselors (and Casper) all had the privilege of playing GHOST on Day 1! Mitch is holding court there with his expert team of Judgies and is in his glory! The Tweens had Newcombe (slide out and rotate!), the Junior/Inter Girls and Dorm played great games of soccer (yes–one girl did play stopper wearing a blue tutu!)…if that’s not intimidation, what is!? Who needs the London Games, when you can watch riveting beach volleyball from the Senior Girls, Dorm, Club and LITS (future Misty Mays and Kerry Walshes here at Camp Towanda!). Jets and Cadets were pumped up at the Gaga court and were called up to the flagpole this morning!  The National Girls and Inter Boys hit it out of the park at their respective Softball games and the Nationals and Senior Boys were in the [end]zone at Football!  A full day of activities, rest hour tennis matches, wood collecting for rope burning (long sleeves and long pants), and more.

Our American Pie bugle call rang at lunchtime…people still got chills remembering the breakout from the night before.  It now takes on a whole new meaning! At dinner, each team got the microphone and had the floor.  The Red Jesters pulled pranks. The Blue Royalty were prim and proper. The scores (so far) were announced and it was a 10 point spread between the teams!!! An even match.  What will today bring?

Last night was Tug-O-War on the soccer pitch! Intense match-ups and creative cheers and chants from each of the teams as they approached the rope.  The final pulls were made by the Judgies vs. the Generals.  Who do you think won? The teams retreated to practice their songs and team meetings before light out and taps.

Today is the girls’ track and boys’ swim meets (where we are sure to see future Ryan Lochtes, Missy Franklins and Usain Bolts!). We are looking forward to hearing the sides cheering on their teams to the finish lines!  Did we say everyone is cheering? “What’s your favorite color?” “A little birdie in a tree, said something very true to me”, “Thunder-thunderation”, “The team is in the huddle, the captain’s at the head”, “The cookie monster says”, “Split the V. Dot the I. Curve the C. T-O-R-Y. Victory victory let’s repeat it!”.

Many alumni from all different generations have returned to step in as Judgies. It’s great to have them back at camp, outfitted with Judgies Olympic books, whistles and tradition!

Day 2 is on! The sky is blue. It’s a perfect day for Olympics!!!

Good luck Red Team. Good luck Blue Team.