What is Day 2 at Camp Like?

By Peter Grunawalt
June 17, 2015 (comments)

Getting into the groove. During the first couple days at camp is when you see the greatest adjustment in lifestyle for campers. Their new schedule is full to the brim with two long activity periods, three opportunities to swim and sauna, full-camp games up at Pine Stadium, and evening programs. Campers sleep well at night, with cool June temperatures still hitting the low 40s. As we get deeper into the session, we learn which activities campers are more interested in and develop the program around them. We work to improve what we call “observable skills.” Whether it’s improving your Frisbee...

What is Day 1 of Camp Like?

By Peter Grunawalt
June 15, 2015 (comments)

A Day Like No Other. By planes, trains, and automobiles, campers were coming in throughout the day. They were greeted by their cabin counselors, helped to find a bunk and get settled. However, choosing a bunk at camp is anything but simple. A camper must way the many pros and cons of each bunk against the others. That upper-bunk by the window for the breeze? Or perhaps the bottom one closes to the door for easy access? Of course, there are some instances of love at first site. At the end of the day though, everyone had made their bed...

A Tale of Two Staff Trips

By Peter Grunawalt
June 11, 2015 (comments)

Perhaps the most anticipated pre-camp activity for staff is the canoe trip, where counselors, new and old alike, are “broken-in” on the trail. What does this mean exactly? Well, despite most counselors at CV being part-time Olympic athletes, it takes a good Boundary Waters trip to get back into the rhythm of camping, warm up the shoulders, and work on some… logistics. Every year, at least two staff trips go out. A group leader is assigned to each trip (typically the veteran counselors). The trip is planned and prepared for as any trip with campers would be. Between each planning...

Green-head Gossip: The "Throne Poem"

By Peter Grunawalt
June 04, 2015 (comments)

On the right, Gary Dexheimer, Ft. Wayne, IN, counselor for two years. Photo taken in the summer of 1971. Former counselor Gary Dexheimer brings us the story of the mysterious throne poem. He writes: For far too many years, I have carried a poem in my wallet copied from the underside of a box-toilet lid from a camp site on an island with the BWCA (Boundary Waters Canoe Area). I spent two wonderful summers during college as a counselor at an outdoor adventure canoeing based camp in Ely, MN. On one memorable trip, I found this note inscribed on the...

Day 5 Pre-camp: Camp is for the Campers

By Peter Grunawalt
June 04, 2015 (comments)

After introductions have been made, the docks have been set in place for the season, and all the boats have been accounted for, pre-camp gets right down to business: staff training and... tree planting. Counselors are given subjects to present, covering a wide variety of topics. Several pots of coffee will be brewed throughout the day, with enthusiastic discussions about everything from risk management in camp and on the trail to the behavior management and social development of campers. These presentations typically take a day or two to get through and make extensive use of scenarios and the past experiences...