Campfire Animation!!

July 12th, 2011

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Posted by lphoto in Mercersburg Summer | No Comments »

TAC Campers are Already Adventuring on Day One!

July 11th, 2011

Today was filled with excitement for the Teen Adventure Campers. They went Cedar Ridge Adventures for the day! After arriving, they worked on some team building activities with Dan, Dustin and some other Cedar Ridge staff. They also played games with moon and fleece balls. They also set some goals that they wanted to fulfill that day. It was lots of fun.

Then the campers broke into three smaller groups to take part in the next series of activities. They had to undergo challenges like walking through a “mine field” blindfolded with only a partner to guide them through. Natalia had to pay close attention to directions so she wouldn’t step on any explosives and lose a limb!

The campers worked together to overcome a number of obstacles:

Then, after a delicious pack lunch of turkey sandwiches, the campers were faced with the greastest challenge of the day: a high ropes course!!! Dustin taught them how to put on their harnesses:

…and then they started climbing…

It was a great day. The kids fullfilled all of the goals they had set that morning. They pushed themselves, learned more about each other, offered other campers help and support, had fun, and they all got back in the bus in one piece!

When they arrived back on campus, they were excited to find a carnival awaiting them. There were hot dogs and hamburgers for dinner and cotton candy, funnel cake, and ice cream for desert. There were also carnival games, face painting, and a moon bounce obstacle course.  Afterwards, the campers did cabin decorating before heading off to bed to rest up for the big day tomorrow!

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IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED, CLIMB, CLIMB AGAIN.

July 11th, 2011

Yesterday at YWC, was full of rock climbing, friends, dogs, and lots of fun!

We started the day off with our daily classes. Writing for the Internet, Fiction, and Poetry are all lots of fun! After our 2 hour classes, we go for lunch at the dining hall. Yesterday was a fabulous gourmet meal of pizza! We had time to hang out with friends, eat , and have a good time.

After lunch, we have free write time.  Yesterday we wrote in the giant library that they have here on YWC campus.  It’s 4 story’s high! There are so many books, that it just blows you away! After our 20 minute free write, we head to our afternoon classes. We made talked  about monsters and each had to write 4 characteristics of our monster and put them in a pile. Then, each camper chose from pile and had to create a story using their monster. We would read these stories in the chapel later that day.

Next, was our afternoon activity. There was rock climbing, ceramics, and theatre games. Rock climbing was such fun! Everyone tried their hardest to climb to the top.

We concluded the night with our chapel reading. We listened to a gothic organist while reading our monster stories in the candlelight. How spooky!

Yesterday at YWC was really great and haunting! I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Posted by tim in Young Writers Camp | No Comments »

Avid Artists Slam Poetry Down Fiercely

July 11th, 2011

Wednesday was a poetically passionate day for all. Campers inhabiting YWC:

1.     Witnessed professional slam poetry with the help of YouTube (such as this video of Carlos Andres Gomez)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS5VteCxtgo

2.     Poured their feelings into beat-oriented slam poetry

3.     Chose volunteers (or victims) to perform that night (one performed an individual poem and two or more shared a group poem)

4.     Survived the perilous journey to C & C Coffee Company

5.     Bought coffee, tea, and various other drinks that no doubt encouraged the energy enhancing every reading or performance

6.     Cheered each other on as wonderful works were read aloud, sitting at the edge of their seats as the panel of counselor judges (Matt, Lorren, and Emily) dished out points sparingly

7.     Dueled in a deadly combat between the two teams as the poems slammed against one another, creating a lively beat

8.     Congratulated the winning team of DaMaris and Monica’s students, who won not only a pizza party but bragging rights for a year

9.     Were stunned by the beat-oriented poetry the counselors and teachers wrote, incorporating all of the students and their outstanding quirks, loved by all

10. Celebrated the amazing efforts of all who participated and the companionship of the camp

Truly, ballads will be written about this event. YWC members, poetry lovers, and coffee-shop-goers alike had a wonderful time at the Dark and Stormy Summer poetry slam contest.

The night concluded with an original poem read by the YWC Counselors and Instructors that included each YWC camper in the poem.  Take a look!

Slam Poetry – Part 1Slam Poetry – Part 2

Posted by tim in Young Writers Camp | No Comments »

White Water Rafting on the Yough

July 11th, 2011

The Young Writers along with the Theatre Workshop went to the Yough River for White Water Rafting. We were all warned about multiple dangers on the water such as falling out. If someone were to fall out they were advised to remain calm, flip onto their back and keep their feet up. We were told this to avoid getting stuck if we stood up. If we stood up there was an imminent possibility to have our feet get caught into a hole in the river surface, which would entrap the camper. In case of entrapment serious risks would become unavoidable. However, despite a few not-so-lucky campers falling out of their rafts, everyone took the guide’s advice and remained calm and were rescued very quickly, causing much more excitement to the trip.

The Yough River was approximately seven miles long and had five main rapids. On the second rapid one raft got stuck and caused a five-raft pile up (the rafts were literally piled on top of each other).  Thankfully one of the guides was able to separate the rafts and we all continued on our way down the Youghiogheny River. There were three brief stopping points along the river where the campers were allowed to jump into the water and swim around for a little bit. This gave their muscles a short break to relax before getting back on the rafts and continuing to paddle.

All campers had a good time on the trip and many exclaimed that they would love to go white water rafting again at some point in the near future.

Posted by tim in Young Writers Camp | No Comments »

A New Beginning

July 10th, 2011

Today a new set of campers flooded Mercersburg’s campus. Everyone who is staying another session is pumped and all the new campers are excited as well.

Here are some pictures from the move in:

After the move in the campers split between MAC campers and TAC campers to go and play name games.

Then after  the campfire I stopped by Tippets and got some cabin pictures. Here’s the best one of the night:

Daniela

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…Good “Spirits” in Baltimore…

July 10th, 2011

Saturday, we went to Baltimore to tour. First stop was Edgar Allen Poe’s small house.  Poe’s house is only four rooms, and cramped for the family of five. Next stop, touring Inner Harbor.  We split up into three groups or around eight, and went shopping and walking throughout the Harbor. Stores we went to were H&M, Urban Outfitters, Barnes and Nobel, Filenes, and more. We had a good time, running throughout the city. Our last stop was a Ghost Tour, in Fellpoint. Our guide was dressed in all black: a cloak, top hat, gloves, and a cane. It was very mysterious…

We went to many places on the square that were supposedly haunted. Our first stop on the tour was a sign that lasted for decades. Next was the Fell’s grave, the founders of Fellpoint. Many members of the Fells family were buried there, including a bunch of women all named Elizabeth. The guide took out his “Ghost Meter” and tested the spot. Apparently, the ghost of one of the Fells was standing in front of Jordan. The next couple stops were all at taverns. (It seems like ghosts have drinking problems.) One of the Taverns, The Horse You Came In On, is actually where Edgar Allen Poe was found unconscious. The last stop was “the most haunted house in Baltimore.” Supposedly, seven ghosts live there including a ghost cat, that frequently visits sightseers at the house. (If you take one of these tours, ask for Cliff as your guide.)

http://www.baltimoreghosttours.com/index.html

Lastly, we left to go back to the Academy. For dinner, we stopped at McDonald’s.  After that, we headed home for a couple games of Clue, and Free Write period.

Posted by tim in Young Writers Camp | No Comments »

Lake Trip Ended Early

July 10th, 2011

We all took a trip to the lake at Cowan’s Gap on Friday, hoping for a nice day at a beautiful lake. While a few girls got twenty minutes on a paddleboat, and several other kids got some time in the water, all of the fun was cut short when the sky decided it was time to rain. We all scrambled in the downpour and ran for shelter in various places around the lake. After a few minutes, we all gathered our belongings and made a mad dash for the bus.

We spent the rest of the day hanging out on campus. We could choose to go to either the game room, to play foosball, chess, and board games, or to stay in the dorm and hang out all day and watch Disney movies. It was split half and half, so while twelve kids were playing Scrabble, thirteen campers were also watching Disney’s Mulan.

For the evening program that night, we held a talent show in Edwards Room. Campers displayed their singing, dancing, and comedic skills, along with several others. Selections from ‘On My Own’ to ‘Happy Birthday’ were performed. It is clear that the Young Writers are a talented bunch.

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Goodbyes

July 9th, 2011

Thursday night all the Teen campers had their affirmation circle and final camp fire. There were a lot of meaningful speeches and kind words.

In the affirmation circle a ball of yarn is passed around from person to person. Everytime a person gets the ball of yarn they choose the next person and tell them what they think of them.

Here the campers are performing their Tornado song.

Check out a clip of Thursday night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F5BIVj3bJs

Yesterday was a tearful day full of goodbyes and hugs for most.

Everyone, including camper’s parents filled the seats in the Burgin Center. The Tornadoes and Hurricanes did their camp songs and cheers and then the winner of the two was announced. Tornadoes won this years camp challenges! Once the ceremony was over, on the way out there were plenty of hugs going around.

Daniela

Posted by in Adventure Camp, Camp Cammy Jr, Mercersburg Summer | 2 Comments »

Last Day of Camp!

July 8th, 2011

Today was one of the busiest and most thrilling days we’ve had this session! The MAC campers started the day with a huge Marathon. Check out some of the action on youtube:

After lunch, the campers took part in water wars! They got the chance to get all their feelings out by soaking all the counselors with buckets of chilly water. Each camper got one counselor (most of them right in the face!):

Then both the MAC and TAC campers went on a huge slip n’ slide on Tippet’s beach! They spent the afternoon racing down it and getting covered in soap suds and mud.

After dinner, the MAC campers sung their Hurricane and Tornadoes song and cheer around the campfire.

The TAC campers had an Affirmation Circle and a tearful goodbye. Then they also wrapped up the evening with a campfire.

Everyone’s super excited for the end-of-camp ceremonies and slideshow that will take place tomorrow afternoon, but we’ll all be sad to see this sessions campers go home. It was such an exciting two weeks! We hope that everyone had just as much fun as we did and that they’ll be back next summer to adventure at Mercersburg again!

zoe

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