The TAC’s just got back from a two-day adventure! They left early Thursday morning for an unknown destination with their sleeping bags and some warm clothes.
A few hours later, we arrived in Ohiopyle Pennsylvannia. It turned out that we were headed onto the Youghiogheny river to go white water rafting!
It was a great trip. The campers got to experience class 2 and 3 rapids and see some beautiful scenery. After the river, we had a pizza dinner and then headed to the Laurel Caverns campsite for the night. The campers played some games and then had a campfire. Jordan and Alex played some songs on guitar before bed time:
In the morning, we all walked over to Laurel Caverns to explore the largest cave in Pennsylvania.
Everyone had lots of fun exploring the caves and getting wet in the underground streams. (Although it was a little chilly!) Hopefully the teens will be well rested for the next adventures in store for them tomorrow!
Actually, it might be better to say, ‘Guess what MAC hasn’t been up to. They’ve been all over the place. This week they’ve been rock climbing…
And I’m a little bit jealous, I didn’t get to go on that trip… those rocks look awesome!
They’ve been to Cowen’s Gap, swimming and playing at the beach. And the temperature’s been perfect here past couple of days… Being outside is awesome.
And they’ve also been preparing for their Hurricanes and Tornadoes songs and chants! The ones from last session were awesome, I can’t wait to see what they pull off this time!
Everybody participates. =]
Hey, I don’t know if you guys follow along on the flickr, but there’s always new stuff going up there! Check it out sometime by clicking HERE! That’s the link to all the different camps’ collections, and we’re constantly adding more! =]
It is apparent that the camp cam team has been neglecting ESL, YWC, and Theater camp for the past few days so here is an explosion of updates!
So this morning I jumped around from class to class in the ESL territory. I found the campers in Rutledge Hall and the Library, my first entrance in both buildings, this was quite the adventure for me…
Here’s what I found:
After I visited ESL I went down to the dance studio in Burgin to see what the Theater kids were up to.
Turns out they were practicing acting through body language and facial expression.
After lunch I did some interviews with the Teen Adventure Camp while Zoe caught up with the Young Writers Camp.
Looks like there was a crime scene to be investigated. The campers gathered up clues and got the chance to create write their own story about about what they thought had happened to Matt, the dead clown.
And that is all we have for today. Stay tuned for TAC interviews!
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:
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.
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.
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!
Hi everyone! Derek here! It’s been a little while, but I hope you haven’t forgotten me! I’ve included a picture to refresh your memories. =]
This, as you can probably tell, is me before morning coffee. =P
For those of you still trickling in, I’ll introduce myself again. I’m one of the camera-slingers at this here summer camp, and it’s been a pretty fun week here in Mercersburg. There are Tornadoes and Hurricanes competing everywhere… it’s a photographer’s dream come true. =]
I’m a firm believer in stories by pictures, so enough with the words! Here we go!
‘You’re goin’ down!’ Bella starts it off with a bang for the Tornadoes.
Hurricanes on the field of honor! The volleyball field of honor, that is. In case you’re as new to this as I am, Hurricanes are BLUE and Tornadoes are RED.
And if you’re not red, and you’re not blue, what are you? Conscripted, that’s what. We photographers constantly have to resist, or we’ll end up pulled to one side or the other. It’s dangerous! =P
Anyway, Campfire was even more zany than usual as cabins mounted the stage to perform original skits. The campers acted out everything from a couple of caterpillars…
…to a trio of up-and-coming pop stars with a new camp song!
And then it was the Fourth of July. Independence Day! MAC and TAC boarded the busses and rolled out to Chambersburg for the fireworks.
Even there, under the rockets’ red glare, the Tornadoes and Hurricanes represented their teams.
On the TAC side of things, the Teen campers got to fulfill a lifelong dream this week…
…as they applied pie to their beloved counselors.
The Teen Tornadoes and Hurricanes battled it out in a relay and the counselors… got sticky.
I do NOT envy them. =]
Moving right along… the MAC campers had a pirate themed cookout yesterday. That was pretty awesome, even for Mercersburg.
I mean, seriously. Even the food was piratey! Captain No-Beard approves. =]
And since there was bright sunlight and good food, even those lubbers not inclined towards AARGHs and plunder had a good time. =]
Well, that’s about it for this major blogness, but I’d just like to take a moment to address you, my loyal readers!
I’ve re-organized the Flickr page so that it sort of makes sense. You can follow these links to see pictures from session 1.
Also, is there something you’d like to see pictures of at camp? A camper that’s evading my camera? Leave me a reply and let me know! Photographers thrive on feedback, you know. =]
In the past two days I’ve been having a blast with both MAC and TAC at Hershey Park.
It was hot out but that didn’t stop us from having fun!
Yesterday, I went with Mac. The bus ride to Hershey Park was cheerful, all the campers were singing camp songs. They were keepin up the camp spirit even though they had no idea what adventure was in store for them, the counselors were trying to keep it at a Jwas situation to build up the excitement.
Here are some pictures from the day…
Here the kids are excited for their first ride at the Park!
As you can see deciding on which ride to go on next is a task that may require up to 7 whole MAC campers!
And here’s Tim going on a ride with a fellow MAC camper.
This picture is from the famous Hershey’s Chocolate Factory Ride. The kids got to learn and see the process of how Hershey chocolate is made.
Here are some pictures from today:
Lunch with TAC’s!
TAC campers with Hershey Kiss himself!
What a day! Or I should say, past few days! Stay tuned for more Mercersburg Summer Camp Adventures!
Mercersburg Summer is a one of a kind experience where kids from all backgrounds can come to expand their interests. Be sure to check out one of our programs today! Learn more!
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