Every staff member here at Camp Runoia woke up buzzing with excitement for opening day. After finishing touches were put on cabins and everyone changed into their uniforms, you could feel the magic in the air as the first campers filtered down into their cabins. The little bit of rain we had in no way put a damper on the exhilaration of arriving at camp.
After some time getting to know their cabin-mates and counselors, everyone gathered into the Dining Hall for our first meal of our 113th summer (spaghetti, of course). After everyone was nice and full, junior and senior ends split up for evening program, and let me tell you, the cheering and roaring laughter coming from the Lodge and the Den carried throughout all of camp. Then, after some bedtime milk and crackers, everyone got cozy in their cabins and rested up for the big day we all have ahead of us.
Todaywill be our orientation so that our new campers can get to know everything available to them at Camp Runoia, and returners can have a refresher about procedures and schedules.
It is a Fine Maine Day, and everyone is ready to start getting into a routine.
Tomorrow will mark the beginning of our first block of programming, where campers will have a schedule of their activities and get to go about their day participating in programs that they get to choose themselves. From waterskiing to basketweaving to swimming lessons, every last kiddo will fall into a groove and camp will begin to feel like their second home.
We are so pleased and ecstatic to have full shacks again, and thankful that girls love coming back to Runoia summer after summer. Here’s to making this the best one yet!
Camp is already humming with activity as we prepare for the arrival of our campers in just two weeks. Staff have started to arrive, the horses have arrived back from their winter homes, the grass seems to need cutting on a daily basis and buildings are shedding their winter dust. Even with a lengthy to do list every day, the excitement is palpable as each day brings us closer to our Camp Runoia girls arriving. We are sure that everything will be ready by opening day.
Many of our campers are finishing off their final days of school, saying goodbye to friends for the summer and starting to pack their camp trunks. Our inboxes are filled with questions from new parents and forms and information as families tie up all the paperwork loose ends before sending their daughter off to Great Pond.
The horses made fast work of the grass in the pasture.
The barn has been bustling with activity getting all of the horses settled in and used to the camp routines. Many of our horses spend their winters working in college programs so they are fit and ready for their camper riders. Our bunny King Louis is already in residence and the chickens just joined the barn yard fun.
The waterfront is ready to roll with a new addition to the dock system, boats are sitting on their moorings waiting to be sailed and the floats are ready for the first enthusiastic jumpers and divers. A few more ‘fine Maine days’ and the water will be warmed right up.
Our hard working team of pre-camp workers have been making sure the grounds are in tip top shape, grass mowed, porches painted, paths mulched, gardens trimmed, flower boxes planted, there may even be a surprise or two in store.
Kate the great!
We truly are counting down the minutes until the rest of the staff arrive for training this weekend and then it will be time to open the gates to our campers.
Bring on the Camp Runoia 113th season; we are so ready so let’s go!
Over the past couple of weeks our new Camp Runoia campers should have found a letter or two in their mailbox from a camp ‘penpal’. The tradition of welcoming new girls to camp and being available to answer any questions has been going on for many, many years. It encourages campers to make connections even before their arrivals to camp in June or July. Returning campers may be writing to a new girl in their cabin group or older girls may be reaching out to a younger ‘little sister.’ Girls look forward to writing notes and often seek out their new camp friend once they arrive at camp. For new campers we hope that it helps them to feel like a part of the community and to get excited about the new adventure that they are taking.
Handwritten notes from a new camp friend are a long standing Runoia tradition.
In our techno world of texting and social media interactions it seems rare to actually receive a paper letter or card in the actual mail. Often the mailbox is just full of solicitations and advertising along with some online shopping packages! What a treat to find a handwritten envelope addressed to you personally. This short video is a great introduction to letter writing to help kids for whom it may be a new skill.
At camp a campers only option of communicating with the outside world is through regular mail. While parents can send one way emails, ‘real’ letters are still the most valued and appreciated. Campers often show up with stationary boxes, a supply of stamps and some cool pens for their letter writing times. Rest hour and before bed are common times that girls will be found writing to family and friends. Campers and staff look forward to rest hour when mail is given out and often share news from home with their bunk mates or pin the notes that they receive to the wall by their beds.
Handwritten letters carry a charm and thoughtfulness that seems so radically different than an email or text message. The fact that someone took the time to write to you and that it is an unedited conscious stream of thought makes it super special. Parents often tell of the stacks of camp letters tucked away in memory boxes as treasures from their daughter’s time away at camp.
Send us some ‘real’ mail this summer it will be so greatly appreciated, we love when the PO Box is bursting at the seams.
Residential camp provides a unique opportunity to allow young people to develop their leadership skills. When girls attend Camp Runoia they have an opportunity to not only develop hard skills in activity areas and interpersonal skills but also to begin developing strong leadership skills. Leadership starts at an early age at camp as adults often allow girls room to try out their skills and begin to develop their own sense of autonomy. As their time at camp extends into their teen years older girls become mentors to younger campers, leaders of teams, assistant coaches in activity areas and communicators in their shack groups. Some of this leadership development is organic while some is intentional youth development through our Camp Runoia programming.
The Counselor In Training(CIT) and subsequent Junior Counselor (JC) programs at Camp Runoia help High School aged campers focus on their own leadership development within the safe and supportive community in which they have often spent many summers. Feeling comfortable and confident in a place that you know well is a perfect environment for challenging yourself.
Intentional leadership training provides opportunities for girls to build on their current skill set and also challenge themselves to go out of their comfort zone and try new skills too. It includes formal training certification programs like archery instructor, lifeguard, first aid, CPR courses and the Junior Maine Guide programs. Event planning and implementation for large groups is a big component for the CIT group- they manage the entire 4th of July festivities for the whole camp. Helping out in shacks with younger campers, assisting in lessons and learning to manage a group, teach skills and keep track of performance are all just examples of putting leadership into action. More informal opportunities exist when hanging out with younger girls and being a positive role model.
Within the CIT group leadership often comes in the form of collaborative decision making and group process. It may be about finding your voice or learning when to be quiet to let someone else speak up.
Both the CIT and JC programs are designed to be a full summer experience so that young women can practice their new skills over time and grow into great camp leaders. They take back home with them not only a stack of certificates and accomplishments but a greater sense of self, more confidence and skills that will be transferable into other aspects of their lives.
Smart phones and social media keep us connected in our fast paced world. We know that younger and younger kids have access to constant media use and switching it off for a few weeks of camp can be a challenge for all of us. Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a very real affliction for many who are used to a constant stream of updates and notifications telling them what everyone they are connected to is up to at any given moment. Added into the Oxford Dictionary in 2013, FOMO is defined as “anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website.”
There is a great deal of scientific and social research about how FOMO has become a rel phenomenon in our current society. For an interesting read check out this article from Psychology Today.
Appreciation and mindfulness for the moment that we are in can generate great satisfaction. It may be hard initially to turn off our brains to wondering what our friends and family are up to while we are at Camp Runoia but once we get into the busy days of camp life, the outside world becomes more of a blur. At camp we learn to be present in the moment, to engage with the people around is, to not worry what others are up to or even what is going on in the outside world. Fortunately camp is generally exciting and interesting! There is always something going on and a wide variety of people to connect with. We learn to enjoy and relish living in our Runoia bubble
Not having access to electronics at camp really helps reduce the FOMO
Parents, family and friends can really help their campers adjust to camp life by sending letters and emails that are encouraging and ask questions about camp life. Making life at home sound really boring and not listing a bunch of fun things that have been going on while their camper has been gone really helps too.
Camp is where all the action is in the summer and when we are living in the thick of it we definitely don’t feel like we are missing out on anything and are so sad to see it come to an end.
The end of our long Camp Runoia day finishes snuggled up in our cabins with a good book. While some campers choose to read their own literature that they either bring with them or borrow from our extensive library, group reading is still the cabin norm. Every night after circle time the on duty counselor sits in the hall on her crazy creek camp chair and reads a chapter or two from the shack book. We truly believe that there are great benefits and joys of reading aloud to children of all ages and celebrate this camp tradition as an important part of the Runoia experience.
The shared bedtime reading experience provides cabin groups with a reliable bedtime routine, discussion points for the next day and a chance to collaborate and decision make as a group when choosing a new book.
The shack is quiet and the main lights are turned off so only flashlights light up the pages. For some campers the excitement of a story that is new to them is engaging, for others they are literally lulled to sleep by the sound of the reading.
On rare occasion some staff have been known to scoot back early from a night off to catch a much anticipated chapter that ended on a cliff hanger the night before.
Reading is an important part of the Camp Runoia culture, we have a book club that meets a couple of times a week to discuss a chosen story, girls can borrow books from the library and reading is a great activity to do during rest hour or free time. In the shacks girls keep track on a paper plate of how many books they have read collectively in their cabin group and we celebrate those high numbers at the end of the session.
In the technological age camp provides campers with the opportunity to engage with reading without distraction and to enjoy the feel of a real book in their hands.
If you want a good book to read before you get to camp the first session 2019 book club book is Shannon Messenger’s Keeper of the Lost Cities.
From an early age children are developing skills that will help them to be independent of their caregivers. Adults work hard to provide physically and emotionally safe spaces for children to have the opportunity to develop their confidence and the skills that they will need to live independently. When children are small it may be parents and caregivers spend time teaching basic skills. Some skills are instinctive like feeding themselves and learning to walk while others required direction and input from older humans. Learning the alphabet, reading, tying your shoe laces and riding a bike may all take a while to master. Children begin to learn the boundaries of their own capabilities and to feel more confident in the world around them. As their world grows so does their need for the skill of being more independent. Camp can play an important role in developing more independence than other more restrictive opportunities.
While parents are initially a child’s primary resource, school and extracurricular activities provide for the academic development of our kids and are supplemented by experiences with our extended families and in the community.
In our house it’s kind of a family joke about ‘life skills training’ especially when I am asking the kids to do chores or be helpful. Some skills are ‘advanced’ and not able to be mastered yet and all need a growth mind set to learn. These ‘life skills’ certainly have equal value to academic skills.
How do kids develop independence? They certainly can’t do it if every minute of their day is managed by adults. For some kids even ‘free play’ time is on the schedule and actively supervised with adults intervening if conflict or upset arises. We have to provide kids with the time and space to do their own thing.
At camp a simple way that we develop independence is by offering choices. Supported by caring adults and within the structure and routine of the camp day, campers choose activities, the food they eat, what to do in free time, who to hang out with and the clothes they are going to wear.
From the youngest age groups, girls manage their belongings, navigate around camp, make choices about what they will do or not do, figure out what they want to eat and develop relationships without constraints. It’s great that you don’t need to schedule a time or have a ride if you want a play date there is a diverse array of people to connect with.
Runoia girls make their own choices.
The multi-age structure at camp allows girls to develop where their skill level is at. We know that not everyone gains the same skills at the same speed or age so camp allows for a variety of ages and abilities to be working alongside each other. Girls are ready for camp at different ages too, Parenting Magazine has a great article about determining if your child is ready for a sleep away camp experience.
Of course at Runoia there is structure and support in place to help girls feel confident in their decision making. Camp Runoia’s, Harmony Land Camp program is specifically designed for younger campers who are away from home for the first time. Directed by seasoned camp counselors who are skilled adults that are educators this age appropriate program has realistic expectations and provides these young campers with an introduction to the Runoia experience. Girls spend time with their group as well as integrating with main camp. They have the opportunity to be more independent than they may get to be at home or school and often leave ready and determined to do a full session the following year.
We can’t wait for June and toe be together on the shores of Great Pond.
Even Runoia’s youngest girls are brimming with enthusiasm for camp life.
Our camp Runoia community attempts to create change through simple acts of kindness and caring, hoping to make the world that we live in a better place. We believe that we can engage campers and staff to be the change that they want to see in our local communities and in the greater world around us.
In our Giving Tuesday blog back in November we shared about a new community service initiative that we were excited to be getting involved with. We are moving forward with this partnership and continuing our monetary giving into the summer season.
‘World of Change’ is a philanthropic organization with a home base right here in Maine. It encourages youth to participate in collections of loose change that can then be used to create ‘change’ in their local communities. We are excited to be one of the startup camps that are joining the drive and will be collecting change this summer. We are hopeful that this will create enthusiasm among our campers for continuing this support in upcoming seasons.
The statistics of how much money is just sitting around in our homes, cars, and workplaces is just staggering.
How much loose change do you have lying around?
Camp Runoia families are always incredibly generous and our ‘cans from campers’ food drives have been very successful. Through support of our local food pantry, we have had the opportunity to be a positive presence in Runoia’s small, home town . We will continue collecting food on opening days this summer and hope that gathering change throughout the school year to bring to camp will catch on too.
We know that a lot of people giving a little can really create positive change for those in need. All of the money that World of Change generates goes directly to the nonprofits working in communities identified as having needs. The six focus areas ensure that all children get strong foundations to grow on.
Promoting kindness at camp and at home.
We hope that our Camp Runoia campers will engage with the World of Change philosophy and strive to make a difference in their home communities. Where will you start? How can you be the change in your community? It doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking spending an hour picking up trash or helping an elderly neighbor with yard work can be a great place to start.
Together we truly can be the change we want to see in the world.
At this time of year a large focus of our office time shifts from camper recruitment to staff hiring.
We are literally scouring the globe to find the right people to join the Runoia summer team.
Being a camp counselor is never dull! Hiring staff who will fit into our camp family is crucial.
Our returning staff are usually quick to sign back up and then long time camp staffers find us if they are looking for a change from their previous camp. Campers from years gone by often reappear on our radar as they enter the college years and find themselves with a summer available to make a return to Great Pond. Positions quickly fill up as friends and alums also tell people about the opportunities available at Camp Runoia.
Our primary goal with hiring staff is to find the right people for our community. We want them to get to Runoia and feel like they have arrived at their summer home where they fit into the ‘family’. In our experience being happy and content produces peoples best work so having a philosophical alignment with Runoia is essential. Staff having a true passion for working and living with children is crucial; we can easily teach people the policies, procedures and systems. Finding caring young adults that are willing to share their skills with our girls is our focus.
Most of our staff are college age students both from the US and overseas. Many are on a focused career track and are seeking to gain more experience working with children. Camp also provides the opportunity for a new adventure and to see a different part of the world. The connections counselors make with their campers and peers are often long lasting and have great value.
For those that have never attended camp spending a summer in the woods of Maine without their technology can be a harder sell. It is often a challenge to convince students (and their college tuition paying parents!) that camp can provide them with the opportunity to continue developing and honing their 21st century skills. Often colleges are pushing career related internships and work experience that will be a resume builder. It may come as a surprise to find out that camps are often more than happy to accommodate internships and also provide an array of transferable skills that are attractive to employers. Along with hard skills there is a great deal of holistic development gained from a summer at camp. We are happy to help translate these skills developed at camp into tangible resume language Translating-Camp-Employment-To-Your-Resume.
If you think you have what it takes to be part of the Runoia team or know someone who does there is an online application via our website. We can’t wait to meet the summer staff of 2019 our ‘Runoia rock stars.’
Throughout the school year we often get photos from camp families of our Runoia girls getting together outside of camp. The power of camp friendships is very strong and often travels great distances for a hug and to reconnect. Family vacations might be planned around the location of a camp friends home and as girls get older they may head off alone on an adventure to see their camp people.
I recently had a weekend, whirlwind trip to NYC with my 13 year old daughter. We had been planning it for over a year as a camp friend was celebrating her Bat Mitzvah. The girls have been full season campers together since they were small and have a strong bond. Even though they may not typically see each other through the school year their friendship reignites once camp rolls around. It was with much excitement that we planned the journey from Maine, fancy outfits and dress shoes packed as we travelled in snow boots and parkas!
Camp friends made up a large chunk of the kids present at the party. It was amazing to see that our Runoia parents recognized the value of these summer relationships and the importance of sharing non camp special events together. They had made a huge effort to get their girls to NYC. For some it included traveling long distances some of it through a snow storm and also other camp families hosting sleepovers and helping with transportation. The love and joy in the room was palpable, the hugs and bright smiles just continued all afternoon. New memories were made in a radically different venue with heads bent close together in deep conversation, wild dancing on the dance floor and of course sad goodbyes at the end. I often tell prospective parents to make their choice wisely and try and help them to understand that their commitment is not just to the next 5- 8 summers but also to all of the in between times.
Runoia girls love to hit the slopes and often spend time together at Sugarloaf. Maine mountains are as great as Maine camps.Horse friends end up showing together in the Mid West
Personally it was such a treat to spend non camp, social time with our girls , an added bonus was seeing the younger and older sisters of those invited and of course our awesome camp parents. The Runoia community is truly a large family, we show up for each other and celebrate all that we individually are.
Our Camp Runoia alumnae also love getting together and have spring gatherings coming up. March 31st in Boston and April 7th in DC. It is a great opportunity to share camp stories and fellowship. It really doesn’t matter what years you were at camp or if you even know the other women attending. The spirit of Camp Runoia transcends the generations and the connections, traditions, songs and stories are common to all.
PA gathering with “Runoia Gals”
Camp is not only about having amazing summers together on Great Pond, we truly hope that our girls will remain friends long into adulthood and will share many other lifetime experiences and memory making opportunities together. As the Runoia song says ‘camp friends for long days old friends for always.’
ay, and everyone is ready to start getting into a routine. 
