What does camp as socializing agents mean and why does it matter? Coming together at camp, where everyone is treated equally levels the playing field no matter what neighborhood you live in or school you attend. When you spend a few weeks of your year with peers and older and younger children where you live together, play together and work things out together, try new things together or support someone else trying something new – you get to know people very well.
When you spend your days overcoming a challenge together – be it scaling a difficult mountain, crossing the “Peanut Butter Pit” or righting a capsized sailboat, the experience draws you closer. When you spend the summer living in a cabin group where everything from sharing the duties of “shack” clean up to planning for a competition for Evening Program and then having an evening dance party together afterwards makes you a team.
Sports and Team Building Build Lifelong Friends
Getting out of socialization cycles means walking in someone else’s shoes or at least glimpsing what that walk for someone else may be like in their world outside of camp. Creating allies at camp with thoughts and feelings like “I’ve got your back” or “I’m a stand-up girl helping another girl” lets children understand through experience that they can affect change and not create enemies because of differences. It teaches them they
can be part of the solution. Sure, our girls have conversations about prejudice; unequal pay for equal work for women, Black Lives Matter and other important social topics and just being at camp makes a difference; being with a group of different people in a culture where everyone is respected and everyone gets a turn makes a difference. Camp is a place where everyone eats the same food, sleeps in the same cabins, uses the same bathrooms. There is no social-economic advantage at camp. You do your morning job and look forward to the fun activities and learning you’ll experience with your friends on any given day.
We’ve talked a lot about camp being a place where people can be their true selves, where the value of camp has increased due to aspects like “unplugging” and building 21st century skills. Now add to that as the United States experiences a new era of civil rights, campers are talking about what’s it like to grow up in a my neighborhood, why strong female characters are an important part of growing up and why role models make a difference in our lives – that’s value added that grows better citizens as well as profound experiences together.
If you’d like to explore ideas about teaching your children about social justice and why it matters, check out this article from Edutopia and American Camp Association’s idea of camps as social justice platforms or perhaps you are a teacher or youth educator? Check out 10 activities to work with youth on social justice:
Making the world a better place, one camper at a time!
From organizing her day and committing to her program choices, a Runoia girl learns how to clean, organize, plan, be accountable and be on time, dressed and ready for each different activity.
Whether in a sailboat, on the ropes course, creating an impromptu skit, building a boat that can float from a few precious materials or working on the camp play, she experiences many activities. Activities that require collaboration with friends and co-campers. Creative and innovative thinking go hand in hand when she is working on a team or individual camp project.
Soccer Skills and Fitness at Camp!
Walking around camp, participating in activities, running during games, playing different sports and most importantly not being ferried around by car or golf cart improves her fitness, builds muscle and tone and prepares her for fall sports. Speaking of sports, she have the chance to improve skills in sports through small group sports practice at camp: swimming, tennis, running, riding, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking and more!
Theater Program – a Musical Caberet at Runoia 2016!
R-E-A-D – “I said a book read a book!” Runoia celebrates reading, has a book club, a word of the day and cabin groups read aloud every night! Out of school time analysts have proven that the diminishing returns of summer out of school time and lack of learning, reading and STEM is cause for concern in the US. Reading is part of everyday life and culture at Runoia.
Other STEM related activities happen daily: calculating points of sail, counting up target scores, estimating strides between jumps and pushing your horse to meet them, anticipating the arc of a tennis bounce and more all happens at camp and helps prepare children for re-entry to the school year. Our eight arts programs help children to explore creativity in different media from pottery to batik, wood burning to crafts, wood working to stained glass and more!
As a Runoia camper navigates her daily program and activities, she also encounters many different social situations, people she interacts with, adults who provide her clear instruction and feed back and she has an opportunity to learn with joy and ambition and without fear of humiliation or shame.
Perusing the Camper Art Gallery at Camp
Trying new things without fear of failure, learning from mistakes, building skills in new area all are positive brain stimulants leading to increased aptitude, skill and self esteem. So in addition to being a lot of fun, sleepaway camp at Runoia is a profound experience for our Runoia gals that helps her to build life long skills and return to school a bit stronger and a lot wiser!
Our Runoia season ended in a whirlwind – the White Team was victorious, the cotillion fire was bright, the “see you laters” and “farewells”, hugs and tears were heavy and overall the memories of the summer are emblazoned in our minds.
What happens after camp? While many families vacation and return home to prepare for pre-season sports and school, Camp Runoia is still busy with events around the lakes in August.
Weekend One after camp: Runoia alumnae came from far and near to gather by the shores of Great Pond for a celebration of the 110th summer and re-connections and new connections. Some came to see what camp is like now and some came to enjoy the peacefulness and calm, sit by a campfire, read the Logs and sing camp songs.
Singing around the Camp Fire at Runoia’s Reunion
Others came to fulfill their part of fundraising for the Betty Cobb Campership Fund and make the now famous swim to Oak Island part of their fund raising feather in a (swim)cap.
The Famous Oak Island Swim – now a Campership Fund Raiser!
Weekend Two: Cobb family and friends descend upon camp for a relaxing and fun filled weekend. ’nuff said.
Gathering Before the Race at the Runoia Beach
Family Fun
Weekend Three: The Great Pond Yacht Club holds the annual “Hurricane Cup” at Camp Runoia. Super fun sailing with 15 boats in the race this year. https://greatpondyachtclub.com/
Weekend Four: Coming up! The Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance will held the 7th annual “Run for the Lakes” From Runoia’s gate. An out and back 5K, professionally timed event. Find your registration info here:
In the middle of August Camp Runoia hosted its 110th reunion. Some 150 women young and old came from far and near and wallowed in the warmth of friendships and happy memories.
Runoia Gals from Far and Near Returned for the 110th Reunion
I’ve been thinking about camp, and the weekend, and camp, and friends, and camp…. I thought about how so many of us keep coming back, sometimes after years of absence, but still we come….and I thought about what it is that makes this happen. I realize it’s because Runoia really is “home” to people. Not home like where our parents live, but home in the sense that it’s where we feel safe, where we can be ourselves without pretense, where we are accepted for who we are and we get to shed our veneers and tear down our walls, it’s where we can laugh and cry with enthusiasm and without fear of judgement. It’s where we feel alive and secure and joyful.
The Camp Runoia Alumnae Organization raised $123,000 for the Betty Cobb Campership Fund in honor of this event. I hope people will continue to give generously forever onward so that lots of young girls who couldn’t otherwise afford it will be able to know these feelings years from now when they come back for Reunions.
Thank you Jody!
From Jody Sataloff, Past President of the CRAO and many other amazing accomplishments!
It’s Sports Week! What some camps call Color War, Runoia calls Sports Week. The short story is we have kicked, run, raced, swum, jumped, trotted, shot arrows, competed, played hard and played like a girl!
On top of it, we have had birthday parties, Evening Programs of “Create Your Own Country”, Pillow Football, Birthday Bash, Build A Boat to Float Contest, Talent Show, Runoia Caberet, Graduation Dinner and a Camp Fire with the theme of What Camp Friendships Mean to You.
Here are some of the pictures to tell the story:
Our Dear Trip Leaders (Some of Them)!Birthday Table Groups by Shacks!The Runoia Play was a Medley Cabaret!Blue White Horse Show
The Epic Oak Island Swim
Blue White Swim RacesBlue and White Team Captains Second SessionJunior Soccer PlayersThe Pine Tree in the Back Shows it’s a Maine Peach!Coco Crisp Enjoys his 10th Summer at Runoia and Gets His Own Blanket
The weeks have flown by this summer. It’s impossible to believe two weeks of our final session have ended today. The good news? Tomorrow is another full week of camp! That means another week of majors, another week of trips in the beautiful state of Maine, more Blue White competition and team captain elections. More fun evening programs, skill building, poignant moments, beautiful sunsets, friendships strengthened, life long skills and memories created and let’s face it, more amazing desserts! Today when almost all of us were in camp, we took our “formal” photos for the Log and in fact, Jeanne’s word of the day today was the word formal! She’s so clever.
This past week we have had a counselor hunt, a beach party and Ms. Tacky Runoia with Tori and Charlotte taking the Jr. and Sr. crowns.
Harmony Land Camp, our new camp for 7 & 8 year olds ended this week and our 5 little friends departed – we can’t wait to see them next summer again!
Yesterday we had 25 campers plus wonderful and helpful counselors run a 5K to support our local library. Yay Runoia runners!
Runoia Runners at the Belgrade Library 5 K
Some of our full season campers attended the Lupine Farm horse show in Vassalboro, Maine. Congrats to all who attended and participated. Here’s a snapshot of some of those who were there! Go Runoia Riders!
A few brave Runoia girls who have been training and working all summer attended Junior Maine Guide Test Camp this week; a five day encampment where our campers camp together, cook meals together and are tested on skills ranging from their encampment and food to
JMG Candidates at Testing Camp
map and compass, solo canoe, fire building, ax work, environmental essay, tree identification, first aid and more. It’s a grueling and wonderful week. This week 69 campers and CITs from over 8 Maine camps participated and tested their knowledge and skills. More information on the JMG program is available here
More trips including 6th and 7th shacks and 3rd and 4th shacks went out and returned to Bigelow (backpacking on the famous Appalachian Trail), Flagstaff Lake, Oak Island trip on Great Pond and a Camden Hills trip to the beautiful coast of Maine. Day trips included Senior Village and Ocho to Popham Beach and 4th shack to Morse Mt. hike through the salt marshes to the beach at the Morse Mt. Bates College conservation area.
Today we’ve played a lot of sports and enjoyed the lake as well including a special event of Blue White Archery Tournament to end the week and begin another! Shoot well Runoia Archers!
What an exciting weekend we have had. Here are the news headlines:
Runoia boats joined in the Great Pond Yacht Club race on Saturday and placed impressively!
A couple Runoia riders entered the local Northwood Cross Country Derby with practice on Saturday and showtime on Sunday. Well done Cate and Natalie!
Junior Maine Guide candidates departed on Sunday for their week long testing camp.
A few of our girls had lunch with author Susan Lynn Meyer! All of our Junior Campers had a rest hour reading with Susan and a Q&A session for curious writers.
Lunch with Author Susan Lynn Meyer
Runoiawarts opened at Camp Runoia with wand making, spell casting practice, bangers and mash, owl hunting and other wizardry.
Jousting Fun as Part of our Harry Potter Day!Peter Boie entertains big with Ellie!
The icing on the cake was our new friend, Peter the Magician AKA Peter Boie who stupefied us with magic tricks to end the evening.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes…Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear. How do you measure, measure a year?
If you are familiar with the Broadway smash “Rent,” you may be singing along.
For Runoia, the question is how to measure and capture the opportunities and adventures of each day, week and session!
In the last few days, there definitely has been plenty of moments of friendship and personal growth!
From the 5th Shack’s adventures hiking Saddleback or canoeing Aziscohos, to Ochos challenge of taking on climbing Maine’s highest peak, Katahdin, or canoeing along Mooselookmeguntic Lake, growth is measured in miles, laughter and even some strife.
As some Runoia girls headed out to explore all that Maine offers, others embarked on skill development and simply new explorations as they chose, or “tagged up,” the activities – from archery to basket weaving to sailing – they wished to pursue with the moments they have here on the shores of Great Pond.
Speaking of Great Pond, Runoia girls persevered (one of our words of the day as we inspire/support reading every day!) as they tackled -and succeeded – in swimming to Oak Island.
Friendships grew and were supported beyond team colors as the Blues and Whites took to friendly competitions and traditions competing against each other in softball, swim races, kickball and even a horse show!
Adding laughter to many moments, campers could be found enjoying evening programs together including “backyard games” (when is the last time you played “kick the can?”), and the very popular “counselor hunt” (think hide and seek but with counselors hiding and an amazing group of girls on the hunt!). Evening activities included some special moments including senior dinner, crackers and milk by the lake as the sun sank behind the mountains, and even a surprise evening swim for all of camp on one of the hottest days of the session.
Smiles? Laughter? In truths that she learned? And in many, many miles…
It’s been a season of joy, learning and certainly friendship on the shores of Great Pond.
Hi Families! What’s on our mind about news today is the events of the past week. New in 2016, we are posting our news here in the blog rather than sending home a paper newsletters. Enjoy!
Runoia Girls Learn All Day!
Camp started off with the most amazing and beautiful whether we have ever had. Activities roared into high gear as campers were eager to climb, ride, sail, hike, make art, play tennis, do archery and riflery, windsurf, canoe, kayak and head out on trips.
Trips headed to the wilderness this week included: 6th shack backpacking on Saddleback and canoers paddled on Umbagog. Saddleback is on the famous Appalachian Trail and Umbagog is a quiet lake on the Canadian border.
Runoia Gals Exploring Maine
The 2nd Shack crew had a lovely evening at Fairy Ring and enjoyed S’mores for dessert. 4th Shack canoed to Oak Island and camped out enjoying pizza soup, pancakes in the morning and returned in time to go to major classes.
Do you know what your daughter’s major was this past week? Major classes run 5 periods over the week allowing your daughter to build progressive skills in the activity. If news is slow to come from your daughter.
Majors at Runoia are MAJOR!
Reflection: Have you been tuned into the Growth Mindset in education. Growth vs Fixed Mindset is inspiring teachers in the classrooms across the country and guess what????? Growth mindset has been a thing at youth camps for over 100 years! Reflection and intentionality, including personal accountability, are tools we use at the beginning of our majors week (goal setting) and reflection happens at the end of most classes and “circle up” is part of the end of the day in shack groups throughout camp. Taking the time to set goals, reflect on what was accomplished and re-think what you want to accomplish next cements the learning process into lifelong skills.
Here’s one educators take on Growth Mindset: We at Runoia proudly believe in camp as a key part of youth development and building 21st century skills. Read our blog on Why Camp? AND – we have fun this week! This week in Evening Program we played
Ta da! Prestidigitation – a word of the day this week!
Run Sheepy Run, had Lip Synching contests, Song Trivia, The Laundry Bag Game, Mostest, Broom Hockey, Gaga Tournaments, Chill Out EP and more!
Happy Fourth of July! We can’t wait to share with you what we experience after another full week of camp!
