Author: Pam Cobb

Fall at Camp Runoia in Maine

Posted on by Pam Cobb

Even though you aren’t sleeping overnight at Runoia these days, camp is still here! The fall colors are gorgeous – the only problem is it is too quiet. Without girls singing and laughing and playing and shouting gleefully around camp, it is as still as the waters of Great Pond appear in this picture. Our classic Maine camp gate with it’s granite pillars is graced with fall decorations. For the sporadic visitors who come to tour resident camps this time of year in search for the perfect Maine girls camp for next summer, it’s a welcome site. In fact, if you know of any families looking for girls overnight camp in New England – do send them our way. It’s a beautiful time to see camp “campuses” and have some quality time with your friendly camp directors. If YOU want to take a trip to Maine to the outlets or to the coast, to ski in the mountains or ice fish on the lakes this winter – do stop in to see Camp Runoia!

  

Summer Camp in Maine

Posted on by Pam Cobb

OVERNIGHT CAMP IN MAINE! SLEEPAWAY CAMP IN MAINE! ALL GIRLS CAMP IN MAINE!

Beyond lobsters, lighthouses and loons, Maine has been a summer home to thousands of campers for well over a hundred years.

Runoia is proud to be a part of the Maine Camp Experience and perhaps MCE says it best.

Click here to see why Maine is THE place to be next summer and for summers to come.

http://www.mainecampexperience.com/Why-Maine/Vacationland

  

Reflection

Posted on by Pam Cobb

End of First Session Reflection
Camp Runoia Runoia 2012
By Elana Snow

Time at camp is surprisingly paradoxical: you learn so much in an hour that it seems like a day. Because each day is so jam-packed with boundless activities it, we cram a year’s worth of knowledge into 24-hours. Yet somehow, when it all comes to an end, it feels as if it’s gone by in a split second—lightening-bolt, finger-snap fast. So now it’s time to take a moment, which right now might feel like an hour, but will soon feel as quick as a shot at the riflery range, to reflect back on this summer.

At the beginning of the session we imparted this year’s theme. We asked that no matter who you’re close friends with, we all be allies for one another. Over the course of the last three weeks I have watched as Camp Runoia girls have worked to make this dream theme a reality. I’ve seen girls spotting each other on the ropes course, boosting fellow campers over walls and cheering each other on as they embark on individual climbs. I’ve seen girls give each other riding tips at the barn and cheer each other up when they placed lower than they may have wanted. I’ve seen girls swim across the high seas, over to Oak Island as counselors paddled alongside them, supporting their every stroke. I’ve seen girls brave their fears, stand up in front of a crowd of their peers to share their melodic voices, tickle the ivories or amp up their drama chops as swashbuckling pirates. In response, I’ve seen girls jump into standing ovations, laugh their hearts out and run up to a friend with a congratulatory hug. Reflecting on all of these moments one word comes to mind: unity. Clearly, we have surpassed just being allies to each other, coming together as one group, one supportive unit, a community of caring, nurturing, open, loving women.

Last Sunday we sat at the waterfront, singing songs that have echoed across the shores of Great Pond for over one hundred years. As we were uplifted, so were the wings of a Heron that flew gracefully over to the Marjory and landed near our shore. Though we were clearly in awe of the Heron’s beauty, so too was it in awe of our united voices. For those who don’t know, the Heron’s nickname world-round is “Shypoke.” This is because of its rather elusive and fearful manner. A quick noise or loud sound is apt to scare the Heron away. But last Sunday, rather than flying away in fear of the boisterous humans on shore, the Heron sat by, listening to our voices combine into one beautiful, united, allied form. Though we felt treated to the sight of the Heron, somehow it too seemed to appreciate our gift of song.  So as you depart Runoia tomorrow, please remember the lesson of the Heron: pull yourself towards people who are supportive; connect yourself communally to those who are around you; be a Runoia ally to people even beyond our perimeter. Take a little piece of Runoia back with you and perhaps you’ll continue giving and receiving gifts of wonder, magic and beauty throughout the course of the coming year, until you can make your way back to the shores of Great Pond once again.

Anticipation

Posted on by Pam Cobb

Arriving soon
New friends
Time to try new things
Incredible excitement
Campers are coming!
Imagine floating on Great Pond
Packing
Almost here
Travelling
Ideal way to spend your summer
Organizing paperwork!
Nearly time!

Here in Maine the long anticipated spring crept in early and we greeted its arrival with great happiness. After the barren days of winter the smallest signs of new life were heralded everyday with much excitement and joy.  From the daffodils and peepers to the budding leaves and lilacs each day brings something new that seems to have magically grown while we were sleeping.

Our days at camp are rapidly approaching too and each day now brings us one closer to our time together on Great Pond.  The subtle preparations for being at camp are beginning, perhaps writing to a new friend, thinking about school ending, deciding what to pack, buying supplies and ordering new uniforms.  At camp the grass is already a bright green, the winter debris is being picked up and Pam is hunting daily for the illusive and rare lady slippers that grow around the Lodge.  We are preparing for the arrivals of our staff and campers, gathering in paperwork, ordering equipment, putting the final tweaks on program improvements and generally spending hours each day checking off the list all of the things that need to be done before June.  Each day we are getting a little more excited about it finally being ‘summer.’

We shall try to contain our excitement as we head into June and cannot wait to see all of our 2012 community gathered at camp.

More information about the rare and endangered Lady slippers http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mnap/features/cyprari.htm

R-E-A-D, R-E-A-D, B-double O-K, Books!

Posted on by Pam Cobb

Reading is part of our lives at camp. Our Basket Weaving instructor and stealth social worker embraced the “Explore 30” program at Runoia. Camps were given the opportunity by the American Camp Association to partner with publishers to encourage out-of-school-time reading 30 minutes a day. By the time summer rolled around she had us chanting a book cheer “R-E-A-D, R-E-A-D, B double O K, BOOKS!”. And at every morning meeting we were playing an interactive “word of the day” vocabulary building game.

Summer is rolling around and we are expanding the reading program at Runoia. We are adding a book club in 2012 and havetwo books picked out for the summer, The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart and Hoot by Carl Hiassen. The concept of the book club is: “join in at any meeting, optional participation, discuss the book or come talk about what you are reading” kind of approach.

As educators, psychologists, business developers and legislators alike are looking at Out-of-School-Time and summer losses in academic achievement, camps are doing something about it.

Runoia is encouraging literacy by:

  • Creating a culture of celebrating books and reading
  • Discussing the books that people are reading
  • Running a Book Club at camp
  • Counting the number of books read (competition, you bet!)
  • Cheering books and reading
  • Reading out loud at bedtime in every age group in camp
  • Encouraging individual reading at rest time
  • Supporting girls with their summer school reading
  • Providing books for loan in our camp library (donations welcome)
  • Finding partnerships with publishers (Highlight magazine, chapter books) to share reading material with our campers
  • Connecting parents with sites like: www.amightygirl.com

As we kick off another summer of fun, friendships, songs, outdoor play, building lifelong skills AND reading, we are excited to share reading with you. Check with your library or bookstore or hop online and buy a copy of Hoot or the Mysterious Benedict Society and join us in reading this summer!

R-E-A-D, R-E-A-D – it’s a catchy cheer!

The Power of the Smile

Posted on by Pam Cobb

Recently I listened to a prominent psychologist speak about the need for positivity in communities.  Communities after all are systems and the prediction for the success of a system is the degree to which a system is positive or shows a positive outcome.  After about an hour of heavy cerebral thinking – he looked out at us and smiled – paused and smiled again – this action – simple in its gifts delivered a lasting and critical message.  SMILE!  This is the key to creating positivity in communities.  SMILE! This is the essential first step to building a positive foundation from which a community will grow.  How right he is.

Think about your daily life, do you wake up with a smile? Greet your loved ones with a smile? Smile at other drivers as you go about your day? Smile at your teachers or fellow students?  What is your first interaction with a person – a smile or not?

Many people do not see the world through a smile – they see obstacles that they must go over – through or around, their experience is not that of a positive community.  Those of us at Runoia have lived the power of the smile.  Each day campers and staff wake up to each other most often smiling – ready for the day ahead.  As we move through our day we are greeted with a smile at the dining table, the compost bucket, the Tag board, the waterfront, the barn and everywhere else in camp.  It is almost impossible to pass another member of the Runoia community and not exchange a smile.  Together we are actively participating in our communities’ successful outcome – we are sharing our joy and receiving others.

At camp we still encounter obstacles that we must over come – and yet – we know that we have others to help us through. We know this because we have shared the power of the smile with them and we know that we are CONNECTED to one another.  Connection adds to our communities’ positivity.  We have a strong belief that we are connected to those around us and that we can reach out to them to help us to move beyond our obstacles.

How lucky we are that Runoia has shown us that communities are powerful – positive and full of smiles!

In light of this, we offer up a challenge to each one of you – bring the power of the smile to your world – to all of your communities: your families, schools, offices, sports teams, grocery stores, coffee shops, friends.  Be the first to smile – encourage it in others – try to smile at everyone you meet for a whole day then a whole week, and we guarantee that not only will you feel the energy of being connected but you will change the moment for those around you.  Talk to your communities about the power of the smile and offer the challenge up to others.  See if we can bring Runoia positivity into the world.

Tomorrow morning where ever you start your day, pretend you are greeting friends at Flag Raising and SMILE away – you will love your day.

On Love and Relationships at Runoia

Posted on by Pam Cobb

At camp we often talk about the value of relationships and encourage personal interactions with people of all ages. Learning how to build relationships and cultivate friendships are great life skills that our girls work on every day. Our campers old and new will often say that camp is where you make your ‘best friends’ that ‘last forever’ and where people love you unconditionally.

At camp we live together 24/7 and share the ups and downs of everyday life; we bond on a level not often found with friends in our schools or towns.  We develop new relationships as well as build on old ones that have formed over our summers of being together in this special place.  Runoia girls will say “camp is where they are their true self” or “ at camp I am the real me”.  Relationships seem stronger and truer compared to other venues where they feel that they may have to ‘fake it’ to make the connection. Runoia friends don’t care if you area math whiz, good at soccer or like pickles they value you for who you are and the great times you have together.

Throughout the summer we share hopes and dreams, make goals and meet challenges and help each other to have the time of our lives.

Camp love is…

… a place where everyone knows your name

… because you have friends for life

… where you always have hand to hold walking down the path to the lake

… where you can be “sisters for the summer”

… a chance at starting fresh or starting where you left off last year

… S’mores

… singing “Rolling over the billows”

… hearing a loon call echoing across the lake

… feeling the glow of a Sunday Campfire

… Runoia

Happy Valentine’s Day – Share the Runoia Love – we hope your hearts are filled with anticipation for your new summer at Runoia. For returning campers: filled with the memories of summers past. And, for all: hopes and dreams for the summers to come.

Written by Alex Jackson for the Runoia Team

What Keeps You Up at Night?

Posted on by Pam Cobb

Are you plagued with thoughts like, “Are my children getting the best education? Are they eating right? How is plastic affecting my child’s health? What about the bullies that plague her life – what if she is the bully? Who is she texting on her cell phone and why does she have to sleep with said cell phone?!” Undoubtedly, the list goes on. Fortunately, a lot of professionals are writing and weighing in on some of your concerns and here are links for everyday life and a good night sleep:

Rachel Simmons with a series of “Real Girl Tips” including: the disadvantage of taking criticism too personally “Your Teacher Doesn’t Hate You” plus she has children and teens writing on her website with sound bites your daughter may like to log onto.
http://www.rachelsimmons.com/

Normal Conflict or Bullying? From Stephen Wallace’s article Susquehanna University Press: This article, specifically titled for the past holiday season, has many tips and signs of bullying which you may find helpful to explore:http://www.susqu.edu/academics/41181.asp

Are you feeling politically charged after the holidays and seeing all the junk marketed to girls? Are you outraged by young girls’ clothing and what’s being marketed to them? Hardy Girls Healthy Women is helping girls to recognize “the sexualization of girls in the media” – seven year old thongs emblazoned with “I love Rich Boys” and Marc Jacob’s perfume for girls: Oh, Lola! Don’t fear (too much), HGHW is doing something about it. Learn more about activism opportunities for your daughter (and you) at www.hghw.org

If you’ve reflected on our blog from last month (now on our website: www.runoia.com) you will feel great about your choices by reading from Psychology Today’s December issue online about how summer camp creates an advantage in college: http://my.psychologytoday.com/blog/smores-and-more/201112/creating-advantage-in-college

And can feel even better by reading Russell Roeder’s editorial “Best Gift for Kids” in the Pennlive news:http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/11/best_gift_for_kids_send_them_t.html?mid=5409

If you’re still here, reading this blog, and worried about how this is all going to come together, have a little fun with yourself by reading Katherine Ozment’s article in Boston Magazine, December issue, “Welcome to the Age of Overparenting, How I learned to let my kids be kids.”
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/boston_home_vert/articles/the_age_of_overparenting/

And, above all, get a good night sleep in 2012!

Aionur

Posted on by Pam Cobb

A thank you letter to those who have given the gift of camp…

We the recipients of this world class – life changing gift want to say thank you.  Thank you for giving us summers spent at camp.  Your gift, whether for three weeks or ten plus years, has created a place within our soul where happiness and confidence reside side by side. It is a place that we can reach into on the coldest of days and re-use the strength and light to provide for ourselves and those around us.  Perhaps you gave this gift of camp decades ago or just last summer – please know that each day we use it and cherish it.

In this age of reduced recess, iEverything, where even email is becoming passe, we are the ones who connect with our natural world at a deeper level.  We have seen sunrises and sunsets, heard the loons echoing across the lake, lived with spiders (and gotten along) learned that rain is beautiful and not an inconvenience.  We have sat with true friends, sung songs and absorbed the beauty of an evening campfire.  We have run pell-mell through fields as the evening turned to night, determined to complete the Evening Program created for us by our cherished counselors.  We have made it to the top of mountains that many do not even know exist and paddeled lakes that seem not to have any end.  We have learned to shower less, laugh more, and appreciate the joy of a true friend.  Your gift has given us all this.

We see the value in growing some of our own vegtables and protecting our trees from insects in a natural way. We know that listening to an evening story read aloud by our counselors is far more compelling than any movie or video game “they” can create.  We recognize that being a part of a larger community has responsibility, so we help clean our cabin, we set the tables and we take care of one another.

We learn skills that come in handy at the oddest of moments.  We learn how to tie bowlines, chop wood, gallop on a horse.  We stand on water skis, we swim to Oak Island in the early morning, we paddle canoes – make baskets – fly from the zip line.  We sing and dance and act in front of almost 200 people, we can whip up costumes and games out of thin air.  We can live away from our parents at a young age and THRIVE.  We can return home and amaze all who love us with our strength, determination and confidence.  We have been given the gift of camp, we are self-sufficient, caring, talented leaders who will one day also give the gift of camp.

Thank you for taking the chance to send us to camp, for helping keep us out of the growing statistics of children who do not have a relationship with the natural world.  Thank you for loving us and believing in us.

Sincerely,
All of the Camp Runoia Girls and Women since 1907