Ah! Those days of unplugged summer are 6 months behind or ahead of us as we are deep in the busy holiday season.
Merry. Joyful. Happy.
Sometime it’s hard to muster the thought!
As we race around trying to “get ‘er done” and “just survive” here are some ideas for getting more out of less. From child centered events that make the holiday season special to mindfulness exercises for children, organize and take a moment to have a merrier time. Also, let’s realize adults aren’t the only ones that get stressed. The mindfulness exercises and/or body scans for children are a great way to help children decompress and allow them to enjoy what they have rather than wishing for what they don’t have!
Among the many parenting blogs, MommyPoppins.com has a decent list of holiday events from Channuka to Christmas. Go to Mommypoppins.com and choose “By Area”. Not to stress you out, lol, but tree lightings are happening around the US in the next few days. For example, here’s Westchester area listings:
Before and after you plan your excursions, craft projects, secret gifting and more holiday fun, spend some time on the Mindful site at mindful.org. There are simple and fabulous ideas for winding down to get more enjoyment and civility (!) among siblings and in the family:
I have a good life. I travel, meet interesting people and my job is never boring. Last summer I spent a weekend at Camp Runoia, celebrating its 110th anniversary. Now THAT was the highlight of my year and I know now, that one day I will be a camp counselor again.
I spent twelve summers of my formative at Camp Runoia in Belgrade Lakes. In those days, the program was eight weeks, camp was like a bigger and more diverse version of my own family and I loved every minute of it. It is where I understood the real meaning of living with other people, discovered lasting friendships and the value of respect. So, a whole weekend with a group of women whom had been my role models, my teammates and my friends growing up was a treat.
To the observing eyes, in this case those of my husband, the years had not taken their toll on our enthusiasm for our camping days. But most importantly, there was an invisible bond that time had left unbroken. No words needed. We knew that we could count on one another at any given time just like we used to when the lake got rough on a long canoeing trip or on the quest for a sympathetic ear.
What I realized going back to camp after so many years was that the happiness I felt and the sense of belonging driving through the Runoia gate, was just as strong as it had been 30 years ago, it was like coming home. So it came as no surprise to my husband when I told him we would be stopping by the real estate office in Belgrade Lakes on our journey back.
Runoia Alumna and Guest Blogger, Marie-Claude Francoeur
That’s me in the wetsuit… I had a much better time on the swim to Oak Island (and back) than this picture portrays!
Camp Runoia has a tradition of the losing team cheering the team who wins. It’s almost a game to see who can cheer first. Who thinks of others before themselves? Who praises a job well done? And who accepts defeat with humble gratitude to all the players who helped the team get as far as they could? The value of children learning how to lose graciously or win with good sportsmanship builds life long skills.
Accepting the outcome of a swim race, an official’s call on the softball field or the fact that the wind wasn’t blowing enough to have a sailing race at all, is part of managing disappointment. Celebrating victory and a job well done is also part of daily life at camp. Placing in a horse show or not placing in the top six spots and learning how to ask your friend who is staring down defeat, “how did you ride today? Were you happy with your ride” rather than focus on “did you get a blue ribbon”. The examples go on and on… Cheering on someone else’s success for getting up on water skis when you are still struggling. Learning how to frame a win or a loss or a success or defeat is practiced at camp every day.
The ultimate learning experience may be admitting when the Gaga ball hits your foot and you’re out but no one saw it. Ethics is doing the right thing even when no one else is looking. Camp teaches this kind of self-governed morality. Without a doubt, the culture of camp affects who we become in so many ways.
At Runoia, this “win-win, you tried your best, go back out and try again” culture is pervasive beyond field sports. You learn how to humbly congratulate the actor for getting the lead role when you didn’t. You smile and congratulate the artist who gets tops votes for their art piece when yours didn’t get many at all. Perhaps you even study what they did and learn from their success. Your cabin group works together to get the best score in cabin clean up. If someone is not as good as sweeping as you, you help them out, teach them how to do a better job. Better for all.
Making do with what your have or changing and trying harder and doing better the next time is all part of camp outcomes. How fortunate are we to be in a position where this happens day after day for a session or a season and hopefully year after year? Very.
The way Runoia gals cheer the winning team with a “Bobo” or “Kemo” is tradition. We cherish the way Blues and Whites hug each other on our final Cotillion night when the summer scores are revealed and campers find out who won the competition. Again, tradition.
We could all learn a thing or two from the campers and staff who play together well. Building life long skills through the camp experience is more than just fun and games on a lake in Maine.
I truly love living in Maine, mostly because of the distinct change in the seasons. Remember I grew up in England where 50 and drizzly is the most common year round weather! Each season in Maine has unique offerings and a diversity of outdoor activities that are specific to it. While the summer and overnight camp is obviously top of my list each other season has it’s own feel and events to look forward to.
Fall is truly a quick change, from long, warm summer days by the lake to days that become crisp, cool and seem suddenly so much shorter. Early Saturday soccer matches are often spent wrapped in a fleece blanket to ward off the chill and what would be E.P time at camp is already PJ’s and a book time.
There is certainly at this time of year more leisure time in my schedule. I love to be out in the crisp Maine air enjoying a hike or a drive through the foliage.
One of my favorite Fall rites of passage is to go apple picking. There are many local orchards and we often go a few times just to make sure that we hit all of our favorites spots. The bakery at a couple of places is an added incentive. The picking doesn’t take too long but sorting and figuring out what to make afterwards is often an enjoyable all-day event. Some apples are designated for eating, we always make plenty of cinnamon apple sauce, apple crisp is a big favorite and then we enjoy scouring Pinterest for random recipes to use up the rest.
I often wish that camp lasted into these late September days so we could share the bounty of Maine with our Runoia family. Wherever you are I hope that you Fall is fun and filled with quality family time and outdoor fun.
I spent this past weekend at the annual retreat for my women’s chorus. It was a beautiful Maine weekend and we stayed at a camp by the coast with the typical set up of bunks and group dining. I have been a member of this group for ten years and enjoy spending time with a diverse group of women whose only true commonality is their love of choral singing.
Team building
During the two day weekend we were challenged musically, engaged socially and built community together. For many of the women being away from the comforts of home with a group of people they don’t know all that well is quiet a step out of their comfort zone. Not unlike the first day of camp at Runoia we played name games, shared details about ourselves that others did not know and worked together in order to break through some of our nervous reservations.
I am always amazed by the outcomes that happen in such a short space of time. By the second night most of the group had the confidence to participate in the ‘talent’ show and had bonded in a unique way. It seems that when we can put aside the rigors and familiarities of our everyday lives then we are more able to open ourselves to stretching the boundaries of our comfort zones.
Talent show!
At Runoia we challenge our girls every day to step beyond the safety of their comfort zone. Even for the adults and regardless of how many summers they have spent on Great Pond they are also stretched and push the limits of their own comfort zone. A sleep away experience provides us all with an opportunity to grow both individual and as a great part of the whole group. Seeing what a group of sometimes reluctant to participate middle aged women got out of two days at ‘camp’ reinforced for me how life changing a session at Runoia can be for young girls.
While I am certainly already counting down the days to Runoia 2017 and seeing my summer family again I am glad to have had the opportunity to continue being challenged in a different group which is just as dear to my heart.
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
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!
Camp Runoia has a tradition of the losing team cheering the team who wins. It’s almost a game to see who can cheer first. Who thinks of others before themselves? Who praises a job well done? And who accepts defeat with humble gratitude to all the players who helped the team get as far as they could? The value of children learning how to lose graciously or win with good sportsmanship builds life long skills.
