Classes, Picking Teams, First Team Meeting

The first full morning of camp meant that after breakfast, everyone had a place to be to qualify for swimming, riding, and whatever else was offered. It was a great time to explore camp, learning where the classes were, and getting to know your cabin mates. And don't forget going straight to the Freds to sweep, clean the toilets, pick up trash inside & out, clean the showers, stock toilet paper, etc. 

Lunch in the dining hall brought fun and games, cabin songs, camp songs, and picking your peanut pal! Remember the Peanut Party? Remember Mrs. Bernhart and Nursie Jan pinching the peanuts and putting them on their ears for earrings?

After rest hour, everyone gathered in Craft Park to choose for teams: Nolichuckies & Wataugas. If you had a mother or sister who attended, you were able to be on the same team or be drawn to be on the opposite. For cousins & friends, having your name drawn depended on how even your age group is. Many fingers were crossed in hopes of being on the team that was built up prior to attending. Once teams were selected, they parted and made their way to the first team meetings where officers were elected, cheers were taught, and a briefing about the cup and what counts toward winning it!

Let the camp activities begin! Signing up for classes followed team meetings. The smallest children went first. Campers spent time looking for the familiar classes, familiar faces of staff or friends, and the staff watched the eager faces come in pairs many times so that best friends could take all their activities together. Then it was rush back to the cabin, see who signed up for the same classes, and pin them up to your wall next to your bunk.

All these were such happy memories. These events still take place. Someone who hasn't stepped on the property in 20 years could find their way around and blend right in no matter what time of day. Even the weekly schedule is the same, including tonight's first campfire. I'll leave you with that memory, the dark open sky with the stars closer than being in civilization, the sounds of the embers and the logs falling from the tee pee set up, the teams sitting in a semicircle, and really sharing what Camp Monterey is all about. May your day be as glorious as days like this.

First Day of Camp!

Here it is, Tuesday morning, June 12. The wake up bell, aide bell and flag bell have rung. This is the day that all the campers arrive! Since Friday, the staff have been working in their departments getting things set up, moving all the cabin bunks and mattresses from the center of the cabin into some nice formation on the inside perimeter,  attending staff meetings to bring everyone up to speed about the summer expectations, and of course having the campers and available staff hovering around the office porch to help the arriving campers get to their cabins and set up.

Remember the excitement seeing the returning friends come, new faces arrive in uncertainty, and all the parents and family members who came from civilization wearing nice clothes, make up and their hair done? Cars would begin to line the Fun Field. Trunks, sleeping bags, duffel bags, and odds and ends bringing up the rear would make their way from the car to the cabin. Be sure and look on the cabin list to make sure you're heading to the right cabin.

By lunch, about a third of the camp was in place. After rest hour, the cattle truck started rolling in with each new load of campers. Everyone was laughing, screaming with joy, and you knew camp had arrived. It wasn't until flag line at night that camp was here! The first day of school was always good, but there's nothing like the first day of camp.

Enjoy these memories! Remember what an impact Camp Monterey had on you. And find some way to get back for a visit, on staff, to send your girl, to host Camp movies, or to tell someone else about Camp Monterey. I couldn't imagine NOT having it!

This morning the weather is cloudy, about 60 degrees in town (50s at Camp), damp, slightly breezy, and rain is expected. Remember to wear your blues & whites today. Grab a rain poncho and some rain boots or your duck shoes.