Here you can read all of the Staff Bios from Camp Woodhaven 2009:
View Staff Bios
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Day One of the 2009 season - June 29, 2009
Hello, parents! Camp is off to a great start this year. Despite the liquid sunshine this week, the campers have had more dry programming space thanks to our new roof on the chapel porch. It is wonderful! So far this week, we have studied bugs, including a hissing cockroach from Madagascar. At electives, campers have played many games that children from all over the world play. They have created all kinds of clay pottery in the deco shack to which they will be applying aboriginal dot painting to later in the week. In elective arts & crafts, the children made worry dolls from Guatemala and African drums. At sports, we are playing a popular sport in many countries: soccer! There is more fun to come tomorrow! Who wants to come to our English Tea party? Or would you rather paint a blarney stone? Maybe make a beaded Leprechaun? If you did not get to try the French bowling game called Quilles, you may try it tomorrow. Wait till Friday when we get to see Andrew, the nature specialist, battle it out with his sensei in the Japanese marshal art form called laido. The staff will also be making dishes for you to sample from their countries of origin. We will celebrate our country’s birthday by exploring cultures and traditions of the Americans who call this country home.
I would like to introduce you to the wonderful staff who take care of your children each day. Please read this document to learn a little more about them. They are a gifted group and have much to share with our campers. We will post their bios in a separate post.
Remember to check for tics when your camper comes home. There are many deer roaming around the camp at night, which helps the little critters travel. It is best to be vigilant.
We will be hosting our usual Thursday Overday tomorrow. If you need to sign up your child, the form is available on the website with the other registration paperwork or you can fill in the form below. Just fax it in before 1:00PM.
OVERDAY
On THURSDAY, we offer our first Overday program this summer from 4:30 to 8:00 P.M. for $20. Campers have an evening program that includes hotdogs or pizza (depends on the weather, the numbers and at this point, how many dogs we have left after lunch) for dinner, a camp fire sing-a-long and s’mores from 7-8 pm. Parents and families are invited to attend this camp celebration from 7-8 pm. Overday will take place rain or shine. Just a reminder, our buses leave camp at 4:30 daily so our bus riding children attending Overday will need to be picked-up by you from camp by 8:00 pm. If your children are not pre-registered for this program, sign them up now as our numbers for this program are steadily increasing. Please return the attached sign-up sheet with your method of payment. Even if you are pre-paid, we still need the permission slip. Thanks!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____________________ OVERDAY PERMISSION SLIP – THURSDAY, July 2, 2009
I give permission for __________________ (my child) to attend the July 2nd Overday at Camp Woodhaven. I understand dinner will be provided. My child has [ ] No or the following dietary restrictions:_____________________________________________________________
CAMPER’S NAME:____________________________________________GROUP_____________
Parent Name__________________ Parent Signature________________Emergency PH:___________
PLEASE PRINT
[ ] Prepaid for Overday
Method of payment: check, or credit card (Visa/MC or Discover)
Name on credit card_____________________________________________________
Credit card billing address________________________________________________
Credit Card #__________________________________________________________
Expiration Date:________________________________________________________
Trading Post is open for Overday from 8:00 pm to 8:30 pm
I would like to introduce you to the wonderful staff who take care of your children each day. Please read this document to learn a little more about them. They are a gifted group and have much to share with our campers. We will post their bios in a separate post.
Remember to check for tics when your camper comes home. There are many deer roaming around the camp at night, which helps the little critters travel. It is best to be vigilant.
We will be hosting our usual Thursday Overday tomorrow. If you need to sign up your child, the form is available on the website with the other registration paperwork or you can fill in the form below. Just fax it in before 1:00PM.
OVERDAY
On THURSDAY, we offer our first Overday program this summer from 4:30 to 8:00 P.M. for $20. Campers have an evening program that includes hotdogs or pizza (depends on the weather, the numbers and at this point, how many dogs we have left after lunch) for dinner, a camp fire sing-a-long and s’mores from 7-8 pm. Parents and families are invited to attend this camp celebration from 7-8 pm. Overday will take place rain or shine. Just a reminder, our buses leave camp at 4:30 daily so our bus riding children attending Overday will need to be picked-up by you from camp by 8:00 pm. If your children are not pre-registered for this program, sign them up now as our numbers for this program are steadily increasing. Please return the attached sign-up sheet with your method of payment. Even if you are pre-paid, we still need the permission slip. Thanks!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____________________ OVERDAY PERMISSION SLIP – THURSDAY, July 2, 2009
I give permission for __________________ (my child) to attend the July 2nd Overday at Camp Woodhaven. I understand dinner will be provided. My child has [ ] No or the following dietary restrictions:_____________________________________________________________
CAMPER’S NAME:____________________________________________GROUP_____________
Parent Name__________________ Parent Signature________________Emergency PH:___________
PLEASE PRINT
[ ] Prepaid for Overday
Method of payment: check, or credit card (Visa/MC or Discover)
Name on credit card_____________________________________________________
Credit card billing address________________________________________________
Credit Card #__________________________________________________________
Expiration Date:________________________________________________________
Trading Post is open for Overday from 8:00 pm to 8:30 pm
April Vacation Camp
View Photo Album
Here's the photos from our April Vacation Camp. Vacation Camp activities centered around a tree study. The recent winter ice storm left many of the Camp Woodhaven trees damaged. Through this experience, we appreciate the trees we have left at camp. I set out to help the kids learn a little bit more about trees.
Day One: The campers took a hike to identify trees by the bark and dead leaves on the ground. They did bark rubbings of their favorite trees. We saw birch, white oaks, black oaks, red pine, white pine, sassafras, maples, and chestnuts to name a few. Later, we made homemade pretzels and covered them with sugar and ground bark (cinnamon). On our walk, we gathered acorns and fir cones to use later in the week.
Day Two: On this day, we learned about how the tree gets nutrients from the ground. It rained quite a bit on this day. We read tree poems. Then, the campers wrote their own Haiku poems about trees. We glued the poems into the center of their bark rubbings. In the afternoon, we made pancakes with yummy maple syrup.
Day Three: As you can see from our pictures, we framed their poems with the beautiful birch that fell down in the storms. We played lots of dodgeball in the rain and made log houses out of pretzels.
Day Four: The campers studied the seeds of our trees today. We used the seeds (acorns and fir cones) we collected to make little people. They were adorable! We ate apples for a snack to study yet one more type of seed.
Day Five: It was a beautiful day to be outside and study the growth rings of the tree. We counted rings from a tree that had gone down in the storm. Then, we hiked to the oldest tree. To our dismay, the top had been taken out by the storm. We made trumpets with our hands and tooted "Taps" to our fallen friend. We measured the girth of the old tree. With growth at about an inch a year, we estimated the age to be 121 years old!! We each took a turn sawing off a piece of the old tree to use in our campfire. Next, we tried to estimate the height of a very tall tree on the side of the sports field. Using a camper standing underneath the tall tree, we set up a proportion to complete the estimate. From a distance, the tree stood 10 inches tall using a ruler, and our camper was .5 inches tall. The camper was 46 inches tall. Then, we set up the proportion and solved for x, which was the height of the tree in inches. Our tree was 920 inches or about 77 feet tall. Next, we flew kites, but the wind was almost too strong. Next, we had a cookout, and the sun began to shine. In the afternoon, we planted new baby trees from the Arbor foundation. We received a few different varieties that will produce beatiful fall foliage. We look forward to these campers bringing their children back to see the trees they planted one day!
Here's the photos from our April Vacation Camp. Vacation Camp activities centered around a tree study. The recent winter ice storm left many of the Camp Woodhaven trees damaged. Through this experience, we appreciate the trees we have left at camp. I set out to help the kids learn a little bit more about trees.
Day One: The campers took a hike to identify trees by the bark and dead leaves on the ground. They did bark rubbings of their favorite trees. We saw birch, white oaks, black oaks, red pine, white pine, sassafras, maples, and chestnuts to name a few. Later, we made homemade pretzels and covered them with sugar and ground bark (cinnamon). On our walk, we gathered acorns and fir cones to use later in the week.
Day Two: On this day, we learned about how the tree gets nutrients from the ground. It rained quite a bit on this day. We read tree poems. Then, the campers wrote their own Haiku poems about trees. We glued the poems into the center of their bark rubbings. In the afternoon, we made pancakes with yummy maple syrup.
Day Three: As you can see from our pictures, we framed their poems with the beautiful birch that fell down in the storms. We played lots of dodgeball in the rain and made log houses out of pretzels.
Day Four: The campers studied the seeds of our trees today. We used the seeds (acorns and fir cones) we collected to make little people. They were adorable! We ate apples for a snack to study yet one more type of seed.
Day Five: It was a beautiful day to be outside and study the growth rings of the tree. We counted rings from a tree that had gone down in the storm. Then, we hiked to the oldest tree. To our dismay, the top had been taken out by the storm. We made trumpets with our hands and tooted "Taps" to our fallen friend. We measured the girth of the old tree. With growth at about an inch a year, we estimated the age to be 121 years old!! We each took a turn sawing off a piece of the old tree to use in our campfire. Next, we tried to estimate the height of a very tall tree on the side of the sports field. Using a camper standing underneath the tall tree, we set up a proportion to complete the estimate. From a distance, the tree stood 10 inches tall using a ruler, and our camper was .5 inches tall. The camper was 46 inches tall. Then, we set up the proportion and solved for x, which was the height of the tree in inches. Our tree was 920 inches or about 77 feet tall. Next, we flew kites, but the wind was almost too strong. Next, we had a cookout, and the sun began to shine. In the afternoon, we planted new baby trees from the Arbor foundation. We received a few different varieties that will produce beatiful fall foliage. We look forward to these campers bringing their children back to see the trees they planted one day!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
What is the Value of Camp?
By Paula DeTellis, Camp Director of Camp Woodhaven in West Boylston, MA
“I’m here because of camp,” said Joe Hubbard, the keynote speaker at the annual American Camping Association convention. Hubbard went on to explain how his experiences at camp as a shy African American child led him to become a motivational consultant and coach to the LA Rams, as well as the USC and UNLV football teams, for more than 14 years. As I listened to his testimony of the impact of camp on his professional adult life, it led me to explore the question, “What is the value of camp?” Many parents have come to me and said, “I just love camp. My kids come home exhausted and go right to bed after their dinner and shower.” Together, we have a good laugh at the video footage and pictures they have shown me of angelic, snoring children. Is there more to camp than good exercise? What is the intrinsic value of the camp experience for your child? Let me share with you a few key life skills I see developed in campers every year.
Community Minded: In a world that is increasingly “me” centered, campers learn the benefit of belonging to a community. They see that a community is not a place or location, but the people who share experiences together. It is a place for them to feel safe and be themselves. The camp community becomes something they belong to forever, and just like a family, they are always welcome to come home.
Service Oriented: Service is honored in the camp setting. Whether the campers serve another camper or help clean up from activities, we encourage and reward their acts of service.
Environmental Awareness: The close proximity of camp to nature is very important toward their understanding of the impact of waste and human interaction on the environment. Campers build a relationship with and love for the land. They learn that they are the God appointed caretakers of the land. Our camp has some specimens of rare native wildflowers which campers can learn to recognize and to protect their habitat.
Teamwork Centric: The adventure specialist area focuses on activities that teach teamwork and the benefit of working together to achieve goals. They learn to recognize the value of each person on the team. The campers experience the thrill of team spirit as they are part of their group. Problem solving experience allows them to see how shared ideas can parlay into an even better idea.
Developed Social Skills: Campers get lots of practice meeting new people. The camp uses ice breakers and teaches them how to make new friends. Campers are also coached to use their words to express their needs, happiness, or frustration. Once campers have the verbal mastered, they move on to learn the value of eye contact and a friendly smile. They also find out about the power of body language.
Resourceful: Hands on projects show campers how to gather materials and create something without running to the store to buy a kit. They are encouraged to use creative problem solving to fix a problem or make a prop. Recycling is encouraged as campers make new old out of something old. Waste is discouraged.
Ease in Crossing Cultures: Campers get to meet and interact with people from other cultures. They get comfortable talking to and forming relationships with people from other backgrounds. They enjoy programming that explores traditions in art, storytelling, sports, and music from other countries. These are essential as participants in a global economy.
Good Listeners: Campers work on good listening skills as they receive instruction from multiple staff members. Group time allows them to find value in listening to the other campers as they take turns speaking during sharing times. They learn to enjoy the sounds of nature and to appreciate silence as a time to listen as God speaks to our hearts.
Communicators: As campers move beyond the basic verbal social skills, they become more confident in sharing their ideas and instructing other campers. They also show an ability to communicate their feelings, hopes, and goals. They offer eloquent feedback to the camp staff, a sign of great initiative, mental processing, and ability to make clear judgments.
Confident: The most important confidence a camper develops is the confidence to try. Campers are encouraged to try each activity even if they do not feel like they can do it well or they have never done it before. This is the victory that opens a child to a lifetime of learning and insatiable curiosity.
Values Character & Integrity: Campers learn the peace that exists when everyone acts with integrity. Activities throughout camp encourage the development of good character traits in your child. Chapel and devotions carry this a step farther to show campers that God is our strength when it is difficult to make good choices and that by “loving our neighbor as we love ourselves” we show God that we love and honor Him.
Skilled Presenters: Campers get very skilled in performing in front of people. They practice this as they take turns leading songs with their groups during the flag ceremony. They also perform at the Thursday Overday campfire circle, variety show for the parents, and sometimes for chapel skits. Over time, they develop their ability to become more animated and dynamic in their presentation and discover the thrill that occurs when the audience responds.
Faith Filled: Many people spend years searching to fill the empty space in their hearts that only a relationship with God can fill. Campers learn to experience God in the every day. We encourage them to express worship and gratitude individually and as a community.
What essential qualities to the making of a successful person! This inventory of traits looks like a laundry list of leadership qualifications. It is no wonder that people with camp experience are often hired first. These skills are not guaranteed to come with a university education, but come with lots of hands on practice.
I believe these essential elements culminate into one thing: PASSION. Just observe our Leaders in Training participants, many of whom have grown up at camp. You will find passion in their midst, and it is contagious! My husband, George, says this about passion, “Passion leads to Vision and Vision leads to Destiny.” Clearly, this explains the camper success stories of individuals such as Joe Hubbard. What is the value of camp you ask? It is PRICELESS!!
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