By Susan Miller

Director of Marketing/Communications

What a way to start a beautiful, blue-sky kind of summer day! Happy, expectant children being dropped off at camp, converging at Stockwell Field for the start of activities. They gather in little clusters, chatting joyously, feeling excited about the day ahead. So much to do … archery, arts & crafts, land sports, science, swimming, cooking, fishing, etc. They each carry backpacks filled with things like water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray, a bathing suit, a towel. What they don’t have packed are electronic games or cell phones. No need! A day at camp will provide all the entertainment and connection they could possibly require.

But first, before the fun begins, there’s important, solemn business to attend to. The counselors summon the kids to the flagpole and give the universal camp signal for quiet. The American Flag is slowly raised as the campers recite a respectful Pledge of Allegiance. And then they sing the Stockwell camp song, making the sign of the Y (for YMCA, of course) with their fingers: “Here we are Lake Stockwell Day Camp; Spirit, Body, Mind. Whether staff or whether camper, happiness you’ll find. With each day comes new adventures, fun for you and me. Stockwell Day Camp is the only place I want to be.”

After that, it’s off with their respective Villages – Shawnee, Iroquois, Mohawk, Algonquin, Explorers, etc. (17 in all!) – where they begin their action-packed days. Even on Day 2 of a camp week, seasoned Stockwell kids and new campers alike know words, concepts and places that they didn’t know before: Buddy Check. Chipwich. Cherokee Beach. The Road. Walla Walla. Gaga. The Bowl. The Swamp. The Dining Hall. Stockwell Lodge. Chapel Island. The Nature Cabin. The Trading Post. Ah, and the iconic Pretzel Melt.

Whether Stockwell campers are here for a week, for several weeks or all summer long, they leave here with a lot: New friends and/or even better friends. The pleasure of living in the moment. A sense of independence and accomplishment. A community where they truly belong. The value of having good character and helping others. An appreciation for nature. A connection to professional role models. The confidence to try something new.

Getting to observe camp from the sidelines is a pleasure and a privilege.  I’ll keep watching what’s happening and passing it along, so please stay tuned to our camp blog!