CAMP HAS BEGUN!!!

“Really me? I can’t believe it; I am so honored,” were the excited words of Dori a 15-year-old third year camper selected to light the 2016 opening campfire at Circle F Dude Ranch Camp. Her contagious positive attitude mixed with an amazing approach to camp made her the perfect representative to be honored with the opening of our camp season. Months of planning, weeks of training, and days of final preparations came together in that moment. The mission of Respect, Inspire, Play, Positive Thinking, Leadership and Engagement came alive as campers and counselors began to interact. Sunday proved to be a day of both happy reunions and the start of new friendships as campers found their way to cabins. With swim and health checks complete the real fun began with team building games, leather stamping name tags, and cabin bonding. One truly unique moment happened later in the day was when Neil a 9-year-old third year camper impressed the Circle F Staff when he noticed another camper taking an extra soda from store; something not allowed; and had enough courage to take the soda from the camper and return it to the store.   When asked why he did it he said “because it was the right thing to do.”  His leadership was not ignored because later in the week he was nominated and won the first leadership pillar award of the camp season.The first few days of camp has proved to be fun-filled as campers settled into an activity schedule of climbing, swimming, skate park, wilderness camping, horseback riding, archery, arts and crafts, photography, and many others.  14-year-old third year camper, Jenna, led the way in the area of play as she actively participated in programs and made sure everyone in her group had a chance to take turn and play.  Counselors said everyone in their group had fun because of her enthusiasm. Great campers like her help other campers have an amazing summer experience. Camp always facilitates new friendships new activities being tried, and ultimately camper becoming stronger individuals. Saturday brought the first Olympic day of the summer. Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow teams battled it out throughout the day. Campers and counselors alike took part in volleyball, kickball, tug-a-war, dodge-ball, poster making, sand castle making, knockout, and water balloon tournaments to score points for their teams. Counselor Sydney brought her normal high energy approach to the games to keep everyone involved. She was ultimately nominated by camper and counselor and won the engage pillar for the first week. The Yellow team was victorious during first session. Winning a pizza party for their team. Last week also saw a trip to Disney’s Blizzard beach water park. A great way for the whole camp to splash around together and try out slides. Sunday brought another camp trip to Universal studios where many campers conquered roller coasters and explored the world of movies like Harry Potter.   Some camper opted to stay back at Circle F on Sunday for a fun filled day relaxing by the waterfront and playing games. Overall week one has been non-stop fun. I have to admit as the Director I am exhausted just thinking about everything we did last week. One week of camp equals a month of fun back home. More important is all of the amazing things our campers are learning and the way they are growing as amazing young individuals. Through everything we have grown in Respect, Inspiration, Play, Positive Thinking, Leadership and engagement. At camp these are more than just words they are how we approach everything. From water parks and amusement parks to camper activities and cabin time we are driven to be the best camp in the universe by the way we interact with each other and the world around us.   So happy to lead the best campers and staff anywhere this summer. To our parents, thank you for choosing Circle F Your children are amazing. Ben Moss is the Camp Director at Circle F Dude Ranch Camp. He has over 20 years of youth development experience working in youth programing and summer camps.