We often talk about being a fly on the wall. Certainly as parents we all wish that we could be there at the moments our youngster does something well – that AHA moment – that brightens their life and makes something positive connect for them. Camp does has a version of this – our nightly newsletter. It describes the events of the day, highlights our successes, and even talks about the weather and what we have eaten. We feel that our newsletter is an important component of our overall summer's communication – a partnership with our families that we value. In addition to the nightly newsletter we post more than 250 photos of camp each night on our website. Families also have contact with camp's administration, health center, and camper group leader as necessary.

...They’re all here, present and accounted for... they came to us on planes, trains, buses, and of course 163 of them were hand delivered by parents, grandparents, and siblings...The best sight of all was watching repeat campers greeting one another and then quickly reaching out to the new members of their cabin to make them feel included and welcomed. The counselors were so excited their enthusiasm was contagious.

Senior administrative and supervisory staff have been arriving for the last two weeks. A week ago our general cabin counselors all arrived, and have been involved in our staff training and orientation program since that time. We do didactic presentations, as well as small group seminars, unit meetings and activities.  Each Unit Leader and counselor has read the files on their campers and made note of individual requests, preferences and issues. Aside from imparting a great deal of information and learning about the Summit philosophy, the counselors form great bonds with one another and their positive energy and synergism crackles in the air.

...Throughout the arrival afternoon there were tables set up in the dining room with PB&J sandwiches ( of course the soy version – we are nut free ), cookies, fruit and apple juice.  Campers who were hungry or thirsty after their trip here were well fed and hydrated.  Tonight for dinner the Chef d’ Camp served: Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce (yes, for those plain pasta eaters the sauce is always served on the side and we have Gluten free pasta as well), Parmesan cheese, salad, mixed vegetables, garlic bread, fresh fruit punch and frosted chocolate brownies.  Promise – no one left the dining room hungry.

By the time everyone was in the dining room for dinner it was as though there was no fall, winter, or spring.  We literally pick up where we left off last summer! Our infrastructure remains the same, some of the players change, some new activity areas (like our covered pavilion), but the feeling remains the same.  It can best be described as the feeling you get when you open the door, smell dinner on the table and say, "Umm... I'm glad to be home."   It’s the feeling of belonging.  Even if this is your child’s first time with us, they were already in bunk lines, already joining in our dining room mantra of "HANDS IN THE AIR...", already down on the horseshoe field and feeling like they belong.

Evening Activities are announced in the dining room each night at the end of dinner. Evening activities are always done by units, and refer to the unit leader's name. Tonight’s  evening activities are as follows:  Zoe's boys- “Wacky Races” on the canteen field;  Kelvin's guys – “Getting to Know You Night”; Becky's fellas- “Welcome Fun Night”; Laura's Unit – “Laura's Sensation Night”; All of the superteen boys (BST’s) and girls (GST’s) are down at the Rec. Hall for a “Let’s Get Together Social”.

In the next 24 hours we might be making bunk changes.  Many of our new campers come to us from distant locales precluding a personal interview. Sometimes, once a child arrives and we watch the chemistry in a bunk, we decide to redefine placement. Unlike other camps we do not bunk by age or grade, but factor in lots of variables.  Most often these changes are intra-unit switches. These changes are done with great thought, sensitivity and explanation to the children.

So sitting on the top of the hill, watching the sun go down on the lake, feeling the Summit Magic begin, first openers we want to convey our thanks to all of you. Thank you Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, for trusting us with your children, and for sharing them with us.  We know how special our children are, how vulnerable and how gentle their spirits are. We appreciate the lessons that they repeatedly teach us.  We take our job seriously...

Newsletters become a part of our families’ lives as well. We know there are hundreds of adults who sit by the computers each night waiting for the email from Summit – and barring bad weather or an electrical issue, we will not disappoint.

For more information on our Main Camp Program, please click here.