SCATICO BLOG
Summer 2015, Edition #2: July 3- July 6
It's been a great, rain-free few days in Scatico, with all of the activities and events revving up to high gear. Fourth of July always seems like a milestone of the summer...
Land of the Free, Camp of the Brave
It's been a great, rain-free few days in Scatico, with all of the activities and events revving up to high gear. Fourth of July always seems like a milestone of the summer, with the whole camp coming together for the first time with our co-ed barbeque, talent show and fireworks. As always the talent show was a highlight with acts as varied as gymnastics, karate, balloon blowing and juggling, piano, singing and a little rock n roll. After the show all of camp made its way to the golf course (red, white and blue popsicles in hand, of course) for a fantastic fireworks show.
A Jinter and Inter perform gymnastics.
CIT girls sing "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman.
A Sub-Junior boy plays "Penny Lane" by the Beatles on the piano accompanied by boys' music staff.
Two Jinters sing "Tomorrow" (from Annie) during the 4th of July Talent show.
The co-ed activities continued Monday night when the Soopers and Upper Seniors enjoyed a waterfront cookout, the Seniors and Subs (boys and girls) participated in a trivial night, and the Debs/ Inters and Centers/ Sub-Juniors went bowling!
Around camp
On boys' side College Bowl dominated for two days, with the boys split into four teams to compete in a variety of activities. Capture the flag is always a traditional favorite, and the boys' tried a new activity in the Pavilion that had mini-teams rotating between several timed stations to see who could hold the record (number of foul shots made in 2 minutes, number of times the team can rotate a hoola hoop around their bodies, etc.). College bowl concluded with a campfire, that was luckily outdoors this time around.
On girls' side the first camp sister event was held-- double trouble-- where older and younger camp sisters dress up in duo costumes (milk and cookies, ketchup and mustard, etc.) and perform a skit. Also, ceramics has embarked on a girls' campus wide project: the creation of our own Alma Mater totem pole. Each division is in charge of making an artistic, clay representation of a few lines of the Alma Mater (for those not in the know, the girls' Alma Mater is sung every night and lyrics and audio can be found here), which will all be assembled in a large totem pole to decorate girls' back campus.
Camp also had several tournaments these past days, with two girls soccer teams and a boys basketball team going out, plus, Scatico hosted it's first tennis tournaments for boys and girls in 7th grade and under!
Divisional Snapshots
Boys Side
Sophomores-Had their first overnight, making s'mores and fire cakes (pancakes made over a fire) after hiking along Sunset Trail (a Scatico-made path in the woods behind the boys' ball fields.)
Sub Juniors- Threw a swamp party! All the Sub Juniors got into the crib (shallow part of the waterfront) threw in some canned sodas to float around and drink, and enjoyed some good music.
Juniors- Enjoyed a spirited game of Slamma Jamma, where the boys deck themselves out in basketball jerseys and lower the hoops so that everyone can dunk. They are also making mushroom houses in ceramics!
Inters-Organized a water fountain safari, sporting their bucket hats, as they tested every water fountain in camp (much debate over whether the office water cooler or Health Center water fountain is the best.)
Sub Seniors- Enjoyed an intense game of rugby (ended in 9-2) and made pita chips with avo-yogurt dip and OMG Brownies (Chef Ally's secret recipe) in cooking.
Seniors- Had a mystery hike (where counselors lead their campers throughout camp blindfolded) that ended in kayaking on the lake.
Upper Seniors- Have the distinction of making the first basket during a slap ball game in as long as people can remember, which means a pizza party.
Girls Side
Jinters- Had a thrilling 4th of July scavenger hunt where they had to piece together clues to find and figure out how to rescue Ken (head of girls' ceramics) who had been mysteriously locked inside his studio.
Inters- Had their hike to Catskill Preserve, where they were able to swim in a fresh (and cold) lake!
Centers- Had girls' sides first camp out, and started to learn their divisional sing folk song while sitting around the fire. The Cents also put the cherries they picked to good use, making cherry cheese cake in cooking.
Debs-Have been excelling in Scatico's newest competitive sport: Bocce! They also started to make trivets in wood shop, which they will then mosaic in arts n crafts.
Subs- Were the first girls division to hit wood shop, and made beautiful hooks and desk bookcases that they will paint in arts n crafts.
Seniors- Had their hike to Break Neck (always the most challenging and rewarding of the hikes) and threw a "wedding" ceremony (complete with rings and bridesmaids) on the top of the mountain for girls' head counselor Kerri and her husband Michael, who accompanied them on their hike and were celebrating their 12th anniversary!
Soopers- Headed to Wah-Nee for a soccer tournament, where Sara Feldman scored a "ridiculously good" (according to coach Nick Goodacre) goal (it was also the team's only goal) to much celebration.
Creations from our cooking center! Left: Chef Ally with patriotic cupcakes. Right: Cheese straws.
Summer 2015, Edition #1: June 27-July 2
It's been a great, rain-free few days in Scatico, with all of the activities and events revving up to high gear. Fourth of July always seems like a milestone of the summer...
First Days in the 12523...
After 10 months of counting down the days the 2015 camp season has finally begun! Once again there are cheers in the dining hall, races down the road path, games of catch on back campus, and the familiar sounds of camp friends playing on boys' and girls' campuses (with plenty of new voices added to the mix). Despite some 48 hours of cloudy skies and rain, kids have fallen into the rhythm of camp and summer 2015 at Scatico is in full swing! This summer, we will try our best to share some of the magic and a few highlights on our blog! Check for posts on Thursdays and Mondays.
A little of the old, a little of the new
The first few days of camp are always filled with long-time Scatico traditions that bring former campers back into the feel of things while welcoming new members to our summer family. Opening campfires, selecting camp sisters, swim tests, sports skills day, Twilight League, and Meet the Counselors are all crammed into our first 72 hours. Rain had the boys' campfire moved indoors to the social hall, but that didn't stop them from running fool ball and divisional pillow fights. On the girls' side the Soopers led a beautiful (and outdoor!) campfire at our newly renovated site, sharing their favorite Scatico memories.
Dave begins the boys opening campfire in the Social Hall.
Randy leads lower hill Fool Ball.
Soopers lead "Circle Game" at the girls' opening campfire.
Along with the familiarity of old traditions comes the excitement of all that is new! After decades of hearing about Twilight League, Tuesday night kicked off the first ever T- League on girls' side! Upper hill campers, staff and CITs were split into six teams to compete in volleyball, soccer, basketball and softball under the girls' athletic field lights, a new tradition that will occur at least once a week. Plus a new game, brought by first-time Senior DL Jamie Meyers, has taken girls' side by storm: Shake & Pop! Let's just say you have to see it to understand it, but girls can be found making dance circles to the shake & pop song whenever there is a moment of down time.
On boys' side camp's initial rainy days led to a full Lower Hill dodge ball tournament, but luckily there was still enough sun for the start of the 2015 Twilight League season on Monday night. Down at media, John Hickey is already busy making the first film of the summer: a hazards video with boys from all divisions that will be shown before the co-ed talent show on July 4th. And in what is sure to become a oft-utilized prop this summer, during outdoor adventure boys found a mysterious tiki doll in the woods (more details to come). They also spotted an enormous turtle all the way up on the boys' ball fields!
DIVISIONAL SNAPSHOTS
Boys' Side
Sophomores- Were the first division to enjoy cooking with Chef Ally, and made cheese puffs and granola. Plus they've started making clocks at wood shop!
Sub Juniors- Got pumped in an "epic" (DL Chase Madorsky's words) game of European Handball for a rainy day activity, ending in a score of 20-19.
Juniors- Had a highlight divisional activity with Spud, and kicked off the highly-anticipated Inter/ Junior Twilight League on Wednesday night.
Inters- Had a full bunk dance party lead by DL Ryan Kenny before they all slid down the golf course in the rain (it's never too early for mud sliding), plus started Twilight League with the Juniors on Wednesday.
Sub Seniors- Were hyped during a full division game of Slamma Jamma (a boys' side classic) and a lot of the division left on the boys' first tournament, playing basketball at Wahnee on Thursday.
Seniors- Were victorious on the first-ever intercamp of the summer, playing hockey against Berkshire Hills! Shout-outs to Brian Schindler with 4 goals, Simon Mandel with 3 and goalie Jared Simons!
Upper Seniors- Participated in a Scavenger Hunt with the Sophs and Sub Juniors, and have already gotten started on their haunted house for Carnival.
CITs- Enjoyed their first van night to Sal's (of course!) and have been hard at work helping counselor Nick Goodacre plan all of College Bowl.
Boys hanging out on the Mets side of the boys' HC.
Sub Juniors take a break from tennis.
Girls' Side
Jinters- Will be dressed in style this independence day after making hats in arts n crafts...Some jints have already signed up for singing and dance acts for our annual 4th of July talent show.
Inters- Had auditions and received their parts for the first show of the summer...the Lion King, to hit the Scatico Playhouse on July 11 along with the Centers!
Centers- Went on the first mystery ride of the camp season to go cherry picking followed by a pit stop to get ice cream at Holy Cow (where else?)! The cherries will be used in a secret recipe with Chef Ally.
Debs- Have been busy at cooking with Chef Ally, and made smoothies, guacamole and pancakes!
Subs- Left on the first hike Thursday morning, traveling to nearby Mohonk Reserve (also to be followed by ice cream).
Seniors- Were taught a new game by first-time British counselor Lucy called SPLAT!, which they have now spread to all of girls' side. It involves quick pointing and ducking and has become a division favorite.
Soopers- Somehow found time to all tryout for the Nat Basketball Tournament together between leading the opening campfire and Tribes breaking.
CITs- Have taken advantage of what is sure to become a popular tradition: an activity every afternoon for just them as a division. Games of SPUD and downhill tennis baseball have been bringing out the camper in them.
Jinters take a break on sports skills day.
Centers cherry picking on their blind hike.
College Bowl and Tribes
... Are on the horizon! Girls' Tribes broke during the "Meet the Counselor Talent Show" last night and the boys' College Bowl campfire is tonight. For first time parents Tribes is akin to Color War, except the girls' are split into four teams (red, yellow, blue, and green) and competition takes place once a week over the course of three weeks. For College Bowl the boys' participate in a full day of competition, and are also split into four teams.
Soopers whip out their gear the morning after Tribes breaks.
Girls 2015 Tribes
Exciting news...Tribes 2015 has begun! During a step performance by the Division Leaders during the "Meet the Counselor Talent Show"...
1, 2, 3, 4... We HAVE Tribal War
Exciting news...Tribes 2015 has begun! During a step performance by the Division Leaders during the "Meet the Counselor Talent Show" the four big chiefs emerged to much shrieking and excitement. Racing Wind (yellow team), Blazing Arrow (red), Flying Eagle (green), and Thunderbolt (blue) will compete in three weeks of competitive sports, singing, and art projects. Below find what teams all of girls' side is on!