Hey Island Lake Parents! We’re baaaaaccckkkkk!  Time for another summer of Island Lake blogs!!!! Firstly, I’d like to wish you all a big congrats on your newfound freedom at home.  I hope you’re enjoying all this extra time without your children to go out, binge watch some good tv shows, and perhaps do some fun traveling around the globe.  And now secondly,….

Happy first full day of camp!  Yesterday’s Opening Day went extremely well with lots of happy campers coming off of the buses.  New and old friendships are blossoming already.  Campers are bonding with one another, as well as with their counselors, and they are settling into Summer 2019 here at Island Lake.   Be sure to check out our daily summer photos via the Waldo app.  It’s got facial recognition so pics of your child will automatically be sent to your phone via the app.  It’s very cool!  I’ve been following it today and I’m very impressed with the facial recognition feature. It will even spot your children in the background of some pictures.  In terms of communication, besides this daily blog we are tweeting and posting on Instagram and Facebook.  There’s SO MUCH to check out that’s going on here at ILC.

Today was a beautiful day in Starrucca, PA.  After a brief rainstorm last night that sent our campers back to their bunks a bit earlier for a good night’s rest, we woke up this morning to nothing but sunshine and crisp temps in the low 60’s.  We only reached close to 70 degrees today but it was absolutely perfect for our 4-minor day of activities.

Speaking of 4-minor day, our campers stayed busy trying out activities to see what they’d like to sign up for as their majors for the session.   Campers took deep-water tests, had sports orientation, pioneering, started art projects, and were tested for their tennis levels.  Auditions for the musicals went on all day today, as well. We’re excited to offer Matilda for our older campers and Frozen for our younger kiddies.

Lots of other activities also took place today, too.  Horseback riders and dancers were tested for levels, circus activities were in full effect, our magicians started to learn their skills, our skaters & rollerbladers tore up the skatepark, our chefs cooked pizza in the bistro, and lots of other activities were offered here at ILC:  video, rock shop, gymnastics, and more!

After our 4 minors and snack break, we held our favorite traditional camp extravaganza,…PANIC!  It’s a camp-wide game where I call things out over the PA system and our campers have to run into their bunks, find the items, and bring them as fast as possible to their group leaders in the middle of their campuses.  It can be something as basic as a red toothbrush or more involved like 5 campers wearing grey and blue summer 2018 ILC Color War t-shirts singing the camp alma mater.  I play music over the PA in between while the kids sing and dance with their bunks. Ok, I’m not gonna lie.  The boys don’t sing and dance as much as the girls, but I hear they were involved and had a lot of fun. Panic was a hit and the kids participated and cheered their bunks on as they ran around having a fun-filled fantabulous time.

After Panic our group leaders went around to their bunks to help their campers sign up for their majors for the session.  Our department heads were in the office to assist with any questions to be sure that our campers can take every and any activity their heart desires.

Directly after dinner we will give out many 5-year jackets and 10-year jackets to our loyal Island Lakers, both campers and staff.  We will show you photos of campers and staff in their ILC-wear on today’s daily photos. The hope is that our campers won’t have to wear these (rain) jackets quite so much over the course of the summer.

Tonight’s evening activity is GROUPS, which means the group leaders take charge and run different activities for their bunks.  Here’s a list of what everyone is doing:  BOYS: Group 1- gaga;  Group 2- capture the flag;  Group 3- dodgeball;  Group 4- kong pong.  On the GIRLS side:  Group 1- field day (hoola hoop race, 3-legged race, bucket brigade, wheel barrel/barrow (???) race, etc.);  Group 2- crazy games (dance party, human knot, alphabet race, & memory plates); Group 3- search-a-thon (get-to-know-you scavenger hunt);  Group 4- selfie scavenger hunt (similar to group 3).  Who thinks the girls are going to have more fun???  (wink wink!)  After evening activity our canteen is officially open for our campers to enjoy some treats.  They will have free time at the gym and canteen until their curfews.  I sure hope we ran them rampant and they’ll all sleep very well tonight.

David Lobel returned to camp for opening day and 4-minor day to take some pictures of our campers. Here’s a link to his photos.  Feel free to print as many as you wish at no cost. https://davidlobel.smugmug.com/Island-Lake/2019-06-29-Opening-Day/

Below is an array of photos from out around camp today.  Not all activities are represented in these photos, but there is a nice variety for you to enjoy.  Please return to this blog each day as I, Wendy, will be posting ongoing events happening here at Island Lake.  I’ll hit different departments daily to show you action photos of your campers living it up here at camp.  Until tomorrow, our first day of majors and minors, ILC U THERE!