Happy Holidays, From Camp To the Camp Family...

Y'see, L.G. Cook 4-H Camp (the place itself) has a holiday tradition it likes to engage in every single year.

Yes, right around the end of December...

Camp likes to get a little chilly...

It likes to get a little snowy...

It likes to get a little frozen...

It even likes to get a little empty.

And Camp likes to enjoy a quiet, peaceful winter break all to itself.

But! While Camp sits serenely enjoying its favorite way to spend this time of the year...

It would also like to wish you the opposite of it's current state:

A holiday that is...

Warm...

And festive...

And filled...

With the company of friends and family.

(In addition to Holiday-Well-Wishes, a little holiday house keeping:)

Our Camp Office will be closed until after the New Year. If anything comes up, please leave a message and we'll get back to you in January.

And, of course, our favorite reminder this time of year:

The deadline for Polar Bear Registration is December 31st! Sign up before the end of the year for first choice of sessions and classes, and the lowest rate available for Summer 2017.

Cause now, 2017 is only a few days away.

And would you look at that! 

Even during it's winter slumber, during it's quiet vacation, Camp doesn't seem to mind when one of its counselors leaps out of the winter woods...

(Where they reside all off-season long...)

Briefly disturbing it's quiet peaceful time...

To wish you all a Happy New Year as well.

We'll see you in 2017.

Summer/Winter/Summer Again

One of the nice things about Camp is that we get to think about summer all the time.

This is especially helpful on days like today, when Camp is snowy and Camp is icy and above all Camp is cold. In times like this, thinking about summer certainly comes in handy.

So, how does one do it? How does one think about summer all the time?

Fortunately, our camper Carly just sent along some photos to illustrate that very point.

Y'see in the summer, we think about summer!

And then in the winter, we think about next summer!

And as it is now winter, the easiest way to think about next summer is to remember that there are just over ten days remaining in our POLAR BEAR REGISTRATION for Summer 2017. 

Be sure to sign up by the end of the month (and end of the year) for your first pick of sessions and classes, and of course the lowest rate for Summer Camp available. 

Cause thinking about next summer is a sure-fire way to keep your winter warm!

And in a bind, thinking about last summer can help too...

A Good Gathering

Well, would you look at that.

It happened again. 

We had another lovely time at our annual Winter Gathering.

For all of you valued Camp Family members who couldn't attend due to busy December schedules, long distances to travel, and other such valid concerns, we present for you a virtual Winter Gathering.

Once you scroll through all these pictures, you'll certainly feel like you were right here with us.

So, without further ado (because we all know how we feel about ado): 

Winter Gathering!

One of our very favorite days of the year!

Well, all the days of Summer Camp are actually our very favorite days of the year.

But Winter Gathering is definitely, undisputably our 55th favorite day of the year.

Because Camp friends are here to reunite!

Families are here to gather 'round the fire!

(What's better than gathering at the Gathering 'round the fire?)

There was the big board of new sessions and classes for 2017!

And, of course, our Campfire Council was here to run the craft tables!

Ohh. What a festive and campy ornament. 

Yes, we had holiday crafts of all varieties.

Including, of course, this Camp standard.

See!?

As advertised.

Tree Cookie ornaments.

Some of last summer's JR. Counselors were even on hand to help out.

The craft tables were bustling!

Because they had migrated north for the Winter...

All the way up from their home in the Craft Shop...

(Where it would have been kinda cold...)

To the Dining Hall.

(Where it kinda wasn't.)

Yes, all of our signs were accurate!

We had conversation topics!

And cookies! Delicious cookies.

To decorate,

Enjoy,

And decorate all over again.

And this sign was accurate too!

For with any donation to our Campfire Council's Campership fund...

Our Gathering guests...

Got to make their very own...

Camp Angel Ornaments...

To decorate our Wishing Well. 

And through the whole event, 

We enjoyed some good decorations...

Some good conversation...

Good snacks,

Good smiles, 

And good...

Quality time...

With family,

Camp family,

And some good companions...

We haven't seen since summer time.

We even had...

A traditional Camp birthday celebration.

That just so happens to fall on Winter Gathering...

Every single year.

And then!

Decorating time.

Where those well-crafted ornaments...

Make their way outside...

To take their place on the tree.

Our designated ladder-climbing-ornament-hanger counts of this job every December.

And then!

Time to throw the big switch!

Time for the main event!

Time to light the tree!

The countdown commences...

The switch is thrown...

And, ta-da!

Our old Camp lights still work!

And the Gathering Tree is lit.

For while there are taller trees at Camp...

And older trees on Camp...

And there may be trees that offer more summer shade on Camp...

There are certainly not...

...More ILLUMINATED trees on Camp.

And for tonight, at least...

No trees on Camp...

Offer a better photo opportunity. 

And then the night drew to a close.

On the way out...

Folks were sure to stop by our Gratitude Wall...

To view...

And add to...

The list...

Of what our Camp Family...

Was thankful for...

On this December day.

(Yes. That's you.)

And then...that was it.

Except, of course, for the fact that when you've constructed ornaments this good, and this campy...

It's not enough to simply put them up on the tree.

You've also got to send Sean back up the ladder (to the very top) to take them off again...

So you can be sure to take a little bit of our Winter Gathering...

...home with you.

And that was our Gathering!

If you were there, thank you for joining us!

And if you weren't there, after all those pictures we now certainly hope that you feel like you were.

Since Winter Gathering has come and gone, that means that ENROLLMENT FOR SUMMER 2017 IS NOW OPEN!


Be sure to sign up before the end of the month to get your Polar Bear Discount.