Camp Lantern Interview with our camper Nicole!

So, we're gearing up for registration to open and sign-up to start for Summer 2016! To mark the occasion, let's talk a little bit about our Lantern Program.

One of the best ways to support Camp and save money on Camp is to join our Lantern Family Program. All you need to do to join the Lantern Family is refer one brand-new camper for the 2016 season.

The perks for our Lantern Program include an invite to our Lantern BBQ, a yearly Camp Lantern T-Shirt, and $50 off Camp for every camper referred.

But that's not all!

We've also offered that if your refer FIVE BRAND NEW CAMPERS, you would get a free week of Summer Camp.

Except no one has ever done. No one has ever, ever done it.

Until now!

Our camper Nicole and her family referred FIVE campers for the 2015 season, meaning she gets a free week of Camp in 2016.

Think that's pretty awesome?

We also think that's pretty awesome.

Do you know who else thinks it's pretty awesome?

Nicole. Nicole thinks it's pretty awesome.

Let's talk to her now to prove it.

ME: What was one of your favorite memories from this past summer?

NICOLE: During this past summer, camp had “enchanted” my sneezes to make them sound like strangled screams. After a few of my sneezes, the whole camp knew what and where that peculiar sound was coming from.

ME:  What do you think the best thing about a week of Camp is?

NICOLE: The best thing about a week of camp is that every week is never analogous to the ones before and after it. Each week you come to have fun and make friends.

ME: Are there any counselors you'd like to say hello to right now?

NICOLE: I’d like to say hello to every counselor that there ever was or ever will be. This is because I know that every counselor was and will be as great as the present-day ones.

ME: So you're our first camper ever to refer so many new campers that you've earned a free week of Camp through our Lantern Program. How does that make you feel?

NICOLE: I feel … HAPPY! I feel this way because all the kids my family referred will be able to have a week or more at the most splendid summer camp I know.

ME: Why do you think our current campers should refer a new camper to L.G. Cook and join our Lantern Family Program?

NICOLE: When campers refer new campers to L.G. Cook camp, they’re inviting new people to make friends with. Also, the experience of summer camp is an everlasting one that everyone will want to enjoy.

ME: If someone had never been to Camp before, what reasons would you give to convince them they should come spend a week with us?

NICOLE: First of all, there are a variety of activities you may do. Secondly, you’ll make some strong friendships you’ll never forget. Finally, I’ve got 6 words for you: this camp is too amazing to miss!

ME: What are you looking forward to the most about Summer 2016?

NICOLE: I’m looking forward to meeting new and old friends.

ME: Anything else you'd like to tell our faithful blog readers?

NICOLE: Anything and everything is possible at this camp!

Join us for our Winter Gathering! (Cause we've got new hats.)

Saturday, December 5th.  2pm-6pm.

Our Winter Gathering and Summer Camp Reunion.

Free and Open to ALL Camp Families.

Why should you attend?

Simple:

- It's a Summer Camp Reunion! It's open to all Camp Families! And it's free! Why not come catch up with some of your favorite counselors and long lost camp mates?

- It's summer fun in the Winter time! Talking seasonal crafts, evergreen decoration and lighting, Winter Choice Rec, warm cocoa and warmer fires, what's not to love?

- We'll be celebrating the beginning of our POLAR BEAR REGISTRATION, where returning campers can be the first to sign up for Summer 2016.

- Oh yeah, and...WE'VE GOT NEW HATS!

Yes, we've got new Winter Hats! We here at Camp love hats. Of all kinds. Goofy hats, serious hats, from bucket hats to baseball caps, we love em all, but our favorite hats are...Camp Hats.

And this is a Camp Hat! They've got our Lantern logo!

We've got orange!

We've got blue!
And...
All right. Yeah. We're all thinking it.
We need someone new to model these hats.

Better! But not quite right. You're a Camp Director! Not a hat model!

No! Not you! You're too serious! You're too scary!

What we really need is a camper to show off one our brand new hats. 

But where are we going to find a Summer Camp camper in the middle of November to try on a winter hat? 

Where?

Oh, good.

Look who was randomly wandering through the woods of Stokes State Forest.

It's out camper Erika! Right on cue.

Perfect. Come on out to our Winter Gathering...for many reasons! (But one of those reasons is hats.) Let us know if you're planning on attending  on our facebook eventy-thing-page, or by sending me an email.

No, Tyler. Out of the picture. You're not helping.

And finally...Session #7, 2016.

And at last, finally, the fairly predictable moment you've all been waiting for...

Session 7: S’moregasbord (August 15^th-20^th)

The traditional end of summer festival! 

For our final week of the summer we celebrate the fun we’ve had all season long by bringing back some of our favorite themes and activities from earlier in the year, as well as enjoying all the classic summer camp elements that make L.G. Cook great.

S’moregasboad week also features a handful of end-of-summer-only events like our End-of-Season BBQ and the ceremonial launching of the Wish Boats. 

The last week of Camp for the summer is always a special one, so come join all the counselors and staff in wishing the 2016 season a fond farewell.

And how about also...Session #6, 2016.

Session 6: Chaos (August 8^th-13^th)

Chaos week has become a mainstay of our season here at Camp. 

It’s near the end of the summer and it’s at this point the staff seems to go just a little…off the deep end. 

A little crazy. 

A little nutty. 

A little wacky.

A little…chaotic, if you will. 

As much as we try to keep things calm and orderly with our Wednesday Night “PrankBusters” activity, nothing can seem to curtail the unpredictable zaniness…until near the end of the week when we call in our resident Chaos Expert (a certain Evil Doctor) to preside over a Kangaroo Court and send the guiltiest counselors through his patented Chaos Machine. 

No one can ever tell exactly what Chaos Week will bring, but it’s a safe bet that some of the staff will end up covered in ice cream.

And now for...Session #5, 2016.

Session 5: Heroes and Villains (August 1^st-6^th)

Everyone loves a good superhero story, and our fifth session of Summer 2016 will have the makings for plenty of them. 

Heroes with all sorts of super powers and villains with various plots will do battle (friendly battle) here at Camp!  

Cabins will become secret bases and hidden lairs, our forest and lake will be a universe to conquer, all while the Dining Hall turns into a metropolis in desperate need of saving. 

Our campers will reveal their secret identities, discover their own unique powers and each become their own best version of a summer camp superhero.

Revealing...Session #4, 2016.

Session 4: Spy (July 25^th-30^th)

Spy Week returns for a third summer!

The third installment of the Camp Spy Week Trilogy will surely feature more exciting intrigue, top-secret code names, clues in need of decoding, mysteries to be solved and crises to be resolved. 

Chances are, The Dark Agent will once again try to seize our beloved summer camp, and there will be all new missions to be both foiled and accomplished. 

Like prior Spy Weeks, a game of Camp Clue could be required to round up some suspects, and the 1951  Spirit test just might need to be hauled out again to determine who at camp is friend and who is foe. (Disclaimer: we all wind up being friends.)

Unveiling...Session #3, 2016.

Session 3: Out of this World Week! (July 18^th-23^rd)

Evenings at Camp are known for the clear night sky, full of countless bright stars. Out of this World Week will have us wondering "what’s really going on up there?" 

This session will be a mixture of aliens, astronomy, and all sorts of other intergalactic hijinks, interstellar happenings, and pure Sci-Fi fun.

Out of this World Week will be a time for big ideas, big discoveries, and big creativity at Camp. (Plus, a full moon is due during this session, so we’ll have even more good stuff to stare up at.)

Introducing....Session #2, 2016.

Session 2: Color Wars (July 11^th-16^th)

Color Wars. 

An American summer camp legend. 

Part Olympics, part group spirit rivalry, part all-in down-and-out full-day Camp competition,

Color Wars is the ultimate in all-camp-games. Lindley G. Cook 4-H Camp is taking on this tradition like we never have before…we can’t reveal too much about what Color Wars will entail, but we can promise we’ve got something in store that our campers won’t want to miss. 

(Seriously. We've got something pretty good up our sleeves for this one. You'll want to be here for it.)

The BIG NEWS- Announcing...the Seventh Session: The First Session.

That's right! This post no longer just promises the BIG NEWS, this post reveals the BIG NEWS.

Cause I think any more posts that make you just wait around for BIG NEWS would result in everyone no longer reading this blog.

But instead everyone can continue reading this blog, as the BIG NEWS is delayed no longer, but rather announced right now!

Even if it seems like I'm delaying it by continuing to type right now, I'm not. As it was already revealed. In the title. Hope you didn't miss it.

YES!

For the first time in FOREVER (well, probably not actually in "forever", but for the first time in the Modern Era of Camp, which we will from this point on refer to as "forever"), for the first time in FOREVER we are adding a whole new week of Summer Camp!

Yes, instead of the same ol' six sessions of Camp we will now have a new and glorious SEVEN sessions.

That's elongating the Summer Camp season (and summer in general) by a whole week!

Talking about another opening campfire, another battle for the island, another theme, and another six days and five nights of summer camp-y goodness in the one hundred and eight acre woods, another everything.

That's roughly 15% MORE Summer Camp in 2016!

And just to confuse everyone (cause what would Camp be without the joy of confusing everyone?), we are adding that brand-new session at the beginning of the season. The seventh session is the first session. (Don't worry, we're still going to call it Session 1. We're not that crazy. Or no. We are that crazy. But in this instance we're choosing not to indulge in it.)

So mark your calender's and make your plans to join us for the brand-new Session 1: Classic Camp 4th of July, July 4th-9th 2016.

I know. You saw this picture already. But I went to the trouble of making it, so I'm putting it on here twice.

We’re starting a new tradition of kicking off the summer with a week of pure, classic, essential Summer Camp. The week will include a 4^th of July celebration as only Camp can offer, a great array of tried-and-true All-Camp activities, as well as the excitement of being around for the very beginning of the 2016 Camp season. It’s  a great choice for campers who enjoy a smaller Camp community or for anyone who is brand-new to L.G. Cook.

Our new Session 1 will be replacing our old MICRO/SET Camp. (But worry not, our SET classes will still be available. More on that in the future.) 

Not only that, but the night before, Sunday July 3rd, Early-Drop Off campers will get to enjoy our first ever...Camp Eve Celebration.

Camp Eve Celebration?! What's that!?

For that, you'll have to stay tuned. In fact, also stay tuned for the rest of the dates and themes for Summer 2016. Stay tuned in general. 

(Hmm. That all sounds like more big news. I guess I am still making you wait for more big news. Sorry.)

Happy November!

Why hello there, campers and counselors and camp friends and people in general.

Happy November.

And, yes, I do hear all of you summer-folks replying, "Happy November? Happy November. What's happy about it? November is when it starts to get cold. Not just chilly-little-brisk-autumnal-fall-wear-a-light-jacket cold, but cold cold.  November is when it starts to get dark! Dark in the morning,dark in the evening, dark in the later afternoon, dark all the time. November is when winter starts, so what exactly is so happy about it! Huh!?" 

And I understand. I hear you. I hear you because you're me.

But then I'd reply back to you (or me. or us), "Hey! Look on the sunny side!" (Even though you won't have much very daylight this month to look on that sunny side. November Zing.)

Look on the sunny side!

November means there's all sorts of exciting Camp stuff just a month away!

What kind of stuff?

Stuff like our SECOND ANNUAL WINTER GATHERING. 

Held SATURDAY DECEMBER 5th, this is an afternoon reunion for all Summer Camp campers. We'll have wintry activities, seasonal crafts, a tree lighting ceremony, and best of all a chance to catch up around the fire with all your ol' Camp friends. 

So save the date! Come on up to Camp. It'll be fun.

This is a picture of last year's Winter Gathering. Not this year's Winter Gathering. Because I don't have a camera that takes pictures of the future. 

And Winter Gathering leads us to more exciting stuff! Cause Winter Gathering marks the beginning of registration for Summer 2016!

Wha-aat!

Already!? 

Didn't we just get done with Summer 2015 like 2 1/2 months ago? 

Yes, we sure did. But now it's time to build toward Summer 2016. Cause that's how the passage of time works.

And in just one month our POLAR BEAR REGISTRATION will be open! This is a time just for our returning campers to sign up early and first so they get first picks on classes, first picks on sessions, and the lowest rate we offer. 

And the final exciting stuff, is that if the Winter Gathering in a month, and then that means that Polar Bear Registration is in a month, then THAT means that it's time to start announcing news for 2016...right now!

Right now? Right now!

What kind of news? News like dates! News like THEMES! New like NEW CLASSES! News...like the BIG NEWS. 

There's big news?

That's right, there's BIG NEWS.

And the time to announce it, cause it's November is...right now.

And by right now, I mean...soon. We'll announce the big news soon. I know I said "right now." Several times. Misdirection. Cause instead it's gonna be soon.

That's called "building suspense." (Or being "kind of annoying." It's a fine line.)

So SOON look for a post on this here blog titled something like "Big News", cause it's gonna contain (you guessed it)...BIG NEWS.

See! November ain't all bad.

Except the part when I just made everyone wait for the big news. That's still pretty bad.