… by our standards, anyway.  By yours, it would have been pell-mell activity.

On weekends, we give cabin counselors a much-needed day off, and administrative staff fill in on coverage.  We try to create a laid-back atmosphere with events that are easy to supervise.  Nevertheless, if we get a sparkler of a day, as we did on Saturday, we’ll head to the mountains.  Those last three photos below show, first, a group on Welch Mountain in Waterville Valley.  Mike Wiff led this one, and boys were treated to gorgeous vistas almost from start to finish on this rocky mount.  Meanwhile, Becky Wiff took some varsity hikers to Mt. Jefferson, in the Presidential Range.  That final picture is inspirational.

Just about everyone else, not being on hikes, had an easier routine over the weekend.  Saturday picnics for both lunch and dinner are shown.  Boys really enjoy these casual outings.  That Bill had leftover brisket available, to complement burgers and hot dogs, added to the luster.  Also below, you see Bill beaming with pleasure over his Sunday dinner, all produced by him in his “Temple of Smoke.”

Boys of all ages participated in sand castle building and I am told that some massive sculptures were created.  Several additional options of like ilk were offered on both days of the weekend.

Ditto with Javelinball, our name for tennis-baseball.  I love this game and was present when all batters sprinted around the bases, some being tagged out and others scoring runs in what almost assuredly will one day become an Olympic medal game.

Further down this photo assembly, you’ll see the Sunday morning continental breakfast entertainment.  I use this word since at the opening minute — 8 am, the dining room was packed with chirping youngsters, eager to get on with the day.  However, we insisted that they all slow down a tad — to clean both cabins plus campus and have that all-important cabin meeting.  Full camp meeting was gaveled into session at high noon.  Some really good ideas came out of those meetings, including one boy’s insistence that making new friends takes work and is not automatic.  The Guides — 15 year olds — took a bow for having created a great atmosphere the night before in Stealth — capture-the-flag in the woods.  No question but that Guides and CIT’s are future Kingswood leaders, and we talked about why this is so.  Finally, a bit of humor leaked out in all-camp meeting when it was learned that one boy had complained about too many mosquitoes at the rifle range.  “Then go to Camp Asphalt, in North Carolina,” barked this unsympathetic director!

On Sunday afternoon, we made kids write letters home and you’ll be receiving these soon, so long as the address is legible.  Don’t snicker.  We’ve had a few returns!

During A Block on Sunday, I led — and thoroughly enjoyed — a tour of the property with all its fascinating flora.  Boys were determined to learn all the trees — especially the conifers like the pines, spruces and firs.  We ended up in the peat bog across 25C where a garden of very rare pitcher plants have the perfect environmental conditions for survival.  The pitchers — carnivorous– digest insects who get stuck in the hollowed leaflets.  Daughter Sara was along for this excursion and her fabulous photos are included below.

The ice cream party late last evening ended the weekend festivities.  Not bad, for a lazy period, eh?