Our Values At Work     [vimeo http://vimeo.com/70418261]

Check out the Vimeo report of the title name above and you will find many Kingswood values at work. We think it is important that families understand that we really do mean what we say regarding the safety and happiness of our charges. In this one five minute video report alone, the following can be ascertained:

Mt Cardigan Hike

Note that the Mt. Cardigan hike takes place on a gorgeous day. Billed as an “intermediate hike,” it nevertheless tackled the most difficult trail on the entire mountain. The boys knew exactly what to expect and the schedule-makers were flexible enough to wait for a day when those steeply inclined rock faces were safe for trekking.

We never take anything for granted, even on a beautiful day. The video clearly shows the “sweep” man, the most experienced counselor, bringing up the rear and seeing to it that the group does not get separated. This counselor is always trained and certified in Wilderness First Aid. The sweep also has the medical kit in his possession and would therefore be the one to come upon an injury, were one to occur.

We Know Them By Name

Notice the light-hearted teasing going on once the boys attain the summit. “That’s Mt. Sweater Vest off in the distance,” says Pags, the trip leader. He knows every boy by name. He asks Aidan if this is his first hike, and, upon hearing the affirmative, congratulates Aidan on his accomplishment. Well, three weeks later, Aidan had completed all fourteen pre-requisites needed to join our hiking society, called “The Varsity Club.”Pags is the narrator again on Mt. Chocorua. Note that while boys of all ages participated on the Cardigan hike, this one seems to be for just the older boys. And, for good reason, in that Chocoura is much more arduous. To be sure, younger boys often are invited on senior hikes, but only when we are quite certain they are ready for such challenges.
John comments to Pags that he “never feels quite as free as he does when he is on top of a mountain.” Hikes at Kingswood are heavily promoted for this reason, and one has to really be there to find out what John and Pags are talking about.

Busted Rock

Off to Busted Rock we went on a very hot day. No hikes go out when conditions are certain to create needless hardship. While we never will dodge a challenge simply because it is difficult, we are smart enough to pick our spots on all activity scheduling.
Two directors, the waterfront head, and several lifeguards chaperoned this swim trip to a favorite haunt of ours, not fifteen minutes from camp. Just like mountain hikes, swim trips have supervision protocol and you can easily see our procedures in place. Lifeguards are both on the rocks and in the water, and always down stream from the kids.
On that day, we closed one rock jump due to shallow water. We always test conditions before allowing campers to participate. I was amazed at this discovery and we found the reason – a boulder had swept into a different position, blocking the flow. Next time we went to Busted Rock, the stone had been pushed aside and the usual deep pool had reappeared. These swimmers, too, experienced that same feeling of freedom, only they had no idea how closely they were being supervised.