Newcomers

July 10, 2025

I can see that Sara and I both had the same photo plan for yesterday – to capture some of the boys who have just arrived starting with week three. And while most of them will be at camp for the remainder of the summer, it was nice to lens in on some fresh faces.

Neither of us keeps records on whom we photo; if the scene looks inviting, we snap away. Sometimes I take photos from afar and figure you will find yours in there somewhere. “Yes, that’s him” I am fond of telling parents!

I see that the two special hikes for Varsity Club veterans now have dedicated photo albums.  “Lake of the Clouds” and “Bonds” have some of the best pictures of the summer, maybe ever, and you should study those submissions even if your son did not participate. Many of them are dreaming of the day when it is their turn, I can assure you.

Observe the changing weather encountered by the Lakes team. Even when you know you are staying at a “mountain hotel,” it pays big dividends to be prepared for every possible condition. The fellows doing the Bonds trek were only a few miles away from the Lakes guys but they seemed to take their photos in the better conditions. I love the photo of Lucas M. jumping on the rock along the way. And, you better believe it, the lads were instructed by me personally to not get too close to the cliffs on Bondcliff!

You can gather from Sara’s album that we had overnight company in the form of the ladies from Camp Wa-Klo. She photographed some brother-sister combinations that I am sure will play well in their respective households today.

While the older boys assembled in the Main Lodge for their soiree dance, I and some of the other counselors held a makeshift council fire for the younger set. First, I told some stories about trips we took at Camp Norway in the 1960’s to include the time we walked a mile from our woodsy campsite to our big truck vehicle and drove thirty minutes into Conway, NH to go to a movie. Ask your son to relate that one, with all the trimmings, to you.

Probably better than my stories were the musical renditions organized by Ollie with campers like Mikey S. on hand for the accompaniment.

Todd had built a great fire for us and we all enjoyed gazing into the hot embers.

P.S. It is a pain to add photos to the text of my reports, but I tried it today as a “Newcomer” to this technology!