Towering Pines Blog

With camp two months behind us and the changing of the seasons from summer into fall, by now we’ve all “fallen” into new routines and schedules.  Your child’s experiences at camp have, hopefully, assisted with the transition into different routines at home including those involving school, extracurricular activities and family.

One of the awesome things about camp is that the kids are learning how to adapt to change and new schedules without even really being aware of it. It’s all part of the purposeful play and fun that naturally happens when children are engaged in activities as well as being a part of group living situations.  

From the moment the boys wake up, they start their daily routines.  They prepare as a group to head down to the dining hall for breakfast.  While there, they engage in meal time routines including taking turns as cabins being served in the buffet line to cleaning up plates and sweeping the area around their table.  After breakfast there are personal hygiene routines as well as cabin clean-up where each camper takes on different responsibilities on a rotating basis.  These responsibilities can easily transfer to duties at home.  

Activity area rotations promote time management and responsibility for adhering to their own schedules.  In addition, they are learning how to think ahead and determine what personal belongings they will need for the morning and for the afternoon.  This is very similar to packing their bags for school and knowing what they might need on a particular day.  This encourages life skills such as planning, organizing and following through.

In addition, the boys work together in both small and large groups to plan challenges, jokes and skits.  They learn to be both leaders and followers, creating and sharing ideas.  They communicate, collaborate, and negotiate — all very necessary skills to be an integral part of school activities, clubs, and organizations.  

Cabin 5, Mohawk, “fell” into many of their own routines while at camp this past summer in their cabin, in their activity areas and in large group events.  As a result of this they had many opportunities to learn more about themselves.  Here are some of the insights that they shared:

What is something that you learned about yourself at camp in 2022 where “It’s Cool to be YOU!”?:

• I learned that I love to wakeboard.
• I learned that I am more capable of speaking two languages than I thought I was before coming to camp.
• Emiliano:
• Children need a lot more attention than I thought.  It was especially challenging because of how many kids there were.  (Thoughts from a CIT perspective)
• How to deal with conflict and work it out.

In what ways did you GROW this summer (went out of your comfort zone, tried again, celebrated achievements, etc.)?:

• I tried wakeboarding after kneeboarding last year.
• Going into camp I didn’t like swimming, but with lessons, and fun time at free swim, I learned to like it.
• Simply being a 2nd year CIT has given me the opportunity to learn many new things.
• I learned how to shoot at 30-yards in archery.

In what ways did you feel part of your cabin and the camp COMMUNITY (you were included, others built you up, you worked through conflict, etc.)?:

• We did our cabin cheer all together, and we spent a lot of time talking with each other at night.
• When our cabin built a fort, I was the inspiration, and I got to be one of the leaders while we were building it.
• When all the CITs went to the “Challenge by Choice” high ropes course, I was scared of being 40 feet in the air, but my friends below supported me all the way and encourage me!! (LOVE THIS!!)
• Playing Magic the Gathering with friends.

In what ways did you see RESPECT this summer (kindness, empathy, appreciation for differences, etc.)?:

• I saw respect from campers while catching animals in zoo and caring for the bunnies.  The campers were always respecting the animals.
• I was surprised by the amount of respect I saw toward the people of different cultures at camp.  I was nervous I would be teased, and people accepted me.
• During archery people are very accepting that everyone has different skill levels.

What is one thing that could have been better for you this summer?:

• I could have tried a new activity earlier in the summer and practiced more.
• At the beginning of the summer there were lots of silly fights, but it got better as we worked together to figure things out.
• People were laughing and having fun!
• I really wish I could have stayed longer.
• I could have improved more in archery.

What is something you are THANKFUL for about camp?:

• I am thankful for all of the different animals that live up here.  Snakes are the best!
• I am really thankful for the ability to do many activities that aren’t possible for me to do at home.
• I am thankful for friends, activities and the counselors.
• I’m very grateful for the community this camp has built and how it fostered an ideal environment to grow.
• I beat my brother in archery!  ; )  I am grateful for Magic Games.

As a camp family, we promote and encourage living by our values (Respect, Community, Growth, Responsibility and Safety) not only at camp, but also in everything we do no matter where we are in the world.  We hope to see all of your sons back at camp in 2023!!  If you haven’t registered yet or know of a family who would benefit from our unique camp experience, please feel free to share this link: https://cwtp.campbrainregistration.com/

Angie Ziller

• Camp Mom at TP
• Leadership Staff at TP/Office Manager
• Marketing TP/Woodland
• Leadership Team TP/Woodland
• Assistant Waterfront Director at Woodland
• Counselor at Woodland
• “Building in our hearts fond memories, Towering Pines for you.”