Today was close to as good a day as you can get.  It was a comfortable 78-82 degrees and just lovely.

The campus was busy today as Cabins 5 & 6 prepared to head out for a one night overnight with Trip Leader Ryan Royalty.  Ryno took another crew of Birch Rockers over to the Waterford stables for horseback riding.  The boys seems to just love the riding experience, and we expect to do a little more research on this one for next summer.

In the afternoon, for Snack, Ryno served croutons, old cornbread and Rice Krispies.  Confused by this horrible snack, most boys asked for a hand full of Rice Krispies.  Shortly after that Ryno and I got together and ran the BRC Ice Cream Truck all over camp again.  The truck comes in from the road visits the field, health lodge, art room, lodge, campcraft area, swim area and finally the Boathouse.  The Entertainer is played loud on repeat.  This time, the 50s style characters were really starting to shine through in all their happiness.  Please feel free to follow this link to a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7VjhZDrutk

After a delicious fish dinner, the boys headed up to the hilltop for Evening activity.  The game tonight was Quorum (Sharks and Minnows on the field)

Vesper winds. Warm temperatures. Exhilarating energy. Full speed ahead with activities and programs all day. The day started with horseback riding for a double period at the Waterford Equestrian Center. Up in the art room it was a close competition in the miniature car races. We celebrated Mac A.'s birthday.  Brett L swan a great Loon. Noah K. got his Senior Tennis badge. Nature badges came out today with 4 campers getting their badges. Don Miguel took a group out for golf in Norway and Dave Weeks took out a special canoe trip from Eves Falls to the Bay of Naples. So much happened today I just can't remember it all! 

Best Bed: Jonathan H.

Inspection Winner: Pete's Palace

Super Camper: Ben C. for being a great learner at Mountian Biking today.

What a wonderful summer this has been at Birch Rock!  I’m amazed everyday at how much fun EVERYONE is having here this season.  I know that the SUPERB weather has a HUGE influence on everyone’s experience.

Today we welcomed back Owl’s Perch from their 3-day canoe trip.  It sounds like they all will sleep well tonight since they paddled in very windy weather for the past 3-days.

Today was a real treat for those campers who attend riflery.  We had our first ever riflery match against Camp Winona.  The boys of Birch Rock did very well.  The final score was 235 to 289 with Winona on top.  We had a “blast”!   At the end of our match they allowed us to try out their German Walther Pistol, another German Rifle from the WWII era, and an A-K-47.  A great time was had by ALL!

Everyday so many great memories are created!  We look forward to the final 13 days that we have with each other. 

Best Bed: Trevor M.

Inspection Winner: Cabin 6

SUPER CAMPER:  Lance N-K

It was another beautiful but windy day.

It was a regular day of activities with parts of badges awarded but no actual badges earned today.  The water was so choppy because of the wind that the swim staff decided to hold off on sending out any long distance swims today.  I guess you could say it was just a regular day at the Rock.

However, today was Tuesday and on most Tuesday nights our senior staff will take charge of the kitchen so the kitchen staff could get a break.  Tonight we ran Benny's Chinese Buffet.  The lodge tables were put low on benches and the boys were asked to go through the buffet and then sit on the floor.  There were special drinks served of a combination ginger ale and cranberry juice with a cherry and pineapple chunk skewered onto mini-umbrellas.  Many of the staff dressed up for th occassion, including two visiting Arabs, Sumo Alasdair and two mutant ninja turtles.

Throughout the dinner as entertainment the Ninja Turtles performed some of their patented karate moves, and Sumo Alasdair challenged a few campers to a wrestling match where they were to try to get him outside the circle (a round rug on the floor).  It was great!

Wise man say, "Without it's wings, a bird cannot fly"

It was a great day at the Rock today with high winds and temps in the low 70s.

The biggest thing that happened today was the grand return of horseback riding to the Rock.  Well, not really to the Rock but just around the corner at Waterford Equestrian.  The love long ladies over there loved our boys saying that they were polite, attentive and hard working.  The woman in charge said, "We've never seen boys so willing to pitch in a shuffle manure.  They can come back anytime."  And we will with a different crew going over on Thursday.

Otherwise, with high winds today there wasn't a lot going on around campus.  Stay tuned for more tomorrow.