Our 15 & Under Boys Basketball Team was at the court this morning at 7:30am preparing for our big rival game tomorrow night against West End. The first of two games this summer will be played in “The House,” which is what West End is referred to. All of senior camp will be there cheering on our boys!

After breakfast, three camps came into Robin Hood for a Girls 15 & Under Basketball Tournament. All the courts were in play all day, and three Robin Hood teams were represented in the tournament. Our Saxons and Scribes greeted the guest players, and helped with scoring and refereeing the games. It was a seamless tournament and all the girls played with terrific heart and soul.

The Archers left mid-morning for a climb up Chocorua via the Chapney Falls Trail. After their climb and a picnic lunch, the boys enjoyed a special outing to Ben & Jerry’s to celebrate one of the camper’s birthdays. The group set-up camp outside of North Conway and cooked a hearty dinner over their campfire. We look forward to seeing the boys back in the Realm after breakfast tomorrow.

Squires also enjoyed a day and night in the White Mountain region, leaving camp early this afternoon for a mountain trip and sleepover. These boys climbed Baldface around Emerald Pool, and then headed to their campsite for dinner and sleeping. The group was really excited for their adventure!

At the Robin Hood Stables our riders enjoy both riding and stable management. They help with grooming and feeding the horses, and of course enjoy riding our furry friends. When our horseback riders return to camp, one of the first places they go is to the Stables to see which of their equine friends have returned. Returning this summer are Blue, JD, Gidget, Joey and Lily. New to the Realm this year are Spirit, Rudy, Davinci, Roxy and Aztec.

Those of us in camp tonight enjoyed Nicky’s BBQ chicken dinner, with fresh corn on the cob, homemade potato salad, coleslaw and cornbread. Our vegetarians enjoyed amazing stuffed portabella mushrooms and BBQ Kale! Thanks, Nicky for a delicious finish to the day.

Wishing you all sweet dreams from the Realm.

ACTION defines our day in the Realm. Half-way through breakfast of Belgium Waffles, fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream, our 13 & Under baseball team left for a tournament at Winaukee. The boys returned late in the afternoon with a third place win and big smiles from a tournament well played.

After breakfast, our Bows entered camp arm-in-arm from a spectacular hike and overnight campout. It was apparent memories were made and bonds were formed from their fun adventure.

As the Bows returned, another group left for a day of hiking. An optional girls hike was offered at dinner last night, and eight Quills jumped at the challenge. The Trips Staff took these hikers on a beautiful climb up Mt. Mator, which offered fabulous views of Lake Winnipesaukee.

Sunshine abound, groups filled every field and spot on the waterfront from first period up until lunch. Then at lunch, Dick made a surprise announcement: all of Junior Boys Camp had been invited to the Sanford Mainers Baseball Game tonight! In addition to the game, the team manager invited our boys to a little pre-game session in the dugout. The Sanford Mainers’ coach, catcher, pitcher and two outfielders ran a genuine clinic on their field with our boys. Afterwards, our boys ran around the outfield – the same one where Babe Ruth played his last pro game. The kids collected autographs from the players, enjoyed dinner, then settled into front row seats to watch the Mainers in action. A big thank you to Mainers’ Board Member Pete Leiberman – former Camp Robin Hood Counselor, Group Leader and Color War Captain – who set this up for us!

The last two periods of the day Jamie, Carolyn, Dr. Arash and Nurse Kelly led our Shires and Scribes in a “Boot Camp.” A 2-3 mile run was interspersed with calisthenics, after which a 30-minute core conditioning and yoga class completed the experience. The Foresters and Saxons joined in for the last 30 minutes. All were wonderfully sweaty and excited to have completed the challenge, and asked when the next Boot Camp could be scheduled! We call participants in these classes “Robin Hood Warriors.” Each day the number of Warriors grows, and we couldn’t be happier.

Tonight, those in camp enjoyed our first Wednesday Night Cookout, which we held down at the waterfront. It was such a glorious evening, our waterfront staff offered a Free Swim on either side of dinner.

I finished the evening visiting our Jesters, who climbed Mt. Major today before setting up “base camp” at the Outpost for their first overnight of the season. Tents were pitched, fajitas had been cooked over the open fire, and the girls were finding the perfect s’more sticks. The girls were bubbling with excitement, and were eager to share their stories of their summit. To them, they climbed Mt. Everest. As we stood around the campfire hand-in-hand singing the Goodnight Song, I thought to myself how lucky we are to be doing this. Thank you for sharing your children with us.

Sweet dreams from the Realm.

It was a quieter morning in the Realm, with the first signs of life shown when Reveille sounded. Everyone was at flag raising where the Saxons and Scribes were walking a little slower after their climb yesterday. According to the group, they didn’t go up through Tuckerman’s Ravine as it was closed due to the build-up of snow this winter; they ascended Lion’s Head which is definitely tougher.

Leaving at 10am was the Bows for a climb up Chocorua using the Chimpney Falls Trail. Chocorua is a spectacular mountain offering breathtaking views at the top. Following the climb, the girls will set up camp at a nearby campground, and enjoy dinner over an open fire. We are excited for these girls to experience the beauty of New England in its most natural state. We look forward to seeing the Bows tomorrow after breakfast and hearing all about their adventure.

The Quills danced up a storm this morning! The music reverberated in the studio, and the girls had all the right moves. They were excited preparing a routine for the upcoming “So You Think You Can Dance” show, and we are excited to see it! Following the Quills, our dance staff taught fantastic new moves to our TPJ’s, and honestly these boys are going to give these Quills a run for their money.

Two brand new Sunfish dipped into the water yesterday to join a new Laser boat. Bards christened these new vessels this morning and said they were fantastic! They certainly grace Lake Ossipee beautifully. Jesters joined the bards on the lake paddling around in canoes and kayaks.

Yeomen were also at the waterfront using kickboards and swimming laps during their Instructional Swim. A free swim followed with Saxons joining in. The boys had a great “volleyball” game going where the only goal was to keep the ball airborne.

I had the chance to interview some of the Group Leaders today to find out what their campers’ favorite activities are. Here’s what they had to say:

Foresters: basketball, ultimate frisbee and team handball

Quills: GaGag, woodshop, arts & crafts, bombardment

TPJ’s: GaGag, woodshop, arts & crafts, bombardments

Tumblers: soccer, GaGag and water-sports

We had an intensive Mountain Bike session offered 4th and 5th periods and a few boys enjoyed a great ride with Mountain Bike Peter. Coming up later this week is a Freedom Hill Challenge for those campers looking for an extreme challenge. Jamie through down the gauntlet for this “Warrior Dash on Bikes” at breakfast this morning, and by lunch, she had 7 takers. We will let you know when this takes place and how the participants fare!

There are three upcoming basketball tournaments this week: girls 13 & under; girls 15 & under; and, boys 15 & under. All teams were on the courts today running drills and practicing their free throws in preparation for the upcoming games.

At dinner tonight, another challenge was made; this time, the Yeomen challenged the Quills to a duo of GaGa and Bombardment. The photos certainly show the intensity shown on these courts.

The rain is moving in tonight while we sleep, but looks to be clear by first period and sunny by lunch!

We look forward to another wonderful day in the Realm.

Sweet dreams.

While Woody has been fertilizing and watering in hopes of beautiful grass, it is clear that our grass is definitely not growing under our feet! Robin Hooders were on the move starting at 6:30am this morning. As Jamie and her spinners set up bikes and weights, Scribes and Saxons loaded into vans headed to Mt. Washington (2nd highest mountain in the eastern U.S.), Basketball Matt and Woody took two groups of boys on runs on the “Camp Loop,” and a couple campers fished down on the docks with Steve.

Who ARE all these people taking care of your children? Take a look and read! Robin Hood Staff are introduced to you on our website under “Meet the Team.” Here you will learn how many summers our staff has been in the Realm, where they go to school, what their hobbies are, and why they are excited to be at Robin Hood. We believe that what makes our camp different from most others is this incredible group of counselors. Yes, they are qualified. Yes, they enjoy working with children. What’s different is the passion they have for Robin Hood and our 84 years of tradition. The majority of our staff has spent most of their life in the Realm. They came here as young children, grew up smelling the pine, swimming to the Island, singing the Goodnight Song. Their countdown to opening day starts the day camp ends. Our staff’s sole focus is invoking the passion for Robin Hood in your children their counselors instilled in them.

When you break it down, the expectations for each layer is pretty simple. Campers’ only “jobs” are to be kind to one another and have fun. Staff are to make sure children are safe and make camp fun. The Administration’s job is to establish a safe and nurturing environment, and create fun experiences. FUN is the thread that runs through everyone’s “To Do” List.

Onto highlights from the day –

• BRIGHT blue skies with warmer temperatures.

• Eggs and bacon for breakfast; baked potato bar for lunch; make-your-own pasta for dinner (toppings included chicken breast, steamed broccoli, red sauce, alfredo sauce) and caeser salad (with Nicky’s homemade croutons).

• More groups passed their 16-laps.

• Intensives offered today included Archery, Lacrosse and Volleyball.

• Dick unveiled his new game, which will add to Oscar’s Maze as a unique Robin Hood experience. The new activity is based on Orienteering. Groups are divided into teams, given a map of camp with 10 marked spots where stakes are hidden. With a time limit imposed, the pressure is on to find all 10; few are able to complete the task! Thanks, Dick for a terrific new activity.

• The first challenge of the summer came at dinner when our TPJ’s challenged the Squires to a game of Bombardment! It was a spirited game, which then switched to campers vs. staff for game 2.

It’s now time to celebrate our Scribes and Saxons summit of Mt. Washington with a surprise ice-cream party in our cottage, so we say goodnight and wish you …

Sweet dreams from the Realm.

Dick told us if we hold one finger in the air and say “BLUUUUUUUUUUEE,” we would have the collective power to make the sky turn blue. And it did. Robin Hooders know there is magic in the trees, but apparently our magic transcends beyond the Sherwood Forest.

While we don’t plan on running through the menu and activity schedule in every WoodChuck Report, it is only day two, so we feel compelled to share these more mundane facts with our new readers. We appreciate that most families have yet to hear from their camper, so knowing the details of the day can be comforting.

So here goes …

Breakfast was scrambled eggs and home-fries. Remember that every morning we also offer cereals, oatmeal and tons of fresh cut melons, berries, grapes, and toast with toppings on the side (i.e. butter, jelly, soynut butter, cheese).

Following breakfast, our campers headed to their bunks to clean for inspection. During the first periods of the day, we saw TPJ’s at waterskii, ceramics and riding; Tumblers at Drama; Squires at a Basketball Clinic; Jesters at Bombardment; Archers at Sailing and Team Handball; Bows at Archery and Dog Walking; Yeomen at Frisbee Golf; Quills at Kickball; Lancers at Softball; Arrows at Mountain Biking and Gymnastics; Friars at Tennis; Bards at Riflery and Waterfront; Foresters at Lacrosse; Shires at Soccer; Saxons at Waterski and Crafts; Scribes at a Volleyball Clinic.

Lunch was mac’n’chees and hot dogs; the kids were thrilled. Everyday staples included a fabulous salad and sandwich bar, and vegetarian options which include sticky rice.

Announcements at lunch included a call for all Camper Talent Show acts. The sign-up list was long and impressive! The show will be this Saturday night; we can’t wait to see our campers in action on stage. There was also a call for all Robin Hood Glee enthusiasts. Rehearsals for our own Glee will begin tomorrow, and debut at the Parents Visiting Talent Show on Friday, July 22nd.

This afternoon’s highlights included: groups building and decorating their new dining hall benches; DC and Woody running tennis clinics; Steve teaching groups invaluable safety tips about the equipment used at Riflery; campers working on gaining height on the mini-trampoline at Gymnastics; and baseball intensives that had 3 coaches drilling campers on grounders, pop-ups, and general fielding.

Chocolate chip cookies were served at snack time.

Late day we saw more bikes on the road, balls in the air, and cheers at the waterfront.

After a “Camp Chipotle” dinner (build your own taco, burrito or salad), girls camp headed to the beach while the boys walked to the Outdoor Theater for their respective campfires. A breathtaking sunset served as the backdrop for these meaningful gatherings. Big Sisters introduced Little Sisters; Big Brothers introduced Little Brothers. The introductions were adorable and heartfelt. You could feel the blending of new and returning as our “bigs” welcomed their “littles” by way of introduction. Our senior campers then led their camps in song, being sure to teach lyrics and melodies to the Robin Hood favorites.

Both campfires concluded with the Goodnight Song, only to be topped by the singing of the loons as campers walked arm-in-arm back to their cabins.

Sweet dreams from the Realm.

Our first day bounced into action as the sun rose … well, maybe just a tad after that. The younger campers were so excited to begin the day, a basketball ‘gently’ bounced in sync with a couple of ping pongs. Play, chatter, laughter launched us into day one of summer 2011.

We all met around the flagpole at 8:30am snuggled in sweatshirts and sweatpants, then entered the Dining Hall where Nicky greeted us with chocolate chip pancakes and sausages.

Plus, of course, a vast buffet of fresh fruit, hot oatmeal and all the toppings were served as well. Many campers also enjoyed the hot chocolate as we warmed and filled our bellies in preparation for a full day of activities.

With the rain gone and skies clearing, campers played GaGa, bombardment, basketball, SPUD, and our Foresters challenged our Saxons to an intense game of soccer. While we won’t tell you the final score, teams played super hard and tremendous skill was shown. It was clear we haven’t seen the last of this rivalry.

Shires, Lancers, Bards and Foresters all decided to brave the water and tested out for their “16 Laps.”

Anxious to engage in all the Robin Hood water-sports, these senior campers opted to get this required test out of the way so their water play can begin immediately.

Tumblers and Bows were seen in the Dance Studio working on routines we hope to see in next week’s Camper Talent Show. Arrows and Quills both had periods in the Arts and Crafts Building looking over projects they can do this year.

Yeomen had an amazing game of softball at the Homerun Diamond, and one camper who happens to be new to the Realm hit the trees! (For those new to Robin Hood, this is a coveted accomplishment, commemorated with penning the athlete’s signature on a displayed sign at the field.)

Jesters hit the mattes down in Gymnastics and had a fabulous tumble!

Lunch today was one of our campers’ favorites – chicken nuggets and smiley fries. Nicky also had a fabulous vegetarian option of sautéed kale, BBQ tofu, and sticky rice. The salad bar was filled with field greens, a plethora of salad toppings, and the usual soy-nut butter, jelly and fresh whole grain bread.

Three intensives were offered after lunch – soccer, basketball, and archery. The respective specialty staff ran a variety of drills for each age group represented, and helped campers hone their skills.

A few more groups ventured into the water this afternoon, cheers were heard on the grass and sand volleyball courts, a karate class kicked on the quad, boys took their sticks to the lacrosse field, girls took a run on the big loop. By the time we all came together for dinner, you could see the glow on the children’s faces from a full-day of activities.

We finished the night in the Chuck Illig Playhouse as the staff took to the stage for the Staff Talent Show.

We love setting the tone with this mix of silliness, talent and everything in between. The photos should give you a peak of the glory we saw. Campers were on their feet cheering, dancing, clapping and snapping. We finished the day with that special, time-honored 84-year traditional singing of the Robin Hood Goodnight Song. Watching the new campers’ faces as they stood arm-and-arm with their new friends was the perfect finish to a fantastic day.

Sweet dreams from the Realm.

We had a different kind of rain dance today. The roll of wheels and sound of engines brought an end to a morning filled with heavy showers. Your children brought in sun, laughter and utter joy to the Realm and we thank you.

Three hundred campers arrived to Robin Hood today and were greeted by 100+ staff with welcome signs and open arms. Hugs were plentiful as we greeted returning campers and welcomed new members of our Robin Hood family.

Head Chef Nicky has prepared an Italian Feast for dinner, complete with homemade meatballs and garlic bread. Plus, rumor has it we will be celebrating our first camper birthday at the conclusion of the meal with a reverberating Realm BDay Parade!

Groups will gather after dinner with special bonding activities, and we look forward to making our nightly walk through all the bunks to wish everyone sweet dreams.

Bring on summer 2011!