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A Note From Woody

2 weeks…..

In a blink of the eye 2 weeks have passed since we closed our 93rd and most successful summer ever at CRH. I miss the non-stop energy and laughter of camp. I miss the smiling faces and constant movement of our days. The ability to live our best lives together in uncertain times was the end game. We came together and prepared for camp weeks before opening day. Doing whatever it took was our rallying call. Every member of our Robin Hood Family took the risk but did the work needed to overcome every obstacle.

When I think back to early June when we decided to open, our focus was on the scientific facts. We had the knowledge that as a family we could overcome anything TOGETHER. The first and biggest thank you has to go my staff and administration. Our 2021 general staff consisted of over 75% former campers and most members of the support staff have spent many summers at camp. My administration has over 250 Robin Hood summers worth of experience and knowledge. I would bet on them anytime!

The moment I woke up on day one and walked past the junior camp boys bunk I saw everyone wearing a mask and I felt very confident. 100% success on the first Covid test took us to stage 2 making me feel even better. Who will ever forget the moment Doc Arash announced the all NEGATIVE 6 days later. The celebration that erupted would continue for 4 more magical weeks.

The last but biggest thank you goes out to all of our camper parents. Your trust and support before, during, and after camp will never be forgotten. I know as a parent how hard it is to give up control under normal circumstances. The summer of 2020 was not normal in any way but will never be forgotten by any of us. We checked off every box and accomplished every goal.

Thanks as always for sharing your kids with me and for giving us the opportunity to get it done ….

A Note From Arash

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Dear Robin Hood Family,

We hit another positive milestone today as it has now been 14 days since the arrival of the last of our campers. As Camp Robin Hood’s Medical Director I feel that one more hurdle has been overcome on the path to a COVID-free Summer 2020 Season.

Even if the Novel Coronavirus had somehow managed to elude our three highly sensitive NP PCR tests, by now there is a >>99% chance that someone at camp would have shown some fever and/or COVID symptom if infected.

Despite our camp population being skewed toward the younger side, we currently have ten camp staff members over 50 years of age and an additional ten over 40. I find it very comforting that our group of “potential higher risk COVID targets” has also remained healthy throughout the four weeks that we, the staff, have been here at camp.

On site we continue to monitor every single camper and staff member’s temperature, signs/symptoms every single day.

We investigate each medical sign or symptom elicited on our daily inquiry.

We intend to continue these practices throughout the remaining three weeks of camp.

Last night’s music/dance performances brought us all a great deal of happiness. It has been wonderful to see everyone at camp thriving and enjoying all that Camp Robin Hood has to offer. Indeed, our dream to recreate the activity, freedom, and joy of a typical camp summer has been realized.

Honestly, I have seen an unprecedented level of camaraderie, cooperation, and participation in the day-to-day needs and workings of camp, at least in the 14 summers that I have been here. It warms my heart to see the eldest groups of campers really taking on a leadership and ownership role.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Warm Regards,

Arash

Arash Babaoff, MD

Camp Robin Hood

Medical Director

Day 8 in The Realm

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I am sitting alone at my desk listening to music booming from the playhouse as I catch up on calls and emails. The place is rocking as we celebrate the parties you missed this year. We had every person who graduated from middle school, high school or college walk across the stage to get a diploma from Chuck. We also honored our campers who had Mitzvahs over the spring cancelled by COVID.

This happened after an incredibly hot but perfect day here at the Realm. The waterfront was filled all day with kids swimming, boating ,laughing and playing. The fields rocked as all groups played sports getting ready for Green and White which is closer than we know at this point.

I have to pinch myself all day up here. The energy and enthusiasm with everything we do is amazing. I picked 5 Shires today to help gather all the garbage in camp. We laughed and told stories for 90 minutes. In what other summer could that happen. We have truly become one family. We all help out and do what needs to be done every day. That was actually my dream when covid broke in the spring. As other camp directors asked how we would pull it off I always answered the same way. That as a family we can accomplish anything. I knew your kids would react this way and be so thankful and happy to be up here. They understand what you parents have given them and will not waste a second of it ….

Thanks again for trusting us and for sharing your kids with all of us here at CRH.

Sweet dreams from the Realm.

Day 4 in The Realm

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Today was the day that I finally got to spend most of my time roaming around camp and seeing all of our activity areas and campers in action! It was a great day for that really as girls camp all decided to dress up in crazy and colorful outfits. They called it Brittany Snow Day. They tried to explain why but I didn’t really get it so I just smiled and rolled with it. All of you who questioned why your daughters asked you to buy and subsequently pack tutus and metallic crazy leggings it was for occasions just like this! Take a look at the pictures from today – I’m not sure if the counselors or the campers had more fun! Anyway I closed my computer and headed outside at 10:00 am. I saw so many cool things! At the waterfront I saw people on peddleboats, people on the SUP boards, people playing on the water trampoline, sailing, skiing, it was awesome! I even saw people doing water aerobics – that was a new one for me. I might join in next time. After lunch I focused on the land-based activities. There was some great basketball going on, kids doing some agility drills at soccer and something else I had never seen before at the tennis courts. Junior campers were being fed balls and then they started playing something that apparently is called tennis baseball. The camper would hit the ball and then run to the post and if they made it before the ball was returned they were safe. Or something like that. I didn’t really understand it but I know for sure that they were hitting and running and laughing and that is what counts. I saw kids playing some interesting character games in drama, making string bracelets at arts and crafts, spinning on the spin bikes followed by planks and other very difficult fitness moves. Evening activity just wrapped up – we had a game of Hunger Games, a reverse scavenger hunt, a standard scavenger hunt, a gaga game and the archers had their 3^rd league game of baseball while the lancers ended the night at a bonfire on the beach! What a great day to be outside! I generally spend too much time behind my desk so it was great to go mobile today and see this all happening live. I hope that you enjoy the pictures from today and get a good feel for what is going on up here. I can’t say enough how normal it feels which is amazing after this spring. I think we have all been craving some normalcy and this is just what the doctor ordered. Wishing you all a great evening – sweet dreams from the Realm – Michelle

Day 4 in The Realm

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Walking around the Realm these days is like going back in time. Like they have for the last 92 summers children are walking around with big smiles and tons of energy and excitement. They are playing sports and enjoying our lake like kids should be. We are constantly focused on what is what’s next. What activity are we playing next? What’s for lunch? When I announced at dinner tonight that dessert was fudgesicles – you would have thought that it was New Year’s Eve! Your kids are enjoying and taking in every minute here at the REALM. They are so appreciative of what you guys have allowed them to do. We talked at breakfast about what a privilege it is to be at camp. No one is entitled to this experience. It’s something we all need to be thankful for every day.

16 weeks ago I would have never thought it was possible. 3 weeks ago I would have given my left arm to be here on night 5 of the summer, about to start our second camper test with high hopes. We have now tested our staff 3 times and each camper is about to get their 3rd test. We have accomplished so much and I feel so fortunate to be a part of this. I am also not scared of tomorrow’s results. Two weeks ago I could not sleep before receiving the staff’s second test results. I now have great confidence in our plan and a better understanding of the science behind it. We have proven that we can and will overcome any curveball thrown our way.

Our kids walk around enjoying camp in every way. The only difference is that they all wear masks. They are all doing the things I dreamed about when this first started. They are picking up trash, helping set up and serve – basically doing whatever it takes at meal times. The bunks were spotless today. We have identified specific bathrooms for every cohort. We are truly a family. A family who looks out for each other and respects the time we have been given up here.

In closing I must say to you exactly what I said to your kids today – to THANK YOU, THEIR FAMILIES in a letter home. Thanks for trusting us and for sharing your kids. Thanks for being a partner in this life changing journey that we all will talk about for forever.

I am the luckiest person in the world to be sitting at this desk….

Sweet dreams from the Realm

WE DID IT — Summer 2020 >>