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 ….
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.
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 3rd 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
