Camp Life

Camp UPDATE

2010-06-20T10:43:00.001-04:00

For all of your day-to-day Camp news visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/ymcacamp

Cabin Signs!

2010-05-03T08:33:00.003-04:00

Remember coming to camp and seeing your name on all of the past cabin signs on the walls? We have photo-archived all of them to be put forever into our cabin books. Here is a taste of all of the cabin signs that we archived last weekend! Check out the rest on our facebook page. I hope that these cabin signs dig up some great memories! It's never too late to get back in touch with old friends from camp! Have a good one :)

Earth Services Awards a hit!

2010-04-15T09:49:00.002-04:00

Over 80 people were in attendance last night at Camp for the annual earth service awards which recognizes Warren and Washington County teens for the leadership and stewardship for the environment. The winner of the $500 scholarship was Mel Steinberg from Greenwich Schools. Mel conducted a field study that analyzed the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on eastern red-spotted newts and northern green frogs in the Hudson River. She designed and planned all aspects of the field study, and is planning another study to examine zebra mussels, another invasive species.

We also honored a teacher of the year, Mr. Larry Deso from Corinth Elementary School. Mr. Deso has been a true advocate of exposing his students to the natural world through programs at Chingachgook over the years and was a perfect choice for the award.

Keynote speakers included Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward from the 113^th District, and Neil Woodworth, the Executive Director of the Adirondack Mountain Club.

They're here!

2010-04-07T13:54:00.001-04:00

As many of you come to expect this time of year, our outdoor education staff have arrived at Camp, and officially began training for what figures to be the most enjoyable pre-summer season ever. Curious and interested in meeting these fine folks? Then register yourself for one of our many programs that take place between now and the start of summer camp!

Calling all GOLFERS!

2010-04-01T15:38:00.002-04:00

On Monday, August 2, the Capital District YMCA will hold its 14th Annual Golf Classic at Wolferts Roost Country Club. As Camp helps plan for the event, we're hoping we can count on as many of you as possible to tee it up on our behalf. So, if you're interested in hitting the links for a good cause or for more information, contact Aimee Bouquet (abousquet@cdymca.org) to reserve your spot in a foursome!

Tune It Up at the 2010 Maintenance Conference

2010-03-24T11:08:00.010-04:00

This week Camp hosts our second national conference of the month: The 2010 North American Camp Maintenance Conference. Over 80 professionals hailing from Iowa to Maryland to right here in the Adirondacks are gathering this Tuesday through Thursday to share ideas and learn from one another. These are the essential men and women camps rely on for new projects, facility repairs, and the countless day-to-day functions of running a camp. Below: High 5 inspector Todd fills participants in on ropes initatives standards.

Participants of the Conference attend presentations that range from tutorials on engine repair to discussions about new facility ideas and volunteer recruitment. Camp Consultant Gary Forster and engineer Rick Stryker are the keynote speakers, sharing their many years of experience and wisdom in the field. This conference is an opportunity for networking and a chance to see what's going on in camp maintenance across the country... and not to mention it's a great time!

Above, left to right: Chingachgook Maintenance Director Chris Thompson shows off parts (and materials) of the brand new barn over the climbing tower KYBO during a tour. Presenter and Ace Hardware expert Tom Ogle demonstrates the ins and outs of engine repair on an old mower.

Wait, is Camp really only...

2010-03-15T09:28:00.003-04:00

104 Days Away!

Well, that's until Session One starts, staff training is even closer! In just 93 short days (well, not short, they're still 24 hours long) over 100 summer staff will start to show up at Camp to prepare Chingachgook for another epic summer on the lake! What are you looking forward to the most? Me? The lake of course! In addition to counting down the days until Camp starts, I am also counting down the days until I am able to jump off the rope swing for the first time! Maybe it's time to start a quick poll about the summer....yup, it is! Below you can find the entire Camp countdown for the summer!

Session One: 104 Days

Session Two: 118 Days

Session Three: 132 Days

Session Four: 146 Days

Session Five: 153 Days

Session Six: 160 Days

"Soup's On" at the 2010 Food Service Conference

2010-03-10T12:14:00.005-05:00

This week Camp is in the middle of hosting the 2010 North American Camp Food Service Conference. Camp food service professionals from all over North America have gathered here on Lake George to talk about everyone's favorite part of Camp... food! The Conference features presentations on everything from vegan dishes to cheese steaks, not to mention the "food frenzy" creativity competition and mouthwatering vendor food show. Chingachgook is proud to host this forum for sharing ideas, recipes, and Camp stories from all over the country. Below Adventure Coordinator Madden Coghlan and Conference attendees enjoy the product of the Steak-Eze demonstration on Wednesday.

Inauguaral Adventure to the Pacific Northwest!!

2010-02-26T11:59:00.010-05:00

Looming snow topped mountains, towering ancient pines, epic coastal cliff formations and one lucky group of Chingachgook campers! This summer, Chingachgook's Adventure Leadership Program will be heading to the great Pacific Northwest for two weeks of hiking, sea kayaking, wind surfing, playing and developing leadership skills in one of the most scenic regions of North America.

The inaugural Pacific Northwest Leadership Adventure will be a jam packed three weeks hitting some of the most unique places the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Here is a quick run down of the highlights of this exciting new program:

4 days of hiking and camping along the Pacific coast in Olympic National Park.

3 days with the awesome leaders from YMCA Camp Orkila sea kayaking around the serene San Juan Islands famous for thier concentration of Orca whales.

All day trek to Camp Muir at on the face of Mt. Rainier at an elevation of 10,080 ft!

3 days of expert windsurfing instruction on the world famous waters of the Hood River Gorge!

For more information on this amazing trip, and all of our other exciting adventures contact Adventure Coordinator, Madden Coghlan at any time at 518-656-9462 x6646 or mcoghlan@cdymca.org

Walking in a Winter Chinga-land

2010-02-25T13:15:00.013-05:00

Finally! After a long, dry month, Camp was covered with 16+ inches of white stuff between Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Many have never seen Chingachgook under the cover of this much snow! Take a look at how deep it got in the parking lot and the covering on the rocks and cabins in Junior Boys. We've waited a long time for snow, and now that it looks like a true Adirondack winter at Camp, it's hard to believe that the Summer is less than 4 short months away!

The dedicated program team braved the elements on Wednesday to groom the tubing hill in the Junior Boys Unit and make some trails in the deep snow around Camp. As it turns out, not only is this snow great for tubing, but it's also perfect for making snowballs, snowmen, and all sorts of winter fun. Hope all of you in the Northeast are getting out and enjoying the fluffy stuff while you can!

Above: Madden Coghlan and Ken Stannard, respective Adventure Coordinator and Summer Camp Coordinator test the snowball conditions on the gazebo bridge. Outdoor Education Coordinator Heather Siegel assesses the tubing hill.

International Staff 2010

2010-02-24T11:17:00.008-05:00

We have hired a number of staff from around the world to work here this summer! Camp is very excited to have a very diverse group of counselors for the upcoming summer. Here is a list of our International Staff and where they are coming from! Enjoy.

Australia:
Ashleigh Smith
Thomas Schell
Hanne Pederson

Germany:
Antje Herse South Africa:
Michael Botha
Gareth Taylor United Kingdom:
Victoria Reid
Rebecca White
Dominic Mcleod Israel:
David Akilov

New Zealand:
James Harvey

Canada:
Kali Coll

Camp is on Facebook!

2010-02-16T11:45:00.003-05:00

(click the photo or the link below to go to our facebook page)

You heard right! Camp Chingachgook now has a fan page on Facebook. Hundreds of your old Camp friends have already joined. You can now connect with Chingachgook in a new way. See what we're up to throughout the year, leave us a message, or reconnect with some old camp buddies...the possibilities are endless! You can even look at Camp pictures from various events. What a great way to keep up with what's going on at Camp. Become a fan today!

Fundraising Gala is coming up!

2010-02-12T08:11:00.007-05:00

Mark your calendars! February 19th at 5:00pm.

For the first time ever Chingachgook is hosting its first ever Fundraising Gala! A silent auction will be going on throughout the night for various items that will benefit our Reach Out For Youth campaign. There will be a performance by The Last of the Mohican's...Chief Chingachgook himself may make an appearance!!! You don't want to miss this great event for a great cause RSVP NOW!

$35 per person includes $15 donation to the YMCA Reach Out for Youth scholarship program, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and entertainment. Fort William Henry Resort and Conference Center is offering a discounted room rate of $79 for guests to spend the night (518-668-3081, mention YMCA when reserving).

Please R.S.V.P. to Aimee:
YMCA Camp Chingachgook • 1872 Pilot Knob Rd • Kattskill Bay, NY 12844
abousquet@cdymca.org phone: 518-656-9462, ext 6601

Here is the official flyer

Winter Women's Weekend

2010-02-10T16:49:00.006-05:00

"Flashback to the 50's!"

This past weekend was our annual Winter Women's Weekend here at Chingachgook! Over 50 women from all over came for a relaxing getaway weekend here at Camp. Activities included a Zumba Gold dance session(pictured below), body sculpting, belly dance workshops, self-defense seminars, massages, beading, ice walks on Lake George, snowshoe hikes, as well as others. Yup, there was something for just about everyone! Our weekend was capped off by an amazing 50's themed sock hop on Saturday Night (pictured above!) The Pipekings provided some great live music as we danced the night away. It was a fantastic time had by all and we cannot wait for next year already!

Snowblast...is a BLAST!

2010-01-25T10:26:00.002-05:00

As you might have guessed from the title, we had a great time when the Southern Saratoga Adventure Princesses visited Chingachgook for a day not too long ago. We had fun tubing, sledding, playing ice hockey (or just sliding on the ice), there were crazy crafts, fun winter hikes, and of course a dutch auction. But the smashing hit? It was our egg drop of course. The picture below was how my egg did...not too well huh? That makes four consecutive years my egg hasn't survived the drop from the dining hall....maybe next year!

You don't always see them

2010-01-14T09:28:00.002-05:00

The number of staff on July 1 differs quite a bit from the number of staff on January 1 each year. Yesterday, we gathered the entire Chingachgook staff, 19 of us, for a group photo on the Veranda. To recap, January - 19 staff, July 180 staff. Quite a difference of numbers between the two months huh? For those of you wondering, it was a warm 11 degrees outside when we took this picture but we still managed to see smiles across the board from everyone. We're definitely counting down the days until we see some new faces and warmer weather at Camp!

Alumni Staff Reunion!

2010-01-07T16:53:00.003-05:00

This past weekend, close to 100 of our past staff members met up together for a day of fun. It had been quite some time since many of us have seen each other, so it was a great day to catch up with old friends. Some older staff from years ago were in attendance as well as much of our current staff, which made for a nice mix of stories and memories!
Some went down our tubing hill, others played some broomball at the center green which was transformed into an ice rink, and still others gathered by the fire to chat and catch up.

At 3:00, the bravest of Chingachgook staff gathered for a polar bear plunge into icy Lake George! Of course, all participants had to recite the "We are the Polar Bears" song while they stood in the snow before they went for the dip. The rest of camp watched from the bay!

After the polar bear jump, everyone gathered for a great dinner up in the dining hall. We sang our dinnertime grace before digging in. The man of the hour, George Painter, addressed the exuberant staff in his annual "State of the Camp!" It was really a great gathering.

Thank you to all who attended this great reunion. It is always wonderful to see old friends. Remember to always keep in touch with your old camp friends and that you are truly always welcome back at camp! Take care!

A favorite skill class from last summer

2010-01-07T08:53:00.003-05:00

New things don't often reach fast success at Camp, but our Guitar class quickly became a must-dp event at Camp. Armed with 14 brand new guitars, almost 100 campers learned to play guitars at Camp. The best part? The class was a roaming one. Sometimes the class was located right outside of Rotary Lodge, other times the class could be found near Rockewell, or perhaps down at the waterfront. For those of you who took part in Guitar class, what did you think? Is it a keeper?

See Ya in 2010

2009-12-23T14:41:00.003-05:00

2009 showed Chingachgook a lot of great things. We had a new junior boys bathhouse, our first full summer with Baxter Park, two new skill classes (guitar and softball), more campers then ever before, and of course...a staff that was second to none! I'd like to thank all of our CITs, counselors and program/waterfront staff from last summer for helping us achieve the many things that we did, and the Support Staff; Mike (SBU), Alex (JBU), Kristen (SGU), Lori (JGU), Tressie/Carlos/Richy (CITs), Katie (Aquatics), Jason (Boating), Heather (Skill Classes), Ken (Special Events), and of course Nicole (Day Camp) for helping me all throughout the summer. Chingachgook couldn't have done it without any of you! See you in 2010!

Barn is Done...But where'd the bridge go?

2009-12-14T12:32:00.004-05:00

After working quite hard for an extended period of time, our maintenance crew was able to complete the new barn in just over a week. As soon as the weather warms up (April probably), you'll find it getting a fresh coat of paint. Any color ideas?

As for the bridge...well, guess who needed a new one? That's right, we did! A couple of days ago the old bridge was taken out, now the foundation is being put together for the new bridge that will be much fancier then our old one. Anyone want to see how many people we can fit on the new bridge next summer?...Just kidding...sort of.

The Barn is coming

2009-12-01T08:50:00.003-05:00

You read that correctly, the barn is coming! As part of our ever growing farm at Camp, the climbing tower bathhouse is getting a tremendous makeover, both inside and out. First, the outside is be made to look like a barn from the present farm location. As you can see from the pictures, the construction is well under way, and we're hoping to be finished sometime before 2010. Now, the inside! Just like our junior boys bathhouse got a new interior, so is the climbing tower KYBO. We completely gutted the inside, and everything will be brand new for the upcoming summer giving Camp another wonderful and new bathhouse!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T15:28:00.002-05:00

Everyone here at Camp wishes all of our Camp community a happy happy Thanksgiving. We've certain got many things to be thankful for here at Chingachgook. For starters, having such a strong alumni base and Camp Community. Our beautiful natural location (i.e. Lake George and the Adirondack Mountains) and wonderful facilities...and who could forget the incredible Campers and Staff we've had over the many years. I hope everyone gets to spend quality time with the people they care about over the next several weeks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Baxter Park gets some use!

2009-11-09T11:27:00.003-05:00

What a weekend! We had 20 little leaguers and their fathers here using Baxter Park for the last time this fall. Sure it was a little on the chilly side (although Sunday almost saw it hit 60 degrees!) and the bat may have stung a little bit after making contact with the ball, but these are tough kids we're talking about. For sometime, we thought Baxter Park would see its first kid/camper homerun, but alas, we're still waiting for that magical swing!

First Lookout in the Fall

2009-11-06T08:18:00.002-05:00

There were rumors floating around Camp the other day that once summer ends, and the leaves fall from the trees, the Chingachgook Trail up Buck Mountain becomes impossible to find and First Lookout ceases to exist. Well, here's the proof it does exist still...myth busted!

The leaves won't be around much longer

2009-10-30T08:17:00.004-04:00

A friendly stroll around Camp brings a couple of images right away. The first being...wow, it's really not summer anymore. The second, a little more startling...wow, when is it going to snow for the first time. Last year Buck Mountain had a solid coating of snow in very late November, just after Thanksgiving. So, the countdown is on. When will the cold white stuff make it's apperance for the first time? Make a guess in the comments section and if you guess correctly, win a Chingachgook Hoodie! Just make sure you leave your name along with your guess!

Family Camp...is a blast of course!

2009-10-12T14:11:00.003-04:00

Families came from all over the region to participate in the final family camp weekend of 2009. I am sure they were glad they did too. An fun filled program including EVERY area of Camp plus a hilarious and fun Pumpkin Festival on Saturday night made the weekend worth it. On Saturday, before the festival, the families had the entire high ropes course to themselves for a little while and really motored through the elements. Great job everyone!

From the pictures below, which pumpkin do you think is the best?

A Yoga Weekend at Camp

2009-10-05T08:35:00.002-04:00

Sometimes we forget how relaxing and rejuvenating a place Camp can be. This past weekend, over fifty people gathered for a "Spirit, Mind, and Body" retreat and enjoyed all that Camp had to offer, plus many other yoga related activties. The food this weekend feature a number of different types of food that were on the healthier side of things. So, no, there were no macaroni and cheese nuggets to eat, but the food was still unbelievable. If you're into yoga, or even if you're not and want to learn, join us next year for the retreat. October 1-3, 2010 at Chingachgook!

Practicing for the summer?

2009-09-23T09:30:00.001-04:00

Of course not! We've been very busy the last couple of weeks. Over a dozen schools have been here with almost 1,000 students in total. What exactly are they doing? Well, besides the traditional canoeing, high ropes, climbing tower, and archery classes. These kids have explored the wetlands, learned about animal insticts, and dipped their hands in the stream...literally.

Favorite Summer Moments

2009-09-16T10:27:00.003-04:00

With so many great moments to pick from it's almost impossible to pick just one. So, instead, I've decided (since I make the rules) to pick my favorite program from the summer. Is it really that hard? Hikes! What other part of Camp rewards it's participants with unbelievable views, paddling on Lake George, climbing in the adirondacks, and the opportunity to camp outside, in some cases for the first time! With Chingachgook programs (Hikes and Adventure Trips) over 2,000 kids spent at least two nights out in the "wilderness" living off the land like our ancestors did so many years ago.

Where have all the campers gone?!

2009-09-02T08:00:00.002-04:00

Seriously now, I know Camp is over...but is it supposed to feel this empty especially when the weather is so nice? Come back!!!!!

Hiking Was Great

2009-08-27T16:48:00.003-04:00

Shortly after lunch yesterday, the entire Camp departed on a journey to summit Buck Mountain. Many of our cabins made it to the top, but everyone had a great time. Upon their return we enjoyed a great cookout dinner (Mexican Night) which was followed by a fantastic fire and drive-in movie night up on tall pines playing field!

Closing Day Reminders for Session Six

2009-08-26T16:04:00.001-04:00

I know the last thing we are thinking about is Session Six ending, but I still wanted to pass along some reminders about Closing Day at Camp.

Pick-up is from 4:30-5:30
The amazing Family BBQ starts at 5:00
Don't forget about the incredible slideshow @ 6:00

When you return home from Camp make sure you fill out our online survey! Your thoughts and feedback will help us make changes for future summers AND help us for the remainder of the summer!http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB229DYQJT2ZR

Final Canoe Races of Summer

2009-08-26T13:40:00.003-04:00

Since we have a boys unit and a girls unit, we held just one overall race for unit supremacy today. It was a fun race, each unit had a pretty funny theme. The girls came down as hillbillies, and the boys were coal miners. Their associated cheers were funny as well. As for the race? It was close as they were turning around the buoy, but on the home stretch, one of the boys cabins was able to really jump ahead and take home the trophy!

Unit Photos!

2009-08-25T14:13:00.002-04:00

Just took unit photos for the yearbook (see them below), lots of smiling faces! Right now the Camp just dispersed into afternoon activities. We've got lots going on from sailing, to swimming, to archery, to hiking, and just about everything else in between. Tonight we've got a fabulous evening program planned for the ENTIRE Camp. We're going to be spread out over the entire Camp doing a large "scavenger hunt" type activity, but there will be a few fun suprises for the campers and counselors!

Day One of Sixth Session!

2009-08-24T11:45:00.003-04:00

We're off to a fast and fun start at Camp today. The sun is shining and campers are all over the place taking part in great activities. You can see pictures below of the fun being had!

Climbing Tower!
Our tough ultimate frisbee crew

Learning a little something about nature

Who ever turned down a wheel barrow race?

Sixth Session...and final opening day :(

2009-08-23T17:02:00.003-04:00

A shabby morning turned into a great afternoon for opening day and swim checks. We're only moments away from a spaghetti and meatballs dinner to be followed by a wonderful campfire. Enjoy the pictures below from swim checks.

Session Six Opening Day Reminders

2009-08-23T07:55:00.002-04:00

We hope you are as excited to kick-off Session Six today as we are. I wanted to pass along a few reminders that will help simplify your opening day experience at Camp.

· All campers may start arriving at 1pm
· Once you have arrived, you will walk to the dining hall for check-in (balances that may be due on your account, camper skill class schedules, health forms and questions for the medical staff, if needed)
· After check-in you will be able to drive your child to their cabin to help them move in and meet their counselors. We do ask that parents leave Camp shortly after meeting the counselor, as campers have a busy schedule and long goodbyes can be difficult
· There will be an optional Welcome Parents session in Rotary Lodge with Summer Camp Director, Aaron Cantor @ 2:30pm
· Save time on opening day by adding money to your child’s store account online before you arrive.

Don’t forget to register with “Parent Communicator”, the one-way email communication software Camp uses that allows your parents to send one-way email to you at camp and view photos that are uploaded several times throughout the session.The website is www.parentcommunicator.com/CampChingachgook. And the access code is Chingachgook

Closing Campfire

2009-08-21T14:20:00.002-04:00

A great night for a campfire! As we watched the sunset, we said our farewells to Session Five during closing campfire. Each unit prepared a little something for the rest of Camp. At the very end of campfire, we each lit our candle, said the Chingachgook Alma Mater, blew them out, then we all rose silently and said TAPS for the final time at night.

Session Five Closing Day Reminders

2009-08-21T10:38:00.000-04:00

I know the last thing we are thinking about is Session Five ending, but I still wanted to pass along some reminders about Closing Day at Camp.

Junior Campers pick-up is from 4:30-5:30
Senior Campers pick-up is from 5:00-6:00
The amazing Family BBQ starts at 5:00
Don't forget about the incredible slideshow @ 6:30

Getting ready for closing campfire

2009-08-20T18:23:00.002-04:00

They're practicing all over Camp! Tonight, at closing campfire, every unit will prepare a special song for the entire Camp. In addition, each unit will select one camper and one staff member to speak in front of the entire Camp. We've heard some great speeches over the summer, most are about what fun camp is and others are about how much they love Camp and cannot wait to return next year. What would you say if you had the chance to speak in front of the entire Camp?

Fifth Session Canoe Races

2009-08-19T13:18:00.001-04:00

Great races today at Camp, both were very close. Both boys units' were victorious in the end, but there were still some great themes. The senior boys were "Snow White", the senior girls were "Baseball" and dressed only as Yankee and Red Sox fans, the junior girls were "Safari", and the junior boys came as different "bugs". The canoers even managed to take a dip in the lake after their race...

Random fun at Camp on a hot day!

2009-08-18T12:45:00.002-04:00

No matter how hot it gets...we'll have fun! Here's the proof too :)

Lunch at Camp

2009-08-17T14:02:00.003-04:00

Grilled cheese was the main meal at lunch today. The kids seemed to love it. We've got a full afternoon planned complete with plenty of opportunities for water exposure considering how nice and hot it is outside!

Opening Campfire and a Sunset

2009-08-17T07:18:00.004-04:00

In what was perhaps the best night all summer, opening campfire was fantastic! Each unit proudly shared a song or two, we learned about the super secret polar club, and saw evil Hog Town Hank capture King Hachgook's princess! Now the race will be on to see which unit or cabin will be able to successfully locate the princess and return her to safety. Hopefully before the end of the session too.

Opening Day....SUCCESS

2009-08-16T17:12:00.002-04:00

A hot and humid day turned into one of the best days of the summer to jump into the lake for swim checks. And that's exactly what happened. We've never seen campers so excited to take their swim checks on the first day of Camp. Perhaps all we needed was some really warm weather to get everyone in the "mood".

Not to mention that everyone is also having a great time so far. Everywhere I go, I run into campers who are smiling and laughing. It's a great sight and hopefully there will be only more of that to come over the next week at Camp!

Session Five Opening Day Reminders

2009-08-15T16:26:00.000-04:00

We hope you are as excited to kick-off Session Five on Sunday as we are. I wanted to pass along a few reminders that will help simplify your opening day experience at Camp.

· Junior campers (ages 7-12) and adventure trippers may start arriving at 1pm
· Senior campers (ages 13-16) may start arriving at 2:30pm
· Once you have arrived, you will walk to the dining hall for check-in (balances that may be due on your account, camper skill class schedules, health forms and questions for the medical staff, if needed)
· After check-in you will be able to drive your child to their cabin to help them move in and meet their counselors. We do ask that parents leave Camp shortly after meeting the counselor, as campers have a busy schedule and long goodbyes can be difficult
· There will be an optional Welcome Parents session in Rotary Lodge with Summer Camp Director, Aaron Cantor @ 2:30pm
· Save time on opening day by adding money to your child’s store account online before you arrive.

Don’t forget to register with “Parent Communicator”, the one-way email communication software Camp uses that allows your parents to send one-way email to you at camp and view photos that are uploaded several times throughout the session.The website is www.parentcommunicator.com/CampChingachgook. And the access code is ChingachgookDrive safe and see you Sunday!Aaron :)

Polar Bears

2009-08-14T14:01:00.003-04:00

Ahh...the rewards of an early morning wake-up. The pictures below are of some of the new members of the Chingachgook Polar Bear Club. They woke up every morning and were at the Waterfront by 6:55am, where they then jumped into the lake. What do they get for their efforts? How about a shiny certificate plus a t-shirt!

Session Four Closing Day Reminders

2009-08-14T07:54:00.001-04:00

I know the last thing we are thinking about is Session Four ending, but I still wanted to pass along some reminders about Closing Day at Camp.

Junior Campers pick-up is from 4:30-5:30
Senior Campers pick-up is from 5:00-6:00
Adventure Trip pick-up is from 5:30-6:00
The amazing Family BBQ starts at 5:00
Don't forget about the incredible slideshows (Adventure @ 6:00, Camp @ 6:30)

A Popular Lunch - Make your own sandwich

2009-08-13T15:11:00.003-04:00

Make your own sandwich is definitely my favorite lunchtime meal...is it yours? Here's photos of each of the four wings of our dining hall (including the veranda) that are used every meal!

Canoe Races

2009-08-12T14:37:00.002-04:00

Another epic canoe race day at Chingachgook saw the closest race in recent memory as the Junior Boys came from behind and just narrowly edged out the Junior Girls by about three feet. It was so close, that the entire Camp, who was watching from the point, was going absolutely bananas. The senior race wasn't as close as the boys won handedly.

The themes this time were pretty clever. The junior boys were "copycats", the junior girls were "superheroes", the senior boys were "dining hall", and the senior girls were "disneyland".

Counselor Hunt and Gold Rush

2009-08-11T19:27:00.002-04:00

Tonight's evening activity is taking our campers all over Camp as they search not only for some hidden counselors....but for rocks mysteriously painted different colors and posing as minerals. There will be an overall winner for tonight's program, one for the juniors and one for the seniors.

Skill Class Fun

2009-08-11T12:18:00.002-04:00

Deep in the heart of the programs at Chingachgook are skill classes. Here are some great shots of our campers learning some great skills.

Guitar Class
High Ropes

Photography

Fishing

Adventure Send off, number 7

2009-08-10T07:11:00.002-04:00

Here are some great fun EARLY morning pictures from our final adventure send off of the summer. Six different trips left Camp today for high adventure all over the area!

Cabin Life on Opening Day

2009-08-09T17:51:00.003-04:00

Opening Days at Camp can be one of the more busy days at Camp. Doesn't seemed to have fazed this cabin (G-12). I walked in and they were having the time of their lives. Girls were happy to pose for a couple of photos and even show off the wide variety of glasses they had to wear. Looks like this cabin is well on their way to a great time at Camp.

Chingachgook Challenge a success!

2009-08-08T13:05:00.005-04:00

With almost 300 runners participating in both a half marathon (13.1 miles) and the 10K (6.2 miles), I feel comfortable deeming the event a success! I've included a couple of shots for you to enojy, watching the runners start was truely a lot of fun. After the runners finished, there was a large BBQ at Camp, and people spent a great deal of time in the water just relaxing after running all those miles!

Session Four Reminders

2009-08-08T06:11:00.000-04:00

We hope you are as excited to kick-off Session Four on Sunday as we are. I wanted to pass along a few reminders that will help simplify your opening day experience at Camp.

· Junior campers (ages 7-12) and adventure trippers may start arriving at 1pm
· Senior campers (ages 13-16) may start arriving at 2:30pm
· Once you have arrived, you will walk to the dining hall for check-in (balances that may be due on your account, camper skill class schedules, health forms and questions for the medical staff, if needed)
· After check-in you will be able to drive your child to their cabin to help them move in and meet their counselors. We do ask that parents leave Camp shortly after meeting the counselor, as campers have a busy schedule and long goodbyes can be difficult
· There will be an optional Welcome Parents session in Rotary Lodge with Summer Camp Director, Aaron Cantor @ 2:30pm
· Save time on opening day by adding money to your child’s store account online before you arrive.

Don’t forget to register with “Parent Communicator”, the one-way email communication software Camp uses that allows your parents to send one-way email to you at camp and view photos that are uploaded several times throughout the session.The website is www.parentcommunicator.com/CampChingachgook. And the access code is Chingachgook

Drive safe and see you Sunday!Aaron :)

Lost and Found Fashion Show

2009-08-07T12:55:00.004-04:00

A new staple in the Chingachgook diet is our lost and found fashion show which immediately follows lunch. We gather all the campers on the center green and staff members walk around with one item each, by each camper, to ask them if the item was theirs.

Those wacky hike presentations!

2009-08-06T14:21:00.004-04:00

We sure had some funny and interesting hike presentations. Each hike presented and drew laughs, cheers, and applause from the entire Camp, all of whom were intently watching for what was going to happen next. The weather is holding up right now and we're planning on an outdoor closing Campfire!

Welcome Back! Now take a shower :)

2009-08-05T13:46:00.002-04:00

Yes, so the hikes have returned, well most of them at this point. Over the next several hours the hikers are going to be putting away their group gear, washing the dishes they used, setting up their tents one last time, and hopefully taking a shower. Around 4:30 or so, all of the hikes will gather near Rotary Lodge and each hike will perform a short "skit" about their hike to share with the rest of Camp. Then...it's cookout dinner and the Camp dance!

Session Three Closing Reminders

2009-08-04T15:02:00.000-04:00

I know the last thing we are thinking about is Session Two ending, but I still wanted to pass along some reminders about Closing Day at Camp.

Junior Campers pick-up is from 4:30-5:30
Senior Campers pick-up is from 5:00-6:00
Adventure Trip pick-up is from 5:30-6:00
The amazing Family BBQ starts at 5:00
Don't forget about the incredible slideshows (Adventure @ 6:00, Camp @ 6:30)

Kayakers are having fun

2009-08-04T14:53:00.002-04:00

I got the chance to check on some of our kayakers out on the lake. Sure seemed like they were having a great time kayaking around in the beautiful sun. I was sure jealous! So, the kids are due back to Camp tomorrow after lunch. When they get back, we'll all gather to share a little presentation from each hike. After that...time for the Camp dance!

Hikes are off...almost

2009-08-03T08:59:00.002-04:00

In the next hour or so, all of the overnight hikes will have departed Camp. Right now, the last few hikes are preparing the bag lunches for today and they'll eventually be making their way to their campsites for the next few days. Below is a fun picture of our two seperate Dix Mountain Hikes, one all male and the other all female.

Just some hike bags packed and waiting for someone to take them out into the Adirondacks!

Fun in the Sun

2009-08-02T07:57:00.002-04:00

Without a doubt it was the hottest day of the summer yesterday. We had a wonderful carnival yesterday followed by an exteneded free swim at our waterfront to provide everyone a great chance to cool off! Today is hikes prep day and our hikes leave tomorrow morning!

Alumni Day!

2009-08-01T09:11:00.005-04:00

Chingachgook has a great Alumni Association, one of the largest in our area, and today they're hosting the annual summer reunion for all past alumni (campers and staff). Here's the schedule for the day, if you're an alum of Chingachgook, we'd love to see you here today.

1pm - Registration and Welcome and the Dearstyne Hike Center

1pm - 5pm - Swimming in Beginners Bay and Rope Swing

2:15pm - Tour of Camp with George Painter

3:30pm - Ceremonial Unveiling at Baxter Park

3:45pm - Alumni Softball Game and Homerun Derby at Baxter Park

5:00pm - President's Reception at the Director's House

5:45pm - Future visions for Camp

6:15pm - Cookout Dinner at the Waterfront Pavilion

7:30pm - Talent Show by Camp at Rotary Lodge

Beach Blast...A Blast!

2009-07-31T06:28:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was probably the hottest day of the summer so far. Good thing we planned for a beach blast as our evening program. Just about the entire waterfront area was made available to our campers. We had kids canoeing, swimming, playing beach and water volleyball, jumping off the floats, going for boat rides, and flying off the rope swing. I'd say everyone involved had a relaxing and fun evening!

That Building on the Hill

2009-07-30T14:33:00.003-04:00

So what exactly happens inside of Art Hill? It's home to three of our skill classes. Photography, woodworking, and art all call this building home. With over 40 kids inside at one time or another, there is plenty of action for one to see. You go from kids and clay, to campers building their birdhouses, to even more campers developing the photos they just took. Art Hill, anyway you look at it, is definitely a hub of activity at Camp.

Canoe Races!

2009-07-29T14:28:00.004-04:00

This morning we had everyone's favorite program...Canoe Races! Here are some great pictures of the madness that went down on a pretty decent morning at Camp.

I guess their theme was Las Vegas...

Come on sevens!

I'm a robot!

Looking tough...right?

Family Tree

2009-07-28T16:35:00.002-04:00

So here's the shot of the Mikluski Family Tree that the whole holiday/family reunion themed session is based on. All I have to say is we got some pretty talented staff at Camp, namely our Art Specialist Andrea Morehouse.

Happy Halloween!

2009-07-28T09:22:00.004-04:00

We're getting a little crazy already here at Camp. Today's "Holiday" is Halloween, with the evening program tonight being an all camp wide version of trick or treating. Cabins groups will be searching all throughout Camp tonight for places where they can complete challenges to earn points/candy for their efforts. I promise though, no real candy will be distrubited tonight, but there will be a couple ultimate winners from each unit!

And the adventure trips are off

2009-07-27T07:34:00.003-04:00

Whether by boat or by land, the adventure trippers who arrived yesterday departed for their one or two week long adventures all over the east coast. Some were headed to Maine for a multitude of activities while another trip tackled the habitat house we've been working on all summer. Below are a few photos from the send-off they got from the overnight campers, about 150 showed up to wave them off!

Opening Day Third Session

2009-07-26T16:05:00.002-04:00

The campers are here and we're hoping the weather holds out long enough for us to get a wonderful two weeks of Camp! Right now the last of the campers are finishing their swim checks and after that, we'll be preparing for our opening campfire. Despite the clouds that have rolled in, we are optimistic that we will be able to have a sundown much like the picture above.

Session Three Reminders

2009-07-25T08:06:00.001-04:00

We hope you are as excited to kick-off Session Three on Sunday as we are. I wanted to pass along a few reminders that will help simplify your opening day experience at Camp.

· Junior campers (ages 7-12) and adventure trippers may start arriving at 1pm

· Senior campers (ages 13-16) may start arriving at 2:30pm

· Once you have arrived, you will walk to the dining hall for check-in (balances that may be due on your account, camper skill class schedules, health forms and questions for the medical staff, if needed)

· After check-in you will be able to drive your child to their cabin to help them move in and meet their counselors. We do ask that parents leave Camp shortly after meeting the counselor, as campers have a busy schedule and long goodbyes can be difficult

· There will be an optional Welcome Parents session in Rotary Lodge with Summer Camp Director, Aaron Cantor @ 2:30pm

· Save time on opening day by adding money to your child’s store account online before you arrive.

Don’t forget to register with “Parent Communicator”, the one-way email communication software Camp uses that allows your parents to send one-way email to you at camp and view photos that are uploaded several times throughout the session.
The website is www.parentcommunicator.com/CampChingachgook. And the access code is Chingachgook

Drive safe and see you Sunday!Aaron :)

Our newest class

2009-07-24T11:19:00.004-04:00

Now that we're finishing up our second two week session at Camp, it's a great time to take a look at the newest arrival to the Chingachgook skill class program, our guitar class. By the end of the summer, almost 100 kids will have either learned to play the guitar or improved their skills while at Camp. Today, I caught them playing some music outside of the office.

Who dunnit?

2009-07-23T15:29:00.001-04:00

The great mystery all session has been who dunnit? Who took the famous Phelps diamond that is so important to Kenneth James, the museums curator. The three teams have been trying constantly to collect clues and decipher hidden messages to try and be the team to secure and eventually return the diamond back to the museum. It's all coming to an end tonight as we might finally learn...who dunnit!

Some lovely hikes photos...

2009-07-21T11:47:00.002-04:00

As the campers are leaving for their hikes, a lot is going on. Girls are having their hair "prepped" for hikes, which means being put into braids. And regardless of how much is happening, the hiking groups always seem to find time to pose for pictures!

Closing Day reminders for Session Two

2009-07-21T11:14:00.001-04:00

I know the last thing we are thinking about is Session Two ending, but I still wanted to pass along some reminders about Closing Day at Camp.

Junior Campers pick-up is from 4:30-5:30
Senior Campers pick-up is from 5:00-6:00
Adventure Trip pick-up is from 5:30-6:00
The amazing Family BBQ starts at 5:00
Don't forget about the incredible slideshows (Adventure @ 6:00, Camp @ 6:30)

When you return home from Camp make sure you fill out our online survey! Your thoughts and feedback will help us make changes for future summers AND help us for the remainder of the summer!
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB229DYQJT2ZR

All their bags are packed...

2009-07-20T10:28:00.002-04:00

They're ready to go! In fact, all the hikes have departed and are out exploring the adirondacks and hopefully having the time of their lives! We've got hikes exploring all parts of the adirondacks right now, and their are even a dozen hikes that took off by boat this morning. Either by kayak, sailboat, canoe, war canoe, or maybe they were just transported from Camp to another location.

Camp Olympics

2009-07-19T11:27:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was some great fun at Camp. All afternoon we had all Camp Olympics. Each cabin represented their team in style by completing challenging tasks together throughout Camp. The entire day culminated with an entire relay throughout Camp that saw the green team narrowly escape with a victory. The overall competition for this session's color wars is still undecided as we venture into Chapel tonight. Here are some wonderful photos taken yesterday that help share the fun and craziness that occured.

Red Sox fan...turned Yankees Fan!

2009-07-18T11:40:00.002-04:00

Kristen Milano, the senior girls unit director, is a terrific sport and a team player. After the "Phelps Diamond" was stolen, the ransom note had a specific demand...that in order to get the diamond back, Kristen, a devout red sox fan, would have to sport Yankees gear for an entire day. Understanding that this was for the good of the Camp...she complied and here is the photo proof. I am happy to say not only has the diamond been returned...but I was also the thief!

High Ropes at Camp

2009-07-17T14:48:00.002-04:00

Here's some action photos of one of our Senior Girls trying their best to complete our balance beam element which also connects to the great zipline we have at Camp. For those unaware high ropes is one of the many skill classes we offer during the Camp season and is available for anyone to use that signs up for any of the weekend programs offered in the spring and fall!

Save the Sage...color wars style

2009-07-16T20:17:00.003-04:00

This evening's program is called Save the Sage. The easiest way to explain it is by saying that all over Camp, different "challenges" are set up for the cabin groups to accomplish. Trouble is, the campers do not know where the challenges are and to locate them, they need to decipher riddles on a map for clues...

A Closer look at Color Wars

2009-07-16T13:10:00.003-04:00

As you may have heard from your campers, this session is the color wars session at Camp. I thought it would be fun to learn a little more about color wars and the theme. We've divided Camp up into three teams. Doty Bros, Oliver Slueths, and the Baxter Snoops. Each team is trying to discover who stole the famous Phelps Diamond from the Camp Chingachgook Museum. Every night, the teams will compete for points and clues that will eventually help them aprehend the culprit!

Baxter Snoops

Oliver Slueths

Doty Bros

Double Game Switch, twice the fun!

2009-07-15T07:52:00.003-04:00

Great fun last night as the junior and senior units both participated in our double game switch. Very simply, the seniors played one game, while the juniors played the other...then they SWITCHED! How creative right?! Anyway, here are some photos from the first part of the senior game, which involved a relay race and pushing a tennis ball with your head!

Tuesday's Happenings at Camp

2009-07-14T14:07:00.003-04:00

Here are some great photos from throughout the day today. We've got an incredible evening program planned for tonight...double game switch!

Sailing Class

The boys of Camp!

Flag raising this morning

The first night and first morning

2009-07-13T07:17:00.001-04:00

Last night at opening campfire we were able to witness a true Lake George sunset before singing TAPS and bringing the first night at Camp to a conclusion. This morning, more then 150 campers showed up to help send off several of our adventure trips, one of which is headed to the New England area to do a little bit of kayak, rafting, rock climbing, and hiking. A little bit of absolutely everything!

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome

2009-07-12T15:19:00.002-04:00

Session Two is officially underway! We're about four hours away from opening campfire, but there's already plenty of action going on around Camp. We've got a professional team of greeters to welcome the campers everywhere they go! Here are some pictures from the first few hours of Camp :)

Session Two starts tomorrow

2009-07-11T12:54:00.001-04:00

We hope you are as excited to kick-off Session Two on Sunday as we are. I wanted to pass along a few reminders that will help simplify your opening day experience at Camp.

· Junior campers (ages 7-12) and adventure trippers may start arriving at 1pm

· Senior campers (ages 13-16) may start arriving at 2:30pm

· Once you have arrived, you will walk to the dining hall for check-in (balances that may be due on your account, camper skill class schedules, health forms and questions for the medical staff, if needed)

· After check-in you will be able to drive your child to their cabin to help them move in and meet their counselors. We do ask that parents leave Camp shortly after meeting the counselor, as campers have a busy schedule and long goodbyes can be difficult

· There will be an optional Welcome Parents session in Rotary Lodge with Summer Camp Director, Aaron Cantor @ 2:30pm

· Save time on opening day by adding money to your child’s store account online before you arrive.

Don’t forget to register with “Parent Communicator”, the one-way email communication software Camp uses that allows your parents to send one-way email to you at camp and view photos that are uploaded several times throughout the session.

The website is www.parentcommunicator.com/CampChingachgook.

Drive safe and see you Sunday!Aaron :)

Closing Campfire

2009-07-10T10:44:00.003-04:00

Last night, at Chingachgook's "Chapel", which is located behind the junior boys unit and nestled in a beautiful spot, we held our closing campfire. Campers and staff from each unit took the time to speak and talk about what Camp meant to them. Towards the conclusion, the candles the campers had been holding, were lit, and together as a Camp, we sang the alma mater, and slowly and silently, the campers blew out their candles ending first session and closing campfire. Amidst the silence, was the faint sound of crying and sniffliing.

Closing Day Reminders

2009-07-10T07:26:00.001-04:00

I know the last thing we are thinking about is Session One ending, but I still wanted to pass along some reminders about Closing Day at Camp.

Junior Campers pick-up is from 4:30-5:30
Senior Campers pick-up is from 5:00-6:00
Adventure Trip pick-up is from 5:30-6:00
The amazing Family BBQ starts at 5:00
Don't forget about the incredible slideshows (Adventure @ 6:00, Camp @ 6:30)

When you return home from Camp make sure you fill out our online survey! Your thoughts and feedback will help us make changes for future summers AND help us for the remainder of the summer!

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB229DYQJT2ZR

Conquering the climbing tower

2009-07-09T14:20:00.002-04:00

Taking care of business at the climbing tower has always been a tall task (pun intended). Even our younger campers in day camp aren't scared and were willing to give it a try today. Looks like they did pretty well for themselves.

Oh, and Erika Miszewski, as soon as I get that great Senior Girls Photo....I'll post it for you!

They're back!!!

2009-07-08T12:59:00.002-04:00

After a fun and hopefully rewarding overnight hiking experience, our Chingachgook campers have started returning to Camp. They look healthy, strong, maybe a little tired, and some definitely need a shower!

While they're hiking...

2009-07-07T13:19:00.006-04:00

Here are some photos of the awesome fun happening at Camp Chingachgook!

Slumber party fun in Rotary Lodge!

Very strong!

Nice Yearbook Photo

Learning some Archery

Now it's time for hikes to leave!

2009-07-06T09:02:00.003-04:00

We all know the top three priorities at Camp are safety, safety, safety, and here is further evidence as a senior girls hike is practicing their countoff for hikes!

Adventure Send-off

2009-07-06T07:09:00.003-04:00

Here at Camp we've got a great tradition of sending off our adventure trips first thing in the morning. Here's the video evidence that the entire senior boys unit made it there to watch!

Hike Prep Sunday Photos

2009-07-05T14:32:00.003-04:00

The entire Camp is getting ready to leave for their three day hiking adventures tomorrow. Here are some great shots of them getting ready!

Bunch of Chingachgook campers getting ready to have tents checked out to them

Oh Ryan Koella, you're such a tent pro

Who says you need an entire cabin to set up one lousy tent?!

Some senior girls proudly displaying the tent that took 15 minutes to set up

Senior boys watching their counselor do all the work...

Talent Show!

2009-07-04T19:31:00.001-04:00

We're all preparing for the annual Camp talent show that gets underway tonight. Rumor has it that campers practice all year for this one event. Not to mention it's also the fourth of July and there will probably be a suprise waiting for all the campers after the show!

A little Pick Your Pleasure

2009-07-04T15:03:00.002-04:00

With it being the fourth of July, and the sun being out, it was a great idea to run a popular Camp program called, pick your pleasure. Activities areas all over Camp are open, and the campers are free to try any of them they want. These campers here have chosen to take a few minutes to play a game of four-square, a very popular Camp game.

Chingachgook Adventure Trippers Build A House

2009-07-04T09:21:00.002-04:00

Throughout the course of the summer, Camp Chingachgook's adventure program will send several different one-week trips to participate in the very well known, Habitat for Humanity program. Check back regularly to see the progress the house is making throughout the summer. Can you believe that these two pictures were only taken a few days apart?

I love Climbing on a Sunny Day

2009-07-03T10:33:00.004-04:00

Very few feelings compare to conquering the 52-foot climbing tower at Camp...these campers are trying their hand at doing just that this morning.

I love sailing on a windy day

2009-07-02T14:07:00.002-04:00

Sunny or not, the waterfront is always jammed packed with plenty of action for one to watch. Our sailing class was just about to launch their boats out onto the water, but I was able to snap a couple of great photos. Let's hope the wind takes them on a fun journey today!