Staff getting trained for summer hikes!

Real quick update on this HOT Sunday morning. Several of your soon to be counselors are here at Camp this weekend preparing for overnight hikes by take a Wilderness First Aid Course. Here are some of the photos that I am sure they want me to share with you! They are now more than equipped to take of your every need this summer!

Common Snapping Turtle at Camp!!

Extra extra, read all about it! Snapping Turtle spotted at Camp near Climbing Tower!

Here's a little more information about the Common Snapping Turtle:

Common habitats are shallow ponds, shallow lakes, or streams. Common Snapping Turtles sometimes bask -- though rarely observed -- by floating on the surface with only their carapace exposed, though in the northern parts of their range they will also readily bask on fallen logs in early spring. In shallow waters, Common snappers may lie beneath a muddy bottom with only the head exposed, stretching their long necks to the surface for an occasional breath (note that their nostrils are positioned on the very tip of the snout, effectively functioning as snorkels). Snapping turtles are omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter, and are important aquatic scavengers; but they are also active hunters that prey on anything they can swallow, including many invertebrates, fish, frogs, reptiles (including snakes and smaller turtles), unwary birds and small mammals. Snappers will travel extensively overland to reach new habitat or to lay eggs. Pollution, habitat destruction, food scarcity, overcrowding and other factors will drive snappers to move overland; it is quite common to find them traveling far from the nearest water source. This species mates from April through November, with their peak laying season in June and July. Females travel over land to find sandy soil in which to lay their eggs, often some distance from the water. After digging a hole, the female typically deposits 25 to 80 eggs each year, guiding them into the nest with her hind feet and covering them with sand for incubation and protection.

Wow, thank you Wikipedia!!

I Love Camp Chingachgook

As the days continue to come and go, Session One fast approaches. Last summer this was one of my favorite songs (see below) to sing at anytime during the session. Heck, if it were an MP3, I would want it on a CD to listen to. We did it a lot at Opening and Closing Campfires. It was the the return of Camp songs. Which Camp song is your favorite? Do you know all the words? Ok, here's something to get you in the mood for Opening Day!


I Love Camp Chingachgook!

I love the birds and the bees,
I love the flowers and the trees,
I love everywhere I look,
I love Camp Chingachgook!

I love the seniors down be the lake,
I love the girls without mistake,
I love the boys up by the brook,
I love Camp Chingachgook!

I love to water-ski in the bay,
I love to sail on a windy day,
I love my skill class achievement book,
I love Camp Chingachgook!

I love from Buck Mountain to the front gate,
I love Leap Inn to 108,
I love every cranny and nook,
I love Camp Chingachgook!

Summer Staff Updates

Who are these fine looking folks? They just happen to be your 2008 CIT Directors! That's right, Erinn Flaherty and Jo Turnock, both legendary Chingachgook staff, will be leading the way as a new wave of counselors-in-training arrive at Chingachgook this summer. Jo hails all the way from the United Kingdom and Erinn call Clifton Park home. Together they will form the most dynamic, exciting, amazing, CIT programs in recent Chingachgook memory!

Session 1: 32 Days

Session 2: 46 Days

Session 3: 60 Days

Session 4: 67 Days

Session 5: 74 Days

Session 6: 81 Days

Some Good Hiking to 2nd Lookout

In the spirit of Memorial Day Weekend, it was only appropriate to spend at least a little time hiking, right? A couple of the Chinga staff (Megan and Erinn) and I decided to test the strength of the Chingachgook trail up Buck Mountain. Stopping along the way only to improve trail conditions, flag trees, and give my dog water, we made our way up too and past 2nd lookout. It was a fantastic adventure with the temperatures being warmer up the mountain versus ground level at Camp. We stopped at the base of "Devil's Staircase", not because we were scared, because we weren't, but rather we needed to return to Camp to participate in programs during Family Camp. We made it back in time and fear not, we will return and summitt the complete mountain several times this summer. YES WE CAN!!

Radio Disney!!

Your's truely will be on Albany's Radio Disney this Sunday Morning on the Backyard Show with DJ Phil N' Good! The station is 1460AM, and the show is about how to maximize your summer experience. I'll be honest, taping the show was a whole lotta fun! DJ Phil and I had a blast talking about great Chingachgook moments and sharing why we love going to Camp so much. You should definitely take the time to listen to it! Oh, being in the radio station, especially a Disney station rocked! There were signed photographs from Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers and many more. You can actually see the picture of the Jonas brothers near my head. I don't think I stopped having fun the entire time I was there! Wouldn't it be cool if Camp had our own radio show? Whadduya think?

Rockin' Girl Scout Weekend

We had a rock'n good time this past weekend as over 100 girl scouts rushed to Camp to attend our Girl Scout Badge weekend. These girls earned actual badges for their efforts on Saturday or Sunday. The girls did activities all over Camp including but not limited to; Outdoor Exploration, Climbing Tower, Canoeing, High Ropes, Nature Art, Navigation, Fort Building, Outdoor Survival, Kayaking, Sailing, and much more...

I hope you can tell how much fun we had from all these photos, because it was a GREAT weekend. Which activity would you want to do?