Lanalog
FALL 2021
Dear LanakilaNS, Lately, I find myself constantly reminiscing about the 2021 summer and it never ceases to amaze me how each summer can energize me in remarkable ways. After napping for two weeks straight, I was ready to return for another seven weeks of adventure and fun. This was a summer for the ages and one I won’t soon forget. It was a return home after so much time away. For some, this home was waiting for us after a two-year hiatus. For new campers, this was a home introduced to you for the first time. And in this return home, we learned how we were affected by the past 18 months. We learned how to be in big groups again, how being off devices meant we had to re-learn how to talk to friends in person. We had to give ourselves over to the feeling of hugging a friend for the first time, or high-fiving someone even when our initial instincts told us not to. It was the greatest gift to be able to return together to a feeling of normalcy, one that I know I needed. From Some Day wishes to the 2nd of July Bonfire, to the Banquet, we sure managed to pack in a lot of fun. After camp, I asked myself whether I was the same person as the one at the beginning of the summer. The answer was easy — I am not. I find myself more aware of myself, more in touch with the side of myself that needs time to reset and relax. I realize I want to say YES to every request to spend time with friends and loved ones. I would like you to ask yourself the same question. I believe the answer will be similar to my own. I truly believe Lanakila provided the opportunity to transform ourselves. I believe it happens over the course of the summer, but I believe your parents will see in you the change in how you interact with your siblings, how you make a request, how you view each situation through a lens of being your best self.
It takes courage to be transformed, to give yourself over to the opportunity to change. It takes bravery to not run from difficulty. It takes practice to acknowledge the lessons in each situation we are presented with. If last summer was a success, you feel more confident, courageous, selfless, more loving, and ready to do hard things. It is the lessons of Lanakila, as well as the lifelong friendships, that make it our home away from home. It is the place where we are our best selves — where we learn who we are as individuals — where we learn how to treat each other and live in a small community. Because of this, we hold it close to our hearts even in the deepest of winter months, knowing that our Lanakila spirit can always be transferred to our daily lives. I look forward to seeing all your smiling faces in the very near future. Skol,
BRYAN PARTRIDGE Director of Lanakila
camper quotes
What Is one way you have kept the spirit of Lanakila with you this fall? “One of the most challenging things this summer for me was learning how to be a good teacher. Through my experience, I learned strategies that I can use this fall in a program that helps kids become better swimmers. In teaching, I’m keeping the spirit of helping others at Lanakila alive.” JAMIE BUFFUM
“I want to do everything possible like join the student council or sign up for a new activity.” JACK LEVY
I kept the spirit of Lanakila with me this fall is by being nice to others and helping in the best way I can.” JO JO PASTRANA
“I’ve kept the spirit of Lanakila with me this fall by meeting new people and making new friends at my school. At Lanakila I really learned the importance of being outgoing and friendly with everyone, and I’ve carried that lesson with me this fall.” MESFIN ESHOO
“I love Lanakila and because of singing in Choir I realized how much I love to sing and I decided to try out for my school musical, Seussical. I would have never done this if it wasn’t for Lanakila.” ZEKE GREENE
“I’m doing drills in the driveway with my brother so he’s ready for the street hockey tournament as a Brooksider.” HANS HILTON
“At Lanakila this summer one of my new bunk friends taught me chess. I have taken the spirit of Lanakila with me by signing up for the Chess Club at my school! Even though I’m a beginner, I have the confidence to keep with it!” BECKETT SMITH
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The Aloha Foundation
What Memories Do You Have Here?
special places
COUNCIL FIRE
THE CASTLE
Council Fire is a quiet, special, weekly event, where campers are presented with their newly earned Viking Honors. Campers and counselors together tell stories of their trips across the greater New England area, and the evening ends with a counselor telling an epic tale in front of a roaring fire built by the Campcraft department.
The original Castle was built by campers in the 1920s. Each year, Lanakila campers would arrive and receive a tool box on Opening Day. Over the course of the summer, they would help work on a camp-wide project. There have been a few iterations of the Castle, but it now looks like it did back in the early days of Lanakila. Mellow in the Castle (exactly what it sounds like), as well as Monster in the Castle (a giant water fight where campers storm the castle with water balloons and water guns), are favorites among campers.
THE BARN The Barn is the center of all things Lanakila. It is where we gather for our bi-weekly assemblies, sing our hearts out atop the chairs, hear wacky and informative talks by counselors, or watch the work of all the campers who put on a theater production at the end of 1st half.
LEMON DROP TREE HOUSE Tent overnights are a staple of Lanakila, where campers go off to special locations around camp with their tent family to cook a meal over a fire, roast s’mores, and sleep out under the stars. We have several tree houses spread around camp that campers love because they get to sleep up in the trees. Lanalog • Fall 2021
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counselor spotlight
kenny medina
MAEVE CALLAHAN
Arts Department
Swimming Department
LANALOG: What department were you in this summer?
LANALOG: What department were you in this summer?
KENNY: This past summer, I worked in the Arts department.
MAEVE: I worked in the Swimming department this summer! I loved being able to help campers gain confidence and skill in an activity that I’m passionate about. It was incredible to watch bold Vikings brave cold Lake Morey and become the buoyantest of babies.
LANALOG: What’s something you’re excited about for next summer? KENNY: I’m looking forward to hopefully having tricamp events back. Events like All Aloha Night and the 4th of July with Aloha, Hive, and Lanakila were always some of my favorites as a camper. LANALOG: What’s one of your favorite camp memories from this summer? KENNY: One of my favorite memories from summer 2021 was having the opportunity to help build the bonfire that my Bridge would’ve built last summer. I loved being part of a joint team of two years worth of Bridgers. It was a truly special experience that I’ll never forget. LANALOG: How do you keep the spirit of Lanakila with you during the year? KENNY: One way I keep the Lanakila spirit with me during the year is by reflecting on my summer at the beginning of the school year, during the holidays, and right before camp begins because I always learn something new about myself after each summer spent at Lanakila. That didn’t change after I became a counselor. Even now, I’m still growing because of my experience with camp.
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The Aloha Foundation
LANALOG: What’s something you’re excited about for next summer? MAEVE: I’m so excited to be back next summer knowing all that Lanakila has to offer. I’m also so excited to beat Stu Dickison after devoting this next year to intense training and badgering Stu until he agrees to race butterfly. LANALOG: What’s one of your favorite camp memories from this summer? MAEVE: I could list about 50 different things, but I think I’d have to go with going on the Bridge trip to Crawford Notch. I love those absolute goofballs with all my heart. LANALOG: How do you keep the spirit of Lanakila with you during the year? MAEVE: Well…I didn’t really leave camp! I hung around at Hulbert for the fall, so camp is definitely still physically around me. Besides that, I have been taking extra time to breathe and notice my surroundings, staying away from technology, forming meaningful connections with those around me, and following rule #6 — NEVER taking myself too seriously!
camper spotlight
The Lanalog caught up with two Lanakila campers to hear what they had to say about their 2021 summer at camp… LANALOG: What was your favorite department this summer? NICO DE LA VEGA: Actually I had two favorite departments: Campcraft and Swimming. It was really fun all the activities we did there and the opportunity to cook and build fires. The thing I liked most about swimming was all the free space we got in the lake.
Nico De La Vega, Woodside
KIERAN ELDRIDGE: Sailing was definitely my favorite department this summer. I always like being out on the water, and I enjoyed improving my racing technique. LANALOG: What’s one of your favorite memories from this summer? KIERAN: There are definitely too many to choose from, but one of my favorites is the five-day canoe trip. The group of campers and counselors was awesome and we built some great connections. We also got to see some amazing scenery along the way and the trip was difficult at times, but extremely rewarding. NICO: Swimming with my friends! Also going on trips to the peaks of mountains where the air is really clean. Also the last Council Fire and arriving at camp were really fun.
Kieran (center), at his Loki ceremony.
LANALOG: What’s something you achieved this summer that you’re proud of? NICO: This summer I achieved talking more to people I didn’t know. Helping other new people was really fun because you get to hang out with them and show them all camp. KIERAN: I was proud of getting my full Loki in my first year of camp while still having a really fun time in departments and going on several trips. Working towards my Loki gave me a chance to learn a lot of great skills and try out many different departments. LANALOG: If you could add any camp activity to school, what would it be?
Kieran (age 4), with his big brother, Tommy.
KIERAN: I would probably add sailing/boating because I really miss that a lot when I’m back at home. I would also want to add the trips to school, since it would give me a chance to go back to nature and away from technology again. NICO: It would be swimming because it is a really fun thing to do — doing it with your friends is the best! I think it would be fun because it is a fun way to do exercise and hang out too.
Lanalog • Fall 2021
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NAME THAT TUNE! Can you name the camp song based only on these lyrics? 1. A pleasure to see you smile 2. Days are longer, words mean more 3. I love the flowers, I love the daffodils 4. I love to wander by the stream 5. Starboard shines green and port is glowing red 6. Drivin’ down the road, I get a feeling that I should have Been home yesterday, yesterday… 7. When he got there the conductor told him, “One more nickel!” 8. How many years can a mountain exist Before its washed to the sea? 9. This old barn’s heard a lot of golden memories, This old barn’s heard a song or two 10. It’s the hammer of justice, it’s the bell of freedom
Answers on page 8
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The Aloha Foundation
from the kitchen jack Mehlman Lanakila Chef
Jack Mehlman,Lanakila Chef (center),with Bridgers Alexander Vincent (left) & Robbie Trowbridge (right)
LANALOG: Hey Jack! What’s your favorite thing about working at Lanakila? JACK: There are so many great things, it’s hard to pick. I really love the tradition of camp. I mean it’s been around since the 1920s and it’s kept up the same values, culture, and sense of community. It’s an incredible thing to be a part of.
JACK: Just having campers and counselors back at camp! I love watching all the camper-kitchen interactions, seeing everyone get to know each other, and form a community. LANALOG: Would you be able to share a camp recipe with us? JACK: Sure thing!
LANALOG: What’s something you’re looking forward to next summer?
jack’s pesto Chicken rep time: 10 minutes P Cook time: 35 minutes Total time: 45 minutes
INGREDIENTS Pesto 1 cup fresh basil leaves 3 cloves peeled garlic 3 tbsp pine nuts L cup freshly grated parmesan L cup extra virgin olive oil Kosher salt & black pepper, to taste Chicken 4 large chicken breasts Kosher salt K cup mozzarella cheese K cup pesto
Serves 4
PREPARATION • Preheat oven to 375°F and butterfly chicken breasts. • Grease up a large baking/casserole dish, and spread ¼ cup of pesto on the bottom. • Lay chicken breasts over pesto, then add remaining pesto over the top of the chicken (make sure the chicken is evenly coated). • Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through, but be wary not to overcook. • Once chicken is cooked, remove foil and sprinkle the mozzarella on top of the chicken. • Put dish back in oven, uncovered, for 5 minutes, just until cheese is melty. • Serve hot, with a recommended side of wild rice or steamed broccoli.
Lanalog • Fall 2021
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2968 Lake Morey Road Fairlee, Vermont 05045
Mark your calendars for 2022! FULL SEASON: Friday, June 24–Wednesday, August 10 1ST SESSION: Friday, June 24–Sunday, July 17 2ND SESSION: Tuesday, July 19–Wednesday, August 10
Answers to Name That Tune on page 6: 1.) Paul’s Song 2.) Bob’s Song 3.) I Love the Mountains 4.) The Happy Wanderer 5.) Barges 6.) Country Roads 7.) The MTA Song 8.) Blowin’ in the Wind 9.) This Old Barn 10.) If I Had a Hammer