Aloha Hive’s Newsletter
the buzz
spring 2021
Hello Hivers! It has been a looong time since we’ve had the chance to be at Hive and I am so excited that we’ll be together very, very soon! I’m finding myself dusting off memories from summers past these days. Remembering all of the sights, smells, favorite things, and feelings I associate with Hive. We asked some counselors and campers what they are most looking forward to doing at camp and you’ll find their answers in this edition of The Buzz. Perhaps you are looking forward to the same things too — or maybe you’re looking forward to totally different things! I’m counting down the days until we make our triumphant return to the shores of Lake Fairlee — and in the meantime, I’m basking in the knowledge that soon we will get to experience some of my all-time favorite things. Here are a few of them: 1.) T he butterflies-in-my-stomach-feeling during breakfast on Opening Day. The counselors cannot wait to meet their campers and the excitement in the air is palpable. 2.) S eeing campers arrive looking a bit nervous and then watching their shoulders relax and smiles appear after meeting their new counselor and tentmates. 3.) N ights on the hillside hearing giggles, trunk lids clanking shut and excited shouts just before bed and then the happy, contented quiet (and whispers) after Taps is played. 4.) Sharing meals with campers and hearing all about their days, singing (dining room songs only, please!), learning new jokes, and speculating when Mississippi Mud might surprise us while the scent of grilled cheese wafts through the air. 5.) Walking around camp and finding eleventy million hair ties on the ground (just kidding!) 6.) L ooking out over the many beautiful views of — sailboats on the lake, an assembly of campers and counselors, a hot air balloon over Aloha Hill, a gaggle of Lolanders making mudpies in the stream, the determined face of a Hiver aiming an arrow at a target…
7.) Dressing up for just about anything. There are never enough occasions to wear costumes! 8.) Singing the loudest, most raucous song (like Rattlin’ Bog) as we dance or the quietest, most serene song (like Helen Shaw Song) that makes my eyes leak with love for Hive. 9.) Hugs. Just all the hugs. 10.) Being part of this big, loving community in person. I’ve missed being with all of you so much. Whether this is your 10th summer or your 1st, there are so many wonderful things to look forward to and celebrate. What a year it’s been! Aloha,
Ellie Pennell Director of Aloha Hive
We asked some Hivers, what is one thing you want to do as soon as you can this summer at Hive? Here is what they said... “One thing I want to do as soon as I can at Hive is meet up with all my friends again! I’m really excited because I haven’t seen them in a very long time.” Julia Trotman “I can’t wait to build fairy houses in the Elfin stream.” Pai Bellenoue “I want to run through the tunnel with my arms stretched touching the sides and feeling all the ripples. It’s the best feeling!” Cavi Carroll
“I am looking forward to going to Rainbow’s End. I love singing songs there and how peaceful and calming it is.” Livi Britt “I can’t wait to do gymnastics at camp. I am very happy that Hive has a gymnastics program so I don’t have to take the whole summer off from practice.” Lane Burton “I want to meet my counselor and the other girls who are in my tent family and learn about what they enjoy and like to do.” Eleanor Coyne
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The Aloha Foundation
“I cannot wait to go back to Hive this summer! One thing I’m most excited about is seeing old friends and making new ones!” Kaili Stith “Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to jump in the lake and play all the fun games we do! Also, I’m so excited to meet my new counselor and campmates and get to enjoy all our great times together like our Sunday picnics in our units.” Hluma Mangcu
Going on a tent family overnight is a favorite memory for many Hivers!
Tent Overnight!
WHERE WILL YOUR TENT FAMILY GO THIS SUMMER?
Aloha Hill
Wahi Lulu
The site at the top of Aloha Hill has a lean-to, fire pit, and beautiful view of Lake Fairlee and the surrounding mountains. There is also an excellent patch of wild strawberries to add to pancakes at breakfast.
This lean-to was built by the 2011 Hilanders as the first ever Hilander Project. It is tucked away behind Wilson’s Farm and is a short walk to the Edge Ledge lookout point.
Wilson’s Farm This lean-to is built next to the apple trees, stone walls, and stone foundation left from an old farmstead.
The Treehouse The treehouse is a favorite overnight spot for many campers. It’s tucked away up a tree along Burma road and has two levels inside to sleep on. Below the tree house on the ground is a fire pit for cooking.
“Archival records tell us that the Wilson Farm was among the largest and possibly one of the most prosperous in West Fairlee during the late nineteenth century. In 1880 the agricultural census valued the farm at $8,000. Farm animals included 8 oxen, 8 milch cows, 20 cattle, and 16 lambs. That year the farmstead produced 200 Ibs. of butter, 100 bushels of corn, 150 bushels of oats, 800 bushels of apples, and 1,111 Ibs of maple sugar.”
Hilander Tent Platforms These two tent platforms with a fire pit between them are tucked deep into the Hive woods. The site was built by the 2013 Hilanders as a Hilander Project. This is a great spot to camp out for the more adventurous Hivers who want to fully explore the Hive trails.
The Buzz • Spring 2021
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D E PA RT M E N T S We have so many activities at Hive every day! Landsports We’ve got sports including lacrosse, softball, soccer and basketball as well as games like capture the flag and dodgeball.
Tennis In tennis you can practice skills, play fun games like “Anything Goes But Rolls” and “Queen of the Court,” or compete in the Camper-Counselor Tennis Tournament.
Archery Shoot arrows in a beautiful spot in the woods. If you want to pop balloons by shooting arrows at them, the archery “balloon shoot” is for you!
Swimming From the beginner to the advanced swimmer, we are here to help you develop your swimming skills. On a hot day there’s no better way to cool off than a dunk in the water!
Farm & Garden The Farm and
What do you want to try this summer? Canoeing/Kayaking Come learn your strokes and practice your kayak rolls to be well prepared for boating escapades on Lake Fairlee and beyond!
Sailing Navigate Lake Fairlee’s waters in Hive’s fleet of sailboats. You can acquire sailing skills and confidence with each new voyage from the Hive boathouse.
Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts is a great place to develop skills you already have and learn new skills. Come try your creative hand at jewelry making, weaving, beading, painting and sketching, pottery, and so much more. 4
The Aloha Foundation
Garden department needs your help looking after lots of lovely plants and animals around camp! Do you want to help care for our goats, chickens, and sheep? What about cucumbers, peppers, radishes, and flowers?
Camper Spotlight Annia Drescher will be new to Aloha Hive this summer! Welcome, Annia! “Hi! I’m Annia… I love to play piano. I have been playing since I was 5 and now I am 8. I am playing Queen of Sheba right now, by Handel.” — Annia, Free Union, VA
Performing Arts Be in our camp show or help with sets and stage management! Or you can come to PA to work on your improvisational skills, play drama games, practice an instrument, and join in plenty of sing-alongs.
Exploring Do you like to get muddy, eat wild plants, and get lost in the woods? Activities can range from stream explorations to flower-pressed jewelry to a workshop on edible plants.
Wilderness Tripping The Tripping department goes on hiking trips throughout Vermont! Join a fun hike or hone your skills such as building and cooking over a fire, setting up tents, and reading a map.
Welcome back to Annie Bowman! “This is me with my dog Hazel. She’s a 1½ year old English Cream Golden Retriever. She is so playful and funny, even though she can be a little bad sometimes. She loves to steal socks and run around the kitchen counter trying to make us chase her. Hazel is such a great addition to our family and I can’t wait to make more happy memories with her!” — Annie, Westport, CT The Buzz • Spring 2021
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Counselor Spotlight Lucia Lobon New Counselor, Tennis
Alana Lopez Returning Counselor, Swimming Here I am at Crawford Notch State Park before my Designated Trip Leader (DTL) training in 2018.
Buzz: What department will you be working in this summer? Alana: This summer at Hive, I will be working in the swimming department. I have always loved the idea of working on the Waterfront and for the first time this summer, I will get to do that! Buzz: What is the thing about camp that you are most looking forward to? What is the thing you are the most nervous about?
Buzz: What department will you be working in this summer? Lucia: I will be working in the tennis department this summer at Hive. I’ve been playing tennis since I was four years old and must say I initially had a lovehate relationship with the sport. As I grew up and joined my high school’s team I realized that tennis can teach you life lessons like responsibility, leadership, time management, etc. that can be applied on and off the court. Buzz: What is the thing about camp that you are most looking forward to? What is the thing you are the most nervous about?
Alana: I am most looking forward to being back in the excitement of the Hive community. It feels like we have been gone for so long and I am just excited to be back and sharing my love for Hive with the campers and other counselors, especially after the tough year that we have had! I have so deeply missed Fairlee and it’s sunny shores.
Lucia: One thing I look forward to about camp is meeting all of the campers! I thrive in collaborative environments and love meeting new people. Plus, it’s been tough being cooped up in the house all winter so I can’t wait to get outside and enjoy the lovely weather. One thing I’m most nervous about is acclimating to life at camp. Since I’ve never been to an overnight camp I don’t exactly know what to expect but can’t wait to see what this summer has in store.
Buzz: If you could have one superpower, what would it be? What would you do with this power?
Buzz: If you could have one superpower, what would it be? What would you do with this power?
Alana: If I could have one superpower, it would definitely be to teleport. I have family and friends that are all very far away from me and it would be so nice to be able to just end up where they are as quickly as I could and then be back home all in the same day.
Lucia: If I could have one superpower I would love to be fluent in every single language. I grew up speaking Spanish and English and find that I’m able to make so many connections on the basis of language. I’d love to build relationships with people all around the world and travel as much as possible.
Buzz: Word associations — I will say one word, you say the first word you think of back Sweet: Mississippi Mud Magic: Rainbow’s End Powerful: Sunday Assembly 6
This photo is from when my family and I hiked Mount Tallac in Lake Tahoe, CA. Pictured is one of my sisters (in grey) and me (in yellow).
The Aloha Foundation
Buzz: Word associations — I will say one word, you say the first word you think of back Sweet: Tooth Magic: Harry Potter Powerful: Women!
Dear Hivers, I have been thinking of you all, and I’m excited that summer is just around the corner. During the school year, I always think about past summers at camp. These spring showers we have had lately have had me thinking about one particular summer — a summer several years ago when we had a big rain storm. My campers and I woke up to it in the night and looked out of our tent in disbelief of the amount of water we saw pouring down. One camper shouted, “This rain is awesome!” Years later, memories from that summer rain storm are among my favorites from the 20 summers I’ve spent at camp. I remember how because of that big rain there was this enormous puddle in the playfield right next to the basketball court. We were forever scrapping whatever plans we’d made and, instead, would put on bathing suits and rainboots to enjoy unit time in our lake-like puddle. Some of us swam; others paddled around in a kayak; everyone laughed and splashed and delighted
in the chance to swim across an altered landscape. We ended the day with Friendship Circle, standing on the playfield, ankle-deep in water. I have no doubt that this summer we will all be just as playful and positive as we were in that rainstorm, adapting to new camp routines to keep us safe and discovering ways to have a blast within them. We’ll be swimming across an altered landscape again, and I can’t wait to start paddling. Looking around me now, I am thankful for this spring rain and the beautiful spring flowers blooming; the green that the rain has nurtured is starting to look just like summer. See you soon! Aloha,
Margaret Margaret Pennoyer Assistant Director
How many words can you make with the letters in this camping boggler puzzle? There are campingthemed words to find for bonus points.
T
E
N
H
A
T
C
E
M P
C F
I T
MIND BOGGLER! How many words of three letters or more can you find in this puzzle? Words are formed from adjoining letters. Letters must join in the proper sequence to spell a word and may join horizontally, vertically, diagonally, left to right, right to left, right-side-up or even up-side-down. No letter square may be used more than once within a single word.
R
Scoring:
O
Extra 2 points for every camping themed word you can make.
1 point for each 3 letter word 2 points for each 4 letter word 3 points for 5 letter words, etc.
GOOD LUCK!
The Buzz • Summer 2020
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2968 Lake Morey Road Fairlee, Vermont 05045
Mark your calendars FULL SEASON: June 23–August 11, 2021 FIRST SESSION: June 23–July 17, 2021 SECOND SESSION: July 19–August 11, 2021