Scamp Spirit fall 2019
When people ask me about the lessons and values we learn at Aloha, I usually talk about things like resilience, courage, confidence, and self-reflection. When I saw the recent questionnaire on social media that asked about a possible new department at Aloha in 2020, my mind went to our informal prank department — and a whole new perspective occurred to me. The prank department is a perfect microcosm of our greater Aloha community! It demonstrates all the values that are fundamental to Aloha.
This is Aloha: our shared adventures, sense of purpose, community, and growth. We play, work, explore, & laugh together on the shores of Lake Morey each summer... The Prank Department is purposefully inclusive: Anyone can speak up with an idea and participate at their level of choice. All are welcome. The concept was the brainchild of one person (thank you Brita Mutti!) and yet with leadership, support, and involvement, it has grown to include a team of interested individuals that shifts over time. Our yarnbomb efforts this summer added a sense of focus and cohesion among first-, second-, and full-session campers, and the unity and commonality within our greater Foundation was evident when we visited Hive, Lanakila, and the year-round office in our pranktacular denouement.
Pranks often emerge spontaneously, and yet they evolve with collaboration, organization, and intentionality. They allow for creativity and self-expression, and perhaps most importantly, they are FUN! Helping to execute a well-designed prank brings a sense of joy and accomplishment; and being on the receiving end of such an undertaking helps others feel recognized, valued, and affirmed. Of course, in the case of our finger-knitting extravaganza, many of us had to learn new skills… and if we didn’t catch on quickly, we needed perseverance and maybe even a little humility to get it right. We deepened friendships while sharing laughs, and the journey was as spectacular as the destination. This is Aloha: our shared adventures, sense of purpose, community, and growth. We play, work, explore, and laugh together on the shores of Lake Morey each summer, and then we go off into the world once again — our senses keener, our appreciation deeper, our lives richer. I ask you, what lessons from the Prank Department are you putting into practice in your life? Aloha and love,
Sarah littlefield Director of Aloha
counselor spotlight
ELEANOR FROST Sailing
FAVORITE CAMP WORD: “Jinx!” FAVORITE CAMP PLACE: “father g’s” FAVORITE CAMP SONG: “Wild Mountain Thyme”
One of our best and most meaningful camp traditions is doing recognitions; by recognizing people’s achievements and work that sometimes go unnoticed, we make them feel appreciated and loved. I realize that I don’t give little recognitions so much in my everyday life, particularly to my friends and family, who do so much for me and others. So here’s what I’ve been trying to do since the summer — and I challenge you to do the same! Every day, try to tell one person that you appreciate them and recognize their hard work. It can make a big difference!
counselor spotlight Aloha! As I’ve moved to DC this fall, I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time thinking about the ways camp has shaped how I approach new places and new challenges. Aloha has been with me as I’ve regaled my co-workers with daily get-to-know you questions (favorite piece of playground equipment, anyone?) and as I’ve written out TCP-inspired plans to visit as many cupcake shops as possible in my first few DC weekends. I’ve even gotten to reminisce with Aloha alums Julia Busby, Taylor Brown, and Taylor Herrick! I have also leaned on our summer theme “Lift up, lift off” as I’ve started a brand-new job; the theme reminds me to view personal growth as a process, to remember that mistakes are a key part of that process, and to take the time to lift up others around me to make our team collectively better. Whether you’re at school, at home, at work, or traveling the world, I hope you’re thinking about Summer 2019, and I miss you all!
marina smalling Biking
FAVORITE CAMP WORD: “Hale” FAVORITE CAMP PLACE: “the bike barn!” FAVORITE CAMP SONG: “Shenandoah”
counselor spotlight
Lindsay Stelljes Canoeing
FAVORITE CAMP WORD: “Jinx!” FAVORITE CAMP PLACE: “the cabeen!” FAVORITE CAMP SONG: “Wildflowers”
Aloha! I’m missing my time on the shores of Lake Morey but, luckily, I have found a way to magically weave camp into my life at school! I started student teaching this fall in a second-grade classroom and, although they are a bit younger than you all, I have been able to use so much of what I have learned at camp! Whether it’s teaching a student how to do subtraction or having a class dance party, the experiences I have had and the knowledge I have gained at Aloha allow me to be patient and confident with the students in my classroom.
Enjoy a little piece of camp at home with legendary Shel Bread!
Shel Bread White Dough: 2 cups of warm water • Proof 1 tbsp dry yeast with ½ tsp honey in all-purpose flour • Mix in 6 tbsp olive oil, 2½ tsp salt, 2 lbs • Knead dough, cover, let rise for 30 minutes Dark Dough: meal, 2/3 cups oatmeal, Bowl A:Mix 1 ½ cups hot water, 1/3 cup corn 2 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp salt, and set aside to rest yeast with ½ tsp honey in Bowl B: In a separate bowl, proof 1 tbsp dry 2 cups warm water cup molasses, & ½ cup honey Bowl C: In a separate bowl, mix 1 egg, ¼ r into bowl, Bowl D: Measure 4 ½ cups whole wheat flou set aside additional ½ cup flour for hands Mix Bowls A, B, C, D together Knead dough, cover, let rise for 30 minutes
Process: Roll dough into long “snakes,” roll in dry oatmeal, sesame seeds, and/or sunflower seeds, braid together to form loaves Let rise again on greased sheets or pans Bake at 350 degrees conventional oven, or 300 degrees convection oven, until internal temperature reaches 190-200 degrees Enjoy!
Shel Ball
CAMPER spotlight
morgan jones Crossroads FAVORITE CAMP SONG: “Puff the magic dragon or Those Silent Hills”
I remember on the first day of camp I was really hoping to see my best friend Emma Beane but she didn’t turn up. It had gotten pretty late, so taps blew and everyone was heading to sleep. I remember my counselor Tayo was really close with Emma’s counselor. So I heard Tayo roll over and say to Lindsay, “Is that your new camper?” And when I heard that I quickly got out of bed and asked “Emma Beane?!” When I said that I heard an all too familiar gasp and Emma said, “Morgan Jones?!” We both ran to each other and hugged for a solid five minutes, then it was time for bed!
camper spotlight I had an amazing summer this year and I have so many wonderful memories. I guess my favorite one though is when my tent family and I would just all gather on Ellie’s bed and talk together at the end of the day. It was awesome to just spend time the four of us. We were really close and I loved those small moments together. I love you Pines One! It’s hard for me to be myself outside of camp. This year was different though. I came home and I immediately started hanging out with friends that I knew would treat me the best. I think that this year I was finally being my true self because of this summer’s theme. For me, having my friends help me and guide me this summer was really helpful and I learned from others this summer because of our theme. Now I am not afraid to let my true colors shine through when I am home. So thank you Aloha!!! Eighth grade is so so so amazing because of you! I am taking time out of my day to be kind to others. I am not afraid to be myself. I am learning from my mistakes. I am learning from others. I try my best to be positive and work through problems instead of giving up. I encourage my friends to be themselves and that it is okay to be different and of course, I can’t stop singing!
sophia toon Pines
FAVORITE CAMP WORD: “i love them all!!” FAVORITE CAMP PLACE: “wishing fire” FAVORITE CAMP SONG: “four strong winds”
counselor spotlight
Georgia Dare Woodworking FAVORITE CAMP WORD: “Jinx!” FAVORITE CAMP PLACE: “Wishing Fire! I have the coordinates engraved on my necklace!” FAVORITE CAMP SONG: “It’s a Pleasure to Know you or I’m Coming Back”
A vivid memory for me this summer starts with standing on the porch of the Hale towards the end of camp. A Clubber came running over to me and said that she had just passed her J stroke in Canoeing. Not only was this the last Club skill she had to pass, but it was also the one she had been most nervous about. She had accomplished a task that at the start of the summer she was dreading and I was so proud of her — and the fact that I had been a part of her overcoming her fear and achieving her goal — it just made me think, “This is why I do this, this is why I come to camp.” A moment of growth for me this summer was when I was given the opportunity to switch from Woodworking to Woodchuck and go on a 2-day hiking pack trip! It was my first experience sleeping on the side of a mountain in a tent — not to mention during a thunderstorm! We motivated each other to keep going, and whilst we weren’t able to summit due to the weather, it helped me realize there isn’t much I can’t achieve!
CAMPER Q & A! jane hussey
Julia Rydzewski
Q: W hat’s a really vivid memory you have from camp this summer?
Q: W hat’s your favorite camp word?
A: S ummiting Mt. Carrigain on the last day of the 5 day pack and then solo hiking the ridge line.
A: S hel Bread!
Q: Where is your favorite place at camp? A: Wedding Ring
Q: How did this summer’s theme “Lift Up and Lift Off” speak to you? A: C amp is able to lift me up and help me form into the person I want to become and I am then able to lift off by bringing that self back into the real world.
Q: How are you bringing your camp self to your everyday life? A: I bring my camp self into my everyday life by not changing who I am to make anyone else happy.
Q: What’s your favorite camp song? A: Four Strong Winds
Q: W hat’s a really vivid memory you have from camp this summer? A: Staying late for extra singing at Wedding Ring
Q: How are you bringing your camp self to your everyday life? A: Finding a light in every situation
Q: W hat’s a new department you’d like to see at Aloha in 2020? A: Cross country/track
Q: What’s your favorite camp song? A: Border Trail
what’s your favorite camp event?
8% 8% 38% 23% 23%
Beach Party Fourth of July Nancy’s Nightmare Trips
23%
Aloha Entertains
counselor spotlight
Alisha Lawrence Arts & Crafts Favorite camp phrase: “It has amazed me how often I now say ‘warm layer’ instead of a hoodie, sweater, or jacket!”
FAVORITE CAMP PLACE: “Mrs. O’s fireplace behind the Art Barn”
I have a little story about how I bring my camp self with me and even more so how the things I learn have helped my family. One night I entered my father’s home office and saw my mom staring at the desktop looking a little defeated. I asked her what was wrong. She said she needed to find team building exercises to do during a meeting with a staff that was a little on the introverted side. I flipped my Aloha green braids and said, “Oh I got you Momma!” I went on to explain how at camp we have to create games — ice-breakers and team building exercises — for the girls every week. I told her about some of my favorites and she lit up! At the meeting she had the team do modified versions of “Link Up” and “Picture Telephone.” Her boss and participants loved the new and inventive take on what is usually a boring meeting! Another win for Camp Aloha’s soft skills training!
FAVORITE CAMP SONG: “Here on the Water”
CARLA GALASSO
counselor spotlight Aloha PAMs of 2019! How has it been so long since we were all together? I’m writing this from India where I’m currently training for my new tech job. We were asked the other day to say one thing that we do better than anyone else and I was instantly reminded of camp and our theme this summer. We celebrate the smallest things in a way that lets everyone feel like they are part of a place that never wants to let them go. When I think of camp this summer, I can’t help but laugh at the memory of our slide being ‘borrowed’ by Lanakila. I will never forget the look of shock and disbelief when we arrived down at the docks to see a three-inch slide in its place — craziness! I hope you are all doing well and I cannot wait to see you again!
Rosanna McBRIEN Swimming
FAVORITE CAMP WORD: “kudos” FAVORITE CAMP PLACE: “THE floating swim dock” FAVORITE CAMP SONG: “barges”
Mark your calendars FULL SEASON: June 24–August 12, 2020 FIRST SESSION: June 24–July 19, 2020 SHOW WEEKEND: July 18–19, 2019 SECOND SESSION: July 21–August 12, 2020
2968 Lake Morey Road Fairlee, Vermont 05045
SAVE THE DATE Join us in the Big Tent! Washington, D.C. Sunday, December 8th 3-5 pm
Boston, MA Sunday, February 9th 12-2 pm For more information, visit:
alohafoundation.org/bigtent It was great to see so many members of the Aloha Family at the NYC Big Tent!
Have you hung out with your Aloha friends recently? Send us a picture or tag us on instagram @AlohaCamp!
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