fun times

DEAREST HORIZONITES,

One of the trickiest questions for me to answer has always been “what’s your favorite thing about camp?” Maybe you find it a little tricky too! Each time I’m asked, I find myself sharing a different response.

A few major whole-camp events always come quickly to mind: assemblies, counselor hunt, and certainly campfire. But those are immediately followed by other moments not even events that stand out to me.

For example, I love seeing everyone arrive each morning, brimming with excitement and a cheeky dose of adventure! I love participating in our daily staff meetings that leave me so impressed and thankful for the outstanding people who dedicate

Continued from page 1 their summer to making magic happen for others! And I enjoy soaking up the low-key moments when I’m able to witness one Horizonite connecting with another that always leaves me humming with joy.

Then we have the classics! The incredible crafts we make at Arts, seeing Hank taken out in dodgeball, or seeing a fleet of pirates paddle up Snake River whilst walking across the footbridge. The brilliance is everywhere! How could anyone choose?

Ultimately, I could simply respond “all of it” because that’s the truth. Every single moment is my favorite. But I suppose if I were really pressed for an answer, if anybody really needed to know… I would say that my top thing is seeing people grow and expand themselves. Witnessing the bravery and determination of our community as an Apprentice transitioning into a counselor, a new camper’s first swim in the lake, our daring exploits on the ropes course, or standing up on stage to perform in the show.

These thousands of moments perpetually occurring across our campus are my favorite all of you, every single one, making it happen every day. I can’t wait to have you join me in packing 2023 with even more favorite things, all over again.

Sunny Horizons,

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT CAMP?

“If I have to pick just one, swimming is my favorite.”

Lucas Pokines — Lynx, Bigsky Unit

“It’s hard to say because there are so many activities, and the day goes really quickly I can’t do all that I want... plus I love hearing the camp songs.”

Nelson Doe — Chipmunk, Woodland Unit

“There are so many! Ok, I love that there are so many activities to choose from. I love the community we have at Horizons. I love the ‘all-camp’ games we have like ‘Prey & Predator.’ And I LOVE the food!”

Sadie Evans — Wolf, Meadow Unit

“I love art and seeing all the different colors and the things you can create.”

Alice McLaughlin — Chipmunk, Woodland Unit

“Ahhhh! There are so many things! I like the people, the archery range, and that it is our summer home.”

Elizabeth Magee — Blue Jay, Treetops Unit

“I love camp because all the counselors are so nice, and I make a lot of good friends.”

Eliza Christie — Sparrows, Treetops Unit

“Archery and swimming!”

Koby Pokines — Fisher Cat, Meadow Unit

“Playing with my friends.”

Sam Evans — Blue Jay, Treetops Unit

“I think above all things at camp the counselors are my favorite thing. They are just so nice and kind to everyone and they really treat you as an equal. They make every department more fun. Even if something isn’t your favorite the counselors bring energy and you won’t be bored! Every single person working at Horizons brings wonderful energy and I’m so glad that I got to go four years as a camper.”

Jillian Fein — Falcon, Bigsky Unit

Stuart Fairbairn

Horizons Director

Spot The Differences

There are 10 differences between these two photos… Can you find them all?

Answers on page 8

how dy woodl a n ds!

Has anyone grabbed some chalk to draw a beautiful creation on the floor recently? Wow that would be fun right now, although the snow may make it challenging! I remember the ways you could make anything fun, from racing to wash hands, capturing the pirate ship or jumping into surprise treasure hunts. The giggles during our quiet reading time and the amazing things you make from nature and from Legos. As I said many times during the summer, the way you are such good friends and support each other, whilst making an effort to have fun and help your friends have fun is always so special to see. Keep it going in 2023!

Mary Sithavady

2022 Woodlands Unit Head

to my lovely t ree tops!

I hope everyone’s fall was lush with colorful leaves and warm beverages, and now you’re bundled up for the crisp winter that has arrived. As the weather turns colder, I can’t help but reminisce on the warmer summer memories we made at Horizons. We decorated our cabins, made a splash at the waterfront, and used underdog pushes to reach new heights on the swings. We knew how to make a mess but also understood the power of teamwork to get things back into shape for General Tidy-Up. The Treetops were always ready to take on a new challenge, to help one another, and to have a good time. My Robins, Cardinals, Sparrows, and Blue Jays, continue to soar above the Treetops in 2023!

Hannah Butterfield

2022 Treetops Unit Head

dea r mea dow,

It takes me a moment to tune back into camp, and when I do it’s like jumping into a lake as the flood of memories wash over me. Top favorites in my list of recollections are the unstructured moments when I see our Meadow friends being generous and spontaneous. On those hot days just naturally playing Drip-Drip-Drop or sitting in the shade of our trees to catch up with each other. Those cooler days playing different games on the courts. Those lucky extra archery sessions and above all being humorous, kind, and aware of each other as we share the Horizons joy together.

Adrian Bedard

2022 Meadow Unit Head

hello bigsky!

I walked out of my physics midterm to the first snow of the year and as I was trying not to fall on my face, I found myself thinking about our daily complaints about the hike to the Pack Out Barn every morning! Now that I live on the opposite side of campus, I have a greater appreciation for our little wander to the Pack Out Barn. Being back at school makes you appreciate a lot of things from camp. I’ve missed hanging out with you all. While college students aren’t that different from middle schoolers, they don’t play as much as you all do. I miss watching y’all play 4-square and pickle ball. I miss hearing about your stories of the chickens and your accomplishments in archery. I especially miss when y’all came to the best department at camp, Swimming, and we got to have fun doing crazy jumps off the floating dock, rescuing Rocky the Rock, swimming across the lake, and so much more. I hope you all are having as much fun as you can at school and I hope you’ll return to Horizons this summer.

Grace Letendre 2022 Bigsky Unit Head

dear apprent i-pods,

Hello from Massachusetts! As the days are short and the nights are cold, I long for the warm days on Lake Fairlee. I think about you all often, from playing games and giggling, to happy tears, climbing into a “bird’s nest,” our attempt at scraping off the mural from under the bridge...

You gave your all this summer and had a blast while doing so. I sincerely look forward to this summer, seeing the A2s come back as counselors, the A1s as A2s and of course getting to welcome a whole new cohort of A1s to the wonderful, rewarding, challenge of becoming a counselor.

Arielle Drisko 2022 Apprentice Head

Solve the clues for our camper crossword puzzle and search out the camp words in the word search! Can you find them all? If you are struggling, ask a Horizons friend as a fun way to connect during the winter!

Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS:

1. Hello in Hawaiian, name of the Foundation

3. The Sparrows, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Robins make up this unit

5. The Bobcats, Catamounts, Lynx and Falcons belong to this unit

7. The name of the camp!

9. The unit of the Raccoons, Wolves, Bears and Coyotes

10. Explorations with Beth and Timmy

DOWN:

1. This department lets you practice shooting with a bow and arrow

2. The name of our assembly hall

4. Waterfront department run by Erin; jumping in the lake

6. The youngest unit made up of Chipmunks and Squirrels

8. Paddle around in these

WORD SEARCH!

Can you find these Horizons words?! Some answers may even be backwards!

HORIZONS

SAILING CANOE

DIVING

NATURE

MUSIC SONGS CAMPFIRE ARTS

CRAFTS COUNSELOR FUNTIMES on page 8