What's Happening at Camp: Olympics Week!

Dear Friends,

Week six at Sewataro means one thing, and one thing only – the Olympics have arrived at camp!! For one week, we shift from an “everyone wins” mentality to a week full of friendly competition, focusing on team bonding, sportsmanship, and spirit. Throughout the week campers compete in Olympic events, made up of relay races, contests like “Capture the Flag” and “Castle Ball,” and a whole host of our standard camp games and activities. Points are awarded for 1st and 2nd place, with additional points for sportsmanship available per the counselors’ discretion. Campers get a chance to interact with tribes they might not otherwise, bond with their teammates, and become a part of something bigger than themselves.

This year the colors were Red, Yellow, and Green – the most spirited stoplight you ever did see! – and the costumes, as always, were amazing. We had the Man in the Yellow Hat, a red tartan kilt, tutus, headwear, and everything in between. As is the tradition, our games kicked off with an Opening Ceremony on Tuesday morning, complete with the running of the Olympic torch (by veteran staffer Cate Ruland of the Yellow Jackets) and the Sewataro Anthem (sung by Grace Migliozzi of the Green Geckos).

Throughout the week campers played games, cheered for their colors, and closely tracked their team’s standing each day. A general buzz of excitement could be felt from every corner of camp. Counselor competitions added to the fun with an over-under bucket relay on Wednesday, a basketball game played “King of the Court” style on Thursday, and a three-way tug-of-war and grand finale relay race on Friday.

On Thursday, we also sent our oldest campers off on two separate field trips – our Senior Campers went boating on the Charles (with a stopover for lunch and some old fashioned playground fun), and the newly combined CIT 1&2s took their second trip of the summer to Project Adventure. The CITs came back to camp for another Overnight, and were rewarded with a triple (!) rainbow after the storm.

The Olympic Creed sums up the reason why these games are a part of our Sewataro culture — a perfect meshing of values:

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” ~Pierre de Coubertin

We are so proud of all of our teams, campers and counselors alike. They fought hard and showed amazing spirit and sportsmanship. We hope our campers leave this week having learned the importance of teamwork, a positive attitude, winning (and losing) gracefully, and having FUN!

If this is the end of your time here this summer, thank you for being a part of our Sewataro family – we’ll see you next year!! Don’t forget that our application for next year will go live on Tuesday, August 7th at noon. And for those returning for our last two weeks – get ready to finish your summer with a bang!

In pursuit of a life well lived,

The Taylors, Monica, and Emmy