TIMBERRRRRR...

Hello All!

Trees, trees everywhere!  We are a camp so this would make sense I suppose, but this week we are splitting lots of downed logs and getting rid of a few dead trees which makes it look like a storm has come through.  Actually I can hear the chainsaw as I type this.  It smells wonderful though - freshly cut wood, rain, leaves and soil.  So refreshing!

Tracy Lunquist is here lending her expertise on a brand new butterfly garden between the lodge and Cabin 1.   Here's a before photo and I will post the finished product next week!

The shovel in the foreground is for scale I guess.

 

Happy Camping!

Wedding bells and short swords

Hello All!

What a gorgeous weekend at Camp Newaygo!  Friday was a bit chilly, but Saturday was perfect for our first outdoor wedding of the season.  And this one had a theme!  The wedding party was dressed in medieval formalwear.  They looked amazing.  I even got into the spirit...

The sleeves were a bit unruly.

 

One of the decorations

 

My favorite part was when they were able to skype the groom's family in England for the cake cutting.  And the orchestra dressed as hobbits.  And the fairy lights.  Okay so all of it was my favorite.

 

The dock is going in this Friday, and then it's Memorial Day Weekend.  May has gone by so fast!

 

Happy Camping!

Cicadas...tasty, tasty cicadas

Hello All!

As I was reading the news this morning, I came across a very interesting article - warning, it isn't for the faint of stomach.

Cicadas are set to swarm certain areas of the U.S. this summer, and so some chefs are coming up with creative recipes for cicada appetizers.  According to the article, "cicadas are apparently a surprisingly good source of protein, according to nutritionists - if you are brave enough to eat them."

Female cicadas are meatier than the males, and should be grabbed early in the day when the temperature is cooler.  You can saute them in lemon and butter for a crispy outside and juicy inside.  Make sure the remove the legs and wings, which can be sharp, and you shouldn't eat them if you are allergic to shellfish (they are both in the arthropod family).

...delicious?

 

Happy Camping!

Prom!

Hello All!

Quite a bit has been going on around camp the past two weeks.  Jalisa rocked out the Speak Up! programs for White Cloud, Newaygo, Fremont, Grant and Pine River.  We had some VASTLY different weather for the ropes course those days - thirty degrees and snowing to a balmy sixty-five.  Everyone did a spectacular job despite the crazy weather.

White Cloud High School hosted their senior prom at Camp last weekend.  Gary Strong, our new head of Ridge Specialties Catering, created a fantastic dessert to go along with their Hollywood theme.  You can check it out on our facebook page.

Hopefully no one spilled chocolate on their dress.

 

 

Happy Camping!

 

 

Buckeye!

Quick (and very belated) update on BLW 2013:

It was amazing!  We had so much fun.  The people there were friendly and we made lots of friends.  It was great to hang out with Maggie and Jacke, two of our summer counselors!

 

Song Circle! ....and I just noticed the bear on the wall.

 

Jalisa in her bubble costume for "Go Fish" night - adorable!

 

 

We ended the trip with dinner at Cracker Barrel with our new friends from Canada - they were so nice!  Jalisa is going to visit their camp next month.

 

I guess no one told Michigan that winter is over - there was STILL a pile of snow in our parking lot on Monday.  Dad and Me was a great time last weekend despite the cold though.  And it is now warming up just in time for our concert Saturday and all of our May events!

 

Happy Camping!

Oh, Hi, Oh!

Congrats to Jalisa for an awesome job teambuilding with 150 students at Coopersville last week - it was AMAZING!

Tomorrow we will be leaving for the Buckeye Leadership Workshop in Ohio, and Jalisa and I are SO EXCITED!  There are quite a few of us attending this year, inluding some new and returning counselors.  I can't wait to see them again - it's been too long since last summer.

Say Cheese!

I'm looking forward to the themed events, because I have some great costumes planned:
Go Go Gadget- I found an old trench coat in my parent's coat closet.
Go Fish- Ariel Wig and a big purple starfish barrette.
Go Back in Time-  Recycling my Back to the Future Halloween costume.
Go Team-  I'm going Harry Potter for this one.  Go Gryffindor!

We're going to learn a lot, see old friends, make new ones, sing songs...I feel like a camper!

Happy Camping,

March Madness!

Long time no see, fellow Campers!

February just RUSHED past us here at Camp.  We had a lot of stuff going on, and the good times keep on comin'.

Jalisa kicked off her busy recruiting and conference season with trips to Chicago, Texas, Grand Rapids and Detroit.  She has been constantly on the move, promoting camp and getting scholarship applications out to schools.  She is now a pro at mass mailings.

A great time was had by all at the Daddy Daughter Dance, and this weekend is the chance for Moms and Sons to bust a move in green.  I can't wait to drink some green punch.

Swing your partner, 'round and 'round...

Happy Camping!