Howdy Founder Friends! It’s Matti here – I’m the waterfront coordinator this summer at Dan Hole Pond! We had another wonderful day today in the Canaan valley, filled with much singing, laughing, dancing, and, unfortunately for our 2 week pioneers, some packing. Moosilauke and Whitecap villages co-lead flag raising this morning, and reflected eloquently about how they are going to bring love home with them from camp. Together they spoke of bringing the music of camp to their lives at home, of sharing the respect and kindness they have practiced here, and of appreciating their families and the people who support them every day. To symbolize these reflections and to invite others to do the same, they raised a friendship bracelet and played a Connor Garvey original, “Mountain Song.”
For breakfast we had French toast sticks and in a moment of Merrowvista magic for many of our campers and staff, bacon! After breakfast, Wish day began for our two weekers, while three weekers prepared for their overnight trips. Wish day is an opportunity for campers on their last day to do whatever activity floats their boat! For instance we had some paddle boarders down at the waterfront today – and all over camp campers were climbing and tie dying and outdoor cooking while enjoying their last few hours at Merrowvista. Meanwhile, our three weekers were packing food and gear for their overnight adventures.
Tri-Pyramid village went on a canoe overnight to the outpost, a scenic camp site on the shores of our very own Dan Hole Pond. Lincoln village hiked up to the ledge, a summit of Canaan mountain that overlooks Dan Hole with an incredible view of Lake Winnipesaukee and the rest of the Ossipee mountains. Mahoosuc will spend the night at the waterfall and hike to the ledge in the morning, and Canaan hiked up to the summit of Mt. Flag and will spend the night camping next to bodge brook. The trailblazer boys are camping on adjacent islands on Newfound lake which they traversed on canoes earlier today. The Liberty and Lafayette women are hiking around us in the Ossipees, summiting Mt.Shaw, Roberts, and Flag. Little Haystack is hiking on the Appalachian Trail and will summit mount Mariah tomorrow. There are so many memories being made on trail!
Lunch today was Pizza, soup, and of course a salad bar. Pizza and Bacon all in one day – it just doesn’t get better than that!
After lunch we said goodbye to our three weekers and prepared to welcome the parents of our two week Pioneers to camp! Two of our Explorer villages, Madison and Jefferson, exercised their serve humbly muscles after lunch to help us get the Eating Lodge ready for our pre-council hor d’oeuvres.
2 week council was full of song and laughter, a wonderful way to end another great day in the valley!