Dear Moosilauke Families,

Our letters home—of which this is the third for summer 2021 covering Monday, July 5 through Sunday, July 11th—are one avenue for you to stay in touch with what is happening at Camp. Liking us on Facebook and following us on Instagram (@camp_moosilauke) are two other great ways to have pictures, videos, and essays pushed out to you. And of course you can view the daily pictures that we post on Shutterfly by clicking here.

Monday, another group of Senior A2s (fourteen-year-olds) departed for their whitewater canoeing adventure on Lake Umbagog and the Androscoggin River. On the first day, they stopped at Dunkin Donuts for a quick breakfast, enjoyed assorted sandwiches for lunch, then canoed 7 miles to a remote campsite. While there, they feasted on burgers, hot dogs, and steaks cooked over a campfire, fished, swam, and relaxed around the fire. The next morning, after a breakfast of bagels with cream cheese, and a side of sausage, the group canoed 5 miles to the Androscoggin River. The campers ran the rapids on inner tubes and had a blast. Lunch was sandwiches and the group was treated to an all-you-can-eat outdoor pizza buffet on the way home to Camp.

Also on Monday, a group of Senior A1s (fifteen-year-olds), departed for the camp’s first three-day, two-night backpacking trip to Mt. Washington. The group made good time up to the campsite on the first night and were able to check out views of the Presidentials on the ridge before a dinner of homemade pizza. Unfortunately, strong winds and a forecast of thunder resulted in a change of plans for the remainder of the trip. The group was forced to turn around on the second day on their ascent of Washington. Although they ultimately weren’t able to summit Washington, they spent a relaxing afternoon and evening back at the first campsite. The group then hiked out after two nights and enjoyed a stop for an all-you-can-eat pizza dinner at Enzo’s on the way back to camp.

A group of Inter Bs (eleven-year-olds) went on a biking trip in the morning on roads and trails within the vicinity of camp, stopping at Orford Beach for a swim. And, another group of Senior campers enjoyed a wake surfing stint around the lake with Bill. Meals at Moose included delicious pancakes and bacon for breakfast, grilled chicken sandwiches and potato wedges for lunch, and Shepherd’s Pie for dinner. In the evening, there was wiffleball, dodgeball, kick ball, street hockey, flag football, frisbee golf, and tubing.

On Tuesday, a group of Junior Bs (eight and nine-year-olds) ventured out to the Point, our lakeside campsite, for an overnight. They cooked dinner and S’mores over a campfire, fished, swam, told “tall tales,” and read and played games before falling asleep in a log cabin for the evening. Another group of Inter Bs (eleven-year-olds) went on their mountain biking adventure. And, the Senior Bs (thirteen-year-olds) participated in an intramural basketball tournament in the afternoon. Meals on Tuesday included scrambled eggs and potatoes for breakfast, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches with waffle fries for lunch, and “Taco Tuesday” for dinner (ground beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and soft taco shells). Evening activities were arts and crafts, fishing, frisbee golf, kickball, flag football, wiffleball, tubing, and some campfire time at the beach.

On Wednesday, a group of campers (all-ages) headed out on a climbing trip to the Rumney crags. The Inter Bs (eleven-year-olds) enjoyed an afternoon swimming in the natural water slides of Baker Cliffs, followed by an ice cream treat at Moose Scoops. And, a group of Senior A1s (fifteen-year-olds) canoed to Cliff Island on Newfound Lake for an overnight adventure. After canoeing out to the island, they set up their tents and campsite, then enjoyed hamburgers and hotdogs cooked over a campfire for lunch. After lunch, they relaxed at the campsite, fished, and played cards. Dinner was steaks with S’mores for dessert. After a quick breakfast of bagels, the group canoed back to shore and then returned home to Camp. Wednesday meals were French Toast and sausage for breakfast, pulled pork sandwiches and tater tots for lunch, and pasta with meat sauce and garlic bread for dinner. In the evening, activities included ultimate basketball, fishing, frisbee golf, handball, street hockey, tubing and arts and crafts. The campers (and staff!) were also treated to one of Port’s “tall-tales” around a campfire. Many were in attendance (see the photo below) and mesmerized by Port’s every word. One camper asked if a counselor could fill his water bottle for him as he did not want to miss anything!

Thursday, some rain arrived at Moosilauke but only intermittently, so the campers participated in both indoor and outdoor activities throughout the day. There was an all-ages intramural soccer tournament in the afternoon. A group of campers viewed the European Cup semi-final soccer match between Spain and Italy in the afternoon. Some campers relaxed around a campfire on the beach, playing games and talking. A small group of hearty campers ventured out on a hike in the area. Other open areas included arts and crafts, cooking pita pizzas on camping stoves with Sabina, archery, fishing, badminton, and volleyball. Meals on Thursday included fried eggs and potatoes for lunch, grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch, and pork tenderloin with baked beans and coleslaw for dinner. In the evening, the campers enjoyed some indoor activities. There were board games in the dining hall and the weekly cabin clean-up winners enjoyed a viewing of the movie, “The Karate Kid,” with treats in the Rec Hall.

The forecast for Friday did not look great and we anticipated more rain and more indoor activities. However, Hurricane Elsa had other plans and decided to spare Camp Moosilauke (yay!) traveling east and up the coast from us, so all outside activities (as scheduled) were a go and it was a “choice day” for all. It continued to warm up as the day progressed and the sun came out late afternoon and evening. It turned out to be a T.M.D. (“Typical Moosilauke Day”)! Who would have thought? A group of campers had the option to view the second final soccer game between England and Ukraine. Meals on Friday were bagels with cream cheese and jam for breakfast, sausage and pepper sandwiches for lunch, and the (always much anticipated) “Kenny cookout” for dinner. In the evening, the campers participated in wiffleball, flag football, street hockey, handball, fishing, “Knockout,” dodgeball, and tubing.

Saturday brought an absolutely spectacular weather day to Moosilauke, from morning until night. The Inter As (twelve-year-olds) headed out to their canoe on the Connecticut River, paddling from Lyme, NH to Hanover, NH (approximately 8 miles overall!). They had a nice tail-wind behind them so they made record time to their destination, stopping mid-way for a picnic lunch and a swim. In the evening, the group was treated to an all-you-can-eat takeout pizza dinner on the beach at Camp, followed by a viewing of “Incredibles 2” (with candy and soda!) on the field (using our brand new inflatable movie screen). There was an all-ages mountain biking trip to Indian Pond that included a picnic lunch, swimming, and fishing. And, the oldest campers, the Senior A1s (fifteen-year-olds) enjoyed a “fluff” trip of takeout pizza at the Moose beach, followed by a trip to the Fairlee Drive-In movie to see the latest “Fast and Furious” movie and munch on candy, popcorn, and soda. Meals for those who remained at Moose for the day included egg and sausage sandwiches with potatoes for breakfast, assorted cold cut and cheese sandwiches with potato chips for lunch, and deep dish pizza for dinner. Saturday night was also movie night for those at Camp. As always, the counselors provided homemade popcorn for all to enjoy.

Sunday, the weather was beautiful once again. It was another “Lazy Sunday” with a buffet breakfast of made-to-order omelets, sausage, chocolate chip muffins, yogurt and fruit bar, and hot chocolate. The boys enjoyed some down time in the am playing cards, board games, ping pong, Can Jam, chess, checkers, pick-up basketball, reading, and lounging on the beach. Lunch was chicken tenders and tater tots, beef stew, and a full salad bar. In the afternoon, it was time for Capture the Flag, organized by the Junior Counselors. The teams this year were the Lilahs (Jake’s younger daughter’s name) versus the Willows (Quinn and Charlotte’s daughter’s name). It was a very fun afternoon for all. Following the event, the Juniors (eight, nine, and ten-year-olds) departed for an overnight adventure at the Pioneer Camp and enjoyed a dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs, and S’mores for dessert, all cooked on a campfire, swimming and fishing, and sleeping in tents on a platform. And, a group of Senior Bs (thirteen-year-olds) ventured to a canoe and camping overnight at Cliff Island on Newfound Lake. Those at Moose in the evening enjoyed the weekly cabin cookout of hamburgers and hotdogs and S’mores for dessert.

Whew! We have a lot we are doing as a Camp rain or shine! Please be in touch if you have any questions.

Happy Summer!

Best,

Bill, Sabina, Ken, Ingrid, Preston, Jake, Quinn, and Charlotte