Dear Moosilauke Families,

It is our pleasure to send this second full week letter home from Moosilauke during summer 2026. As is our routine, we open with an issue related to helping boys become their best selves followed by a chronicle of the daily happenings at Moose.

We have shared the information below during past summers about how we work with individual campers to reduce the intensity of negative feelings if they arise and move from a period of feeling down back into the joyful swing of camp life, but given the evergreen nature of these golden rules we thought they were worth sharing again.  

The first key step is to make the young person feel known by calling them by name, finding a quiet spot, and asking them how they are doing. The next step is to validate what the boy is experiencing. This entails reflecting back to the camper what he has told you about why he is sad or not feeling great. When done right, validation is an act of acknowledgement rather than an act of agreeing or approval.

The next key step is to engage the boy in “doing.” “Doing” can take many forms from going for a walk to rejoining a group activity. Podcaster and author Dan Harris often talks about how “action absorbs anxiety.” The act of getting in motion can mitigate anxiety and sadness for a number of reasons. First off, it can disrupt someone’s negative ruminations and “cycle of worry.” Taking an action, no matter how small, can also allow someone to regain a sense of control. It can also help release the pent up energy that can be created when someone is worried or sad. If a boy is sad and acting oppositional, focusing their “doing” in an area where he already feels some existing mastery can be especially effective. 

Finally, if a boy is caught in a significant “fight or flight” cycle with physical manifestations like shallow breathing, we often have success calming them down by teaching them belly or diaphragmatic breathing. It can be empowering for a boy to understand how the adrenal system can kick in and make us feel anxious and panicky, and how breathing that entails the diaphragm moving deeply in and out can tell the brain and body to calm down. 

Usually after a talk on diaphragmatic breathing the boy is ready to go do something–either because he is feeling better, or because he is sick of hearing about yoga breathing!

And now, a recap of events and activities for the week of July 6 through 12.

Monday was one of the busiest days of the summer. Early in the morning, nine volunteer SA1s (fifteen-year-olds) headed out for our three-day Mahoosuc Range capstone backpacking adventure. On the first day, they summited five (!) mountains, hiking eight miles overall. Part of their trek took them around the Carlo Col Trail to the Appalachian Trail. Parts of the trail entailed climbing re-bar ladders set in the granite. At night, they stayed at the Goose Eye Shelter, where they feasted on a dinner of chicken or bean fajitas. Day two started with the group hiking 1.5 miles down to the famous Mahoosuc Notch. The moss-covered trail was difficult to follow and parts of it were quite steep–between a 20-80% grade (high 4th class terrain), causing the group to use their hands in order to climb. There were also a number of tight squeezes that required the campers to remove their packs. They hiked 5+ miles before reaching the next campsite, Speck Pond, which is situated on a beautiful body of water. The group had a fabulous Pad Thai dinner (with chicken and tuna), before heading to bed. The group’s favorite day was day 3, which entailed another 4.5 miles of hiking, another summit, and a tough 3.5 mile descent. After completing their descent, the group met up with their ride back to camp, stopping at Enzo’s on the way for an all-you-can-eat pizza lunch. 

Also on Monday, a group of Senior A2s (fourteen-year-olds) left for a three-day Mt. Washington backpacking expedition. On the first day they hiked 3 miles up Mt. Adams. For dinner they ate “walking tacos” (tortilla chips with chicken and rice). On the second day they undertook a 7 mile trek that included summiting Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Clay, and Mt. Washington. It was a spectacularly clear day, so the views were incredible. They spent the night at the Hermit Lake campsite. On day three they descended 2.5 miles down the Tuckerman Ravine Trail before being treated to a pizza lunch.

Other adventures on Monday included: an Inter B (eleven-year-old) mountain biking trek to Orford Beach; an overnight at our Pioneer Camp for our two-week Senior Bs (thirteen-year-olds) that included fishing and swimming in the Baker River and a night sleeping on a tent platform; and an overnight at our Point wilderness campsite for our two-week Inter Bs (eleven-year-olds) and Inter As (twelve-year-olds).

Other special events on Monday included three intercamp competitions (15s dodgeball, 12s hockey, and 11s tennis), an all-ages climbing trip to the Rumney crags, and a rest hour wake surfing session with Bill for first-timers. In the evening, for those on campus, there was a viewing of the World Cup match, along with “Sharks and Minnows,” lawn games, Gaga Pit, and volleyball.

A highlight Tuesday was the Inter As (twelve-year-olds) canoeing 8 miles down the Connecticut River to Hanover. Once they arrived, they played games on the Dartmouth green before enjoying an all-you-can-eat pizza extravaganza and a viewing of the movie Minions and Monsters. Also on Tuesday, another group of Inter Bs (eleven-year-olds) enjoyed a mountain biking trek around the lake, a group of Junior As (ten-year-olds) headed to our Pioneer Camp for a wilderness overnight after an ice cream treat at Moose Scoops, and a group of thirteen-year-olds had an intercamp archery tournament. Another highlight from the day was the initiation of a huge new mural in arts and crafts which we hope every camper will have a hand in. After dinner highlights included tubing, a viewing of a World Cup match, and an all ages trivia fest that involved 7 teams answering questions across a range of categories, including sports, nature, and geography.  

On Wednesday, there was more intercamp competition: a 14s soccer tournament at Moose and a 10s basketball tournament at a neighboring camp. Wednesday also saw another group of Senior A2s (fourteen-year-olds) departing for their three-day Mt. Washington backpacking adventure. The intrepid group hiked 10 miles in total and summited 5 peaks in the process. As opposed to the same trip earlier in the week, this group experienced mostly wind and clouds on the summits, although when they reached the top of Washington the sun was out to meet them.

The Senior Bs (thirteen-year-olds) spent Wednesday afternoon swimming and jumping in the natural waterslides of Baker Cliffs, followed by an ice cream treat at Moose Scoops. Another group of Inter Bs (eleven-year-olds) had their turn on a mountain biking trip around our lake. And there were two all-ages trips: a white water kayaking adventure to the Class II Hartland Rapids on the Connecticut River and another rock climbing trip to the Rumney crags. The highlight of the evening was Port’s tall-tale around the campfire on the beach. 

On Thursday, intercamp competition included 15s basketball,13s flag football, and 9s basketball. There were 4 trips on Thursday. The other half of the Inter As (twelve-year-olds) had their turn canoeing 8 miles on the Connecticut River to Hanover. Another group of Junior As (ten-year-olds) enjoyed an afternoon and overnight at Moose Scoops and Pioneer Camp. Our two-week Junior Bs (eight-and-nine-year-olds) ventured out to the Point for a wilderness overnight. And, finally, there was another all-ages rock climbing trip to the Rumney crags. In the evening, given the rain, there was a combination of indoor and outdoor activities, including tubing and a viewing of a World Cup match.

Friday, intercamp competition was an all-ages swim meet at a neighboring camp. The Junior Bs (eight-and-nine-year-olds) spent the afternoon swimming and jumping in the natural waterslides of Baker Cliffs, followed by an ice cream treat at Moose Scoops. Additionally, there were 3 all-ages trips: rock climbing at Rumney; a day on the links at the Bradford Golf Club; and a mountain biking adventure on the 70 miles of machine groomed trails at Green Woodlands. In the evening, the campers enjoyed another “Kenny Cookout” feast of grilled chicken, brats, pasta salad, fruit salad, corn bread, with soda and ice cream treats for dessert. 

On Saturday, we sadly said our good-byes to the June-July two-week campers.  They were an amazing group and we hope they all return–many for 4 weeks next summer! Saturday, there was the Baker Valley Tournament both at Moose and neighboring camps. Events included: 10s tennis and hockey, 12s basketball and soccer, 13s baseball and pickleball, and 15s soccer and Ultimate frisbee. For those opting not to participate in the intercamp competition, they had their choice of open areas, including arts and crafts, woodworking, and all activities on the waterfront. Also on Saturday, there was another all-ages mountain biking trip to Green Woodlands. In the evening, it was a choice of movie night or viewing the World Cup matches. The CITs provided homemade popcorn.

On Sunday, after our amazing “Lazy Sunday” buffet breakfast, we welcomed our new July two-week campers. After drop off, the campers got settled in their cabins, checked in with the nurses, and then participated in campus tours. After lunch, the Associate Directors held meetings with all new campers to discuss everything from Moose Bears to scheduled overnights to how to sign-up for athletic competitions and daily adventure trips. In the afternoon we had our first all camp Capture the Flag extravaganza, organized by our terrific Counselors-in-Training. This year’s teams were the Footballs vs. the Soccers. In the evening, there was a hamburger cookout on the beach with S’mores around a campfire for dessert. 

Happy Summer!

Sabina, Bill, Ken, Todd, Ingrid, Preston, Jake, Quinn & Charlotte