Week 1

New summer, new session at Camp Half Moon…these things can only mean one thing…a new blog for the summer.

Summer two thousand and ten started at four in the morning on the 14th of June when I got up for a [terrifying] drive to Edinburgh airport from Jane! What followed was a smooth check in to a direct flight to New York from Edinburgh, and the flight itself was uneventful. Landing in New York was so exciting! Felt like I was coming home again…yay!

When I landed in New York, my good friend Lea picked me up from the airport with another two returning counsellors, Jack and Lucy. Seeing them again was incredible, and it was like no time had past since our last meeting in March. Smiles all round. We spent the next two nights at Lea's house in WestChester county, north of New York City. The street could have been the set for Desperate Housewives, and her house was lovely, Definitely started off the summer with a grin from ear to ear. We spent the first evening picking up the camp essentials like bug spray, sleeping bags, and of course Reece's Peanut Butter Cups before crashing out.

On the Tuesday we caught the train into Grand Central Station [wow] and met up with some more returners [Amy, Brittany and Tara] and also my flatmate Kev [who I hadn't seen in over a year] to spend the day in the city with them. Highlights included visiting a new park on a disused above ground railway line called the HighLine. Cool doesn't quite cut it, I would definitely like to think that some time in the future I will spend my lazy Sundays there! Dinner at Chelsea Riverside Park was followed by an afternoon of shopping in SoHo, buying team hoodies from American Apparel and other clothes! Like I need any more..=] After a Thai meal out and a meet up with some of Leas friends [one of which was a real frat boy] we headed to bed on the eve of our arrival at camp.

The bus journey back to Great Barrington was awesome, with banter with all of the returners and excitement mounting. By the time the bus stopped, I was buzzing to arrive back at camp… The arrival did not disappoint! It did just feel like I was coming back to where I belonged, There were a bunch of new people there, and they were all super nice. Amazing to meet them all, and to be reunited with the returners like Morgan and Craig!

So that was the Wednesday night, and for the Thursday and Friday pre-season was our life purpose. After the campers leave in August, camp pretty much shuts down until we arrive in June. Consequently, there is a lot of work to do before the campers arrive! Our pre-season involved setting up canopies all over camp to shelter various areas, setting up the waterfront area, rescuing kayaks that had washed up on the lake shores, assembling and sailing all the sailboats to the docks, taping up kayaks, as well as meeting all the amazing new people, catching up with all the returners, having mixing games, team building exercises, song leading times, dining room chats and general greatness. Then on Saturday at 5pm orientation officially started with all the official introductions to all staff, some games and a camp tour, the likes of which carried on to Sunday, with guitar maintenance, head staff question and answer sessions, lifeguard training. On Sunday evening we played a game of dodgeball and then chilled out in the pool!

The weather for the first week was absolutely amazing, and way better than last year…so warm and sunny. Makes a change from not being able to dry our clothes outside, and having perpetually damp towels…the sun definitely makes me happy!

For a first week it has been absolutely fantastic. A lot has changed from last year, with new faces, new ways of doing things, new camp buildings [with air conditioning…luxury] and the like, but I am more than willing to roll with it and embrace the change. What's the point in having a summer identical to last year? I am so excited for a new experience at the Best Little Camp in the Berkshires!