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Dutch Auction and Hypnotist

August 7, 2014

The fourth week of camp got off to a great start as everyone welcomed the new campers. That night, we held one of the funniest activities at CLC: the Dutch Auction. Campers meet at the hockey pavilion where they are given special instructions for the activity. To start, they are given a set amount of time to return to their bunks and fill one laundry bag with as many random items as possible. When the campers can go, they leave the hockey pavilion faster than parents on Visiting Day! Once they return, they are given many scenarios to act out utilizing whatever they have in their bag. Scenarios include how Curtis should have proposed to Niki, best Let It Go impression, best Division Leader impersonation and best superhero outfit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dutch Auction was followed a couple nights later by another one of the funniest activities, The Hypnotist. Everyone gathered on the cookout slope to listen to the hypnotist’s power of persuasion. After explaining how hypnotism works, everyone followed along with some basic relaxation exercises. Next, several staff members were selected to go on stage to participate in the show. Staff members quickly found themselves relaxing to the point of sleep, primed for hilarious suggestions from the hypnotist. One of the suggestions included watching an imaginary tv, surfing the channels, going between comedies, sad dramas and scary movies. Some of the other suggestions included driving a bus over curvy roads, trying to get the attention of the ice cream truck that produces the best ice cream in the world and Twitter’s $1,000,000 selfie contest. The authentic reactions of the staff kept everyone amazed and laughing the whole time.

 

 

 

 

 

What a great way to start second session!

Color War: Minsi Wolves vs. Unami Turtles

July 25, 2014

Tribal is a tradition that showcases the CLC spirit more than any other in camp.  During Tribal, CLC’s Color War, the Minsi Wolves and Unami Turtles deck themselves out in green and white clothing, paint their faces and sing their Tribal songs and cheers all throughout camp.

 

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This summer, Tribal started with the Apache Relay. The Apache Relay is a giant relay race that encompasses every area in camp as well as every camper and counselor. Not only do campers compete in activities familiar to camp like swimming and running races, juggling a soccer ball, climbing the rock wall, popping a balloon at archery and kayaking around the docks; but they also compete in fun activities like singing “Chestnut Til I Die” over the PA system, playing leapfrog around the volleyball courts, performing the Hokey Pokey and wrapping someone in toilet paper!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During Tribal Color War, the Unami and Minsi also compete against each other in typical camp activities like flag football, hockey, soccer, basketball, golf, tennis and softball. Not only can each team earn more points for winning, but they can also earn bonus spirit points for showing their Minsi and Unami spirit. Campers and counselors can be seen and heard all over camp as they earn extra points for their tribe!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tribal Color War is anchored by a few “full tribe” competitions. On the first night, the campers and counselors competed in the annual Tribal Tug-O-War. Each division went head to head, Minsi vs Unami, trying to overpower the other tribe for points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day, they competed in the Tribal Cheer competition. Both tribes showed their spirit as they stayed in sync and chanted and sang their favorite Tribal Cheers.

Tribal ended with one of our favorite competitions: Rope Burn! Representatives from each tribe were tasked with building a fire from the ground up that would eventually burn through a rope 10’ in the air. Both tribes built amazing fires, but it was the Minsi rope that broke first.

The Rope Burn win was enough to catapult the Minsi to the overall win.  And while the Wolves celebrated their victory, the Unami showed their true CLC spirit and character as they cheered along with them.  As always, Tribal Color War came to an end with both tribes coming together arm-in-arm and singing the CLC alma mater.

Tribal Campfire

July 9, 2014

One of the most highly anticipated traditions at Chestnut Lake is our Tribal Campfire. All of the returning campers and staff deck themselves out in either green or white, while the new campers and staff anxiously wait to find out which Tribe they will be on.

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But before we officially started Tribal Campfire, we announced our Community Service Award winners. Each week, campers and staff turn in Community Service Nominations for someone in camp who they feel represents everything Chestnut Lake Camp stands for. The campers and staff whose nominations are chosen, read them aloud to the whole camp and then announce who is receiving the award. While the recipient is always thrilled to have their name called, what makes this such a special CLC tradition is that the person who gives the award is even happier!

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Once the Community Service Awards were finished, it was on to Tribal. The new campers and staff went to the lake and recited the Tribal Oath. When they walked back up to the campfire site, they were surprised to find the Unami and Minsi teams lining both sides of the path. At the campfire, each division was called up, and as they faced the campfire, they received one stripe of their new Tribal team’s color on each cheek. As they waited anxiously, they were told to “face your new tribe”. Every time a new division turned around, their new team was there to welcome them. Now the Unami Turtles and the Minsi Wolves can’t wait for the first Tribal Competition!

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4th of July Celebration-CLC style

July 7, 2014

Chestnut Lake celebrated America’s birthday in typical CLC style…with a whole lot of spirit!

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The whole camp was split into Red, White and Blue teams for our annual CLC Regatta. Campers worked together to design and build boats out of duct tape and cardboard.  Our Varsity, Kaya and Sani campers created parade floats out of the camp golf carts.

 

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Then the whole camp lined Chestnut Lake Avenue as the procession of regatta boats and floats passed by.  The floats threw candy to the crowd as they cheered them along.  Everyone was decked out in 4th of July outfits…Miss Massachusetts, Florida, New Jersey, Idaho, Colorado and Illinois even made a special appearance.

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Then it was time for one of Chestnut Lake’s favorite traditions: CLC Regatta.  Each team and division chose their own captains to paddle their boats across the pool to victory.  There were many various designs.  Some worked and some didn’t, but everyone had a blast cheering their boats on!

1ecbf6bd-cc20-4de0-b8d3-bc956c005282 We capped the day with a very special performance by the Yazhi and Ciqala.  They reminded the CLC family what Independence Day is all about and performed a few patriotic numbers.  The grand finale of the show was an amazing display of fireworks that everyone enjoyed.

 

Chestnut Lake Camp Staff Talent Show

July 7, 2014

Three words can be used to describe the main purpose of Chestnut Lake Camp, and those words are. . .

BRING IT OUT!

This catchphrase aims to encourage campers to try new things. Participating in activities they’ve never tried before can bring out a whole new side of a camper!

Our staff firmly believes in the “Bring It Out” philosophy. Each year within the first few days of camp, the staff put on a talent show. They put on the show to encourage the campers to not be afraid to get involved.

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Counselors and division leaders perform silly parody skits, lip syncs, dances, and anything else they want to showcase.

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Later in the summer, campers themselves are able to participate in the annual camper talent show!

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Chestnut Lake Camp Reunions – Friends, Fun & Bowling

February 25, 2014

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Summers at CLC provide us with amazing friendships and special memories that last a lifetime. We can’t wait the entire school year to see each other again and relive those special moments, so every winter Chestnut Lake Camp hosts bowling reunions to provide our campers an opportunity to reconnect with one another while also welcoming new CLC campers into the family.

While we host our reunions at bowling venues, it’s easy to see that the reunion is about much more than strikes and spares. Our reunions have become such a tradition with our campers that families travel great distances to attend not only the reunion, but also the numerous sleep-overs that have become a part of the reunion weekends.

While the campers love reconnecting with one another, they are just as excited to see their favorite staff members. CLC Division Leaders and Head Counselors fly in from all over the country, as well as overseas, to take part in all the fun! The reunion weekend is definitely the highlight of the staff’s winter, as they take a break from teaching and college to reunite with their summer family.

Many Chestnut Lake campers reconnected at the reunions held in New York, Florida and Maryland. Paul even reconnected with some Chestnut Lake campers in Paris! But we still have one more reunion left before Opening Campfire. Spring Fling is a full day of fun activities designed for the whole family. We invite you to join us at Chestnut Lake Camp on May 18th for our Annual Spring Fling. Please click on the link below for the invitation and more details.

– SPRING FLING –

If you ever have your own CLC reunion, don’t forget to send us a photo so we can put it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

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