angry birds, happy campers

Our When I Dream Of Michelangelo camp has made some awesome things this summer from paintings to jewelry and pottery but this past week was particularly interesting- Ms. Judy decided to take their budding sculpture skills and apply it to a super popular video game. They created Angry Birds and then put them to the test, trying to topple self-built towers with homemade slingshots to see who could bring their gamer skills into the real world. Let's have a look-

First came the towers . . . 

. . . then we took aim . . . 

. . . and fired, knocking down the tower and displacing all the paper-mache pigs! Victory is ours!

And here is our full set of happy campers and really angry birds!  Great job everyone! 

Week 10 newsletter

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

           The summer is almost over!!!! But we are not dialing back the fun– It’s time for our first annual all-camp competition! Get ready for games, crafts, and craziness as red and blue battle it out over the next two weeks.

           Please remember that the last day of camp is Dorney Park– if you are not planning to go on the trip, you will need to arrange alternate care for that day. Also we have sign-up sheets at the front desk for the Play Days the week after camp. We promise we’ll have just as much fun as we did all summer!

Get Ready, Get Set, Let’s Have Fun!

Sarena Barausky, Camp Director

 Swim Schedule– BIG CHANGES!!!!

Norristown is closed for the rest of the summer in order to get ready for the school year so . . .

We will be swimming at Towamencin Community Pool on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the rest of the summer!

Everyone (including sports and specialty camps) will be swimming on those days and because our purpose is to take a dip in the pool, we are asking that no money be sent for the snack bar.

Field Trips-

Mohawks and Oneidas will be going Horseback Riding at Fun-E-Farm– please see the back for schedule and details.

Everyone will be headed to Camp Tohikanee in Quakertown for swimming and games on Friday– please send bathing suits.

Horseback Riding at the Fun-E-Farm

· Schedule-

               Monday– Oneida 1 and 3

               Tuesday– Oneida 2 and 4

Wednesday– Mohawk 1 and 3

Thursday– Mohawk 2 and 4

Depart at 9:00 and Return at 1:00

All campers will need a release and permission slip in order to attend the trip.

Please pack your camper with the following on their trip day-

· Hat

· Long Pants

· Bug Spray

· Sneakers

· Water Bottles

Disposable Lunch (they will be eating there

more than a thousand words

Okay, first off, let's address the elephant in the room- I did basically paraphrase Mr. Big in the title of this blog. I own it- but these pictures from our Take a Picture program are awesome so they can stand a little cheese. 

They didn't just take pictures- they also acted as action models with this jumping shot. 

Even though the beauty of Mill Grove could have satisfied their photographic  eye, we journeyed out of camp to see what else their lens could capture, including this unique trip to Ott's Exotic Plants in Schwenksville. 

Keeping in mind that we sometimes suffer for art, one camper  struck this brave pose.  (Okay, to be fair, the gator is fake)

They thought they could take a break from posing but Ms. Julie found them anyway. 

Again, throwing caution to the wind (and a well placed spotter or two) for a great action shot. 

Though they were great models, they were also excellent photographers in their own right as this camper proudly showed off his work to Mr. Kevin. 

Week 6 Newsletter

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

           It’s that time of year again– the Camp Show is on Thursday at 6:30 here at Mill Grove. All of our camp groups will be participating. They will be rehearsing all week so please make sure to set your calendars to come out and enjoy all their hard work!

           And if you are looking for a bite to eat beforehand, starting at 5:00, we will offering a dinner option- $5 will get you a hamburger/hot dog, chips, watermelon, and a drink. Inquire at the front desk if you have questions.

Get ready, get set – Let’s have some fun!

Sarena Barausky, Camp Director

 Swim Schedule– BIG CHANGES!!!!

AM Swim– All Oneidas, Senecas, and Teens*

PM Swim– All Mohawks and Cayugas*

* Groups Swim Monday thru Thursday

Sports– Tuesday and Thursday Mornings

Specialty– Tuesday and Thursday Afternoons

Field Trips-

This Friday, everyone is off to the movies– We are planning on an afternoon showing but stay tuned for more details!

Seriously, Week 5, I mean seriously?

Okay- I have no idea where this week went. Monday, we were pillaging area thrift stores to make sure we had enough supplies for the Counselor Fashion Show and then it was Friday and we were sending the buses off in every direction for field trips galore. So while I think the week didn't really happen, here is some photographic evidence that proves me wrong-

Mr. Nick gets everyone set before their big runway walk- each group dressed one of their counselors to impress with a bag of supplies provided by thrift stores, old Y shirts, random arts and crafts supplies and imagination. 

Another shot of the whole group- looking good, everyone, looking good. 

Mr. Kareem panders to the crowd. 

Mr. Julien follows suit and looks quite lovely in pink

Cayugas bucked tradition and dressed campers instead- turning Isa into a living Pikachu. 

The Oneidas decided to snack on some homemade eyeballs. 

Creating some rather disturbing images but super tasty treats.

And the tie-dye buckets came out in force for the first but not the last time this summer. 

Alright stay tuned for more evidence that this week did happen, even though I am not completely convinced as of yet. Week 6, I will be watching you since I will not allow you to get the drop on me like Week 5 did. Plus, it's CAMP SHOW time.

Wait . . what is on my child's face? The Story of Tuesday

So our Oneidas might have dabbled in a little impromptu face paint, let's take a look at the results-

We waited patiently. . . 

And even Mr. Sal got in the mix . . . 

All so we can show off our hometown pride . . . 

. . . facial hair aspirations. . .  

. . . or some awesome pre-fireworks!

All and all it turned out to be a pretty cool day! 

the first edition of the Camp Yumka Press

All I Can Do Is Write About It created an awesome newspaper to fill everyone in on the goings-on of camp last week. Check it out- 

We Got the Beat!

By: Amelia G.

Throughout the halls of the main center this week, a song could be heard from across the halls. On Thursday, both movie and writing camp witnessed ‘Let’s Dance” camp perform the routine that they have been practicing since Tuesday. The performance was to “Call me maybe” written by Carly Rae Jepsen.

          Three campers choreographed the dance and every time the verse “All the other boys, try to chase me” played the two boys in the camp came out and chased the girls. It was a fun performance enjoyed by all at the main center.

Try Out these New Tongue Twisters

·   Bobby Billy bit Barney at the big bouncy Birch a billion days until the beginning of Uncle Ben’s birthday because barney bit Bobby Billy

o   By: Vincent C.

·   Tanner Tied Tilly tight in Tennessee at ten o’clock because tanner tried to take the toupee

o   By: Aneesh A.

·   Barney Boop bounced on a bull on a boulevard in Boston while buying a billion buses.

o   By: Joshua F.

MMM….Smells Good!

By: Destinie B.

There is a fire outside of the pavilion, and INTO the Woods is cooking out!!!

On Wednesday, behind the pavilion at mill Grove, Into the Woods was cooking hotdogs, hamburgers, and chicken over an open fire. They were learning how to build fires. They said that they need to build a fire ring for safety, and dig a hole at the center of the pit for oxygen. They used different types of sticks to form a teepee formation to start the fire. Cooking out never looked so good.

Campers learn to Canoe!

By: Vincent C.

It’s a duck, it’s a turtle, its kids in Canoes!!! Some campers in Only in the Water camp learned how to ride in canoes on their own. They did this on June 26, 2012 at the YMCA at mill grove. Some campers noticed a tree in the water while canoeing and some of their canoes got stuck. These campers had a great time learning how to canoe on their own.

 

The Crazy Cayugas dissected a….

By: Joshua F.

Mad Scientists at Camp Yumka.

This occurred on June 27^th, 2012, right before lunch. The Cayuga 1  group dissected worms. The experiment took place at the birdhouse at Mill Grove day camp.

Ethan A. told us that they cut open a worm using scissors and pins. They say the 5 hearts of a worm. They also found that the intestines are filled with dirt, because that is what they eat. The Cayuga’s dissected the worms because it was a part of their nature program.

Special Edition: Picture Story by Arushi T.

Campsite in the Mountains

It was nighttime on June 4^th, 2012 when I was hiking up the trail and I saw the most beautiful campsite ever. The dark and calm weather in the woods made it seem prettier. The feeling in the air around the campsite was calm, quiet, warm, and soothing. It was very nice. There were a variety of families, from grandparents to newborns. The lake glowed with the reflection of campfires. You could hear people talking in their tents, fire crackling, and insects chirping. You can smell food and you could taste hot dogs and s’mores. It was the prettiest campsite I had ever seen.

Bandits Rob Camp Yumka

By: Aneesh A.

Oh NO! Bandits at camp are stealing gold!

The CITs are becoming bandits and stealing gold on Wednesday afternoon, June 27^th. They’re doing it at Mill Grove. The CITs are hiding gold for the game of gold rush for Wednesday’s all camp.

It’s a game where the CITs hide painted rocks, the rocks are worth points. Camp Yumka groups have to find the most rocks for points. The CITs are bandits that will rob the groups they find of their gold.

Message in a bottle: Can you guess where I am?

By: Amelia G.

Dear swimmer,

I am stranded on a mysterious island. There are lots of tortoises, finches, lizards, and seals. There are rocky shores and a warm climate. I was in panama and started sailing to Belize. I was about 5 weeks into my 7-week journey when I ran into a whale and shipwrecked. Please rescue me.

Amelia G.

P.S. there aren’t many trees, but I’ve built a hut out of misc. trees and palms I found on the beach and collected rain water. I’ve found that finch and lizard stew taste like corn and gym socks.

WHERE AM I?                                                                                                   

***For the answer see Miss Jess***

Finish the Story: The Cave

Writing Prompt: I was standing in front of the cave’s entrance. Around the cave, there were seven different signs warning people to keep out. I wondered what could be in there. I had a flash light so…

Ending By: Destinie B.

I walked in quietly, slowly, looking around for any DANGER! Bats, bats, and more bats came creeping from the dark, where my flash light wasn’t shining. I found a way to shine my flashlight everywhere, but still, the bats came creeping out. I saw a black cat and I heard they were bad luck. I kept going, slowly, quietly, looking around for any DANGER!

“GET OUT OF HERE!” I heard. “DIDN’T YOU READ THE SIGNS!” I jumped. Out came an old, old man with a white beard. “Once you come in you don’t come out.” He said. “The signs warned you”

A Mess of Art

By: Arushi T.

Paint was flying through the air and Mohawk groups 1 and 3 found a new way to make t-shirts and have fun.

There was flying paint, while the Mohawks enjoyed making their splatter paint t-shirts. Many did not know why they were having fun but they still were having fun. Still some said they liked using different colors.

Some funny incidents happened too. Once kid rolled around in the pain and got really mad at himself. Another kid was painting a nice picture on this shirt instead of splatter painting.

All Around the World

Mohawks participate in a game of Simon Says before Arts &Crafts time!

What is more fun then playing with bubbles at Camp?

Mohawk campers make Japanese lanterns & fans with colored construction paper!