Family Camp Slide Show

Family Camps: The Way Life Should be

OK. I admit it. I am an overgrown camp counselor and am in my zone when I am singing at the campfire, swinging off a rope swing or singing folk tunes at morning meeting. Although I never went to camp as a kid, I am sure making up for it now. Of all the wonderful places we go each year, our most precious family time is spent at the four jam packs days-o-fun at Windsor Mountain's family camp in Southern, NH. It is a wonderful and simple grand finale to our summer adventures. Family camp junkie that I am, we also spent the 6 days prior to Windsor Mountain at The Common Ground Center, a family camp in Northern Vermont

Windsor Mountain and I go way back to the days when I led their New England and European Crossroads tours for teenagers. For most of the summer Windsor International Summer Camp is very special children's camp where kids from 8-13 have literally the time of their life. After the kids go home, Windsor Mt. is turned into a family camp for about 25 families who form incredible bonds over the course of four short days. Life in "the bubble", as their rustic camp on a small lake in Hillsboro, NH is affectionately called by all campers, is about having fun, taking risks, learning something new and making life long friends from around the world. Their multi-talented, outrageously creative and funny counselors from all over the world make everyone feel welcome and special. Each morning we are drawn from our cabins scattered through the woods by a series of bells: Wake up bell, Breakfast bell #1, breakfast bell #2. If you are on KP (kitchen party) you arrive at the dining hall early to set up (and be the first to indulge in a yummy hot breakfast).

After breakfast, there's clean up and then we stroll down the hill to the semi-circle pine grove overlooking Black Pond for the highlight of the day: morning meeting. There's always music led by banjo man Richard Herman, the camp's passionate founder or his daughter Melissa. Old favorites like the Purple Lilac or The Rivers of Babylon as well as current creations quickly turn from solos to group participation. The wild and wacky counselors usually have a skit up their sleeves that gently and humorously speaks to the wonderful mission of Windsor Mountain: to provide educational experiences that open minds, foster personal growth, and help students respond to cultural, social, and environmental challenges as responsible citizens of the world.

The values they teach by example are deep and have stayed with me for over 20 years, however Windsor Mountain never takes itself too seriously. At then end of morning meeting, camp director Sarah Herman (and Richard's youngest daughter) has her team offer a 2 hour morning activity which ranges from broom ball, zip line, ropes course, Mt biking and paper airplane making to Batik, pottery, doll making, mosaics, guitar lessons and drum circle. For the littlest ones there is "lion tamers" which offers low key but fun activities for the 4 and under bunch. Windsor Mountains encourages everyone to take a risk and try something outside of their comfort zone. Even though I love to ride. I like to have my wheels on the ground but in the name of risk taking, I tried the Lake Launch: Riding a padded bicycle down a steep hill, onto a ramp and soaring into the lake. After the successful launch by several adults, kids and councilors, I descended down the rocky path and then....bailed. I skidded into the rocks and fell onto my right side scraping off lots of skin but ready to try again. I held on tight, bolted down the hill, flew over the ramp and let gravity be my friend. SPLASH. I did it and my son was somewhat proud of his foolish mom.

After morning activities, there is a delicious hot lunch on the deck or in the dining room filled with art, flags and photos from camper adventures around the world. After lunch, there is rest hour (most of the kids hang out, read and play tetherball) then there's a quick pine grove meeting to present the delightful array of afternoon options. If you love music, you can hang out and jam in the music room. For our family and most others, the waterfront is usually the place to be. We love to kayak through the lily pads, go to the island to pick wild blueberries or take an exhilarating jump off the rope swing. Hands down the favorite game is ARGGG. A capture the flag type game played on the lake with canoes, sailboats, overzealous kids and a few highly charged parents. Initially reluctant because I knew that I would have to get dunked, I found rowing madly towards the other side in hopes to dunk them incredibly addicting! Call it the primitive North American Squaw in me but when you are being attacked by a canoe full of teenage boys, you pedal for your life.

The fun keeps rolling along after dinner. There are young champions (games for kids), wine and cheese for parents, an evening of square dancing, the barbecue, the talent show and the singing bonfire grand finale with Jamaican drumming and flame throwing counselors. Family camp always end with a heartwarming final meeting in which people give "shooting stars" (kudos and thanks) to fellow campers and staff. After the final meeting there is always a final event such as a game of capture the flag, a chariot race, Paul Bunyan competition or some other Windsor Mt creations.

Since I never get enough of cabins in the woods, before our annual stay at Windsor Mountain, I wanted to try another family camp in Northern Vermont called The Common Ground Center. The Camp Common Ground, like Windsor Mountain, is very special place that has fun, creative expression and community at it core. An inter generational family camp in its 14th year it welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, lifestyles, abilities and economic backgrounds. Our session lasted 5 starry nights and 6 glorious days of picture perfect Vermont weather. Approximately 30 other families of various shapes and sizes mostly from the Northeast joined us. I was very excited and impressed by the level of music that was taught and represented by several participants and the guest teachers. Every day, you could sign up for FREE private or semi private music lessons of all kinds: drums, string, piano and voice. This alone was worth the price of admission!

The flow of the Common Ground Center day is similar to Windsor Mountain. Families stay in delightfully simple and charmingly designed cabins with no electricity that is grouped around the hillside above camp. Each morning we were woke and serenaded by Nancy on her acoustic guitar. It was one of my favorite memories of the whole summer.

At breakfast the morning YAWN, a single page newsletter, is distributed and lists all the daily activities. In the morning children go to Kidville meet at the Kid Barn. Three to five year olds are offered a variety of arts and music activities while older children enjoy numerous outdoor activities - group games, sports, hiking and nature exploration, jumping rope, boat building and boat racing on the creek. One day we picked 20 quarts of blueberries! The Kid Barn has a large indoor space with a basketball hoop, ping-pong table, and a variety of arts and crafts materials, books, and board games. During this time, a wonderful array of daily adult classes is offered. For our week there was watercolor, jam making, Reiki, drum making, meditation, nature walks and much more. Although I was tempted to participate, I opted to explore the gorgeous Vermont countryside by bike. At 12:00 we all participate in a Camper Circle on the hill, which include a lovely tradition of reading of thank you notes that campers send each other.

After a delicious vegetarian lunch, there is multi-age activities that families are encouraged to participate in together. We played music, sculpted with clay, picked blueberries, painted furniture and created fairies and art cards. The kid’s carnival offered face painting, treats, an obstacle course and enormous bubble making. Every day before dinner we gathered for a heart pounding drum circle led by Dew, a newfound friend and fellow creamy aficionado.

After dinner there always something interesting and fun going on. One night an astronomer came with telescopes to see Saturn, another night a father and son acoustic guitar duo came to sing Neil Young tunes. The highlight of the week was certainly the BIG night in which fellow campers showcased their talents. Here was my big debut. In November I started the guitar and had planned a debut of Edelweiss at family camp. Together with my music teachers Michael, I got my break. With sweaty fingers and totally petrified, I made it through unscathed and ready to roll again, next time with my “band” of another mom and our kids singing This Land is Your Land.

Both these experiences marked the end of the summer and were a grand finale to our wonderful season of adventures. We left the Common Ground and Windsor Mountain feeling very full--- of new skills, unique experiences, hands-on learning, deeper friendships and unforgettable family memories that will keep us coming back for more, year after year.

Thank you Windsor Mountain and Common Ground. You offer a utopian slice of life as it could be: Spending days full of learning, fun, healthy food, connecting and creating with people of all ages in a glorious setting.