Last weekend the rainy weather stopped the girl scout troop from having the campfire program that they really looked forward to. So staffers Jordan Seeger and Meghan Codd gave them their very own ‘campfire’ program right inside their cabin!!!

REPEAT AFTER ME!

The girls loved it. What a great example of Tecumseh staff going ‘above and beyond’ to see the campers have a memorably wonderful experience!

"I said a Boom Chicka Boom!"

Hooray for Jordan and Meghan! Exceptional Job!

We have now completed Summer Camp 2011. Only the wonderful glow still remains (plus some lost and found). What an amazing summer it was. Our staff sang, cheered, laughed, and cried at the Celebration Banquet last Saturday night. We sang ‘Tecumseh’ for the final time of the summer and already started talking about next summer!! Thanks to everyone who helped make this ‘the best summer ever!’

Mud Hike, Mud Hike!

Big Game Fun!

Friends Forever!

The stayover program is so much fun for campers staying two weeks. Movie time, ice cream, pool fun and lots of lake time!

It is very special when campers or staff from years ago return to Camp Tecumseh. They bring with them wonderful memories of camp ‘in their youth’. They love the improvements but appreciate that the traditions and essence of Camp T is unchanged.
This week Lori Abbott and her dad, Doc Abbott visited camp while Lori was back for a hometown visit to Monticello from Florida. Lori and her siblings, Mike and Jane, were campers for years in the 1970s. Now Lori has three grandchildren enjoying Tecumseh Day Camp. If you are an alum~~come for a visit!

Lori and Doc Abbott return for a visit

Yes, it IS hot here at Camp Tecumseh, but we have two HUGE advantages: lots of shade trees and very little asphalt.  Not to mention, a couple of fantastic swimming pools and a really nice lake!

Pool Clinics are REALLY cool!

The mantra here is “Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!” We encourage everyone to drink water during every activity change and during the activities themselves. To help facilitate this, we have put igloo coolers of water at various places around camp to make getting water even more convenient.

Stopping for some H2O

We have a rest period for about 1.25 hours after lunch every day. Campers are to be on their bunks, reading, sleeping, etc. This is the hottest part of the day and a good time to not be out doing activities.

Arts and Crafts in the CAC

Our dining rooms, craft centers, and health center are each air conditioned as well. If a youngster is not feeling well, they are taken to the health center where they can cool down and have the nurses check them out. Back in 1983 we had twenty days over 100 degrees! Camp and the campers continue in hot weather, but we take care to slow the intensity of the schedule to keep everybody safe and make sure they’re feeling well so they can do what they came here to do – have fun!

All Smiles at the Lake!

There was a ton of enthusiasm at Opening Campfire last night as Council Ring rocked with songs and laughter!

We just finished another terrific week at Camp. So many happy campers and a wonderful group of Trippers! CILT Session 1 campers had a great cheer and song. DVD for the week was EXCEPTIONAL too.

Right on Target

Fun is already starting!

The Survivor and Amazing Camp Race trainings are fully underway! Yes, we have some funny, competitive staff members who just love to try new things with lots of gusto! They are getting ready to make this the best summer ever!

As part of last week’s Color Wars, each team was allowed to submit a poem about their camp experience (Color Wars includes the arts as well as cooperation points, not just competition). We think you will enjoy the creative expression of these teen campers. Enjoy. We will post more later this week.

Oh Tecumseh by Teton cabin week 8, 2010

Oh Tecumseh, where to start?
We adore you so much for filling our hearts.

Seven days just isn’t enough,
Going home is always quite tough.

Chapel, Lake, and Being Third,
Always learning about God’s word.

Camp friends stay closer than any other,
While counselors love us like a second mother.

No matter what, I’ll go through pain or strife,
I know Camp T has truly changed my life.

The Lake by Lakota cabin week 8, 2010

Everyone sitting on the sand waiting to splash
     into the glistening water.
The sun shines on the water like a shining star.
Campers lining up for the slides, screaming laughing,
     and having a great time!
Poison ivy roaming the hill like a vulture.
Kids jumping on the trampoline trying to get blobbed
     to soar as high as the zipline.
Paddle boats floating like ducks.

Fixing the Puzzle by Malik Newsom,
Mingo, week 8, 2010

People are like puzzle pieces;
All fitting in the correct place,
With different sizes and shapes
Making the perfect picture.

All have different characteristics
Which creates a challenge finding
where you belong.

Some have determination, that drive,
pushing toward success.
Others might have comfort, that soft,
Understanding feeling used upon others in need.

Ones that are lucky find the Light by chance.
While others have been born into it.

We worry whether or not we are perfect or homely,
Based solely on appearance,
But what we seek to understand is
Whether we are clean or dirty.

But the One who makes the puzzle
We are already perfect or need more time to believe so,
Because He does and always will.
Once we realize that, the puzzle will be complete.

Michael Brandwein (right) teaches the 2010 Summer Staff

Internationally known Michael Brandwein, widely recognized as the best camp trainer in the country, led the Tecumseh staff through five hours of intense work today. Filled with humor, Michael’s training helps counselors and instructors take their communication skills up a level. “Level one skills are about teaching activities like canoeing and horsemanship. Michael helps us see how we can easily use a slightly different approach and impact life-skills and character with the same situations. Patience, persistence, working together, creativity, taking care of one another….we can help campers grow in all these areas.”