A Day in the Life of a Cascade Camper
This post was written in collaboration with Cascades Summer Camp. Interviews with campers and counselors helped guide this article.
Camp days begin bright and early, at around 7:30am. Already used to their daily routine, campers spring out of bed, quickly tidy up, and begin getting ready for the day. Ari - the resident overnight counselor of bunk #3 - helps her 4 female campers prepare for the day ahead. Going over the day's agenda, Ari explains that they will be camping out at the summit of Mount Tecumseh later this evening. She then helps with the packing of overnight bags, ensuring that each camper has the correct gear, from insulating layers to flashlights and sleeping pads.
During this packing pow-wow, Ari takes the opportunity to check in with each camper. She asks campers how they are feeling, what they're excited about and why. These questions help Ari get a sense of each camper's emotional state, so that if someone is feeling down, Ari can help that camper feel better.
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Overnight Counselors act as a guide, mentor, and "parent" throughout the week. They ensure that campers are ready and prepared for the day ahead and are responsible for continuously safeguarding campers' wellbeing, ensuring that campers remain healthy, happy, and hygienic throughout camp.
They act as social mediators, engaging with all campers and helping them assimilate and make friends. Special care and attention are taken towards quieter individuals as counselors will strive to make them feel more comfortable and at ease. When campers are feeling sad or homesick, counselors comfort and empathize with them, and they will often distract the camper with fun activities or games.
Counselors help campers with self-care. They ensure that campers shower regularly and brush their teeth every morning & night. Counselors are actively cognizant of campers’ meals to ensure that each camper is properly fueled for their activities.
Counselors also help campers manage the little day-to-day tasks. They will ensure that campers' wet towels are removed from their backpacks and hung up to dry. They will help re-pack backpacks so that everything fits. Counselors are willing to help with everything – nothing too big or too small.
Next, campers head to breakfast. As campers trot down the stairs and across the Town Square Courtyard towards Camp HQ, they are greeted by the smell of bacon and crisp, alpine air. A full breakfast spread of eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, and French toast awaits them.
As breakfast winds down, the Director of Cascades - Lisa - describes the overnight campout in more detail, explaining the schedule, answering questions, and setting group expectations. Campers excitedly load up their overnight bags and camping supplies into a van. To ensure that campers are not overburdened by heavy gear, all overnight camp gear is transported to and from the summit via truck.
Taking off to Town Square Disc Golf Course, campers are eager to test their disc golf skills. After splitting up into equal groups of 4, campers collect their discs and promptly begin playing. Campers enthusiastically weave their way across the field, around the pond, and into the woods, competing in friendly competition. It's a hot mid-July day, so campers have worked up a good sweat and a great appetite. As campers make their way back to camp HQ for lunch, they stop off at Corcoran's Pond for a quick dip. Under the supervision of our certified lifeguards, campers plunge into the revitalizing waters of Corcoran's Pond to cool off.
Lunch is served back at Camp HQ. Today, the Waterville Valley Resort Conference Center created some homemade wraps with turkey, ham, and veggie options. Campers take the moment to chow down and rehydrate.
After fueling up, campers are keen to get to the mountain. Chatting excitedly amongst themselves, campers double-check their backpacks for water bottles, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray. The group is then whisked off to the Base Area of Waterville Valley Resort, where they begin hiking up to the summit of Mount Tecumseh.
Along the hike, campers play "I spy" and speculate on the number and variety of animals on the mountain. The hike is challenging, but gratifying. When campers catch a glimpse of the rustic red Schwendi Hutte they rejoice. Pride and ease wash over campers' faces as they "oooohhh" and "aaahhh" at the astounding view from the Schwendi Hutte deck.
Campers begin to wander around the summit, scoping out the top terminal of Northside and Sunnyside. One group of rambunctious boys begins a spirited game of tag, and soon the entire camp is darting around the summit chasing one another, hooting and hollering.
Assistant Director of Cascades - Chris Gilmore - is grillmaster of the evening, cooking up burgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs. Ravenous campers chow down on the deck of the Schwendi Hutte, basking in the gorgeous views of the White Mountain range.
Campers work together to clean up after mealtime, remembering the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace. A brief spout of rain hits, and campers hunker down inside the Schwendi Hutte for about ten minutes. After the brief rain, campers eagerly return outside. Counselors restart the fire; a group of campers begins tossing around a frisbee while others remain by the crackling fire, chatting and giggling, making friendship bracelets. Some campers gather by the large trail map, reminiscing about the winter season and discussing their favorite trails. Some campers even create tentative plans to ski together this upcoming winter!
Suddenly, a younger camper squeals with delight - "Look, a rainbow!". And indeed, a brilliant, bright rainbow had appeared over the horizon, stretching across the surrounding mountain peaks. Campers are enthralled and energized by the rainbow; one camper even sits along the Schwendi deck staring in awe.
As the sun dips further down the horizon, campers begin setting up their tents for the night. Campers choose their tent spots along Grimes Way, a trail that runs perpendicular to Periphery. This trail is ideal for summit-top camping as the treeline provides shelter from the wind. Some campers had never pitched tents before, so counselors assist with the setup.
Finally, the moment we’d all been waiting for -s'mores. Campers take great care in choosing their marshmallow sticks, scrutinizing each stick for its marshmallow roasting value. Even more care is taken during the marshmallow roasting process. They teach one another their roasting techniques, and the group consensus views "slow and steady" roasting far superior to "scorch-n-blow" roasting.
Satisfied and sticky-fingered, sleepy campers meander back to their tents, headlights & flashlights guiding their way. Some campers decide to wake up early for sunrise, as they heard that east-facing Mount Tecumseh will provide spectacular views of the early morning alpine sunrise. Soft giggles and whispers can be heard from campers' tents as they recap the excitement of the day with their friends.
Come morning, sleepy-eyed campers watch the sunrise over the mountaintops alongside their new friends.
P.S. Think Snow!