CategoriesNewsletters by

2021 Four Week Junior Newsletter – Week 2

Greetings from Camp Nakanawa!

We have had a wonderful week full of classes and special activities! Here is what we did in our second week at camp!
 
Monday:  This Monday, we had a regular class day filled with learning new skills and having fun.  We also had laundry day so no one has to worry about stinky clothes in their trunk or cabin!  Monday evening campers had their first rock meeting.  During their meetings, team leaders talked about kindness and respectfulness.  The teams also learned new cheers in preparation for the weekend meets.

Tuesday: This Tuesday, we continued the regular class schedule, rest hour, and free swim.  During free swim, some campers practice for Oklahoma!, swim, canoe, complete Arts and Crafts projects or help out at the nature hut. For Evening Entertainment, we wore our pajamas and took pillows and blankets to the Council House for movie night.   We loved watching Oklahoma! By the end of the movie, all of us were singing along with the movie.  

Wednesday: Wednesday was our free day for the week.  We enjoyed wearing our free day clothes to breakfast.  Right after breakfast, the 6th graders left for the Caney Fork River.  All had fun canoeing down the Caney Fork River.  Halfway down the river, the 6th graders enjoyed milk break. Everyone returned to camp for a much needed rest hour.   Back at camp, 5th graders canoed to the dam.  They enjoyed swimming and eating milk break at the dam.  3rd and 4th graders enjoyed time at nature and glee club.  Each group practiced their songs and dances for the Operetta with Mrs. Tiny. In Nature, the girls had fun building rat mazes for the baby rats and making a God’s eye craft.  They learned the four corners represent the four earth elements: earth, fire, air and water.  After rest hour, we enjoyed free swim and fun time in big/little sister cabin groups.  We did fun activities such as spa time, swimming and playing games.   For Evening Entertainment, we continued in our big/little sister groups and played human bingo.  We loved the fun competition as we tried to figure out home buttons on our shirts or which states we are from.  

Thursday: Thursday we had another wonderful day of classes.  We enjoyed practicing all the skills we are learning at camp.   We had a peaceful rest hour and fun free swim period.  At lunch, we were excited to learn that we could wear our jeans, boots and bananas to dinner as tonight was the Camp Nakanawa hoedown!  After dinner, we sashayed down to the riding arena for the fun event.  We enjoyed line dancing, pole riding (on noodles), water pong and Corn Hole.   We had some guest visitors: two adorable Nigerian Dwarf goats and some fortune tellers.  We loved hearing our fortunes as the mystics, Miranda and Misty read palms and cards.   We will learn more about the care of the cute goats as they will stay at the nature hut.  The wonderful hoedown ended with a cake raffle.  Cabins 3 and 14 enjoyed eating their cakes at milk break on Friday.

Friday: This Friday we awoke to thunder and expected a rainy day schedule.  However, the skies quickly cleared for another regular class day.  The only difference was free swim was pushed back to right before dinner so we could enjoy a yummy, hamburger cookout.  After a full day of classes, swimming and diving in the lake was lovely.  Friday evening we walked to Council Ring.  We enjoyed the story of the five grateful butterflies and fun relay races.  It was great to see so many girls getting recognized for working hard in their classes.  Posture recognitions were last.  We love to see so many girls with great posture.  Pepe ended our Council Ring by reminding us all to show kindness to everyone we encounter.

Weekend Fun:  This Saturday began with pep meetings for the Amazons and the Valkyries before everyone went down to the waterfront.  A brief thunderstorm moved part of the swimming meet inside.  The skies cleared for canoeing and diving to continue at the lake. Saturday afternoon, campers participated in a rotation of Archery, Tumbling and Wall meets.  After a  pleasant rest hour, campers played mass soccer during the games meet.  For Evening Entertainment, campers had fun looking for counselors hidden around camp.  On Sunday morning, we had our tennis meet, where the big side played Queen of the Court doubles style with serves, the middle side played simple Queen of the Court and the little side played jailbreak. All the campers had lots of fun playing tennis!  We loved seeing the big girls from Tent Row as they came over for church. We enjoyed hearing their thoughtful service.  After our long rest hour, we had a fun afternoon of “Olympic” games including an entertaining watermelon race in the lake! We ended our day with a peaceful Counselor Vespers by the lake. 

Activity Highlights 

Archery – We started scoring in archery, everyone starts with the first classification Lady Cluck, 50 points at 10 yards. After the campers finish the first classification, they move on to the next one. On the little side it is Piglet. And on big side it is Friar Tuck. 

Arts and Crafts – We began this week, painting the frame on our watermelon painting. We also enjoyed exploring with watercolors.  We sketched Lake Aloaloa and then watercolored our sketch.  6th graders have been busy in class and at free swim, planning and painting their lap boards.  

Canoeing – This week, the 6th graders have been learning how to do lines and landings in the canoe in order to become qualified sterns. We have two new qualified sterns who are beginning to start blading, which is canoeing by yourself. Our other classes have been adventure canoeing around Lake Aloaloa and playing games such as tug-o-war and Hungry, Hungry Hippos. 

Diving – This week we have continued to work on our front dives and going in head first. We have started to learn new dives along with perfecting our front dives. We are continuing to work towards our goal of every camper being able to enter the water head first.all Junior campers diving into the lake head first.

Games – This week, we started our tumbling which involves warming up to increase flexibility.  The basic skills we use for this are log and tuck rolls. We also introduced Chinese jump rope.  Friday, we played mass soccer.  This type of soccer involves four goals instead of two.  All these activities are in preparation for Saturday’s game meet.

Glee Club – We are busy working on blocking scenes and choreography for our Operetta.  We are learning our lines and lyrics too. Oklahoma! songs can be heard spilling from the council house all day!  We loved watching the movie Oklahoma! for Evening Entertainment. The movie helped us with our character development. We continue to learn new camp songs each week.

Nature – This week we had fun fishing and scooping.  Once we got our feet in the mud, we enjoyed scooping for minnows and water bugs! On Thursday, we started our teaching group projects. 3rd graders are building fairy villages in hopes that some Nakanawa fairies might return to camp.  4th graders are making root beer from sassafras roots.  This week they picked sassafras seedlings and then cleaned and hammered the roots in preparation for making the root beer.  5th graders are learning survival skill. This week they made an outdoor shelter using saplings and spruce branches.  6th graders are making walking sticks. This week they cut saplings and learned to safely whittle their  walking sticks.  We are also busy finding creatures around camp such as a Wolf spider, a Swallowtail butterfly, a Velvet ant and loads of toads!

Riding – In our second week at horseback riding, campers encountered great variety.   All campers have worked on comfort and confidence on horseback, and riders with balance and steering experience have attempted the posting trot.  The physical strength, coordination and mental demand on the rider aboard a bouncy horse is considerable; campers of all ages and sizes have trotted courageously and worked to master the rhythm of rising with the up/down beat of their mount’s trotting feet. Other equestrian tasks and skills presented include independent dismounting and leading horses safely to their stalls.  Some girls still hesitant to ride have worked as lunge line trainers with our miniature horse, Biscuit, and have finished all smiles after that new activity beside our young, patient riding counselors.

Swimming – This week, 6th graders started on Nakanawa Form Swimming.  Now 6th graders may choose form or competitive swimming during class. The rest of the classes did drills to help improve their leg strength, timing and stroke for the freestyle meet this weekend. We also played games such as Red Light/Green Light.  Many campers reached the goal of swimming one mile during free swim. 

Tennis – In the second week of camp, campers really improved their skills and enjoyed playing tennis. We started off with volleys on Monday and overhead smashes on Tuesday, so the girls could improve their net strokes and prepare for doubles. On Thursday and Friday, we focused on going over serves and returns. By the end of the week, the big side and middle side were playing doubles with serves, volleys and all the skills from this week. We had lots of fun!

Wall – This week, we started learning how to use the belay system correctly. Campers were shown how the system works, as well as how to use it if they were the one belaying. Campers began practicing for their wall meet this Saturday, which included bouldering on the wall with a tennis ball in one hand to increase difficulty. Campers also had time to practice around the world, which they must complete to be in the medal meet. Around the world is the hardest route in the wall. 
Thank you for sharing your daughters with Camp Nakanawa this summer!
 
Love,
 
Your Junior Counselors
CategoriesNewsletters by

2021 Four Week Intermediate and Senior Newsletter – Week 1

Greetings from Camp Nakanawa!

Camp has been brimming with joy and laughter this week! We are overjoyed to welcome back campers to intermediate and senior camp this year.
 
Monday, June 28 
Monday was a spectacular opening day! Campers arrived with trunks, sit-upons, and shower caddies galore! Squeals and hugs were the norm as girls greeted each other. Cabin move-in looked a little different this year with a carpool line to unload luggage, as well as short and sweet goodbyes from parents dropping their campers off. After everyone was moved in, Camp met in the Kiosk for camp songs led by Tent Row and counselor introductions. Then the girls were able to get together with their cabins and plan out their class schedules. Everyone gathered in the Dining Hall for our first meal back together—macaroni and cheese. Evening Entertainment included the classic twelve days of camp skit that explains the rules of Egypt to the tune of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” The night ended with Ann and Pepe leading Team Drawings for new campers.
 
Tuesday, June 29 
Tuesday began with excitement as campers dashed to sign up for classes. Some fan favorites included: War Canoe—over 50 girls signed up—, Softball, and Aerobics! Campers were able to attend one period of class before lunch. Campers and counselors alike were delighted for Rest Hour, a time for quiet and relaxation. This was followed by Free Swim and afternoon classes. Class highlights included singing new and old songs at Glee Club, practicing Nakanawa form swimming in Lake Aloaloa, and learning forehands at tennis. In their free time, the girls spent time with their new bunkies listening to music and settling into their cabins. The evening included  long, yet lively Team Elections! The Amazon and Valkyrie teams went to their respective Rocks and voted for Tent Row girls as leaders. Both teams met on the tennis courts after elections to announce their new captain, lieutenant, secretary, and cheerleaders. After a busy and fulfilling day at camp, the girls were ready to sleep come lights out.  
 
Wednesday, June 30
Classes continued Wednesday with campers trying new skills throughout camp. Nakanawa songs floated through the grounds from Glee Club on the Crow’s Nest. Canoeing reviewed safety protocols and practiced canoe tips, while campers began to shoot targets in Rifelry. Girls met with friends to enjoy their Apple Break, before returning to classes. It was the perfect afternoon to cool off in the lake during Free Swim before afternoon classes. Evening Entertainment was held in the Little Theater. Cabins paired up to perform funny skits and songs for the rest of camp. They wore silly costumes, sang new versions of songs, and celebrated being back at camp. Their laughter and cheers filled the night, and campers left for their bunks sleepy and satisfied after singing the Goodnight Song.

Thursday, July 1
Cooler weather blew in Thursday morning, and many campers sported their Nakanawa sweatshirts for Flag Raising and into breakfast. Another class day had girls practicing form and timing laps at Swimming. Fencing sparred in the Kiosk, and Table Tennis practiced in the Pavillion. Afternoon rain moved classes to indoor areas, but did not dampen spirits. Council Ring was held after dinner in the Wigwam, due to the rain. Senior Camp gathered together to celebrate a successful first week. We sang camp songs, shared a legend, played games, and recognized campers for their exemplary efforts in their classes for the week. The spirit of camp glowed brightly with the fire as camp participated in this long-standing tradition. Devotions were held in cabins before Taps sang everyone to sleep.

Friday, July 2
Friday was the first Free Day of the season. In the morning, campers chose activities to participate in with friends. Girls hiked around the lake to enjoy Camp’s bountiful nature. Intermediate War Canoe practiced, and the Docks were open for swimming. The Crows Nest was filled with campers making cards for family and friends. The Rifelry Hut opened for those wishing to practice their skills more. Dance was offered in the Kiosk, and Tent Row practiced their songs. The Games Field hosted its inaugural game of Bucket Ball, while other campers played Pickle Ball on the Tennis Courts. Finally, the Barn was open for girls to help groom the horses. After a fun filled morning, campers relaxed during Rest Hour in their cabins, before the afternoon activities. The Library opened up and counselors offered creative writing and poetry for enthusiastic campers. Senior War Canoes went out on the lake. Clogging was offered in the Kiosk, and a special project in Arts and Crafts. All of Camp came back together for a delicious cookout on the Crows Nest to share about their day with friends and watch the sun sink over Lake Aloaloa. Finally, Evening Entertainment was held in the Kiosk where counselors showed off their many talents in the Counselor Pageant, much to the glee of campers.
 
Saturday, July 3
Saturday was greeted with the first Water Meet of the summer between the Amazons and the Valkyries. Canoeing held races to the Floating Dock, as well as games to sink their competitors’ boats. Apple Break was served on the beach as campers cheered on their teams. Diving showcased their skills and was followed by the Swim Meet that was dog-themed. Campers barked, swam after balls, relayed, did somersaults in the water, and more. The Dining Hall was decorated with balloons for an early Fourth of July lunch. Following lunch, Camp went on a scavenger hunt to find letters left for them by Tent Row 2020. Next, we cleaned up and ate an early dinner before loading the buses to head to the Cumberland County Playhouse to watch “Godspell.” Camp was excited to have the theater to ourselves to celebrate one of the summer’s best traditions. Buses returned to camp with sleepy campers, having enjoyed another day at Camp Nakanawa.

Sunday, July 4th
The schedule was full with camp traditions on Sunday. After breakfast, campers had their pictures taken on the Games Field, before returning to cabins to prepare for Church. Pepe Church was held on the Waterfront and Crows Nest with Junior Camp, overlooking the lake. After lunch, Senior Camp participated in the Fourth of July Marathon, with water balloon tosses, Uncle Sam, and Slip n’ Slide offered on land, while Water Polo and a Watermelon Relay were held in the water. Junior Camp was welcomed back over to Senior Side to celebrate the Circus. After a cookout dinner with hot dogs, junior campers were entertained with side shows: juggling, fortune-telling, face painting, pictures, etc. Next performances by senior campers were held in the Wigwam, as they dressed as monkeys, birds, majorettes and more. Ice cream was passed out and enjoyed before everyone headed to the Kiosk to cheer on Tent Row as they performed their dance for the first time. Senior Camp waved goodbye to Junior Camp before heading to the Waterfront for sparklers and roasted marshmallows. The day culminated with fireworks over the lake, as campers took pictures and enjoyed the holiday back at Camp.
Thank you for sharing your daughters with Camp Nakanawa this summer!
 
Love,
 
Your Intermediate and Senior Counselors
Recognitions - Week 1
CategoriesNewsletters by

2021 Four Week Junior Newsletter – Week 1

Greetings from Camp Nakanawa!

Campers, counselors, and staff were all grateful to be able to gather once more at our beloved Camp Nakanawa. There are plenty of new faces gracing the shores of Lake Aloaloa, and it is amazing to see how much the many devoted return campers have changed & grown in the intervening time. A huge Nakanawa welcome to everyone!

Monday – Arrival Day: As you all know, the drop-off procedure was different this year due to the COVID-19 safety protocols, but everyone worked together to make the first day of camp run smoothly! The girls were tasked with making their beds and changing into their blues & whites before they could begin exploring camp with their new friends. 

After check-in, a musical counselor welcome, and practicing camp songs, the campers all walked through a mini-version of their activity schedules to familiarize themselves with locations and all that awaits them on class days. After dinner, team drawings were held in the Council House. New campers joined either the Valkyries or the Amazons – the two Camp Nakanawa teams – and each camper will remain on their team for life. New campers left the Council House proudly wearing their new red or blue team ties. The Amazons & Valkyries will compete good-naturedly against each other throughout the session in athletic contests designed to foster sportsmanship, teamwork, and friendly competition.

Tuesday: Today was busy as we had the first full day of classes. Archery, swimming, canoeing, arts & crafts, and riding are a few of the many activities which campers enjoy throughout the day. There are 3 classes, then a healthy snack break followed by 2 more classes before lunch. After a much-needed Rest Hour, the girls have an hour of called Free Swim during which many campers choose to enjoy the lake, visit the nature hut, write letters, read, or rest. 

Tuesday night, Valkyries & Amazons held meetings during which the team officers were elected by the campers. Campers old & new were excited about the elections, and the officers have stepped into their places of leadership. 

Wednesday: Our second day of classes: We woke up to a sunny day, and the morning was perfect for rotating among new experiences. At lunch, the Glee Club staff arrived in costume, singing to announce this summer’s operetta: Oklahoma! Auditions were held after Rest Hour. Tonights’s Evening Entertainment reminded all of us, in a hilariously funny way, of the rules and courtesies of camp life with the chorus line of counselors singing “The 12 Days of Camp.” A Nakanawa version of Two Truths and a Lie followed.

Thursday: Thursday was Free Day, and the girls dressed colorfully out of uniform and enjoyed a selection of different activities including line dancing, bracelet-making, visiting to the Nature Hut and practicing a bit of Chinese calligraphy shared by one of the counselors. A rain shower made afternoon activities cozy and cooled us off for a night under our blankets after a rousing camper talent show of dancing, singing, poetry and comedy. 

Friday: Today classes resumed in almost perfect weather with a lovely breeze. Our busy day ended with a cookout at the lake. After a dance party on the shore of Lake Aloaloa, we enjoyed grilled hamburgers and gathered for a walk to the woods for the first Council Ring meeting. Wearing their team ties, campers meet on the Games Field with their cabinmates for this important Camp Nakanawa tradition. Pepe welcomed everyone to the meeting by reminding campers of the importance of respect for the land and each other as exemplified in the Cherokee custom of gathering in a circle around the fire. An updated version of the Indian Chief tradition is our Eagle camper who exemplifies quiet leadership, encouragement, positive attitude, and gratitude. This year’s Eagle, Erica Levy, is invited to sit with Pepe and enjoy Council Ring. 

Each week at this time, campers stand when recognized by name by the various activity heads for their effort, enthusiasm and positive attitudes in classes. Posture recognitions – standing tall and sitting up straight – are another significant aspect of Council Ring. Girls receive a collar pin and stand in a circle around the fire for this weekly award. The evening ends with campers walking along the trail back to camp singing our “Goodnight Song.”

Saturday: After breakfast, campers posed for individual, team, state and cabin pictures on the Games Field.  The full, sunny day included competitions between the Amazons and Valkyrie teams – a swim meet before lunch and a games meet held after Rest Hour. To prepare for the meets, teams gathered for pep meetings practicing team cheers and songs. While there is friendly rivalry between the Amazons and Valkyries, much importance is placed on sportsmanship and team spirit.  

After dinner, the girls loaded busses to travel with Senior Camp to the famed Cumberland County Playhouse to enjoy this year’s production, the musical Godspell.

Sunday: Our non-denominational church service is planned for the lakeside in Senior Camp tomorrow morning. Pepe’s meaningful service will stress the importance of positive communication as we have come to crave it during the separations of the past year; he always engages the campers with questions and references to courageous people in history. This summer’s church mentions Helen Keller. 

Rumor has it that Sunday, July 4 will be filled with Independence Day festivities and a surprise or two. There is never a dull moment at Nakanawa! More details on the rest of Sunday’s activities will follow in the next newsletter. 

Activity Summaries:

Archery: Safety comes first and foremost in Archery. Campers learned the important safety procedures of the sport. Once the safety lessons on such things as the proper way to load a bow, retrieve shot arrows from the target, etc, were completed, campers learned proper shooting techniques. By the second day, girls were able to string their bows and shoot their arrows at the targets!

Arts and Crafts: On the first day, the girls were each given a small sketchbook for the session. Over the week, they spent time designing, decorating, and personalizing the cover of their sketchbook with markers, colored pencils, and/or crayons! The girls also began work on their acrylic painting of a watermelon. While each camper will be creating a painting of a watermelon, we are sure that each painting on canvas will be as unique as the camper who made it!

Climbing Wall: The first week of the Rock Wall has consisted of different activities regarding warming up to the wall. Campers have learned how to trust one another when it comes to spotting each other in bouldering. They have all done trust falls with a partner, as well as ‘wall falls’ where they are able to learn how to correctly spot one another. They have begun practicing Around the World where they boulder across the wall & back – from start to finish. This is a difficult task and takes patience, encouragement, and bravery. Each camper has been extremely helpful & encouraging to one another in regard to reaching new goals on the rock wall. 

Canoeing: In Canoeing, the first lessons of the week were held while campers were sitting on the docks, learning and practicing their strokes. On day 2, there were more canoeing tips to learn. The girls continued to enhance their canoeing strokes, and by the end of day 3, every camper had been out on Lake Aloaloa paddling a canoe!

Games: This week games prepared for the first Games Meet that is to take place this Saturday.  The Games meet is a competition between Amazons and Valkyries.  The activities include not only sport skill but coordination, teamwork and sportsmanship.  Campers will compete in Tic Tac Toe, water bucket games, group Connect 4, soccer, hippity-hop races, pillow polo, and Tug of War.  The girls have enjoyed learning dances this week, including the double-Dutch hopscotch dance.

Glee Club: The girls love learning and singing camp songs, especially ones we can share at Council Ring. After our introduction of this summer’s operetta, we have explained the plot of Oklahoma! and cast the lead parts. Now it’s full steam ahead with our songs, dances, and dialog in each age group. 

Horseback Riding: In our first week at horseback riding, campers have enjoyed meeting or reuniting with Caspar, Patty, Skipper, Rex, Junior and others these first few days as we reviewed riding basics and   practiced safety and steering skills. It is great to be back together! Everyone in camp has now been on a horse and ridden independently around simple steering courses. We are enjoying riding-ring versions of games such as Simon Says, Red Light/Green Light and Pick-a-Pole (a variation of musical chairs), and look forward to building confidence and balance to learn to trot.  

Nature: Campers have met the friendly snakes, turtles, toads, salamanders, and Muscovy ducks at the Nature Hut. Staffed by two Permitted Wildlife Rehabilitators, Blair and Margaret, we have orphaned opossums, a young squirrel, corn snakes, tadpoles, toads, Box Turtles, fish and a Musk Turtle scooped up from the lake by 2 campers. Our outdoor fishpond/aquarium is full and popular this summer. The campers are enjoying using nets to catch fish and tadpoles to feed to our water animals. An emphasis this week has been baby animals as our rat had her babies: seeing them open their eyes, nurse, and develop fur is a main reason we have rats in Nature. We also hiked the Centennial Trail to our favorite hemlock tree this week. 

Swimming and Diving: While in their swimming classes this week, campers spent time working on the freestyle stroke, and also practiced kick drills using the kickboards. The younger campers are working on their basic swimming skills as well as playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos! And in diving, new divers conquered their fears of going off the board head-first, while more experienced divers worked ahead on their back dives.

Tennis: The first week of tennis classes was focused on correcting and perfecting the most used stokes of tennis: the forehand and the backhand. The first day we focused mainly on forehand and played a fun game at the end of class, were the girls cheered for their friends and had lots of fun playing tennis. The second day was focused on backhand, we went over the basics and practiced consistency and control. The last day of the week was focused on teaching the girls about the importance of footwork and moving around the court so they could better their game. The girls had tons of fun applying what they learned in the games and cheering their friends on during class.

Campers can expect the next week to be full of fun, learning, and friendship.

Nakanawa love – 

Your Junior Camp Staff
Recognitions - Week 1
CategoriesNewsletters by

2021 Two Week Intermediate Newsletter – Week 2

Greetings from Camp Nakanawa!

The Spirit of Nakanawa Award Winner:
Addie Mims

MONDAY

After the exciting weekend, Monday brought the last of campers’ Monday/Thursday classes. With a spattering of storms, campers huddled together in the kiosk or the wigwam, playing games and rehearsing their musical numbers for Moana. In Games, the girls learned line dances, a staple at any camp-wide dance party. In Canoeing, campers created a drill, using their paddles to make a synchronized dance. Following their full class day, campers enjoyed a Hot Dog Buffet in the Dining Hall before donning their ties and copious amounts of bug spray for Rock Meetings. Afterwards, the girls enjoyed devotions with their cabin and drifted into sleep, lulled by the patter of rain on tin roofs.
 
TUESDAY
Tuesday marked the last day of regular classes. After a meal of French Toast, the girls hustled to their classes, eager to make the most of their last class day. After Rest Hour, campers went to the waterfront to watch the Swim Meet, cheering on their teams as they competed for Distinctions. Later, immediately after dinner, campers climbed onto the bus to go to Junior Camp to attend the Ho-Down. The night was filled with games like Cornhole and dances like “Cotton-Eyed Joe.” At the conclusion of the night, there was a cake raffle with cabins 14 and 16 winning cakes to enjoy after lunch the next day. 
 
WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday, the girls participated in various meets from Canoeing to Tennis  and Games. After quick Pep Meetings for both teams, the girls met on the Games Field for various competitions. . Then, girls went to cheer on their fellow team members in other meets. In the afternoon, campers attended rehearsal for the musical, Moana, practicing their songs and dances and getting excited for their upcoming performance. For dinner, Junior Camp visited Senior Camp for a joint Cookout meal of hamburgers and a subsequent show of “NTV” where each age group performed a TikTok dance while the 8th Graders put on “commercials” in between. The night ended with a dance party for intermediate camp as laughter drifted throughout the Kiosk.

THURSDAY
The arrival of Thursday meant more meets and final events. In the morning, following a breakfast of biscuits, sausage, and grits, girls participated in the Wall Meet or the Archery meet or cheered for their friends at either. Afterwards, the girls once again headed to Junior Camp to watch the Junior Musical where the girls sang songs about different seasons of the year. Intermediate Camp was so excited to watch the younger girls perform and heavily praised Junior’s musical. After returning to Senior Camp and following Rest Hour, campers prepared for the Intermediate Musical, Moana. The girls sang songs like “You’re Welcome” and “Shiny.” With campers Sophia Andrews playing Moana and Carter Lyemance playing Maui, the show was a huge hit and fun for all. In the evening, the girls attended council ring to be recognized for their effort in their final week of classes. The day concluded with Counselor Serenade as campers were sung to sleep by their counselors for Taps.  

FRIDAY 
The final day brought both joy and sadness as campers were eager to see their families but reluctant to say goodbye to their friends. Following a breakfast of cereal and toast, campers made their way to the Wigwam to attend the Club and Felt Letter Ceremony to be recognized for their outstanding attitudes and achievements in their classes. After receiving their clubs and felts, the girls went to the Little Theater to meet with Ann and Pepe for the Final Awards Ceremony. Ann and Pepe bestowed the winners and runners-up for each class and posture with medallions. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of “The Spirit of Nakanawa” award to honor a girl who embodies the characteristics of a “Nakanawa Girl”: a good attitude and a love of and devotion to camp. This year’s “Spirit of Nakanawa” award was presented to Addie Mims.  

These two weeks have been packed full of love, cheer, and friendships to last a lifetime. It has been a privilege to share this session with these girls who are excited, compassionate, and gifted among their many attributes. We hope the girls keep their stories from this summer and share them for years to come!
 
Fondly, 

The 2021 Intermediate Counselor Staff
CategoriesNewsletters by

2021 Two Week Junior Newsletter – Week 2

Greetings from Camp Nakanawa!

The Spirit of Nakanawa Award Winner
Rylin Szymarek

The Second Week of camp was a busy and exciting one, with campers continuing to learn new skills and develop friendships with their fellow campers. We have managed to pack a great deal into a relatively short period of time, and it has been a rewarding experience for all of us up on the lovely Cumberland Plateau. 
 
Sunday evening: (continued from last week’s newsletter) A beautiful evening vespers service was held down near the docks overlooking the lake. Counselors recited meaningful devotional stories for the service. These stories – also acted out by the counselors – reinforced many of the values regarding friendship and kindness that we hold dear here at camp.
 
Monday: Classes continued today with campers now feeling comfortable with their schedules and with the many new things they are learning. We had some rain this afternoon – and everyone cheerfully adjusted as some activities were moved indoors. The day ended with team meetings of the Valkyries and the Amazons, which were held indoors this evening as well, just in case the rain returned.

Tuesday: Tuesday was our last full day of classes. During “Free Swim” after Rest Hour, Ann & Pepe hosted their annual Garden Party near the garden plot outside the Nature Hut. The plot has a pollinator garden on one side and a space for vegetables – such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and squash on the other. Pepe delivered a fascinating talk on the history & origins of the vegetables grown in the garden plot, and the girls especially enjoyed snacking on individual small servings of veggies after the talk. In the evening, there was a festive “Hoedown” held in the covered riding arena – with games, activities, and dancing! 

Wednesday: Today there was a modified class schedule, with campers enjoying the day wearing their Free Day clothes. Classes were held in the morning for four different activities – Nature, Riding, Glee Club, and Games. Dinner was an exciting time, too, as Junior campers had a big cookout with the Intermediate campers across the lake in Senior Camp! After dining on the Crow’s Nest, we gathered in the Kiosk (Senior Camp’s version of the Playhouse in Junior camp) for singing and dance performances by Intermediate campers and the different age groups of all of Junior Camp. Then we gathered again on the Crow’s Nest overlooking the lake. We listened to a devotional and sang a few camp songs, but the highlight was the lighting on the large “N,” which is visible across Lake Aloaloa on the shore of Junior Camp. It was a lovely sight to see as the sun set over the lake on another beautiful, peaceful day at camp.

Thursday: Thursday – our second to last day – was HUGE! The day was full to overflowing. The Riding Show started at 8:30AM, followed soon by the first part of the Tennis Meet. At 11AM, everyone enjoyed the musical – Seasons of Love. It was spectacular! Each age group performed a different song, complete with choreography. All of the campers returned to the stage for the grand finale – Seasons of Love from the Broadway show Rent. The video of the musical will be posted on the Nakanawa website soon.  The cheerful campers and our fabulous Glee Club staff members did a wonderful job to pull off such a marvelous production. At the end of the performance, Ann & Pepe were presented with flowers, as well many dozens of cards and notes from campers and counselors alike, in recognition for all of the love and hard work that they have given to Camp Nakanawa over their many years here. The day continued after lunch with the Tennis Finals, a Water Meet, and then a final Council Ring. At the end of this jam-packed day, the counselors gathered together to walk from cabin to cabin for the Counselor Serenade. Carrying candles as they sang, underneath the bright full moon, the serenade was a moving experience for all involved. 
 
Friday: The day began with a surprise in the Dining Hall. The tables had been arranged to form an enormous “N” – and everyone dined at the long tables, connected end to end. No assigned seating! It was a fun and festive way to begin our final morning together. The Awards Assembly in the Council house began soon after breakfast, with campers being given awards in the various activities. There were claps and cheers as everyone celebrated their accomplishments and those of their fellow campers! Parents began arriving soon after the Awards Ceremony. Trunks and duffle bags were loaded into cars. A few tears were shed. There will be many exciting stories of Camp Nakanawa to share on the rides home!

ACTIVITIES:
Archery: The first part of the class was dedicated to learning to safely using the quiver and the bow so as to not hurt herself while practicing. Then they learned how to shoot from afar and attempted to hit the bullseye, with many succeeding! 

Arts and Crafts: All of the girls in arts and crafts learned how to paint landscapes. They learned perspective by painting Lake Aloaloa when the weather was nice. They outlined in sharpies and used colored pencils to put their own creativity into their landscapes. At the end of camp, the art was distributed back to the campers to take home with them. Take a look at what your daughter has accomplished over these two weeks!

Canoeing: The campers spent class time learning how to safely canoe using techniques such as forward strokes, reverse strokes & J-strokes. The girls learned teamwork by having three or ten girls, depending on the size of the canoe, work together to steer these canoes. The girls take time throughout the two weeks to canoe to Senior Side and also have canoe meets between the Valkyries and the Amazons. 

Games/Climbing Wall: The girls learned how to play games competitively while also supporting one another on the weekends. The Amazons and Valkyries compete against each other on the games field with many rotating stations of games. They practiced line dancing and also learned how to play Bocce. The girls alternate days between games and rock climbing. At the Climbing Wall, campers learned how to safely climb with ropes. They faced their fears – such as the fear of heights – and continued working on their strength. 

Glee Club: The campers made continued progress in practicing “The Seasons of Love” for the big performance on Thursday. Glee Club is a place where they learn all of the Nakanawa songs that they use for meals, Council Ring, Games meets, vespers and other events. They learn the melodies and also learn to harmonize with one another. Each camper spends their two weeks learning and memorizing these songs. 

Horseback riding: The girls worked on riding horses of all sizes and learned how to communicate with and cooperate with the horses. They learn English riding, which means they learn how to trot and “post” on the horse while they are trotting. They also learn how to mount and dismount safely on and off of the horses. At the end of the two weeks, there is the Horse Show where a small group of selected campers compete and are awarded ribbons for their performance. Many of the girls have never ridden before, and emphasis is placed on improvement in the show. Girls were excited to help groom and prepare the horses for the show on Thursday.

Nature: It was a short but busy week in the Nature. Our two certified wildlife rehabilitators and the rest of the Nature staff continue to teach the girls about the marvelous critters we have living with us in the Hut. We also had hikes along the Centennial Trail, learning about the plants and trees along the path beside the lake. Our baby rats continue to thrive, and the campers enjoy watching this transformation!

Swimming/Diving: The girls all learned how to safely swim and learned different techniques such as the backstroke, breaststroke, and free style as well. They used these techniques to swim in meets between the Amazons and Valkyries. For Diving, the girls learned different diving techniques and some are chosen to compete in the diving competition during this week’s Water Meet. There are also ambitious campers who have been working towards their swim-a-half-mile and swim-a-mile goals this session!

Tennis: The girls focused each day working on the strokes of tennis. The first part of the class consisted of working on the technical part and the second half of the class was focused on the techniques within the game itself. 

Many thanks to you ALL for sharing your wonderfully curious and engaging daughters with us these past two weeks. The entire Junior Camp staff was honored to have had the opportunity to work with them this summer, and we look forward to seeing you all again next year! 

Nakanawa Love –
 
Your Junior Camp Counselors & Staff
CategoriesNewsletters by

2021 Two Week Junior Newsletter – Week 1

Greetings from Camp Nakanawa!

Campers, counselors, and staff were all grateful to be able to gather together once more at our beloved Camp Nakanawa. There were plenty of new faces this year – almost 100 first-time Nakanawa girls – along with many devoted returning campers, all gracing the shores of Lake Aloaloa. 

Sunday: As you all know, the drop-off procedure was different this year due to the COVID-19 safety protocols, but everyone worked together to make the first day of camp run smoothly! The girls were tasked with making their beds and changing into their blues & whites before they could begin exploring camp with their new friends. 

The campers ran through a mini version of their activity schedules to familiarize themselves with all that awaits them during the two week session. And after dinner, team drawings were held in the Council House. New campers joined either the Valkyries or the Amazons – the two Camp Nakanawa teams – and each camper will remain on her team for life. Campers left the Council House proudly wearing their new team ties. The Amazons & Valkyries compete against each other throughout the session in athletic contests designed to foster sportsmanship, team work, and friendly competition.

Monday: Today was busy as we had the first full day of classes. Archery, swimming, canoeing, arts & crafts, riding are a few of the many activities which campers enjoy throughout the day. There are 3 classes, then a milk break, followed by 2 more classes before lunch. After a much needed Rest Hour, the girls had an hour of “Free Swim” during which many campers chose to visit the Nature Hut. Many opted to write letters to family and friends, read, rest, or yes, swim in Lake Aloaloa! After dinner, campers learned many of the “rules” and courtesies of camp life from the chorus line of counselors singing a rollicking version of “The 12 Days of Camp”! 

Tuesday: Our second day of classes – We woke up to slightly cooler temperatures, and the morning soon gave way to perfect weather. During Free Swim, Valkyries & Amazons held meetings during which the Team Leaders – three for each team – were elected. Campers old & new were excited about the elections. Tuesday’s Evening Entertainment was held on the Games Field where the campers played a high-spirited game called “Double Trouble”! Laughter and cries of encouragement could be heard all over camp!

Wednesday: Today was the third day of classes, and it ended with THE OVERNIGHT! After a dance party on the shore of Lake Aloaloa, a “Wacky Dive” competition amongst the counselors, and a cookout, campers went to their cabins, grabbed their sleeping bags & pillows and went to their designated sleeping areas. The oldest campers slept out under the stars by the lake, on the Games Field or the tennis courts. The next age groups slept with their cabinmates in the Council House or the Playhouse. The youngest campers slept in their cabins, but still participated in the overnight experience by sleeping in their sleeping bags on the floor of their cozy cabins! Everyone had s’mores and participated in the evening devotions before saying goodnight.

Thursday: Thursday was “Free Day!” Last night’s overnight was followed by a pancake breakfast. Everyone could sleep a tiny bit late if they wanted to, and stroll into the Dining Hall in their pj’s to enjoy some delicious pancakes! The girls all stayed in camp for Free Day and enjoyed a selection of activities – from bracelet making, to visits to the Nature Hut, to learning a bit about Chinese calligraphy from one of the counselors. After dinner, the Amazons and Valkyries held team “rock” meetings. Each team has a much cherished rock – an open space nestled in the woods near camp – where meetings are held once a week.

Friday: Our fourth full day of classes was capped off with the first Council Ring meeting. Wearing their team ties, campers met on the Games Field with their counselors & cabin-mates. Then, singing a favorite camp song along the trail as dusk fell, campers walked to the Council Ring. Council ring is an important Camp Nakanawa tradition. Pepe began tonight’s meeting by welcoming everyone to the meeting and by reminding campers of the importance of a positive attitude, gratitude, leadership, and love towards each other. During each weekly Council Ring, campers are recognized by the various activity heads for their enthusiasm and positive attitudes while in class. Posture recognitions are another significant aspect of Council Ring. Girls who receive a posture recognition are awarded a special Posture Pin by Pepe. The evening ends with campers walking along the trail back to camp while singing the “Goodnight Song”.

Saturday: Saturday was GAMES DAY – with the Games Meet before lunch and the Swim Meet held after Rest Hour! To prepare for the meets, teams gathered for their pep meetings after breakfast – practicing team cheers and songs. While there is a friendly rivalry between the Amazons and Valkyries, much importance is placed on sportsmanship and team spirit. 

Tonight’s Evening Entertainment was a super fun dance contest between counselors – one from each cabin pair – so there were 12 contestants in all. The counselors chosen for the contest were elaborately and colorfully costumed by their cabins for the big event. The contest ended with ALL of the campers and counselors jumping up from their seats and joyfully dancing to Can’t Stop the Feeling! 

Sunday: Our non-denominational Church service was held outside in the shade of the pine trees in a beautiful spot overlooking the lake. Pepe led a meaningful service and talked about the importance of positive communication, engaging the campers with questions. Soon after, the Tennis Meet was held. After lunch, we had the slightly longer than normal Sunday Rest Hour. This was followed by a games competition, with contest sites at the different activity locations around camp. There is never a dull moment at Nakanawa!

Archery: Safety comes first and foremost in Archery. Campers learned the important safety procedures of the sport. Once the safety lessons on such things as the proper way to load a bow, retrieve shot arrows from the target, etc, were completed, campers learned proper shooting techniques. By the second day, girls were able to string their bows and shoot their arrows at the targets!

Arts and Crafts: On the first day, the girls were each given a small sketchbook for the session. Over the week, they spent time designing, decorating, and personalizing the cover of their sketchbook with markers, colored pencils, and/or crayons! The girls also began work on their acrylic painting of a watermelon. While each camper will be creating a painting of a watermelon, we are sure that each painting on canvas will be as unique as the camper who made it!

Climbing Wall: The Climbing Wall is located in the Playhouse, and for many campers, this was their first time to try out a climbing wall! Campers were introduced to the different bouldering routes and to the concept of free climbing. While at the climbing wall, emphasis is placed on building strength and confidence. There are other games that were played by the campers this week, such as the ever popular “the floor is lava”!
Canoeing: In Canoeing, the first lessons of the week were held while campers were sitting on the docks, learning and practicing their strokes. On Day 2, there were more canoeing tips to learn. The girls continued to enhance their canoeing strokes, and by the end of day 3, every camper had been out on Lake Aloaloa paddling a canoe!

Games: This week, time was spent preparing and practicing the individual games in preparation for the big Games Meet on Saturday. During class, emphasis was placed on cardiovascular strengthening, coordination, and team building. Also, girls had fun with activities as varied as line dancing and Bocce! What will next week hold?!  

Glee Club: The girls are learning camp songs from our wonderful Nakanawa song book, but there are almost too many good songs to choose from! We will have a musical “Seasons of Love” at the end of camp. The musical involves each and every camper, so time was spent learning and rehearsing songs in preparation for that exciting event. 
 
Horseback Riding: At the Junior Camp barn, we have a record number of beginning riders who have been enthusiastic and brave about their first independent rides. Safe, correct mounting and dismounting are part of our lessons, along with steering courses in the arena. Biscuit, our miniature horse, is a charming new addition to our stable. She has been a fun ride for our smallest campers. We can’t wait for our next lessons!
 
Nature: Campers are learning so much from their hands-on experiences with the wide range of animals in the Nature Hut. Our Head Nature counselor, Margaret Matens, is a permitted wildlife rehabilitator and she brings those animals with her to camp.  We have opossums, corn snakes, tadpoles, toads, Muscovy ducklings, Box Turtles, as well as fish and a Musk Turtle (scooped up from the lake by 2 campers!) which are kept in the large outdoor fishpond/aquarium for the summer. The girls were all very excited to learn about the births of 13 baby rats and 3 new Guineafowls during the week!

Swimming and Diving: While in their Swimming classes this week, campers spent time working on the freestyle stroke, and also practiced kick drills using the kickboards. The younger campers are working on their basic swimming skills as well as playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos! And in Diving, new divers conquered their fears of going off the board head-first, while more experienced divers worked ahead on their back dives.

Tennis: Campers started the week with instruction in the forehand stroke as well as controlling the ball. Next came the backhand stroke. The girls continued to work on their strokes as the week progressed, and also learned about the importance of footwork and moving around the court.
 
Campers can expect the next week to be full of fun, learning, and friendship.
 
Nakanawa love – 
 
Your Junior Camp Staff
RECOGNITIONS WEEK 1
CategoriesNewsletters by

2021 Two Week Intermediate Newsletter – Week 1

Greetings from Camp Nakanawa!

Hello from Camp Nakanawa! There has been nothing but joy and laughter circulating camp after opening for our 102nd summer. From the sprawling Lake Aloaloa to the woods encasing camp, everything seemed to come alive as friendships, both new and old, returned. Upon their arrival to the two-week session, the girls were greeted by their counselors with excitement and anticipation (and a temperature check).  

The girls spent their first day reacquainting themselves with camp and walking through their schedules for the summer to learn about what fun awaited them. Then there was dinner followed by Evening Entertainment, concluding the day with Team Drawings. The day culminated with each girl finding a home on the Amazon or Valkyrie team.
 
MONDAY
Monday brought about the first day of classes in camp. The girls went through their morning classes and stopped for a momentary Apple Break at the Commissary. Campers went from canoe tips in Canoeing class to the Ziplining at the Climbing Wall, learning the important safety measures while allowing them to enjoy a fun-filled first day. On this especially warm day, campers eagerly attended Swimming to dip into the cool lake. Tennis seemed to be the biggest hit, though, as classes played Jail and Queen of the Court, emphasizing the fundamentals of the sport. Following afternoon classes, campers enjoyed dinner and an exciting Evening Entertainment of “GloAloaloa” wherein girls received glow stick necklaces and bracelets and swam in the lake illuminating the waterfront with neon colors and blanketing camp with the sound of laughter.
 
TUESDAY
Tuesday similarly provided a day packed with classes. Campers began working on the end-of-camp musical, Moana, in their Glee Club classes. Sailboats dotted the lake as the girls learned how to properly sail (and avoid the Boom!), and Golf clubs whooshed in the air as girls perfected their swings. During Free Swim, teams elected three campers each to serve as their Team Leaders for the session. After more classes in the afternoon, campers enjoyed dinner followed by a popular Evening Entertainment: Intermediate-Camp-wide Dance Party. The girls tried their hands at various group dances such as “Footloose” and “Cotton-Eyed Joe.” The night ended with the girls giggling, spinning around, and engaging in spirited renditions of “Sweet Caroline” and “Best Song Ever.”

WEDNESDAY
Free Day kicked off with a filling breakfast of biscuits, sausage, and grits, giving the girls the fuel they needed to embark on their exciting day. Following breakfast, campers had camp pictures, quickly changing into Free Day clothes after. Morning activities included a popular hike to Junior Camp while the afternoon boasted musical rehearsals in the Little Theater and games on the Games Field. For dinner, the girls enjoyed a Cookout on the Crow’s Nest, reminiscing on their fun Free Day. Right after dinner, campers made their way to the waterfront to board canoes to attend the Overnight. Sixth and seventh graders canoed to the Dam, and eighth graders camped at Carson’s Point. Both groups savored s’mores, played games, participated in devotions, and giggled by bonfires. The girls drifted to sleep underneath the clear Cumberland night sky dappled with shimmering stars.

THURSDAY
 After an early wakeup, campers from the Dam and Carson’s Point returned to camp and were met with a tasty Pancake Breakfast that they enjoyed leisurely in their pajamas. Once dressed in blues and whites again, campers embarked on their third class day with girls’ passing levels in Archery and swinging rackets in Tennis. The horses at the Barn eagerly walked the ring with campers on their backs while divers at the waterfront gracefully glided into the water. After munching on sandwiches and wraps on the Crow’s Nest for dinner, girls donned their ties of red and blue to embark upon their first Rock Meeting of the session. The girls, hearts swollen with pride for their teams, concluded their days with mellow devotions with their counselors and cabin-mates.

FRIDAY
Friday drew the week’s classes to a close. With bright, warm, and sunny weather, girls canoed to a Cove by Junior Camp in Canoeing and drew self-portraits in Arts and Crafts. Campers enjoyed auditioning for speaking roles in the musical and playing games on the Games Field. The evening held bundles of fun as campers were paired up for a rousing game of Double Trouble. Campers were given a prompt such as “farmers” or “royalty” and dressed as such to find their match, some even making elements of their costumes using construction paper or repurposing beach towels. After running and laughing and doing silly dances, campers sang the “Goodnight Song” and retired to their cabins where they engaged in a quick devotion with their counselors before Taps lulled them to sleep, dreaming of the weekend’s contests.

SATURDAY
The start of the weekend meant participation in various meets for Team Distinctions across camp. The day was sunny with touches of rain to cool down camp. The Team Leaders led their teams in Pep Meetings to spark team spirit before an eventful game of Capture the Flag. Once the girls were finished traipsing across the Games Field, they enjoyed the nice respite of Apple Break. Then, it was on to the Archery Meet as arrows zoomed to hit their targets. After lunch and Rest Hour, campers donned their swimsuits and headed to the waterfront for a Lake Animal-themed Water Meet. The day continued with Saturday Night Dinner and concluded with a celebratory Council Ring. Girls sang camp songs, took part in challenges, heard a legend encouraging them to shine brightly, and received Recognitions for their positive attitudes and accomplishments in their classes. The day concluded with embers from the Council Ring fire burning out, bidding the girls farewell until the next Council Ring.

SUNDAY
A bright sky and cool air welcomed Sunday. After a breakfast of coffee cake and bacon, campers loaded the bus to head to Junior Camp to attend Pepe Church. Pepe’s message of the Gifts of Communication inspired the girls to communicate effectively through listening, engaging, sharing, and understanding. Once back in Senior Camp, campers gathered by the tennis courts to watch and participate in the Tennis Meet, playing the game Scoop to earn Distinctions. Next came lunch and a much-needed Extended Rest Hour so the girls could rejuvenate their energy for the Sunday Afternoon Event. Campers split into teams to participate in a relay across camp. The girls slid down a Slip N’ Slide, swam a watermelon through the lanes at the Dock, and played Ships and Sailors among other fun activities. The teams were rewarded with a refreshing slice of watermelon before eating Grunch dinner on the Crow’s Nest. Quickly following Grunch was Counselor Vespers where the counselor staff read The Day the Crayons Quit, inviting campers to reflect on respect, both of self and others. Cabin Night followed behind Vespers as counselors gathered with their cabins in various spots in camp from the Tennis Courts to the Games Field to Lake Aloaloa to bond together. At the conclusion of the night, bunkies climbed into their beds happy and eager for Monday’s classes.

Campers and counselors alike are looking forward to the final week’s bundles of fun-filled adventures! Although we cannot wait to see you come Friday, we are excited for a second week of happiness and cheer.
Fondly,

The 2021 Intermediate Counselor Staff
RECOGNITIONS WEEK 1
CategoriesNewsletters by

Mop’s 30+ Summers

Mop's 30 Plus Summers

Hi, Everyone!  My name is Margaret Queen….but everyone calls me Mop.  (Yea, that’s me leading the Junior 4th of July parade!)  Let me share a bit about why I love Nakanawa.
 
In 1954, my parents thought that camp would be a wonderful learning experience for their only child who was quite timid. I arrived with a group of about 30 girls from Oklahoma City after a 2 day train ride. I fell in love with everything about camp life immediately. For the first time, I felt that I could be appreciated for the person I really was. There was so much social and academic competition at home yet at camp that was not important. There WAS really a place for a silly skinny kid that did not have the “killer instinct” to be the fastest swimmer or center forward on the soccer team running down their opponent to score a goal. I was overcomethe with the beauty of a sunset across the lake or amazed at the adventure of a trip in the back of a tuck for our overnight at Cumberland cove There were a million reasons why I loved camp.
 
This brings me to why I returned to camp for 30+ summers.  Of course, it has to do with the time spent with camp friends, but also I felt a need to give back and help make camp a special experience for young girls as they begin their time at Nakanawa. I am always drawn to those who are not the most popular, or the best athlete but those who may need a little extra help to get adjusted to a new place and make new friends. I feel it is so important to affirm every girl and help them become comfortable with the terrific person who they are.
 
In my first life I was a school teacher in Denver. I’ve been in sales for the last 17 years and really miss the time spent with my students long ago. Camp gives me a chance to interact with young people at least 6 weeks of the year.
 
Stop by the Senior Dining Hall and say “HI!”
Mop
 
 
A note from Shelly:  Mop was also Head Counselor for Junior Camp for ten years.  She can help with just about any question or problem you may have.  She understands homesickness, or cabin squabbles, or the feeling a young girl has when she was not elected to that team position she so wanted.  And she tells wonderful stories.  You can always count on Mop for a nighttime canoeing chat or a great devotion story for your cabin.