Beautiful face paint from the When I Was Young dance!

Good morning, everyone!

It’s Luna Bug, back and ready to share stories and news tidbits from all across camp. Get ready because today we have a jam packed report and plenty of photos to accompany it!

Yesterday was quite the junk food day! Although the doughnuts, pop tarts, and sugary cereals of breakfast are always favorites, there’s something to be said about the savory chills dogs of lunch accompanied by cheetos and oreos, and the ravioli at dinner that make every Junk Food Day complete. Well, as much as I love the savory, the day really wouldn’t be JFD if we didn’t end it with *drum roll* sundaes! After dinner we all gathered near the dining hall and one by one went in to get our sundaes, based off of which cabin was the quietest! Once inside we had vanilla ice cream from a local creamery, and then our choice of toppings, and man did we have choices! We could have caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, or strawberry sauce, and then whipped cream, marshmallow fluff, rainbow sprinkles, or a cherry… or we could have it all. Yum!

After the sundaes everybody went over to the Rec Hall to dance out all the sugary craziness at the When I Was Young dance. There was tons of dancing accompanied by the tunes of our awesome DJ Grandpa a.k.a. Jacob. If dancing wasn’t your thing we had a bunch of other activities too like decorate a diaper, finger paint face paint, baby name changing, lullaby writing and glory day stories, match the childhood story to the counselor, guessing which baby picture matched the celebrity, basketball, and a “color on the wall” mural. It was all so much fun!

After the dance we went back to our cabins for a good nights sleep in order to be well rested for today- the first day of our new minis, and the 5th day of classes! Some campers signed up for “minis” which are basically two different classes that each run for four days, instead of one class that runs for eight days. It’s a really cool way to get a chance to try a bunch more things at camp than just the four classes. To get the day going everybody chowed down on an Egg Bar breakfast with potatoes and toast and fruit. Today’s fruit was a bit more special than the usual bananas and melons because we had fresh Maine blueberries! As much as Cara B. and I enjoyed Junk Food Day, we really enjoyed the fresh blubes.

Now, as you all have probably figured out by now, loads goes on here at HVC every day that is out of the ordinary. However, not all of it happens within the usual routine of our day, so Cara B. and I are going to take the time to tell you about a few little things that happened over the past few days:

Kae Kim is the wonderful woman who has helped bring the Korean campers to HVC over the past- wait for it- 21 years! Yes! She has been working with HVC, and staying at camp, for nearly as long as PK and MK have been here! Yesterday at evening meeting we recognized her hard work, both this summer and for previous ones, and Meg and Peter presented her with roses and a beautiful glass fusing piece depicting tipi hill. Today, Kae left and we are so sad to see her go!

A few days ago there was another exciting evening meeting presentation: 5 year vests! Peter read out a list of about 15-20 campers, and after a few minutes we got it- these were all campers and counselors who had been at HVC for 5 summers! To recognize their commitment to the community and meaningful contribution their presence has had we gave them amazing navy blue vests with embroidered “5 years” on it over the Hidden Valley logo. So cool!

And now, here’s an update from one of our teen programs, Hidden Valley Adventures. On Saturday, HVA returned from their second trip of the summer which was spent at Acadia National Park. Nothing could slow down these kids—they summited 5 mountains in 2 two days!! Cara B. and I have a hard enough time climbing tipi hill once a day so we are impressed! One of HVA’s favorites was the famous Beehive trail, which includes granite steps, iron rungs to climb up, and several handrails for exposed rock scrambling sections. *gulp* The payoff to all that work was amazing- the hike opens up to incredible views of Sand Beach. They were rewarded for the 8-hour hikes with a delicious dinner out in Bar Harbor.

After Acadia, they spent a few days back at camp and took day trips to Camden for sea kayaking, and Waterville for an Escape Room. On Tuesday, they headed off to Canada where they will be hiking and spending a bit of time in downtown Quebec. After that they will make their way to AdventureBound in the Forks, Maine for their last adventure of the summer- whitewater rafting and rock-climbing. What a way to cap off the summer! Here’s to an amazing second session of HVA!

Check below for photos from all of these events, and a few more!

Faithfully yours,

Luna Bug

We love donuts on Junk Food Day!

Aloha friends and fellows! Cara here on this slightly schvitzy aloha Tuesday to tell you all the latest news.

Last night we had a fantastic Valleyfest, our camper talent show. We had thirty-five awesome acts, including lots of singing and playing instruments (including a trombone!), a comedy routine involving yogurt, a toothbrush, and a tiny dance, magic tricks, a skit involving some silly dancing, Tae Kwon Do and a knitting song. All campers were super supportive audience members, giving big cheers after each act. It’s amazing to be in a place where we don’t have to be afraid to perform or put themselves out there. Campers and staff are always here to lift each other up.

Today is Dress in the Dark Day! After waking up to the light pitter-patter of schvitz on our rooftops, we adorned ourselves in some pretty whacky outfits. Everyone’s DDD technique is different. Some take the name literally, reaching blindly into their cubbies and wearing whatever it is that their hands find. Others calculate their ensemble, carefully selecting the perfectly mix-matched socks, the most contrasting patterns of shirts and pants, or even placing a bathing suit over their clothes as the finishing touch. Once we were dressed and looking fabulously silly, we entered the dining hall and found no ordinary breakfast. There were donuts, Pop-tarts, and sugary cereal covering the buffet tables. This could only mean one thing- JUNK FOOD DAY!! At camp meeting, we discussed the creative ways that everyone enjoyed their junk food, including a special donut-taco creation complete with a demonstration in front of camp. Luna and I can’t wait to see everyone’s creations come lunch time when hot dogs, Cheetos, Oreos, and marshmallow fluff will be available.

Right now, everyone is enjoying the fourth day of classes. Today is the last day of our first set of minis, classes that last four days instead of eight. Tomorrow, we will start our second minis, adding something fresh and new into our second set of classes this session. After a dinner topped off with special Junk Food Day ice cream sundaes, we’ll gather at the Rec Hall for an awesome evening program. Tonight is the “When I Was Young” dance, a dance where campers can dress as babies or old people, and participate in young and old activities. Sounds like a blast to me! That’s all for now, but enjoy photos from Valleyfest, Dress in the Dark Day, and Junk Food Day!

Climbing away!

Cara B. Ner

Kaden getting pied at The Wheel of Misfortune!

Greetings, everyone! Cara here with an update on this fabulous Lazy Day.

Boy, did we need a Lazy Day after all the excitement last night. At evening program, we “spun the wheel,” diving into the craziness that was the long-awaited Wheel of Misfortune! This year’s wheel had a carnival theme, and we pulled out all the stops. Outside the Rec Hall, there was a “machine” constructed by Alive that turned themselves into clowns, a human marionette, conjoined twins, a fortune teller, a ticket booth, and water balloons thrown from the roof of the pottery studio. Waiting inside, the Rec Hall had been transformed with a big parachute entrance, streamers of red and white, and lots of balloons. Some classic carnival music completed the illusion.

Inspired by our trip for the Bangor State Fair earlier this month, Mel the PD led the campers into the carnival. Inside, she was greeted by the Chumly brothers, the owners of the fair, who stole her away to try and get “campers” (played by our AWACs,) to join their show. The Chumly brothers had quite a cast of characters in their carnival, including a ring leader, strong man, a contortionist, a mime, a bearded lady, and a disgruntled clown named Wiggles. Campers were selected by Gruesome, our resident camp-creature, to participate in whacky and gross games led by Peter and the carnnies to try and get Mel back. The games included egg roulette, where campers smashed eggs on their heads to see whether they were raw or boiled, eating pudding out of diapers without using hands, searching through yucky mystery boxes for keys, having kittens lick cat food off of campers’ toes, throwing popcorn onto shaving cream covered shower caps, sibling flossing, and squirting ranch dressing into each other’s mouths. Just another day at the office, right?

After each game and plenty of whipped cream pies to the face, campers were awarded prizes for their cabins offered by our staff. Luna and I will be sure to let you know all about them as they are given out over the next couple of weeks.

After a much needed rest, we slept in a bit and enjoyed a breakfast of banana and pumpkin bread- yum! After breakfast, the younger half headed off for a big cabin clean before meeting on the Rec Hall Field for Around the World Day! It was super fun. There was an Arctic penguin slip-n’-slide complete with big ice blocks, “around the world” basketball, survival bracelet making for any mountain adventures, a desert camel obstacle course complete with a backpack hump, desert cacti pet rock painting, rainforest instrument making and paper plate snakes, and post card making. Whew! Not so lazy if you ask me. We all had so much fun crafting and playing in the sun.

The older half took a trip to Lake St. George this morning and man, was it a perfect day for the lake. It was sunny and breezy and the water was just right. We played on the playground, passed around a football, swam in the lake, and lounged around reading and making friendship bracelets.

Both halves of camp enjoyed lunch outside picnic-style. The older half returned to camp for an afternoon of rest period and a big cabin clean, while the younger half hung out by the pool. Right now, we’re just about to gather for evening meeting. Afterwards, we will enjoy a pizza dinner and meet back at the Rec Hall for Valleyfest, our camper talent show! Luna and I can’t wait to see all of our wonderfully talented campers on stage tonight. That’s all for now, but enjoy pictures from the Wheel of Misfortune, Around the World Day, and Lake St. George.

Signing off,

Cara

Oompa Loompa AWACs helping Willy Wonka with his candy plot!

Hallo everybody!

Luna Bug here, with the scoop on today’s 3rd day of classes and last night’s shenanigans.

There was loads going on here last night, starting with dinner. We had chicken patties and french fries, and for dessert there was an amazing 7 layer bar that is making my mouth water just thinking about it! Full on it all, camp headed off in a couple of different directions for the various Evening Program’s going on.

For LCH, Loons, Avalon, Down Under, Wombles, Paquatahnee, and Gimme Shelter, the evening program was Candy Crush. Everybody headed over to the gazebo after dinner to get the night going. Grandma Nut and Willy Wonka the 3rd (the great grandson of Willy Wonka) were in a war to see whose candy business was going to succeed. Nut and Wonka looked suspiciously like Sam and Lucy DZ… They enlisted the campers from each of the cabins to run around and collect the “candy,” (plastic balls), avoiding the Oompa Loompa’s who will take the candy, and seeking out the Challengers in order to acquire more candy. In the end, Grandma Nut’s candy business prevailed over Wonka’s nefarious plotting.

Over in another part of camp, the Teen Party was in full swing at the Blodgett house, about 5/8ths of a mile up camp road. The cabins who participated were Taj, Halley’s comet, Forbidden Planet, and Atlantis. The four cabins met at the woodshed and walked up camp road together where Courtney F. hosted everybody at Blodgett. There was ice cream (!!) and music, dancing and hanging out, and it was a fun chill night for everybody!

Finally, the rest of the cabins, which included Chateau Fiasco, Treasure Island, Shangri-La, Wabanaki, and Camelot had a wonderful cabin night.

Chateau had a cookout

Treasure Island made pottery

Shangri-La made memory jars and s’mores

Wabanaki made pizza in the pizza oven

Camelot

Valhalla watched a movie

French 1/4 Went to tipi hill for shrinky dinks, Man hunt, and S’mores

After all that went on, it was off to bed in order to rest up for the 3rd day of classes today! After we all went to bed there was some thunder schvitz last night, but it started well after our evening program ended, and this morning we woke up to blue skies! Woohoo!

Tonight’s Evening Program is perhaps more fitting of thunder-schvitz as it is the Wheel of Misfortune… More on that, tomorrow. For now, it’s off to our 3rd period!

Ciao for now!

Luna Bug

Lila getting the big spoon at Baby Food!

Hello hello hello! It’s Cara B., and things sure are heating up around here. It’s the middle of the session, which means some super awesome programs and lots of silliness are ahead.

Last night at evening meeting, we sat facing the picnic tables in front of the Red Barn instead of by the gazebo. The excitement built as we noticed a big white board, indicating that tonight would be no ordinary evening meeting- it was Baby Food! Two nights before the Wheel of Misfortune (a strange and kooky game show-style evening program,) Peter asks campers, AWACs, and counselors to volunteer to try baby food in front of the whole camp. After each victim  taste-tester had been blindfolded, the PDs held up a whiteboard displaying the flavor of baby food to the rest of camp, who shrieked in horror at flavors like garden vegetables and turkey with gravy. Before the tasting began, the camp went quiet as Peter twisted the lid of the baby food jar, waiting for the little clicking sound to tell us that this mush was nice and fresh. We all sighed in relief at the crisp sound of the opening cap. The tasters were fed airplane style, and wrote down their guesses on pieces of paper to be read aloud. Just as the tasting was coming to a close, we had some unexpected visitors. They seemed to be owners of some sort of fair. We headed off to a spaghetti dinner with puzzled faces and growing curiosity about the Wheel.

After dinner, we gathered at the soccer field for Electives! Each counselor stood up in front of camp to tell campers what activity they were running. There were lots of classics like capture the flag, baking cookies, Peter’s forbidden tour, and friendship bracelets, as well as some new activities, such as “Techno and Tacos,” a sing-a-long extravaganza, Nalgene destruction, and making popcorn over a campfire. Once we had heard all of our options, campers were split into three groups. The quietest group would have first pick to run walk briskly across the field to their choice of elective. After all of the Electives fun, we met in the Rec Hall to share about our evenings. We then headed off to bed, in need of some rest after a long first day of classes.

After a yummy breakfast which included coffee cake, a special treat, we headed off to morning meeting. It seemed to be an ordinary morning meeting. Groups were called, announcements were made, and the birthday organ was played. However, just as interest groups were about to be called, a tractor full of circus performers drove past the gazebo, surely another preview for the upcoming Wheel of Misfortune. Luna and I think we saw a mime, a strong man, a bearded lady, and maybe an acrobat? We’re still scratching our heads, but all will be revealed tomorrow evening.

Tonight, the youngest cabins will be doing Candy Crush, the middle cabins will be having Cabin Night, and the oldest will be heading to Blodgett House for an ice cream party to talk about the teen programs on camp. I can’t wait to hear about it all! For now, enjoy some photos from Baby Food, Electives, and this morning’s visitors!

Climbing Away,

Cara B. Ner

Alicia and Amelia jamming out at the Rockband Lunch show, which is a special pre-show before Sharing Night.

Hola! Bonjour! Annyeong! Kon’nichiwa! Ni hao! Hello!

I’m Luna Bug, and I’m back today to let everybody know what’s been happening around camp these past few days. Today’s post will look back a little bit at what’s been happening on camp, but it will also look forward to all that we have in store!

Two nights ago, the campers and counselors gathered at the Rec Hall for Sharing Night. Sharing Night is an evening program when we all come together to appreciate everything that has been accomplished and created over the past two weeks of classes. We had loads of cool, creative, fun, funny, silly, and interesting performances from a number of different classes. We had our How to Be a Popstar class, a llama care class, a stage combat class, Disney dance, tap dance, Irish dance, Musical scenes, the Musical, and so many more classes perform. It was a fantastic night, with a wonderfully appreciative audience, and it was the perfect way to wrap up the first two weeks of the session, and bring us into yesterday’s PJ Day to pick new classes.

As I talked about in yesterday’s post, PJ Day was really cool, and just as full of pajamas as the name promised. For more details about yesterday, check back to yesterday’s post where I went into more detail about it.

One thing I didn’t talk about, however, is Peter Boie, the wonderful magician who performed last night. He did tons of tricks ranging from erasing a hole off of an egg to escaping from a straight jacket! He was a pretty funny guy, on top of being a magician, so it was a night of laugher and wonder enjoyed by all!

This morning we woke up to a glorious first Egg Bar of the second two weeks of camp! Everybody lined up to wait for their eggs of choice, grabbed some toast or hash browns to accompany it, and finally some cheese as well if they so fancied it. What a way to start our day…The first day of classes for the second two weeks!

After breakfast everyone gathered in the Backyard for morning meeting, and after that it’s off to our first three periods of classes before it’s time for lunch. After lunch we’ll have rest period, and then onwards to the fourth period of classes, and then Interest Groups. Then, it’ll be back to the Backyard for evening meeting, and then dinner, and then our Evening Program tonight which is electives!

Below we have photos from Sharing Night, Pajama Day, and Peter Boie, so make sure you take a look!

Toodleoo!

Luna Bug

So excited for Pajama Day!

Good evening, everybody!

It’s Luna Bug here, writing to you all from the end of a fantastic Pajama Day. Today was a day of comings and goings: we had our first-half-of-the-session two-weekers depart this morning, and at the same time the second-half-of-the-session two-weekers arrived!

This morning we woke up extra late- the younger half at 8:10 and the older half at 8:35 (silent ups!)! Everybody woke up, got dressed stayed in our pajamas, brushed our teeth, and headed over to breakfast! It was so fun to see the parade of animal onesies and patterned shorts and pants from all across camp that normally only our cabins can see!

After breakfast, everybody headed down to the pool for a morning of class signups and pool activities. As the morning progressed, we filed through the signups by cabin. It was so fun to pick the four classes that will happen over the second two weeks of the session!

By lunch almost all of the new campers had arrived, and everybody ate at the dining halls in cabin groups. Afterwards it was rest period, during which the new campers did ookoo checks and swim evaluations. Then, it was onwards to our cabin activities! Here’s what each cabin got up to:

Lower Carriage House painted individual LCH flags and drawings that will be taped together to make a mural!

Loons made pasta by hand

Avalon Did the Peter Boie workshop. He’s the magician who is coming to our evening program tonight.

Chateau Fiasco did t-shirt printing in the Buckhorn

Treasure Island made a video around camp

Atlantis made stick bread

Forbidden Planet Made pizza in the pizza oven

Down Under did tie-dye

Wombles played fun games in the backyard

Paquatahnee had a spa day

Gimme Shelter did the second Peter Boie Workshop, with the magician who is going to be performing for our evening program tonight

French Quarter made glass beads and hung out with the animals at the Animal Pen

Shangri-La made memory jars

Wabanaki made pottery

Camelot made t-shirts and had a paint party!

Valhalla threw water balloons on tip zip

Halley’s Comet made pizza as well!

Taj Mahal went to an escape room and got their Taj t-shirts today.

It was such an awesome afternoon, and a great way to welcome in the new two-weekers to cabin and camp life!

After cabin activities we all went to the Rec Hall to watch the camp videos that included pictures from the session and highlights from the first two weeks. Then we went to the backyard for evening meeting, and now it’s time for dinner! If my bug senses are correct, it’s tacos tonight…

After dinner we’ll head over to the Rec Hall once more for Peter Boie- the coolest magician in all of Montville! It’s the perfect way to relax and have fun after this busy and jam packed day. Wait, I thought this was a lazy day…

Check below for photos from the various cabin activities today, as well as pool activities pictures. Tomorrow we’ll have a bigger update on sharing night so be sure to check back in tomorrow!

Over and out,

The Bug

Forbidden Planet and their fort!

Good morning, sunshines! It’s Cara B. with all the latest from last night’s evening program, Bazinga! It was tons of fun. At the end of evening meeting, campers were instructed to close their eyes. We sat whispering and giggling, excitedly awaiting for the big reveal. When campers opened their eyes, all of their counselors had been switched!

After getting acquainted with their new counselors over a yummy pasta dinner, LCH, Down Under, Wombles, and Gimme Shelter met in the Front Yard for a counselor hunt! Cabins were given clues which led them to different locations around camp. In each spot, a counselor was waiting with the next clue along with a puzzle piece. Once every counselor and puzzle piece had been found, the completed puzzle instructed cabins to head to Tipi Hill where they were greeted with surprise s’mores! The best kind of surprise, am I right?

Loons, Avalon, French 1/4, Paquatahnee, Chateau Fiasco, Wabanaki, Shangri-La, Camelot, Treasure Island, and Valhalla gathered at the soccer field to play a giant tag game called Predator-Prey! Different cabin groups were assigned to be carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, and natural disasters. The goal of the game was to survive, either by tagging members of other groups or visiting “water and food” stations around camp, all while avoiding “man,” who was running around with a water squirter.

In the backyard, Halley’s Comet, Atlantis, Forbidden Planet and Taj Mahal gathered together to play Construction Destruction. Each cabin was given cardboard, duct tape, and two picnic tables to build a huge fort to prepare for battle. Once the forts were constructed, they were put to the test in a massive water balloon fight. Everyone had a blast.

After all of the excitement, we all met back at the Rec Hall for a surprise dance! We danced and hung out together, waiting for the night sky to grow dark. Once the sun had fully set, the PDs announced that it was time to head over to Deer Meadows’ Field for fireworks! The display was phenomenal. There were smiles all around for this special July treat in August.

After a long, well-deserved rest, we woke up this morning to Jenny the PD’s favorite breakfast- French toast with strawberry sauce and whipped cream! With full bellies and sunscreen-ed faces, we gathered for morning meeting on this hot, sunny morning. After our usual announcements, Meg revealed that it is time for the long-awaited pickle tasting during Interest Groups! Luna and I will be sure to keep our eyes peeled and our tastebuds ready come four-o-clock.

Right now, everyone is finishing up art projects, enjoying one last bike ride or swim, and preparing performances on the last day of classes. Yesterday during rest period, some cabins had ice cream parties to say goodbye to campers who will be leaving tomorrow. While we are sad to see these campers go, we are so excited to say hello to our new two-weekers who will be arriving tomorrow. Today, we will all pitch in to make sure that departing campers are packed up and ready to go with luggage labeled, white books signed, and many goodbye hugs shared.

Speaking of sharing, tonight is Sharing Night, where we will see everyone’s hard work from the past two weeks come together on stage. Be sure to check back tomorrow to hear about all the performances! For now, here are some photos from Bazinga!, the fireworks, and Alive’s trip to Waterfall Arts in Belfast.

Signing off,

Cara

Smiles all around at the fair!

Welcome, August, and welcome back, our faithful readers!

It is I, Luna Bug, back again for a news update on all the hap’s around camp since Cara B. last checked in!

Yesterday, the older half a had a fantastic time at the Bangor State Fair. Everybody loaded onto the buses with water bottles in hand and new HVC t-shirts on to headed off to an afternoon of fun. Every kid in the older half got $5 to spend however they wanted! There was soda, fried dough, giant doughnuts, milkshakes, hot dogs, french fries, and so many more things to choose from. Kids could also spend their money on little games like the water gun game or a basketball shootout. There were animals to see and rides to ride on and it was just an awesome day! Check below for tons of photos from the fair to get an even better sense of it!

Once everyone returned to HVC we all settled in for evening meeting, and then a yummy pizza dinner, salad bar, and watermelon for desert. The evening program was a movie night, which was a nice and calm way to end a busy, busy, busy day. As part of Hidden Valley’s Movies That Matter initiative, we had an Anyone Can Do Anything theme for the night. The younger half watched Sing and the older half watched October Sky. After that it was off to bed for everybody!

This morning we woke up to a blue sky, and headed off to breakfast for an always fantastic and satisfying egg bar. Today is the 7th day of classes, and everybody around camp is going to be preparing for sharing night, finishing up art projects, and wrapping up classes. It’s gonna be a hot one today, but after some pockets of schvitz it’s going to be welcome! For evening program we have Bazinga!, which is where the counselors switch cabins for the evening, and then the camp is split up into three different groups to go through three separate groups activities: Predator-Prey, counselor hunt, and the Destruction Game. More on that, though, tomorrow!

Bzzzzingaing into this August day!

Luna