Hi, friends! Olive Oyl here with your staff training dispatch!

We’ve been busy with our daily priorities– starting specialty trainings in glass, pottery, theater, and animal care (just to name a few) plus our big training areas of ropes, waterfront, and horses. With our busy days we’ve utilized the evening the let off some steam and bond with one another as a staff group. On Tuesday night we had Booth Night, where returning counselors held informational booths about various areas of camp, such as Cabin Night, Off Time, Camp Lingo, and Interest Groups. New counselors got the opportunity to get all their questions answered by those who have experienced life at Hidden Valley before.

The following evening was Big Circle Night, a favorite of staff training, where we take an evening to get to know each other on a more personal level, both answering deep questions and playing fun ice breaker games, all in the beauty of the majestic Old Dance Studio. We start the meeting by setting a mood with Meg’s crystal bowl, and the rest of the night takes on an air of serenity and intimacy as we learn about each other’s past years and our goals for the future.

Thursday night’s evening program was a little less serious, the Contra Dance, which was a spectacular success with folks dressed in their best flannels and denim. Everybody was bustin’ a move and breaking a sweat to the fantastic fiddling and groovy guitar music. There were whole group dances, line dances, square dances, and even a lovely waltz to wind down the evening.

Friday morning we had some more meetings and priorities, and then headed to the wonderful Camden for a picnic lunch in the state park, followed by an afternoon of enjoying the adorable seaside town. It was a fun and relaxing day off, but we’re back at work bright and early this morning for more speciality trainings and Lesson Planning night in the evening.

That’s all for now! Don’t forget to check out the photos to see our amazing staff in action!

Stay tuned,

Olive