I know it’s March. But for a few minutes, let me take you back to a summer day at Camp Champions.

Start at the Swim Bay. Kids are launching off inflatables, climbing back on, launching again. Lifeguards all around and counselors are in the water. Someone yells “Watch this!!!” and does a backflip that’s maybe 60% successful. Cheering anyway.

Walk past Gaga, and there’s already a game going. The ball is bouncing off the wooden walls. Someone gets out and immediately starts cheering for their friend still playing.

Over at Olympia, a pickup soccer game with no refs and no uniforms. Campers and counselors are running and playing their game. A few others are shooting hoops nearby.

At the Climbing Wall, a girl is halfway up, pausing, looking down, then back up. Her cabinmates below are shouting encouragement. She reaches for the next hold.

Walk past the Screamer and hear it before you see it. That moment of silence at the top, then the drop, then the scream that gives it its name. Laughter (every single time) at the bottom.

The Hearth is quieter. Kids are at pottery wheels, focused. Clay is seemingly everywhere. Someone’s making a bowl that’s either a masterpiece or a needing a do over. Hard to tell yet and that’s kind of the point.

At Ski and Wakeboard, a camper stands up for what might be the third or tenth attempt. Arms shaking, spray everywhere, huge grin. Falls after four seconds but immediately wants to go again.

Over at Indy, go-karts are buzzing around the track. The next group is waiting and already planning their strategy.

Archery has that satisfying thunk of arrows hitting targets. Some hit the bullseye, most don’t.

And then the day winds toward Torchlight. Hundreds of campers gathering at the Coliseum or the Forum. The bell rings with everyone going quiet for a moment. And then the energy builds again, louder than anything else all day.

Why this walk around camp matters

These days, there are plenty of summer options. Travel teams, academic programs, or summer sessions that specialize in one thing or another. Families have lots of ways to fill the weeks.

We will always think this is the best version.

It’s not just that camp is college prep. It’s not just that camp is parent-free and tech-free.

At camp, kids get to try so many things without the pressure to be great at any one thing. It can look like archery in the morning, pottery after lunch, and waterskiing before dinner.

Or any other combination of what you saw above with a whole lot I left out. The list is quite long.

One day like this is fun. Fourteen days in a row, back to back, starts to build something. Confidence from trying. Friendships from shared experience. And the unique kind of tired that comes from constant movement.

It might seem busy and chaotic, but really camp is designed to look this way. Staff are everywhere and the structure sits underneath it all. But what kids experience is freedom to move, play, and figure it out.

Just one stroll around camp and you can see it in action.

Erec Sir

P.S. If you want to see it for yourself, we are hosting a Spring Tour Day on Sunday, April 12.

Or if you have questions now, schedule your personal info session with Phyllis.

Let us give you a “walk around camp”, either in person or virtually.