2013`s Summer Scrapbook

2013’s Summer Scrapbook
I can hardly believe it! Yet another Manitou summer has come and gone, and I’m
the lucky moose who got be a part of it all. Camp sure isn’t the same without all of
my friends here to take part in the magic, so I’ve been looking at my diary and
trying to remember every single second of the summer of 2013. There’s so much
that goes on during each jam-packed day, so it’s impossible for me to remember
everything, but here are some of my favourite memories of an absolutely
incredible two months. The summer might be over, but thinking about all the great
things I did sure puts a smile on my face, and I hope that reading
this puts a smile on yours. Enjoy!
Friday, June 28
Did I really just get here yesterday? With everything I’ve already
done, it feels like I’ve been here for a week! I had a little bit of
trouble with my swim test (it’s hard to tread water with hooves),
but with some encouragement from the Unit Heads I was
getting my bracelet in no time. Good thing too, because it meant that I
got to join in with the cabins spending their first day sailing together.
You’d think that my antlers would have been in the way, but it turns out they make a
really good mast! But the best part of the day had to be right after our first Fireside
when Lisa Glithero, a noted environmental leader, talked to us
about saving animals up in the poles.
Monday, July 1
The CITs are finally getting back from their canoe trip
tomorrow, which means that I get to find out which
ones are going to be placed at all of my favourite
activities. Today I did some Zumba, came in second in a
sandcastle-building competition, and got my nails done at
Manny-pedis! Tonight I’m going to hang out with the Freshkids
for the Olympics…I’m pretty sure I’m gonna win the
Competitive Tetherball Challenge.
Wednesday, July 3
It finally happened! Mark scored a goal in an MHL game! We
were all ready to get our triple tuck when Mitchell told us there
was a video proving the goal didn’t really happen. Don’t
worry though, I signed the petition and fit five protest
signs on my antlers. Mitchell in the lake!
Saturday, July 6
It sure is hot up here! That’s why I was so excited for
sprinkler golf and “Take Eco to the Ballgame,” where I
got to chase fly balls into the lake. But the coolest place to be must have been on
the LIT rafting trip; they got back yesterday, and it sounds like it was amazing!
They’re just in time, too, because the camper talent show is tonight. I’ve heard some of the acts
practicing, and man is this year’s group talented.
Monday, July 8
What a busy week! Yesterday was Alumni Day, so I got to see a
bunch of my friends who haven’t been here in years. I know they
were really here for Mark and Jeff, but it was my 15th anniversary
too, so it was a really nice day. Last night I judged the Sophs’ cake
decorating skills (and ate a bit of cake too) at Amadeus
Crumplebottom’s Bar Mitzvah, and today I played paint twister and
made my very own chia pet. His name’s Bob. Tonight is Get a Job,
so I’m already warming up my pyramid-building skills and
practicing the Bananas in Pajamas theme song. Upper
management here I come!
Wednesday, July 10
You’ll never believe this after the week I’ve already had, but yesterday
was Carnival! The whole camp poured out onto main field during O&A for the fun.
Last year I nearly popped one of the bouncy castles, so this year I spent some time in
the dunk tank instead before rolling some candy sushi and heading into the photo booth with some friends.
It was a tight squeeze, but worth it. Now we’re heading over to the theatre for Peter Pan,
where I’m told I might learn how to fly. All I need is a little fairy dust!
Saturday, July 13
Today was Rookie Day at Manitou, so I got to spend my morning
hanging out with a bunch of pretty excited first-time campers.
After that I watched some craseball over at OCS, honed my trivia
skills in the Match Game during Drama Inc.’s new Game Show
period, and cooked my favourite vegetable stir fry for the Iron
Chef competition at Greenhouse. It was a jam-packed day after
last night’s incredible Fireside, where Ellen Schwartz taught us
about the charity she started called Jacob’s Ladder, helping out
kids with neurological disorders.
Monday, July 15
Today was SO AWESOME! Last night at flagpole some crazylooking people from the Capitol announced that it was time for
the Hunger Games, and drew the names of each cabin’s Tribute at Manitou’s first-ever
reaping. Today the camp became a battleground, as Tributes kept themselves fed and hydrated while being
chased by Mutts before facing each other in the ring, where they had to team
up to win. I can’t believe how fast some of the campers were!
Thursday, July 18
Turns out horseback riding isn’t for everybody…I think
having a moose try and ride them must have scared the
horses. Good thing I had the MIFF to cheer me up,
especially with the premier of my film Footmoose; it’s
about a moose who just wants to dance at a camp that
has outlawed dancing. Plus, everyone’s talking about
Wrestlemania! I’m rooting for Biggz and Shorty, and I’m really
hoping for a breakaway table.
Saturday, July 20
Wow is it ever busy around here. Last night I got to see a
ton of talent in both the dance show and the Junior play, Children of Eden. Today
was Visitor’s Day, which means I got to meet the families, friends, and dogs of all my
favourite Manitou campers. It was sad when everybody had to go, but pretty soon I
was having too much fun on the slip ‘n slide to think about it. Tonight we get to watch another play, Tommy,
about a pinball wizard. I don’t think anything could beat this day!
Sunday, July 21
Sometimes even moose are wrong, because today was THE
BEST! It was Tribal Games, and this year Doc Brown
showed up to tell us that Roni and Pedro had stolen the
Delorean and were lost in time! The only way to fix the
space-time continuum, and make sure that Manitou
didn’t cease to exist, was to figure out if he was with the Cavemen,
in Ancient Egypt, Medieval Times, or the Future. Turns out he was stuck inside a
pyramid. Silly Roni!
Wednesday, July 24
It was really sad to see so many of my favourite people
head home yesterday. First month flew by so quickly that I
almost can’t believe it’s over. I’m going to miss everybody so much, but I’m trying not
to be too sad. There are so many new people here, and the first month campers and
staff are being so welcoming, that it’s hard not to get excited for all of the fun we
still have ahead of us. Bring on second month!
Saturday, July 27
Last night’s Fireside was really special, since we had three
visitors from Right to Play talk to us about the
importance of games and sports. I even learned a cool new game called
Malaria Tag. Today I was up bright and early to get in line for a grilled cheese sandwich at
Top Cheese Day. With my tummy full, I headed over to make a sock monkey at crafts
before being hypnotized by Boris! Hey seniors, did I do anything funny?
Monday, July 29
I spent most of today at the Flyswatter Archery Tournament,
practicing my skills by shooting pictures of flies. I swatted
seventeen of them! I didn’t want to miss golf art, though, so I
stopped by the fairway to hit a few cups of paint. I think Jackson
Pollack would love my work. But the most exciting part of today is
still to come, since tonight is Halloween! This year I’m dressing up as a clothesline.
Who wants to lend me some laundry to dry?
Wednesday, July 31
I’m blown away! Last night there was a real live rock
concert down by fireside, staring Francois Mulder! I got a
ticket, put on my glow-in-the-dark Live@Fireside t-shirt,
grabbed some popcorn, and snagged a seat off to the side so that I didn’t block
anybody’s view. It was incredible, especially when the giant beach balls came out!
Tonight I’m going to check out the silent dance the Freshkids and
Sophs are having. It sounds mysterious…I can’t wait.
Saturday, August 3
This morning I headed up to Art Hill to make a Styrofoam
plate airplane and a paddle to use on our two new ping
pong tables, before I put on my neon spandex and joined
80’s day at Aerobics. Before I got too tired, I headed over to the Adventure Park
to watch the insanity unfold in the 8th annual Dale Evan Challenge and to cheer
for Manitou at the Mini Golf Open, and made it just in time for Takeshi’s Castle,
the weirdest game show ever. But today’s fun has just gotten started, since tonight the CITs are turning
the dining hall in a circus for Midnight Madness! I hear I might even get my fortune read.
Tuesday, August 6
The spirit in camp has been amazing lately! Community
Week is in full swing, and I can’t believe all the creative
and spirited ways campers and staff have found to raise
money for the town of Lac-Mégantic. So far I’ve
participated in Handstands for Humanity, made a ‘keep calm
and carry on’ thumb press, and made a hope-filled post-it note stop
motion film. I even decorated my very own bag for the Walk of Hope
tonight, which our visitors from Crestwood Valley Day Camp will get to
see. With all of the excitement going on, I can’t forget to mention the
incredible show we saw last night: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Heigh ho!
Thursday, August 8
Yesterday was Art in the Park, which is one of my favourite days at camp. I
made some delicious iced tea to drink with my morning newspaper and then tie-dyed a shirt
for myself. It’s really going to come in handy tonight, since the Seniors are doing
Coachella. I can’t wait for the amazing music!
Saturday, August 10
Man oh man have we seen some amazing talent over the last few
days. Not only did we get to watch another mind-blowing dance
show last night, we saw the 15th instalment of the Manitou Show:
‘The Magic of World Games.’ I still can’t believe how much the
campers look like the staff they’re playing. As if that wasn’t enough, the Seniors and CITs
just finished their performance of West Side Story, which had me snapping my fingers right
‘til the end, when I had to pull out some Kleenex. I’m exhausted, but I have a feeling my
night is just beginning.
Sunday, August 11
World Games!!!! Everyone’s been talking about this for
weeks, trying to guess what the countries were and who
captains would be, and I’m so glad that I was surprised.
Last night the whole camp went down to the river for the
break, and we found out that the teams are Iceland and
Nigeria. Today both teams put on openings to start
telling their stories, and Nigeria took us on a golf cart safari in
the dining hall! It’s been amazing so far, and I can’t wait
to see what happens tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 13
This World Games has been absolutely non-stop! The last
two days have been full of fun events like the Cabaret and the Dance-Off, along
with ice fishing and a Rube Goldberg device at Iceland’s dinner. We even had a new
event this year where teams had to pick members to hang from a chin-up bar for as long as they could. Even
the Apache Relay went off without a hitch, with some of the biggest fires this
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moose has ever seen! After two memorable closings involving geysers and rocket
ships, the whole camp gathered behind the office as the flags were waved one last
Camp Manitou
or
flo
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time. Congrats to team Nigeria on their victory!
2n
2478 Yonge Street,
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Thursday, August 15
Toronto, ON, CANA
M4P 2H5
Today I had to say goodbye to all of my summertime friends. We had a great sendoff with awards, songs, a slide show, and speeches, but this morning it was time to
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go. I guess it’s just about time for me to go into hibernation for the winter. Don’t
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worry, though, I’ll be back to welcome you all home to Manitou for the summer of
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p.c
cam
ou
nit
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2014!