Today started off on the chillier side, but as the day progressed the weather only got more beautiful. For breakfast this morning the campers chowed down on waffles—it is a camp tradition to put peanut butter on top of your waffles which is so delicious! Morning classes were filled with exuberance, as today many of the girls started in their new class levels. During some swimming classes campers were able to jump off of the tower for the first time. For dinner, everyone happily ate chicken tenders with rice and corn as sides. Dessert was vanilla pudding! We lucked out on missing a huge storm, so we were able to have general swim after rest hour as usual. Fishing has continued to be quite popular this session, and I can for sure say that I have never seen as many fish caught throughout all nine years I have been at camp as I have within these first three days of this session. Since today is Wednesday, the kitchen had their night out, so we had eat out for dinner. This means that the girls were able to put in their orders for sandwiches… turkey, ham, or a PB & J. They were also able to eat in various places around camp such as the docks, the a field, or a picnic table. Tonight we are playing another camp favorite: spies and smugglers! Although, I do not think that any of the girls have guessed that this is the game tonight. Another great day is down in the books.
Trying New Things!
The campers awoke this morning with a surprise for breakfast… a new blueberry bread with icing on the top. After talking to many of the girls, the general consensus was that it was delicious and that they would definitely eat it again! Due to the immense amount of enthusiasm in classes, today was a day where we were able to pass many girls out of their current levels in their boating and swimming classes. Thus it was great to see many new faces in deep water and intermediate during general swim! For dinner we had baked ziti and butterscotch pudding for dessert. Truly a hardy and delicious meal. The sun shown all day, making it a great day for many fun camp activities. We had some senior girls eager to try fishing and a first time fisher caught a HUGE fish—so fun! Of course, we released the fish back into the lake and watched it swim away. With this excitement surrounding fishing, we now have many more campers wanting to give fishing a try, and we sure do love it when campers want to try new things! Speaking of trying new things, we had a group of girls go out on the paddle boards who had not done it before here. We even had one girl successfully do a headstand, as we attempted to do yoga on the paddle boards. After all of this fun around camp we came together for grilled cheeses for supper. For dessert the girls devoured fruity Italian ice to cool them down after their day of newness. Evening program tonight is garbage collector which will be a fun surprise for girls. We are excited to try many more new things throughout the session and see the campers love doing it!
First Full Day Down
The bell rang with excitement this morning as camp prepared for its first full day. The campers were delighted to munch on some pancakes paired with orange juice (and of course, our camp tradition, hot chocolate after they sipped down the OJ) for breakfast this morning. Things had cooled down last night, so we made sure to adjust our schedule accordingly. With the first day of classes underway campers were thrilled to jump back into the lake and boats, run around on the a-field, and make arts and crafts with Deb. There was quite a bit of enthusiasm from the campers, as they were eager to start bettering their skills and make up for the lost time from the crazy COVID year. With a great morning under our belts, we all sat down for another camp favorite for dinner: Swedish meatballs! After stuffing our stomachs full of delicious food everyone was ready for rest hour. But first… store! Campers were eager to grab their favorite candies before rest hour and in line we were all bonding over everyones’ astrology signs (so fun to guess who is a scorpio, taurus, cancer, etc.). Finally it was time for rest hour! It was great for the girls to have some time to themselves and rest up for a mid-day game. Since it was a little bit on the chillier side we played non-stop cricket instead of general swim. After non-stop, the girls headed to their forth period class, followed by activity period. Many campers lined up to jump off of the tower while others chose to do some friendship bracelets in the arts and crafts room. For supper we enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches and chocolate pudding for dessert. Evening program tonight is capture the flag which the girls are currently getting ready for. It was a terrific first day, and we are looking forward to many more like it!
Girls' Camp is Back!
After some long awaited time, girls’ camp is back! The day started with everyone moving on into their cabins with smiles on their faces and a little bit of sweat from the heat—we will take the heat over the rain though! It was so great to see new and old faces even under the masks! Campers were finally reunited with one another after a very long gap year, and you could see many new friendships already forming. With everyone moved into their new homes for the next two weeks campers and staff were able to take some time to get to know each other and camp. In between tours of the grounds and all of those ice breakers, you could hear the laughter echoing throughout the paths. After introductions all of our new campers were able to test for their swimming levels and jump into the lake! Everyone else was able to join for a quick general swim before dinner. The water was filled with happy campers eager to cool off after the hard task of moving in. You could say our first general swim went swimmingly;) For dinner, a camp classic: hot dogs (veggie nuggets for the vegetarians), tater tots, and beans. And let me tell you… it hit the spot. Evening program tonight is another tradition for the first night back: medical wars! After talking to some of the returning campers in cabin 8, I can for sure say it is a favorite among many. You can feel the excitement in the air for the next two weeks—we sure are looking forward to them!
Banquet to end an amazing day!
Today was amazing, probably the best weather we have had all session! We of course made the most of it. We started off the day with the Seniors who were eligible swimming to Frog Island. 3 boats worth of kids- 9 kids in total- swam all the way there and back! It was the perfect day for it. The rest of the day was a typical day in the water- swimming, boating, sailing, and more swimming! Activity Period choices included some classic camp activities- jumping off the tower, gaga, a diving contest, and cornhole.
Then, we ended the night with Banquet and our Candlelight Service. Banquet is our big celebration meal, and features delicious turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and for dessert Shady Glen Ice Cream! The boys then sang lots of songs, before we had the Candlelight Service. We had to hold it inside because it was too windy, but it was beautiful nevertheless. By the end of the readings, the whole circle of boys and staff are each (safely!) holding a lit candle, and it really is a stunning sight. Then, all the candles are blown out, and everyone sings goodnight songs while facing the lake. The rest of the night is silent, and is intended to be a reflection on our two weeks here.
My reflection is this: we here at Asto Wamah are all better people, sometimes in little ways, sometimes in big ways, because of this place and the people found within.
Sorry for the delay! Monday catch up...
Yesterdays weather was bright, sunny and hot! Just kidding. It rained again :) We of course made the best of it! Sports was inside, with the boys playing ping-pong baseball. Arts and Crafts went on as usual, you’ll be impressed to see all the boys are learning! Some are making hacky sacks that they are sewing themselves! Lots of painting, wood burning, and beading going on. We did do swimming lessons- why not? You’re wet anyway! Boating, canoeing, and sailing went on as well. After Rest Hour the boys who wanted to went swimming, and everyone else played Tetherball and Knock Hockey. Evening Program was Reverse Scavenger Hunt, where the boys all go back and pick 10 items per cabin, and then compete in skits that they make up using those items. Skits included re-inacting Chicken Fat, a Buddy Check- and as always they were very amusing. The boys love this because its funny- and they LOVE when the counselors participate and are goofy with them.
More rain today… but we are keeping everyone as occupied and as happy as we can :) Stay dry!
TRACK AND FIELD DAY - BOYS 7/11
Good evening to our Wamah readers!! Today was one of our favorite days and traditions of the session…TRACK AND FIELD DAY!!!!!! We started out the morning with some delicious peach bread with the option of hot or cold cereal as well. Alongside we also had orange juice and some nice hot coco. Following breakfast, instead of our normal daily schedule, we headed up to the A-Field in our Green and White teams to take part in the Running Long Jump, the Standing Long Jump, the Softball Throw, and the 50 Yard Dash where each team had the opportunity to earn points for their prospective team. Following the competitions the campers headed down to a morning general swim to cool off after all the running around. Following the general swim we had our traditional dinner of ham and mashed potatoes with a side of corn, and for dessert the campers had a choice of either orange or raspberry sorbet. Following dinner we had our normal rest hour and then following rest hour the campers had the option to participate in the marathon with is a little under half of a mile which takes place mainly on the camp road. Following the marathon the whole camp participated in the traditional triathlon which consists of running, swimming, and boating. For supper we some yummy left overs, also known as pick up, and same with dessert. For evening program we had camper relay races as well as other fun relay games where the campers could compete against each other to collect more points for their team.
Overall today was a very fun and exciting day here at Asto Wamah and we can not wait to see what the second half of this week brings!!
-Carmela
Happy that Elsa has left!
Not only did Elsa bring a lot of rain with her, she also brought a half hour of sleep for everyone in camp! The rain lasted until about 1:30pm, and it took the sun a little while to come out- but what a great afternoon this turned out to be! We spent the morning doing classes inside- building tall towers, playing scattergories, and building a domino rally. The afternoon was like a different day than the morning was! General Swim was on, people participated in activities for Activity Period- soccer, jumping off the tower, and more! The best part of the storm was to see how eager all the boys were to just be outside! Mornings like Elsa brought us make us appreciate the sunny afternoons we have. Other than the lake being high (very high!) we fared very well overall. Off to supper- pulled pork!
Thunderstorms in the Afternoon... Again!
Another amazing day spent IN beautiful Columbia Lake! Everyone spent all morning swimming, boating, sailing, fishing, paddleboarding- you name it, we did it! We started out our day with English Muffins for breakfast, we had delicious baked ziti for lunch, and even though we ate in, we had “eat out” food for dinner- sandwiches, chips, cookies, and bug juice! Everyone went in for General Swim- even the LT’s! We managed to stay outside until the first line of storms ran through, when we all came in to sing some songs. After dinner everyone got some energy out before the next line of storms came through, but it was quick so we weren’t done with directions for our game as the storm was blowing out. The lake was beautiful tonight- the perfect background for Spies and Smugglers- the Purple Penguins won! We sang songs while everyone had snack, and now everyone is getting settled in for the night- and the temperature has dropped a little bit, so hopefully everyone will get a great nights sleep…. before we do it all again tomorrow!
Boys Camp Day 3 - 7/6/21
Greetings, Asto Wamah readers!
Campers are just finishing up Evening Program - we played Murder by Night because of the stormy weather. Luckily, thunderstorms passed through fairly quickly, which provided campers with the opportunity to go outside before going to bed!
Even though our evening ended with rain, the day began with sunshine and cool breezes! We started our morning with Chicken Fat to help the campers and staff wake up and get ready for the day. Following breakfast, we spent time cleaning cabins and camp to keep the grounds looking beautiful. Morning classes went swimmingly! Campers practiced their swimming strokes, rowing skills, and worked on creative projects during Arts and Crafts!
Many campers took advantage of the beautiful weather during Counselors’ Swim by going fishing off the docks, or taking boats out with new friends. We have a few avid fishermen who have been fishing with each other at every opportunity the past 2 days!
We are hoping for another sunny day tomorrow so campers can continue taking advantage of the outdoor activities offered at camp!
Until tomorrow,
Catherine & Jen
Boys Camp Day 2- 07/05/21
Good evening Wamah readers. Today was tad cloudy out however, the boys made the best of the day by going in the water, boating, arts and crafts, and playing on the field. Today for breakfast we had cinnamon bread with the option of cereals. We also had orange juice, and delicious hot cocoa. After our morning classes we had dinner. This was a a meal of beef bbq on a hard roll, and a fresh garden salad with ranch dressing. For dessert we had sweet pears:). After a much needed rest hour the campers participated in a camp wide game of nonstop cricket. The game was close, but with the aid of few strong arms on the top bunker team they took the win by a close lead.
Our normal routine followed, going into fourth period and activity period. The waterfront was hustling and bustling during activity period with tower jumpers, new crocheters, and the karaoke boat across the lake celebrating the Fourth of July. The row boaters were eager to get on the lake, to practice their skills, as well as teach their peers how to row. The docks were packed with fishers, who have been begging to fish since 8:00am. However, no fish were caught today but, there’s always tomorrow!
After activity period we had supper which was grilled cheese, crisp applesauce, tomato soup, and tater tots. For dessert we had brownies, and tonight well be having an extra treat which will be sundaes!!!! This is our mini celebration for Fourth of July. For evening program, we played capture the flag. Which the boys loved as it was a way to burn off some extra energy before bed.
Until tomorrow, Amanda and Julia :)
Boys Camp Day 1- 07/04/21
Happy fourth of July, Wamah readers!!! It’s the first day of a new session, and we’re glad to be back! The campers quickly settled in and went through rules, swim placement tests, and tours. It has been an amazing first day, with good weather and lots of fun. Here at camp we will be celebrating fourth of July tomorrow, which will consist of singing and ice cream with red, white and blue sprinkles.
We had our very first meal of the session which consisted of hot dogs, tater tots, baked beans, and pickles, and lots of water. For dessert we had yummy vanilla pudding topped with whipped cream. This evening we will be playing a traditional game of MEDICAL WAR! This is a big dodgeball game, played with two teams trying to get as many people out, the twist being each side has a medic who can bring people back into the game. It’s a camp favorite to everyone who plays!
We’ll be back tomorrow with more updates.
Until then, Amanda and Devon :)
Last Full Day of Coed session #1 07/02/21
Good evening to everyone reading, sorry for a late update today as it’s been filled with a ton of events and activities. For breakfast we had french toast with syrup and butter and the option of cereal. We also had orange juice and hot cocoa on this chilly morning. Following breakfast we had a normal camp schedule as it was very important for campers to have the opportunity to pass out of their boating and swimming classes. Following our morning classes we had lunch which was a camp favorite of baked ziti and garden salad. For dessert we had butterscotch pudding topped with whipped cream.
After lunch, we had store and rest hour, however, we did not have our general swim. We had fourth period and activity period. During activity period swimmers who passed into level 4 had the chance to jump off the tower!! For supper we had CHICKEN MELTS, with applesauce, and chips. For dessert, we had delicious chocolate cake with vanilla frosting!!! After supper we had the kids return to their cabins to start cleaning up and packing for tomorrow’s pick up. We are staggering arrival and pick-up times. If you are able, please adhere to the following schedule:
o Last name A-I: 8:00 am pick-up on Saturday, 7/03
o Last name J-Q: 8:45 am pick-up on Saturday, 7/03
o Last name R-Z: 9:30 am pick-up on Saturday, 7/03
Following this we had a twist to our end of camp tradition of camp fire: we did a talent show first which allowed the campers to be creative and participate in songs and skits with their cabins and friends. The campers also got to eat s’mores. After all of the fun we moved into year awards, which represent the number of years campers have come to camp. We finished our jam packed day with goodnight songs and memories to last forever. This has been a wonderful session - we can’t wait to see you all again soon!
Until next time, Amanda and Carmela
Rainy Day? Campers Still Play-Coed Session 07/01/21
Hello Wamah Readers!!! We are back again with our second update for the day! Today we had some cornbread with butter and jelly, as well as the option for an assortment of cold and hot cereal. We had a normal schedule up until third period, so the campers had the opportunity to perfect their skills in their classes as we near the end of the session.
For dinner, we ate Texas hash and garden salad. For dessert, black and white pudding (vanilla and chocolate). This afternoon we did something a little different! We played a camp favorite…SPIES AND SMUGGLERS. For those who have never played, the objective is to smuggle more points than the opposite team and there are two rounds so each team gets the opportunity to play both roles. After the game, the campers had the opportunity for a quick dip to cool off followed by a much needed rest hour.
After rest hour, we played a rainy day game of Reverse Scavenger Hunt. We split up the campers by cabins, having them bring items from their cabins to act out skits created by staff. Following the skits, we headed straight to supper, which was grilled cheese and tomato soup with apple sauce and chips :) For dessert, we had apple crisp, which happens to be the favorite of many staff members and campers! For evening program, we set up the cabins in their respective cohorts to play rainy day games of playdoh sculpting, telephone pictionary, and a game of dice. Even though a lot of rain and darkness in the sky was seen throughout Asto Wamah today, our campers’ smiles and laughter brightened up our day and made it ten times better!
Until tomorrow,
Amanda and Carmela :)
Warm in The Sun-Coed session 07/01/21
Good morning to our Asto Wamah readers, Sorry for no post last night we were out having so much fun so, today look forward to two posts from us. Yesterday we kicked off the morning doing our traditional morning stretches CHICKEN FAT! !! Everyone was super motivated to participate and eager to get to breakfast. Which consisted of English Muffins with your choice of jelly, butter, or both :) We also had Oatmeal, yogurt, orange juice, and yummy hot cocoa!
This session had been blessed to have such beautiful weather, so we have been taking the opportunities to get the kids in the water as much as possible. The kids were able to jump off the tower, and rafts with life jackets! It was a beautiful day to practice on our row boating skills, and archery skills. We followed our normal schedules which consisted of swimming, boating, arts and crafts, and sports. After our morning classes we enjoyed a delicious lunch of ravioli,salad, and lots of water!
Yesterday camp was visited by a blue herring which we named Henrietta. The beautiful creature made its way around all the docks on camp. All of the campers and staff were excited to see this new friend.
Following the meal we had a much needed rest hour, and a much more needed general swim. After our big swim we went to fourth period and finished out our campers classes. Due to high temperatures a lot of water activities were offered during activity period for a way for the kids to cool down. Normally, we would prepare for supper but, our lovely kitchen staff had the night off. So we took part in the tradition of eat out. This is the opportunity for cabins to eat somewhere else in camp that isn’t the lodge such as, main dock, the a-field, council ring, and many more locations!!! Our evening program was scattergories! We played this super fun game inside due to weather conditions. The campers really enjoyed playing this game.
That’s all for now, we’ll be back later tonight to update you about today’s adventures, Amanda, and Carmela :)
Another hot day at camp!
We had a bit of a warm start to our morning, but that did not stop the campers from devouring the delicious cinnamon bread and cold cereal that was served for breakfast! After fueling up for the day, campers were off to their cabins to clean, do camp duties, and change for morning classes.
Campers had a great time swimming in the lake for lessons this morning. A few of our Aquarium swimmers even got to jump off the raft in Deep Water with lifejackets on! Smallcraft classes ran the entire period since campers listened to safety rules yesterday and did not have as much time on the lake. To keep cool, campers either dunked their lifejackets in the water or jumped into the lake before going in boats.
For dinner, we had marvelous Swedish meatballs in gravy, with potatoes and corn on the side! For dessert, we had sweet, juicy peaches. Campers spent Rest Hour trying to stay cool - counselors had the option of going to a shadier location rather than staying in their cabins in order to relax!
Everyone went in for a nice refreshing General Swim after Rest Hour, and then campers went to 4th period for Arts & Crafts, Smallcraft, or Sports class. During Activity Period, lots of campers took advantage of jumping off the tower or playing Aquarium games to stay cool! Campers who played Gaga were able to take a Quick Dip to wash off the sand and cool down!
We just finished supper, which was chicken patties with orange sherbet for dessert! We’ll be heading up to the A-Field for a short evening program, and then we’ll head down to the waterfront for a Quick Dip to cool down before heading back to our cabins for the night.
Until tomorrow-
Sami and Carmela!
Busy having fun...
We are so sorry for the delay, we are just busy adjusting back to camp life and all that it entails! Campers are doing well, and I think anyone you ask would tell you how grateful they are to have Columbia Lake here for us to use. Yesterday we were in three times! In the morning for lessons, in the afternoon for General Swim, and again for a Quick Dip before bed. You always sleep better after a quick dip!
Camp food is delicious and kid friendly as always. Monday’s supper was tacos, breakfast was coffee cake- a fan favorite- and dinner (what we call lunch around here!) is meatballs and gravy- MY personal favorite, in case you wanted to know :) We are drinking plenty of water and doing everything we can to stay cool. Really, what better place is there to be during a heat wave?!
All of the activities are full swing- archery, tennis, sports, nature, arts and crafts, swimming, boating- and all in all, it is like we never left. The campers are excited when they don’t have to wear masks, and wear them without complaint when they need to. Honestly, I think we all- staff included- are just thrilled to be back!
So, our sincere apologies for the delay in restarting the Birch Blog. We will be back to posting each evening starting tonight. In the meantime, feel free to follow us on Instagram where you will see pictures, participate in quizzes- maybe even a trivia question here or there. @campastowamah
We hope you are all staying cool in the “real world” and we won’t waste a minute of our opportunities here.
CAW's January 2021 Update
Dear CAW Family,
We have now arrived at January and are beginning a new year! I am excited about the possibilities of 2021. Hopefully, the vaccine we have all been waiting for will allow camp to happen this summer! That is at the TOP of my wish list!
January is a very important month each year in preparation for the coming summer. This is the time when we ask you to reach out to your friends, relatives, and anyone you know who may be interested in the program Asto Wamah offers each summer. We hope they know why you love to come back each year! All households will receive an email notification with updates regarding the online registration process. Registration opens on February 1st at 7:00 am! If you haven’t done so already, we strongly encourage you to register for an Ultracamp account on the camp website so you don’t miss updates!
Letters are arriving daily from 15-year-olds who want to be included in our Leadership Training (LT) program this summer. Staff are also completing their applications. We are very excited! We have missed you all and look forward to returning to Asto Wamah to spend time with friends and participate in activities we love.
In addition to “Spreading the Word” about CAW, please stay strong: wear a mask, maintain social distancing, wash your hands, and avoid large gatherings. Do your part to help ensure that we can all return to Columbia Lake this summer and enjoy the fun, friendships, and experiences we have treasured in the past!
If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to email campastowamahct@gmail.com or call Nancy Maclean at 860-649-8614 (evenings are best).
Take care, stay well and Remember the Other Fellow,
Jen, Chris, Catherine, Nancy
CAW's December Update
Oh, how we have missed all of you! We think of you and your families and hope you are staying well. Even those of us who are not in school can realize how difficult virtual learning, limited contact with friends, and handling the anxieties that are ever present can be. With each new day we are more and more anxious to get back to what used to be considered normal!
Traditionally, the beginning of December is the time for final preparations before the cold of winter descends. The important tasks at Asto Wamah are now done. Leaves have been removed from the tennis court and the A-Field, the water has been drained throughout camp, and the lower Lodge has been set up to serve as our winter workshop for indoor projects. We consider ourselves ready for whatever Mother Nature sends our way.
December also brings us to the time when we begin to prepare for the upcoming summer. Staff applications will soon come in, and Leadership Training applications are arriving daily. The dates for the 2021 camp season have been announced. UltraCamp is ready to process camper applications for the summer. Now, it is everyone’s responsibility to follow the State of Connecticut guidelines to keep the Covid-19 virus from spreading. It is imperative that the virus is under control if residential summer camp will be a reality this summer. That is what we have wished and hoped for during these past 9 months. Each person’s efforts are important. Following the rules is a clear and valuable way to “Remember the Other Fellow”.
Remembering YOU,
Nancy, Catherine, Jen and Chris
P.S. As many of you know, to protect docks from moving ice, the lake is drained down about 8 feet starting in October. Thought you might find this “winter view” of the swimming area interesting. Great opportunity to build a Cairn!
P.P.S. Don’t forget to SPREAD WORD OF ASTO WAMAH! Tell friends, family and anyone else about CAW, an awesome experience away from home, in a warm and caring community where respect and inclusion are the way of life!
CAW's November Update
Greetings to all of you who have been a part of the Asto Wamah Community!!
It has been too long since we published a CAW Blog. Hope you missed us as much as we have missed you. Although we all yearn for the lake, the woods, and the buildings, the real and deepest loss comes from missing our friends and the many people who are an important part of the Asto Wamah experience. We trust you have discovered ways to connect with those you miss most.
By now you all must be back to at least a somewhat normal routine. It may be a school day in the building, online, or some of each. We hope that you are staying safe and well.
In the future, we will return to a new Blog early every month. We need your help! If you like to write, please consider submitting an entry about camp, somewhat like the Birch Barker. Tell about a memory that has stayed with you or a person who became a true friend or a special event that you will never forget. Interview a parent or friend who attended years ago. The more articles the better!!! All submissions will be gratefully received!! Please email them to campastowamahct@gmail.com. We are looking forward to receiving your Blog entries!! Thank you!
Who would have guessed we would see an early snow at Asto Wamah on October 30??? In addition to the snow, you can see what the lake looks like at its winter level.
We will continue to keep you updated on what is happening at camp as we prepare and make ready for the 2021 season with anticipation and optimism. The dates for the new season will be announced soon. Stay tuned!
Keep on Remembering the Other Fellow!!!
Always,
Jen, Catherine, Chris, and Nancy