Camp Swift Session 1 2017 - Day 1!

​On Thursday, Camp Swift’s admin and support staff drove an enormous truck full of snacks, sleeping bags, and art supplies up a mountain in Prescott, AZ. We stocked the kitchen, set up the art shack, and prepped the infirmary. On Friday, we welcomed and oriented our counselors. Finally, this morning, we woke up excited for the moment we’ve been waiting for…the arrival of our campers!!!

We’ve brought up 164 campers to Swift this year, an unprecedented number in Camp Swift history! By 1:30 pm, all three of our buses had arrived at camp. Campers left their buses and were greeted by a sea of clapping, cheering counselors in green t-shirts. Campers took a trip to the sports field for a brief round of Rock, Paper, Scissors (All Star Edition), then gathered in the lodge for a lunch of pasta, salad, and fruit (plus or minus a few PB&Js). After the meal, campers split into their cabins and were introduced to their counselors!

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The rest of the afternoon was a whirlwind of fun. Campers visited Krazy Keppies’ free “department store,” where they shopped for clothes, bedding, and anything else they needed.

Between 3:30 and 6:30 pm, campers participated in the best activities Camp Swift has to offer. They hiked, they swam, and they learned to play Gaga. They climbed a rock wall, dropped eggs off the treehouse (and learned about gravity!), and painted their counselors. In line with our “Around the World” theme, campers learned to make dessert “sushi” and discussed what it takes to master a skill. In our “Shaboogie” values program, they learned about the importance of their emotions. They shared their feelings about being away from their homes and families for the first time (Sadness, Worry) and also their feelings about being here at camp (Joy!! Excitement!!)

While waiting for their fruit, salad, and hamburgers, campers learned some special Camp Swift cheers from their counselors and support staff. By the end of dinner, you could hear campers cheering for their cabins from all the way across camp! Finally, campers prepared for their evening programs. Older campers went on a special “overnight” camping trip (complete with s’mores and a campfire!), while the rest of the campers got to explore our Seven World Wonders program. As campers had a blast participating in activities (relay races, glow-in-the-dark tic tac toe, and a volcano simulation—just to name a few!), they also learned about the importance of preserving our earth’s natural wonders. At this time, our campers have settled into bed, exhausted from their first day. Get ready for Day 2!!!

​Special thank you to Support Staff volunteer and Keppies CEO Nicole for blogging about Day 1 for us!