Life at camp is great. Tonight all our two-week campers are on an overnight “trip” to sleep out (in the field) in tents… after roasting marshmallows ’round the campfire, which they loved. The Junior Boys had a great special (half) day – Gangsters and Gentlemen. As Gangsters they threw water on staff, “stole” the Tuck Shop key and raided the Tuck Shop.. As gentlemen they gave compliments, drank tea, played croquet and wore button-down shirts to dinner.

When you drive to Camp Arowhon, just before you enter camp, there are three huge wooden pillars: Caring, Respect and Learning. These are the core values of Arowhon. They guide our days at camp, they form the moral compass that points to where our community is headed.

At camp we cherish every opportunity to behave in a caring manner towards everyone here. We guide our staff and campers to treat both the people and our beloved Algonquin environment with respect. We believe in the power of learning to transform lives and grow self-esteem, and we walk that walk every day when we teach children both activity skills and enhanced social skills.

But nurturing children’s best selves does not have to stop when they leave camp. Arowhon is committed to supporting our campers’ community values when they are at home too. Starting in the 2014/15 school year we are going to kick off a new and significant initiative and we would like Arowhon families to participate. Our campers think about Arowhon all year long so now they can connect with Arowhon all year long. And give back – as a family. Arowhon in Action is Arowhon families coming together to serve their communities – another way for your kids to experience camp’s spirit and traditions.

Arowhon in Action fosters campers’ commitment to community service, connects parents and kids as well as Arowhon families to help children who are seriously ill or are from families less fortunate. Through community events in the fall, winter and spring, our goal is to work together (and have some fun too!) as a camp community to provide support to:

• Camps for children who would not otherwise experience the benefit of summer camp
• Camps for children who are seriously ill
• Children whose lives are impacted by poverty or illness

Starting NOW we’re looking to form a committee of Arowhon parents from all cities to work with Arowhon staff to discuss, build and launch Arowhon in Action in your region.

Arowhon alum Marnie (Sugarman) Adler will be working with us to build this committee. If you’re interested in being a part of this in your community please reach out to Marnie: [email protected] for more information.

We are so excited to work together with our Arowhon families to make Arowhon in Action our newest tradition.