Campers write about Friends Camp

What is Special about Friends Camp?
For me, Friends Camp could never me summed up into one word, but I think just the feeling of going there and experiencing it explains it all. Whenever someone asks me about the camp I go to, I usually say it is indescribable. From the amazing counselors, to the electives and activities, it is an experience of a lifetime. I honestly could not think of a better way to spend two or more weeks of my summer. The community and friendship just makes you want to keep coming back again and again. I enjoy a lot of the free time and the singing. The memories stay with you all year long, and when you get to the next year at the camp and you can’t wait to talk about all the great stuff that happened the year before, something else totally exciting happens. You definitely leave Friends Camp with something more then you came there with, because the people there are so astonishingly wonderful, that they give you almost like another place to call home. Every year this camp keeps amazing me more. I hope it never ends. 

Log Swing
The log swing is the common meeting place for anyone and everyone at Friends Camp. If you walked around Big Bird at breakfast, you’d hear "meet me at the log swing" at least three times. The log swing is a log hanging between two trees. There are rules for use, and although they can sometimes be a drag, it saves a lot of injuries from happening. There are benches and chairs around the log swing so you can talk to whoever is there. Also, a counselor is always there, usually one who is singing or playing a guitar.

Afternoon Waterfront Time
Waterfront has always been one of my favorite parts of Friends Camp. Probably because I have always loved water, but in general its fun and a good hang out time. Waterfront is about two hours long but it goes by very quickly. The swimming area is great and on a hot day - which usually happens in summer - it is a relief to cool off in the water. If you don’t like swimming, there are other options. There is canoeing, volleyball net, tetherball, ping-pong tables, or you could just sit and write letters, read or talk with your friends. The walk to waterfront is also nice. It is long enough to enjoy what is around you or talk with anyone you want.

Island Trip
The island trips are almost always fun to go on. After dinner, we leave and canoe across the lake to Indian island. We get our stuff set up and head into the woods to look for marshmallow sticks. By then it is usually dark and you have to watch out or else you might run into somebody else. Then, we toast marshmallows and sing songs around the fire. It is the ideal picture of camp. People start getting ready for bed and whisper some. If you’e not tired, it is nice to look up through the trees at the stars and moon.

40 Foot Ice Cream Sundae
The best part about Friend’s Camp is the 40-foot ice cream sundae.  This is a sundae that is phenomenal. All the campers crowd around the gutters with their spoons above their heads waiting for the signal.  There is every kind of topping you could ever imagine cherries and sprinkles and M & M’s and chocolate sauce etc., but then when you get all dirty, you get hosed off, then go to waterfront. 

The Variety Show
This year in the variety show (It is not a talent show) we had impersonations, songs, dances, surprises, and down right fun. No matter what your act is, you are accepted into the show as long as it doesn’t take too long.  Another thing is just be ready to share your special skills or talents with all the wonderful people around you.

Age is not important!
Oh yeah one other thing don’t think that because you’re the youngest of shortest or tallest even that you won’t have friends this past year I was the second youngest kid in Fox camp and I had the most fun out of all my friends.  And I know from experience that no matter what age you start you will always have fun. I hope you have just as much fun as I do when I go.

Why I go to Friends Camp
Friends Camp is a place where you meet other people who want to meet you, and I really mean that. They want to meet you, not some person you are trying to be, and that's what makes it all feel so much like home. So many people have found happiness at Friends Camp, not because it changed them but I think it’s because they found themselves and were able to have fun being themselves there. It’s an environment of love, fun, and people just being people. 

The Musical Soiree
The musical soiree is a much anticipated Friends Camp tradition. During second week of each session sometimes on Thursday night, there is a musical soiree; this event is not a dance. That is for sure. There is no pressure whatsoever to have a date, get all dressed up, or even dance- although dancing is encouraged. Music ranging from 70’s to modern pop is played in order for everyone to have a little of what they like. The point of the soiree is for everyone to have fun, have time to hang with your friends, or dance your feet off.

Vesper
I enjoyed vespers the most out of all the activities at Friends Camp. This activity took place every evening when the sun was setting. It’s a time to vent, relax and think about the day that had just past. The place where we watch the sunset is on an open field over looking a lake and the horizon in the distance. The camp is located in Maine and its just so beautiful there that the sunsets are out of this world. It’s also fun because you just sit there away from everyone for around 20 minutes and hear nothing but birds, insects, warm calm wind, and occasional cars passing in the distance. Once you have relaxed for a while and cleared your thoughts of any negativity. Everyone stands up and we all give each other hugs, whether you know everyone or you're friends with them or not you still have the chance to give them a hug. That was another thing about Friends Camp that I enjoyed was how we hugged each other after every form of worship and it just seemed it was like a big family. 

A Poem About Vespers

Sunset
by Elisabeth Sorrows

Quiet settles over us
Like a blanket
Peace falls over the camp
I look up at the golden glow
Lighting up the sky
The yellow sliver of the sun
Peeks over the mountains
An orange glow around the sun
Then the pink emanates from behind the clouds
Then changing to create a purple hue
I find the quiet inside me

Last Night Campfire
One of the best things about Friends Camp is the last night campfire not only do we get to stay up late but also we get to share our thoughts about camp with everybody else. Then when the fire is dying down, we all get to roast marshmallows and talk and thank each other and once again have fun.

Love Wars- Love Wars are a fun way to show another cabin that you care. Organizing stunts or pranks with your cabin, can be one of the funnest things at camp. I remember covering a cabin in paper hearts, singing songs too them, and going stargazing. Before you know it, the whole camp will be tied up in a love wars. At the end camp, you can look forward to having great friendships with a cabin you might not have otherwise been friends with.

Hello Campers,
If you would like write about life at Friends Camp, please let me know. I have listed below several areas of camp life you can write about or you can come up your own topic. Please e-mail me at director@friends.org if you wish share your Friends Camp experience with others.  Thanks, Nat

• Waterfront day –
• The bus ride to Yearly Meeting –
• The Meeting House –
• First day experiences -
• Homesickness –
• Lights out –
• Special Day –
• Meals –
• Tree House –
• Love Wars -
• Evening Games -
• Evening Program –
• Photo Hut –
• Jobs –
• Best Morning Program –
• Last day –
• Cartoon Breakfast –
• Field Trips –
• The Drama Camp Play –
• Cabin Night -
• Cabin Rules -