First camp session successful

We managed to get things into shape to welcome ten campers for the first session. Despite an oil-pan leak which obliged us to abandon our van only one-third of the way to camp, leading to an extended wait and a 9pm dinner, the kids quickly became acclimated to the intense rhythm of camp activities and had a great time. Workshops and games, swimming, singing every evening, shared chores and a mountain hike on the last day filled the week which went by like a flash.

More work on the barn

Lucas and I managed to get most of the back wall of the barn done, replacing old, worn-out tar paper with modern Tyvek and a layer of tar paper. I'll be able to finish it up during the three days of prep for the first session. We head up tomorrow in two waves: Marie- Claude and Nancy at 7am, the counselors and I at 2pm. During the weekend Marie-Claude finished up the mowing and started getting the house in shape.

More work on the barn

Marie-Claude, Lucas and I are heading back up to camp for the weekend. Lucas and I will be working on two projects: one, to remove all the vertical barn boards on the rear of the barn (in photo), apply new tar paper and/or Tyvek (the original tar paper between the boards has been completely eaten through by sunlight and weather, leaving spaces for hornets' nests and the like); and then, replace an 8"x8" beam holding up one end of the back porch of the house, the center of a lot of camp activity (or occasional inactivity). We'll have to use a car jack to raise the porch while we work on it: should be fun! We'll use pressure-treated materials this time, so it should last another 50 years at least. In the meantime, Marie-Claude will be getting things ready in the house, mowing the grass (again), making sure the tents are in good shape, and so on.

Mission accomplished

Lucas and I managed to build bunkbeds on three sides of a new room in the barn. We enjoyed working together again, and the final product was satisfying to see. I am sure the boys will appreciate it if we get hit with sustained rain during camp. We also had just enough time to mow the grass around the house and out in the field.  In places it was already about 10 inches high, all since Marie-Claude mowed it just 10 days earlier. Marie-Claude and I are heading back up to camp Tuesday and Wednesday next to do some more work. Camp is just two weeks away!

Heading up to Vermont

Lucas Ewing, an 18-year-old who has just finished high school, is heading up to camp with me Tuesday and Wednesday. We'll be building bunk beds in the barn to give the boys and the male counselors a refuge in case of several days of sustained rain, which can make the tents a bit of a trial. Lucas helped me last summer to improve the boys' changing space in the barn with individual cabinets for their affairs. We're looking forward to his being with us this summer as a counselor.

Preparations for Camp

We have begun to prepare for camp this summer on two fronts. Marie-Claude and Nancy have been visiting prospective campers and their families to make sure that everyone is on the same page and that the youngsters know what they are getting into. Camp can be pretty demanding, and it's best for that to be clear at the outset. Marie-Claude and I have also been going up to Vermont, getting the camp itself up and running: mowing the grass, which is very green and luxurious at this point; making some repairs to damage done over the winter (for example, a vent pipe ripped off the barn roof, no doubt by a four-foot snowfall on Valentine's Day); planning for some renovations and improvements to be completed before camp starts. The place is beautiful, with lilacs and apple trees in bloom, birds in abundance, many shades of green all around us as trees burst into leaf. It's a pleasure to be there, and we are looking forward to sharing the space with campers and counselors in another month.

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Brian