As you could probably tell from the photos, there have been two main activities at Newfound and Owatonna this week: Flag Trips and soccer clinics. The Principia College head women's soccer coach is here all week to run clinics and coach games at both Newfound and Owatonna. On Monday, Camp Pinecliff came to Newfound to play a U13 soccer game. The girls had had several clinics in preparation for the game, and their hard work paid off with a 2-0 victory. More important than the score, however, was the enthusiasm, good humor, and great joy that was expressed by both the players on the field and their friends who cheered them on. Owatonna is also taking advantage of the extra coaching here this week. The boys are playing a U13 game now at Camp Winona, and tomorrow the U11 boys will take on Winona here at Owatonna. During activity periods without games, soccer clinics are being held for all the boys and girls, and everybody is learning a lot!
You will also see lots of pictures of boys wearing camouflage in the camp woods. Two separate Flag Trips went out at the beginning of this week. All of the junior boys took to the woods between the soccer field and the boat dock and played capture the flag all day on Monday. In addition to running for the flags, each team also had to build a shelter in the woods that would be waterproof. They all had a blast running, planning, and building (and, of course, taking breaks for food, drinks, and rest!). Meanwhile, in other woods on camp property, all the CITs and some of the older boys were on their two-night Flag Trip. The Senior Flag Trip itself is longer, and the older boys also spend time before the trip in preparation. They learn how to lash, set up campsites, cook over a campfire, and work together as a team. The senior flag trip plays capture the flag, but the elements of spiritual preparation and teamwork are more important to the final score than the winning of flags themselves. Both the junior and the senior division boys look forward to the Flag Trips for the whole session!
For the senior division campers who were not on Flag Trip, on Monday they went on a great hike up Bald Face Mountain and ended the day by swimming in Emerald Pool. They had such fun on a beautiful day! Twelve Newfound Rivers and Lakes (the two middle age groups) took a two day canoe trip on the Saco River--paddling, swimming, singing, and s'mores---the perfect camp trip! Flag Trips, hiking trips, canoeing trips, and lots and lots of soccer have kept the campers busy and happy this week!
