'twas the day before Christmas....

Hello Circle F family,

t'was the day before Christmas and the 3rd day of Chanukah and all through the office not a phone was ringing and I didn't even need to use the mouse.

What was happening were lots of thoughts of you and your families. Roger and I are here and talking about summer and how much we are looking forward to seeing all of you again. We really do think about you and camp a lot. Now is our time to think of how lucky we are that you are part of our lives. How many people are lucky enough to have two families to think about at this time of year?

Have a wonderful holiday with your families and know that your Circle F family is thinking of you, as well.

Diana and Roger

Happy Holidays!

Hi Circle F family,

I can't believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone. We had a Thanksgiving family weekend at the ranch and it was fantastic. We had families that have made it a tradition and new families, as well. Believe me, fun was had by all. From Friday night games to build a boat to campfire and hayrides, riding, rockwall it was non-stop fun. I think Roger and I enjoyed it as much as all the families. You and your family should think about joining us for one of our family weekends, it is a wonderful way to spend a weekend.

We are now spending time getting ready for Summer 2009. I know it will be here before we know it. Don't forget to register before January 31st to get the early registration discount!

I wish you and your family love, joy and peace during this holiday season. May we all be grateful for all of our blessings in the New Year. The biggest blessing for all of us is we have 2 families...yours and your Circle F family. Wow, we are so lucky.

Take care and know we think of you often.
Love,
Your camp mom Diana

Happy Halloween!

Hello Circle F Family!

Here I am at Circle F on Halloween. Now, you may think that would be boring, but it is anything but boring. There is a father/daughter group of 250 here for the weekend. You would be amazed at what they have done. There are six haunted houses and decorations everywhere from spider webs to graveyards. It is unbelievable. Everyone is dressed up and trick or treating and having a blast! They say it is way more fun than Halloween at home. I hope all of you are having a fantastic time, as well. Tomorrow they will be horseback riding and climbing the rockwall. They stay very busy when they are here. Just like you!

So much has been going on since you left. We are working on updating the brochure and the website. They both will be new and exciting. I have been super busy entering all of you campers who have registered early. It looks like we will have a very full camp for 2009 and that is how we like it! The more campers the more fun for us. You are why we are here. I am excited already, just thinking about seeing all of you again in the summer. You know it will be here before we know it.

I had a big event this morning. My oldest son, Adam got married..yes, on Halloween! It was a very quiet event but wonderful. Blake moved to Virginia a few weeks ago and plans to finish his degree up there. I just heard from Murray that he has been offered a job working with kids in Australia. Getta is busy teaching math and science. Bri is at a yoga workshop for a month and loving it. Of course, Roger is staying busy at camp working on the website, brochure and registration, as well. I hear from alot of the counselors and they are all doing well and missing you and camp, too.

You know we love to hear from you, so stay in touch. I miss all of you so much and think of you everyday. Take care and do well in school....
Love,
Your camp mom...Diana

Yearbooks!

Hello Everyone!
I hope that your school year has been fantastic so far and you are doing well. I have good news for you! You will be receiving your yearbook very soon. Roger has been working hard to get them all in envelopes and into the mail. It won't be long so keep an eye out for them. Enjoy the fond memories of summer 2008 and start thinking about summer 2009. It will be here before we know it! I miss all of you and think of you all the time. Take care and stay in touch. We love to hear from you!
Much love as always,
Your camp mom and the whole Circle F Gang

THANK YOU!!!!!

Dear Circle F family,
Thank you for one of the most fantastic summers in Circle F history. We enjoyed everyday and everyone. The campers were amazing, the weather was pleasant and the staff was fantastic! Everyday was an adventure and so much fun. We always say " a day at camp is like a week in the real world." Not only does the day begin at 7:30am and end about 10:00pm(if we are lucky) but we pack so many activities and experiences in one day, we can't remember what happened that morning. As much as I am enjoying being home, it is too quiet and I miss everyone. Roger is at camp enduring his first tropical storm, Murray and Bri are on their way back out to Utah, Blake is preparing for his move to Virginia, Getta is teaching middle school math and science and the counselors are on their way back to school in all parts of Florida and the U.S. And as for me...the office (boring!!)...LOL Please know that when you leave camp you never leave our thoughts.

I will be back at camp for Labor Day weekend next Friday for one of our family weekends. We still have cabins if you would like to join in the fun. Check the website for all the family weekend dates. They are so much fun.

We can't wait to see you next summer. Have a fantastic year and do well in school. Thank you for being a part of our lives.
Love to all of you,
Diana and the Circle F gang

Hay Ride and Camp Fire!!!

Howdy Circle F Family,

Yesterday was a beautiful day. The weather was cool with a strong breeze and it was a wonderful last day of normal activities. The Pioneer campers went on a team building hike, the Wranglers had a special Cantina time, and the Co-Bucks and Buck-a-roo's had a special swim time. It was a beautiful evening. After the age appropriate activities, we had our big camp fire and hay rides. We had music, s'mores and hay rides. It was a total blast. You can see some pictures from the event at www.circl-f-duderanch.com

Today half of the camp is at Islands of Adventure and the other half is here at camp. We have a special day of camp with one of Circle F's most popular activities: Build-A-Boat. Campers will have one hour, two rolls of duct tape, and three super large pieces of cardboard. They will have to build a boat that will float in the lake and carry to rowers. Most of the boats float, some don't. It is a great time.

As we are getting closer to our pick up day I thought it would be good to go over some frequently asked questions about pick-up:

Q: What time is pick-up?
A: Pick up is from 9:00am - 12:00 noon on TUESDAY, August 12. All campers must be picked up before 12:00 noon unless prior arrangements have been made.

Q: What do I do when I come to pick up my camper
A: You can drive right to your campers cabin where they will be waiting for you all packed and ready to go.

Q: Will there be a rodeo or show on Tuesday?
A: No. In the 10 day session we do not have enough time to put together a rodeo.

Q: What if I can't pick up my child on Tuesday?
A: It is important that all campers are picked up before noon on Tuesday. After noon we start closing down the camp for the summer and there will be no one to supervise the children. If you cannot come on Tuesday morning, we can arrange for you to pick up your camper Monday evening.

Q: What else?
A: Your camper will receive their bunk photo, evaluation and registration for summer 2009 while at camp. Please check your campers belongings for these items. We are always trying to improve our program and by filling out the evaluation you can help us in our goal. We are offering a special promotion to our Summer 2008 campers. If you register for Circle F Summer 2009 before November 1st, you will lock in the 2008 prices and get an additional 5% off. There will be a registration form with the evaluation form.

We will see you in about 48 hours.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the whole gang

Deal or No Deal meets Men's Beauty Review

Howdy Circle F Family,

Sorry I have been slow at writing the blog this session. I have been pulling quadruple duty of photographer, blogger, and Assistant Director. I know that is only three things, but being Assistant Director is really like two jobs.

We have been having a great time as aways. Fourth session is kind of like a greatest hits album. Yesterday we combined two of the campers favorite evening programs: Deal or No Deal and the Men's Beauty Review. We played the popular game Deal or No Deal with campers as contestants and the oldest boys cabin as the models. The boys were hilarious dressed up as the models. The oldest girls cabin was happy to help them get ready. The game is (in my opinion) a lot more fun than the TV game because the prizes are so much better/worse. Instead of the million dollars, campers can win Ice Cream for Everyone or even a Pizza Party for their cabin. However, if you get stuck with a prize from the left side of the board you might get a pie to the face or get slimed. The game was hosted by Howie Mandel (me). There are some great pictures on Snapfish.

Tonight was the Super Hero Dance. We had some great costumes. Everyone was there: Superman, Batman, the Hulk, Cat Women, Spider Man, and a whole bunch of boys running around with towels as capes and underware as a mask (I hope it was clean). We also showed a slide show of many of the pictures that you can see on Snapfish. The campers loved seeing themselves on the big screen.

Thank you for all the great comments on the new photo gallery site. If you still have not been there please go to: www.circle-f-duderanch.com and click on the camera on the top right hand side. On the site you can see all the pictures and even purchase them if you wish (we make no money on the sale of pictures). I have found that the best way to view the pictures is with the slide show function.

Well, I can't believe that the session is half over. I hope all of the parents are enjoying your quiet. Please know that your campers are doing great.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the whole gang

Water Mania!!!

Howdy Circle F Family,

Camp is so much fun. Last night we hosted a version of Fear Factor Live. We had five counselors going head to head in three tough competitions. The first was called Hanging Tough. The five counselors had to hold on to a bar while getting pelted with flour, shaving cream, syrup and flowers without letting go. The first two to let go were eliminated. In the second event counselors were face with an eating challenge. To pass the round they had to eat a cricket, a worm and pickled pigs feet. It was truly disgusting. For the final round the final two contestants had to find as many ping pong balls in a tub of horse poop. It came down to the wire, but Tommy was the winner by one ping pong ball.

Tonight we had one of my favorite evening programs: Water Mania. This involves 5 different water based activities: slip and slide, slip and slide tug of war, battle ship (where campers throw sponges over a wall and try to hit other campers on the other side), bucket pass relay race and human sponge relay race. Everyone was mainia'd. There are a ton of great pics from the event up on our new website. To get there go to www.circle-f-duderanch.com and click on the camera on the top right of the page.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

New Photo Gallery Info

Howdy Circle F Family,

We have a new website for camp pictures and I really think you are going to like it. To see the pictures go to circlef.snapfish.com (do not use "www." before the address. This great website allows us to upload much faster and we have unlimited space. This means that we will be able to post more pictures than we have in the past. You will also have the ability to purchase photos from the website. The link on our website currently goes to our old photo gallery site. We hope to have the new link working tomorrow. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

A fantastic first day...

What a fantastic first day! After a breakfast of pancakes and sausage, it was back to the cabins for clean up. Then we were off and running. All the activities ran smoothly and we are all feeling the energy. Everyone who takes western riding went on a trail ride today, even 3rd got to go after a rain delay. English riders were evaluated to determine which period they would take riding. The waterfront was busy with swimming sailing, canoeing, blob and banana boat. There was an interesting game of soccer volleyball going on as well. Everyone has a good imagination at camp. The weather was very pleasant today. The afternoon rain really cools us down for the rest of the day and evening.
The mugs arrived in the morning and we took them on the golf cart and passed them out at all the activities, so everyone is drinking lots of water and gatorade.
We had burgers and fries and of course, the salad bar for lunch. Then it was quiet time...siesta. The afternoon went quickly and before you know it, we were at dinner. Talking, singing and eating spaghetti and meatballs!!! We ended our day with our Welcome Dance. Kids were dancing, some were playing in the field, playing basketball and enjoying being a kid. I can honestly say, they looked relieved when they were called to bed. It is quiet outside the office now. All I can hear is the chirping of the crickets and the fans going. As I look down the cabin lines, I realize I am so lucky to be here to witness your children having the time of their lives.
Thank you so much for sharing them with us,
Diana and the Circle F gang
PS..we are having some issues with the photo gallery. Hopefully, we can get them resolved tomorrow...thank you for your patience!

Opening Day Fourth Session!!!

Howdy Circle F Family,

The first day of fourth session was a great success. Most of the campers arrived by 1pm so we were able to have our swim test and a open swim. It was a perfect afternoon for swimming in the lake. I had a blast wrestling with the co-buck and buckaroo campers (they were trying to dunk me). After the swim, we played general sports like soccer, kickball, basketball and more. There was a strong cold wind that really kept everyone cool. About 45 minuets into our games, there was a hard but short rain that sent campers to their cabins to get ready for dinner.

At dinner we had Fried Chicken, Broccolli, Rolls, Mashed Potatoes, Water, Bug Juice and cookies for dessert. All the meals at Circle F are served family style which means that the food is on the table (not a buffet). This gives meal time a family or communal feal to it. We sing song, and chants at all of our meals (there is no such thing as an inside voice at Circle F). At the end of each meal we sing songs that have to do with crazy things like bananas, yoddelers, froggies, ricky-bam-boos and little red wagons. The campers love to sing. Camp is one of the few places where children can sing and not have to worry about how they sound.

At the end of the Meal, Diana ( the director) had the campers make an oath to be good. So far it is working.

we cram a ton of activities into the first day of camp. This helps the campers adjust easier to the camp environment. Tonight we had two evening programs. The first was the photo scavanger hunt. Cabins, as a group, are in a race to take pictures of places around camp. Some of the things they had to take pictures of were: A pyramid of campers in front of the barn, the word "camp" spelled out on the beach, a group hug with the climbing tree, the entire cabin sitting on the cantina stools. This game gets the cabin to work together and it also shows them where the different areas of camp are. It is the perfect game to start the session.

The counselor skits were after the game. Each activity area presented a short skit. Some groups danced, others sprayed the crowd with water and one even did an interpretive dance with a cow. We were able to show off our new projector and screen with a short video the administration made.

The campers are now in their cabins. They will have an evening thought and then they will be off to bed. You too can go to bed assured that you children are in a safe place both physically and emotionally. Thank you for sharing your children with us for the next ten days.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger (assistant director) and the entire Circle F Gang

Day at the Beach

Dear Circle F Family,

What an amazing day. Today was a special day of camp called "Day at the Beach." We started the day with a picture of the entire camp that will be the last page of the yearbook. It was pretty cool, we formed a human circle F. After the picture we went to the beach and played volleyball, blob, slip and slide and canoe races. It was a great morning.

This afternoon was water battle. This is a long time tradition at Circle F where we make a huge mud/clay pit. Then we play in the mud. It is a ton of fun and you can't help but have fun in the mud pit. Even campers who never want to get dirty have fun in the mud pit. Every time I go into the pit, I feel like I am a kid again.

This evening we are having the Luau Dance. Instead of holding the dance in the Round-Up the dance is on the beach. We have tiki torches, leis and other Hawaiian decorations. Campers can dance, play sand volleyball, sand soccer or just hang out with their friends. The costumes have been great. Good job to all the parents who sent Hawaiian garb.

With only two full days of camp left I thought it would be a good idea to re-post a part of a blog from the first session. I call this Camp Pick-Up Frequently Asked Questions:

Q:What day is Pick-UP?
A:Pick up is on SATURDAY August 2.

Q:What time is Pick-Up?
A:Campers will be ready for pick-up at 9:00AM. All campers should be on the road by Noon unless prior arrangements have been made.

Q:When is the Rodeo?
A:The Rodeo is at 10:00AM.

Q:Will my camper be in the Rodeo?
A:The rodeo is open to all campers, however, some campers choose not to participate.

Q:Where do I go when I arrive?
A:You can go directly to your campers cabin to find and pack-up you camper. However, please be sure to stop by the Lasso Lodge (Dining Hall) to purchase the DVD, pick up medications, purchase individual camper pictures, purchase Circle F merchandise and to say hi to Diana and the counselors.

Q:What if my camper wants to stay another session?
A:We do have availability for our 4th session (August 3 - August 12) (In other words, you do not need to pick up you camper on Saturday if you are enjoying the peace and quiet). There is a 5% discount on you additional session and you also receive a 5% discount on the current session.

Q:How do I sign up for next year? When will you have the dates available? Will the prices go up?
A: I am glad you asked. We have set the camp schedule for 2009 and we will have registration forms available at check-out. If you sign up for Summer 2009 before November 1st with your $500 deposit you will lock in the 2008 rates. You will also receive the early bird discount of 5% off tuition. I highly encourage you to sign up your campers for next summer before November 1st to take advantage of this huge discount.

Q:What is the deal with tipping counselors?
A:We neither discourage or encourage tipping. Our counselors are primarily college students working for tuition, books and extra spending money. If you feel the desire to tip your counselors you are allowed to, but it is not expected. Counselors appriciate any type of recognition, and are happy to know that you you, as parents and guardians, appriciate the hard work they have done.

Q:Should I tip the Assistant Director?
A:YES!!! (just kidding)

If you have any questions about pick-up, please feel free to contact us.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger (Assistant Director) and the whole gang

"I'm Having Too Much Fun To Write"

Howdy Circle F Family,

"I have been having too much fun to write." I hear this line from campers all the time when we ask them how many letters they have sent home. I know what they are talking about. Sometimes I get caught up in the fun and forget to come and share my thoughts here with the Family.

Things at camp have been going great. With only 3 more days of camp left, we are all trying to get in as much action as possible. Today we played Circle F Feud. It is a lot like the family feud on television. We survey the camp and ask them questions like: who is the camp klutz, who is the cutest girl counselor, what is your favorite camp food, who is most likely to be camp director one day and more. We have three rounds of campers vs. campers, campers vs. counselors and counselors vs. counselors. They try to guess what the answers are to the questions. It is a lot of fun and a long time tradition at Circle F.

Tonight the oldest boy cabins are on PATH. That means they are not in their cabins. The oldest girl cabins have formulated the coolest prank I have ever seen. They are going to move everything from boys cabin 10 to boys cabin 9 and vice versa. When the boys get back tomorrow their stuff will be in a completely different cabin. The girls are going to take pictures of the bunks and make sure that everything gets put into the exact same spot, only in the other cabin. I can't wait to see the boys reaction.

Tomorrow is Day at the Beach, which means we have a special day of activities. We are going to have a luau dance, and special beach activities all day long. It should be a fantastic day of camp.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

The talent at camp is unbelievable!!!!!

WOW!!!!!
We had our talent show last night and it was exceptional. We had many singers and I think I may recognize some American Idol contestants in a few years! Paola even wrote her own song and sang it for us. It was amazing. Samantha told me afterwards that she was "scared and almost panicked" but sang anyway. Pioneer 1 girls did a montage of short skits...it think it contained a lot of inside jokes...we were baffled but they had fun! Jagger played his guitar and sang as did Emi. Logan, our oldest camper, played and sang for his last talent show....we've had many wonderful years watching his talent grow. The good news is he will be a counselor next year! Our other singers included Carli, Rebecca, Isabella and Ziva...all were so fantastic and entertaining. Salvador, Jose, Rodrigo and Jorge all did a mime. But the show stopper of the evening was Eduardo...oh my gosh!!! Eduardo is a 2nd year camper from Venezuela with a ton of personality. He wanted to sing "Mambo #5" but we didn't have it. So, he looked at Murray and said give me "Girls Just Want to Have Fun". Well, let me tell you, he had the crowd on their feet cheering. He can work a crowd. By the end he had half the camp on stage, singing and dancing. Again, one of those moments when we realize why we love our jobs so much!!! The night ended with counselors Clare, Alli, Maggie, Sarah and Mary along with Afton and Whitney playing "When the Saints Come Marching In" with kazoos, pots and pans and marching. It was very amusing. Like I said the talent here at camp is "unbelievable"!
We are going to miss your children so much when they leave on Saturday. Once again, thank you for the priviledge of having your children stay with us. We love them all...
Diana and the entire gang

Tremendous Thursday

Howdy Circle F Family,

Things continue to chug along here at the Circle F Dude Ranch. The campers are really enjoying the program and are starting to gain some real skills in the activity areas.

Last night we held our MTV Night. Each cabin prepares a skit, song, dance, or commercial that might be seen on MTV. It is a great way for the cabin to come together and be creative. We had some memorable performances like “shoes” (where the cabin was singing a song about shoes and throwing shoes into the audience), there was a Unicef commercial, a version of the show Next, American Idol and a whole bunch more.

The Pioneer girls went on the PATH program last night. PATH stands for Pioneer Adventure Team-Building Hike. Pioneers are our oldest campers and they have special programs throughout their stay at Circle F. This program is an overnight camping trip here on the Circle F grounds. They go through 4 phases, each with a different activity designed to build group unity and to challenge the group as a whole. I am happy to say that they had a wonderful experience and that they are back in camp safe, if not a little worn out.

Today is the Hippy Dance. Arts and Crafts always does special projects to help get ready for the dances. Today they will be Tie Dying t-shirts and making Peace Sign necklaces. It is always fun to see what creative things campers have made for the dances.

We have changed the schedule for our evening programs. Here is the new schedule:
Today: Hippy Dance
Friday: Deal or no Deal
Saturday: Earth Day/Rodeo
Sunday: Islands of Adventure/Build A Boat/What’s the Movie?
Monday: Talent Show
Tuesday: Circle F Feud
Wednesday: Day at the Beach/Luau
Thursday: Closing Campfire
Friday: Banquet/Closing Dance
Saturday: Rodeo/ Bye-Bye

Wow, so little time left!!!

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

Good morning!

Good morning families!
Roger went on his day off yesterday and I wanted to give you an update! The parade and carnival were a huge success! The campers had sooo much fun and so did we. The floats in the parade were all unique and fun. As soon as the parade was finished, the Carnival began. The most popular activities were the big waterslide and the slip and slide. They were great fun! I even did both of those and yes, I'm feeling it this morning!!! The staff had as much fun as the campers. We also had face painting, a weight guesser, a fortune teller(I think he told them to eat more broccoli), wet sponge throw, fish pond, 2 bounce houses and more. Everyone was running around wet and happy. When the Carnival was over it was time for general swim. The water was great and we all enjoyed it. At dinner it was everyone's favorite, pizza! We had a movie(Alvin and the Chipmunks) and store before the evening was over. Once again, the sunset was amazing. I hope you have seen the pictures that have been posted of them. Speaking of pictures, they will be posted late tonight or tomorrow. Our photographer, Getta, is a teacher and had to attend a class in Tampa to prepare for school in August. She teaches middle school math and science. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful administrative staff this summer. Murray, Blake, Bri and Getta have helped make summer a huge success. Roger and I could not do our job without them. Most of all our summer would not be any fun at all without your wonderful children. It is just so amazing to watch them make new friends, try new things and just be kids!! When I get to see a child from Brazil trying to learn something new with the help of a new friend from Maryland, and vice-versa, it reminds me of why camp is such an all around life experience for all the campers and the staff. Once again, I thank you for sharing your children with us!

Circle F's biggest campers,
Diana and the gang

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!!!

Howdy Circle F Family,

I can't believe that one week of 3rd session is gone. It has been a wonderful week, but, how did it go so fast. Last night we had our swim meet. The camp was broken up into four groups and they competed in four relay events including: inner-tube race, ping-pong ball relay (where campers had to blow a ping-pong ball across the surface of the lake), noodle relay (where campers have to swim with a noodle between their legs) and the funniest, the flipper relay (where campers run as fast as possible while wearing swimming fins). The winner of each group got to go to bed with the next older group (this is a big reward at camp).

Sunday is a special day at camp. We start the day with wake-up at 8:00 instead on 7:30. This makes everyone (especially the teenagers) very happy. After wake-up each cabin has a picnic breakfast at the cabin (that is why you cannot call on Sunday morning to talk to your campers). After breakfast, campers spend the first part of the morning doing an extended clean-up. The campers will take everything out of the cabin, clean super well, change sheets, and prepare the cabin for another week of camp.

After camp clean-up we have an extended morning thought. This morning Matt Berg, the head of rock wall, will deliver the morning thought. Next, we will build floats for our carnival. Each cabin gets materials and then builds a float for our carnival (which is after lunch). Cabins have until lunch to complete their floats.

After Lunch is extended siesta and the parade (be sure to check out the pictures from the parade). Next we will host a carnival. We have: 2 bounce houses, a blow up slip and slide, a blow up water slide, face painting, and multiple carnival games. This is probably one of the favorite days at camp.

Thank you for your comments on the pictures and the blog. If you have any questions, please leave a comment and we will try to answer them here. I am sorry to say, that I am unable to translate the Spanish blog. It is basically a compilation of some the earlier blogs.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

P.S. What's Today? What? What's Today? It's Super Sunday. How Long? All Day Long. We hope so.

Hola Circle F Familia

Howdy Circle F Family,

As we have mentioned before, this session we have quite a few campers from around the world. We decided it would be fun to write a blog in spanish for the families from Central America, South America and from Spain. This blog was written by our head female counselor Biana Cavion. I hope you enjoy it:

Primero, quiero decirles gracias por haber escogido a Circle F a ser el encampamento de sus hijos por este verano. Les quiero pasar alguna información sobre lo que es Circle F, y lo que ustedes pueden hacer para facilitar la transición para sus “campers” y para si mismos.

Soy Briana, la aconsejadora encargada de la línea de las chicas, pero hago todo lo que es el trabajo de la oficina, programas en la noche, y aconsejar a los “campers” hispanohablantes.

Circle F tiene tanto de proveer a los niños y niñas que vienen aquí, que de vez en cuando durante la primera semana, se quedan asombrados de sus opciones para jugar y divertirse. Tenemos un grupo de trabajadores que se quedan con los niños y niñas en sus actividades y les enseñan las habilidades necesarias para participar completamente. Sin embargo, hay algunos niños y niñas que echan de menos mucho a sus familias, casas y sus vidas normales. Llamadas usualmente solo enfatizan su extraño de la casa. Escuchando a la voz de su padre, el niño se pone nostálgico, y no se enfoca tanto en el encampamento. Ojala que sepan que querremos que se contacten, pero que lo hagan por fax, carta, y llamadas solo cuando son necesarias. No se preocupen sobre cuanto los niños extrañan a su hogar… ¡es normal! Están muy lejos de lo que es su rutina, y el lugar de su comodidad, entonces es normal que se sientan afuera de su elemento. Hay que darles tiempo de acomodarse.

He visto ya a muchos niños que se han ajustado bien a la rutina acá, incluso una chica de Venezuela de cinco años. Por las primeras dos noches lloró a dormir y anduvo hablando de su mama. Ahora ella me atraviesa a hacer carrereas cuando voy en bicicleta y ella de pie. Ella también ha encontrado su amor del encampamento- los caballos. Entonces, tomando ella como ejemplo, dando los niños tiempo y escuchando a ellos con paciencia muchas veces pueden curar los sentimientos de “casitis” (la enfermedad del extraño de casa).

También es normal que los padres extrañen mucho a sus hijos. No se preocupen, ¡no son solos! Tomen en cuenta que esta experiencia es buena no solo para sus hijos sino para ustedes también. Les da la oportunidad de soltar sus hijos hacia un ambiente simpático, abierto y más importante seguro. Sepan que estamos aquí para asegurarles como funciona nuestro encampamento y que hacemos lo más posible para reesforzar los medidos de seguridad para sus hijos. Están en manos buenas.

Ojala que este mensaje les de mas seguridad de las condiciones de estudiantes (especialmente extranjeros). A favor que nos llame a lo oficina si tiene una pregunta, pero acuérdense también que tiene la oportunidad de dejarles crecer a sus hijos y a si mismos mientras están aquí.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

Updates

Howdy Circle F Family,

Wow, so much has happened since I was last able to write. Camp is in full swing and we are having too much fun. The weather has been super nice and we have been outside playing and simply having a great time.

Yesterday we played capture the flag on the beach. Instead of just one flag we had three. The first team to capture all 3 flag was the winner. We played 5 rounds and then we had a general swim.

Each cabin gets to participate in two special evening programs. The first on is the Horse Back Cookout. This is where a cabin gets to go on a special evening horseback ride. After the ride, the camper cook the Circle F stew over a campfire. This is a very special time. It is a great way for groups to come together and build special bonds. The second special evening activity is the Hay Ride. Campers and counselors pile into the hay wagon and go on a ride. During the ride they sing songs. The hay ride stops at Marshmallow End where they eat s'mores and tell stories. This is one of the favorite evenings for campers.

Tonight we had the Cowboy, Cowgirl dance. We had some good looking dudes and some loud country music playin'. It was a hootin', holerin' good ol' time.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

P.S. We have a new projector and screen that is totally awesome!!! Now we will be able to have daily slide shows, multimedia productions and a whole lot more. (sorry, I am just really excited)

Fear Factor and a Rainy Day

Howdy Circle F Family,

One of the great things about camping in Florida is that when it rains it normally only rains for about 30 minuets or so. Today was different. We had a rainy day reminiscent of North East Camps. It was great. We called it Wet and Wild Wednesday and had some special games in the rain. It was one of the funnest days of camp I have ever seen.

Waterfront is probably the most popular place to be at camp and it is easy to see why. With the blob, banana boat, water games, swimming, sailing, canoeing and kayaking, waterfront is filled with fun. Our waterfront staff are all trained lifeguards through the American Red Cross. They provide a safe environment for our campers to get wet and wild and have a blast.

This evening's program was Fear Factor. Based off the of the hit TV show, we had 5 counselors competing for their cabin groups. There were three events: hang tough, eating challenge and the ping-pong challenge. We also had Joe Rogan, the host of Fear Factor come to host the game. In the end the youngest cabins (CBB, CBG, B1B, B1G and B2B) won a pizza party and a movie.

We are really having a blast here at camp. I wish all of the parents could somehow look down from a cloud and see the fun we are having. I think you would be impressed with your campers, how they are making decisions on their own, how they are stepping up to new challenges, how they are overcoming obstacles and how they are learning from mistakes.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

Water Mania!!!

Howdy Circle F Family,

Well, the campers are definitely into the camp groove now. Today was another awesome day and it seems that all of the first day jitters are gone. We started the morning by passing out the camp t-shirt and by taking camp photos. Each camper had an individual picture taken with a horse. The pictures will be for sale at check-out. We also took cabin photos. These pictures will be sent to your homes next week with check-out information. The bunk photos will also be posted to the picture gallery.

Today was a normal day of activities. Today I will tell you about our Rock Wall/Zip Line program. The Rock Wall is many of the campers favorite activity. The Rock Wall is over 32 feet high. The campers use a safety harness, helmet and closed toed shoes when climbing. Our staff has been trained by Triple Eagle Experiences, a Florida based rock wall builder. The head counselor for Rock Wall is Matt Berg. This is Matt's third summer at Circle F and his first as Department Head. Matt runs a tight ship and has made many improvements to the activity area this summer. The most popular part of the Rock Wall program is climbing the wall and doing the zip line. Campers climb 32 feet into the air being supported by our ropes and our trained staff. Once to the top campers are attached tethers while they wait to be attached to our zip line. The step off of the zip line and go about 100 yards at about 25 mph. The rock wall takes physical and mental strength. While it may look easy to step off of the tower and to trust that the rope and cable will hold you, once you are up there you quickly find that it can be terrifying. Our counselors are trained in ways to help campers overcome their fears and to help the campers make a positive "step" forward. The Rock Wall and Zip Line can give campers experience in overcoming fears, trying new things, encouraging others, trusting others and many other life long skills. And, of course, it is a lot of fun. Many people think that the rock wall program is just climbing the rock wall and doing the zip line. However, at the Rock Wall they also do initiative games that teach campers life skills. Some activities include: the spider web (where campers pass other campers through a man made huge spider web without touching the sides), the human knot (where campers form a knot then untangle themselves) and the trust fall (where a camper falls backwards into the arms of fellow campers and staff). These activities teach team work, trust, communication and other life long skills.

In staff training we talk about camp being like a Milk Dud. On the outside of a Milk Dud is a thin layer of chocolate. That chocolate represents the activities that are fun and safe. The chocolate is good, but, the best part of the the Mike Dude is the chewy caramel center. The caramel represents the deeper, life long skills that can be learned at camp. Our goal at Circle F is to offer a Milk Dud Program. Our Rock Wall program is a great example of an activity that is safe and fun, but also it going to teach skills that can be used for the rest of their lives.

The next part of this blog is an edited version from an earlier blog:

Tomorrow we start allowing parents to call in at meal times. As I have said before, Diana and I are not big fans of having parents call campers. Often times it does a lot more harm than good. It happens almost every day: A camper, who seconds ago was laughing and singing with their new friends, is now crying and missing home even more because of a phone call. For a homesick camper a phone call from home is one of the worst things that can happen. Homesick campers need to realize that they are in charge of whether they have fun at camp or not. Sometimes, when parents call it opens the flood gates and it stunts their growth. Also, I think many children want to please their parents. One way they do this is by acting upset for a phone call home to show how much they miss you. If you really feel like it is important to call here are some things to remember:
1) The only time that you can call in are during meal times are at 8:10AM, 12:30PM and 5:45PM
2) Please keep calls short (2 mins. or less)
3) We only have one phone line so it can be very, very difficult to get through (160 campers x 2 parents = busy phone line) (use redial button)
4) Please try to limit how many times you call so other parents can get through
5) The meals are very loud
6) The phone number to call is 863-676-4113
7) Meals last about 25 to 30 minuets
8) If you are unable to get through to your camper please do not get mad at Diana or me. We try to get through as many phone calls as possible each meal, but, we can only field so many. We are nice people, and I promise you camp is fun and your children are safe. We are more than happy to check-in on your campers for you if you prefer not to call. We highly encourage letter writing, packages and faxes.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

The end of a fantastic first day!

Hello families,
It's Roger's day off, so I thought I would bring you up to date on our first full day of session 3. We were off and running by 8:00am. Flag raising, morning thought and breakfast...all by 8:40. Then it was back to the cabin for cabin clean up. Everyone makes their bed, organizes their belongings and helps with cabin chores,yes your kids, before heading off to their first activities. It is so much fun for us to watch all the enthusiasm associated with new campers. It certainly reminds us why we do our job! Before we know it is lunchtime. Hamburgers, french fries, corn, pears and salad bar...yummy! Siesta follows lunch. It is a time for reading, writing a letter, playing a board game or just getting a little much needed rest. At 2:15 the bell rings for cantina time. Campers can get gatorade and a snack of trail mix or peanut butter crackers before heading off for an afternoon of activities. Dinner!! Spaghetti and meatballs or plain spaghetti or spaghetti with sauce, no meatballs. The choice is up to you, personally, I think the meatballs are fantastic! Everybody had our favorite desert, ice cream!Tonight is our "Welcome Dance". While some enjoy dancing, others play kickball, soccer or just spend time getting to know their new friends better. The sunset is beautiful,the crickets are out,it is cooling down and the night is coming. Good night and thank you for allowing us to get to know your wonderful children.
We love our job....
Diana and the gang

First Day of Activities

Howdy Circle F Family,

We made it through the first night!!! Right after the campers went to their cabin we had a light rain storm. It was perfect sleeping weather.

Today is the first day of activities. At Circle F Dude Ranch each camper gets to choose their own activities. Here are a list of some of the activities: Western Riding, Tennis, Rock Wall, Camp Craft, General Sports, Volleyball, Swimming, Blob, Kayaking, Football, Soccer, Creative Improv, Barn Help, Arts and Crafts, Nature Lore, Sailing, Banana Boat, softball, Paint Ball, Dance, Cheer, Tumbling and Archery. There are four activity periods a day and we have a Monday, Wednesday, Friday Schedule and a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday schedule so each camper gets to choose 8 different activities. A lot of the activities are separated in to age groups so that 7 year olds are not playing against 14 year olds.

Here is our daily schedule so you can always know what your campers are up to:

7:30 AM Reveille
7:50 AM Waiter’s Call
8:00 AM Flagraising
8:10 AM Morning Thought
8:20 AM Breakfast
8:50 AM Clean-up
9:20 AM Bell---Begin First Activity
Bunkhouse Inspection
10:30 AM Bell---End First Activity
10:45 AM Bell---Begin Second Activity
11:55 AM Bell---End Second Activity
12:10 PM Waiter’s Call
12:25 PM Lunch
1:05 PM Siesta/ Infirmary Call
2:15 PM Cantina Time
2:35 PM Bell---Begin Third Activity
3:45 PM Bell---End Third Activity
4:00 PM Bell---Begin Fourth Activity
5:10 PM Bell---End Fourth Activity
5:30 PM Waiter’s Call
5:45 PM Supper
6:30 PM Infirmary Call
7:15 PM Evening Program
8:30 PM Evening Medications
8:45 PM Co-Buck Evening Thought
9:05 PM Buckaroo Evening Thought
9:25 PM Wrangler Evening Thought
9:45 PM Pioneer Evening Thought
10:00 PM Taps

As you can see we have a full day, everyday. When you come to pick your campers you can expect them to be worn out.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

First Day of 3rd Session!!!

Howdy Circle F Family,

Today was check-in day for 3rd session. It was so great to finally meet the new camper families who we have been talking to all year. And, of course, we love to see all of our old friends. We have 159 campers for third session. This is a multi-cultural camp session. We have campers from Spain, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Columbia, Jordan, Poland, Guadalupe, Brazil, France, Chicago, Maryland, and the strangest place Las Vegas. It is such a great opportunity for our campers to form real relationships that cross boarders and cultures.

After check-in we had our swim test and then an all camp swim in our beautiful Sunset Lake. It looked like it was going to storm this afternoon, but we just had a few light rain drops that really cooled down the weather.

Meal times at Circle F are a blast. We start each meal with a song. At Circle F we eat family style, which means that all of the food is on the table. Different from buffet style, family style promotes talking, community and greater understanding. For dinner we had Fried Chicken, Broccoli, Salad, Rolls, Mashed Potatoes, and Pudding for dessert. We always have peanut butter and jelly for sandwiches and a fruit bowl at each meal for campers who prefer not to eat the main dishes. At the end of each meal we sing camp songs.

Some of the camp song names are: Tarzan, Ricky-Bam-Boo, Canoe Song, OM-OT, Bananas, Hole in the bucket, Old Austrian, Old Lady Leary, Little Red Wagon, Beaver Song, Skunk Song and a whole lot more. Songs are a big part of summer camp. It is very rare nowadays that people sing together. Camp is one of the few places where you can let loose and sing in a group without having to worry about whether people will laugh at you or think that you are not a good singer. Singing builds confidence and builds community.

This evening we have two evening programs. The first is our Photo Scavenger Hunt. This is a great activity because the cabins get to work together as a group (which builds unity) and at the same time they get a fun orientation to camp as they run to all of the different areas of camp. We will have some of the pictures from the event up on under photos this evening.

The second part of the evening program is the Counselor Skits. All of the counselors have prepared skits that introduce themselves and their activity areas. The skits are often hilarious and really help set the tone for camp.

The campers are now going to bed. The first night can be tough for some campers. Home sickness is often the name of separation anxiety. It is a natural feeling for campers to be sad when separated from their home life. At Circle F we do everything possible to help campers make an easy transition to camp life. As you can see, we have a lot of activities on our opening day. When campers are having fun and making friends, they do not have time to feel upset. The counselors use games and other fun ways to make sure that everyone in the cabin knows each others names on the first day. The counselors also look for campers who seem to be having a tougher time adjusting, and they will spend some extra time and attention to make sure that the camper is involved in the activities and friend making. In the end, the counselor is there to help the camper make the transition from home life to camp life. The camper will come out of "home sickness" a stronger, more independent person.

When I moved from being a counselor to administration, I thought that I would be dealing with a lot of home sick campers. The reality is that I work a lot more with home sick parents. For many of the parents who are reading this blog, this may be the first time that you have been separated from your camper for a significant amount of time. I have found that many parents prepare their campers for summer camp, but they spend very little time preparing themselves for summer camp. It is natural to feel anxious, empty or even scared when dropping your children off at summer camp. You want the best for your child and when your child is at camp you give up all control of your campers. You cannot protect them from bad decisions, or bad behavior. This is scary, but, it is a part of growing up as a parent. Allowing your children the space to be independent and to make their own decisions is probably one of the most humbling and frightening events you will go through. Have faith that your children are in an emotionally and physically safe place where we have counselors who will guide them and help them learn to make wise decisions. Camp is fun, but it is also one of the best ways for children (and parents) to learn independence.

I want to welcome all of the new readers to the blog. My name is Roger and I am the Assistant Director. I will try to blog everyday so that you have an idea about what is happening at camp. I will also try to get some campers and guest bloggers. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us and I will post the answers her.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

P.S. Thank you for sharing your children with us.

Circle F Feud

Howdy Circle F Family,

Today the camp played a funny joke on Diana. When Diana takes her day off I (Roger) do the announcements at the meals. During the announcement before Diana came back, I asked the camp to help me with a prank. Anytime Diana say a number during her announcements we were are to scream as loud as possible. When Diana came back at lunch and we started screaming like animals, she had no idea what was happening. She thought we had gone crazy or something. Everyone had a big laugh.

The evening program this evening was the Circle F Feud. This is a game show much like the Family Feud. We pass out surveys to the campers asking them questions like: what is your favorite place at camp, what is your least favorite meal, favorite activity area, who is the dancing queen and other fun questions. We tally up the surveys and then play a game. The contestants have to guess what the top answers to the surveys are. The team that loses has to do a consequence. In the first round we had the girls vs. boys campers. The girls won and the boys had to sing "aroostasha" with crackers in their mouth. The second round pitted counselors against campers. The campers lost and had to take a pie to the face. The third round was between the girls and boys counselors. It was a close match and there had to be a tie breaker. In the end the girls won and got to smash a raw eggs on the boys counselors heads. I Love Camp...

Tomorrow (Friday), is a special day at camp. We have a rodeo practice and all camp swim in the morning. Then we start pack-out after lunch. Next, everyone gets ready for the Banquet. The Banquet is a long time tradition at Circle F. We serve a special turkey dinner and have music. After the meal awards are given by the activity directors for campers who excelled. It is an honor to receive these ribbon awards. Then we hand out the year awards. First year campers get a bandanna, second years receive a horse shoe, third years get a hat, a lasso is presented to the fourth year campers, fifth year campers get spurs, sixth year campers get a speech and can take a horse (yes a real one), fourth session for free or a cash. For campers who have been coming for more than six years they can take fourth session for free or the cash. The campers love the awards and many counselors who were campers still have their ribbons and awards. After the Banquet we have the final dance. It is the best dance of the session. We show the DVD and the slide show (both are available at check-out). There is hardly a dry eye by the end of the night.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the whole gang

Two Days Left!!!!

Howdy Circle F Family,

How does it go by so fast. A day can feel like a week, yet, when you come to the end of a session, it seems like everyone just got here.

We have been having a great time over the last few days. Some of the highlights include our Nerd Dance, Islands of Adventure, Build-A-Boat and our normal fantastic activities. Today was our first ever Earth Day. Camper had a chance to build a city from scratch, and to leave a permanent mark on Circle F through native plant landscaping projects. This evening we had a visit from the Reptile Man. The Reptile Man is a local who puts on a wonderful show with Snakes, Turtles, Lizards and even a Crocodile. He talks about the animals and their habitats.

As we come near the end of the second session (sigh), there are some FAQ's that parents normally have:

Q:What day is Pick-UP?
A:Pick up is on SATURDAY July 12.

Q:What time is Pick-Up?
A:Campers will be ready for pick-up by 9:00AM. All campers should be on the road by Noon unless prior arrangements have been made.

Q:When is the Rodeo?
A:The Rodeo is at 10:00AM.

Q:Will my camper be in the Rodeo?
A:The rodeo is open to all campers, however, some campers choose not to participate.

Q:What if my camper wants to stay another session?
A:We do have availability for our 2 remaining sessions. We can arrange for your camper to stay for our next session or to come back for our 3rd or 4th session. There is a 5% discount on you additional session and you also receive a 5% discount on the current session.

Q:How do I sign up for next year? When will you have the dates available? Will the prices go up?
A: I am glad you asked. We have set the camp schedule for 2009 and we will have registration forms available at check-out. If you sign up for Summer 2009 before November 1st with your $500 deposit you will lock in the 2008 rates. You will also receive the early bird discount of 5% off tuition. I highly encourage you to sign up your campers for next summer before November 1st to take advantage of this huge discount.

Q:What is the deal with tipping counselors?
A:We neither discourage or encourage tipping. Our counselors are primarily college students working for money for tuition, books and extra spending money. If you feel the desire to tip your counselors you are allowed to, but it is not expected. Counselors appriciate any type of recognition, and are happy to know that you you, as parents and guardians, appriciate the hard work they have done.

Q:Should I tip the Assistant Director?
A:YES!!! (just kidding)

If you have any questions about pick-up, please feel free to contact us.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the whole gang

Mid-Summer Campfire

Howdy Circle F Family,

One of the longest traditions at Circle F are our Camp Fires. When you think of a camp fire you probably think of smore's and silly songs and the like. Our traditional camp fires are a bit different. We gather the entire camp around a huge bonfire. Then we give campers and counselors opportunities to speak about camp and what it means to them. The Mid-Summer Campfire features campers and counselors who have been coming to camp for more than 4 years. It is a great honor to be chosen to speak. The speakers seem to spend more time thinking and writing their speech than I devoted to my college entrance essay. I wish parents could see their campers deliver their speeches. It is truly amazing to see and hear campers speak about how camp has changed them. Over the next few days we will be posting some of the speeches.

Here is a speech from Getta Lombard our photographer and videographer:

I first came to Circle F 17 years ago. I have spent more than half of my life at this camp and have been greatly influenced by, not only this place, but the friendships I have formed here. My first year as a camper, I had a counselor named Steph. Each year I came back to camp, she was always here and usually my counselor. Through the years we have kept in touch, grown closer together, and now I cannot imagine my life without her. I introduced her to her husband, was maid of honor in her wedding and present at the birth of her baby. She has been such an influence on my life and I would not have her if it was not for this place. In 1994, my 3rd year as a camper, I met a great group of friends that I still have in my life today. Mike Langieri and Blake Yost were among 2 of these friends. Even though we usually only saw each other during the summer, there is a bond between us that cannot be broken. We have been there for each other through the greatest and roughest moments in each others lives, and I know they will continue to be in my life regardless of where our lives may take us. Besides the friendships that I have made at Circle F, I continued to come back here for the consistency this place provided for me in my life. No matter what was happening at home during the year, I knew when I came back to Circle F that my friends would be here, everything would be the same, it was a comfortable and stable environment that I craved as a child. My first year as a counselor was 1999, it was one of the greatest moments for me because finally I was a counselor, I had waited so long to be one, and I was able to start giving back to the place I loved most. In 2000, I met Murray and he was been a great friend ever since. Sometimes in the real world, you meet new people who become your friends, but the friends I have from Circle F are the ones I know I can count on and the ones I know will be there. A year ago today, I had brain surgery. My little sister, Rachel, was a counselor here, and I wanted more than anything to be here with her and the rest of my Circle F family instead of in a hospital room. Even though I have not been to camp since 2003, Rachel, Diana, Murray, and even some of my previous campers called to make sure I was okay. That was one of the hardest moments in my life but I found comfort in knowing that I had the support of Circle F to help get me through. This year, I wanted to come back to camp, not only because I love this place and what it has done for me, but for the friends I knew would be here this summer, Mike, Blake, Murray, Luis, Diana, Rachel, and all my campers that are now counselors, Sarah, Clare, Chelsea. This place can consume you and help you to grow as an individual. By embracing who you are and being true to yourself, you can meet lifelong friends, who don’t judge you, who love you for the person you are and will be there always. My life would not be the same without Circle F, I am grateful for the friends and memories I have here and I am blessed that God led my steps one day out to Circle F.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the whole gang

Happy 4th of July

Howdy Circle F Family,

Happy 4th of July. Today is an extra special day of camp. To celebrate our Independence Day we cancel our normal classes and fill the day with tons of all camp celebrations.

We started the morning off with the pledge of allegiance followed by the National Anthem (very patriotic). We had a very american breakfast of eggs, toast, and grits.

After camp clean up we prepared for the 4th of July parade. Each cabin group designed and built a float. Then we had a big Independence Day parade. You need to go see the pictures to see how awesome the floats were. There was a tank, an Ipod playing patriotic music, a school bus, a united we stand float among others. The parade went down the main road in camp and Stars and Stripes played as they marched through camp.

After our parade was the traditional girl vs. boy tug of war competition. I am sad to say the the girls wupped the boys. Next was Circle F Olympics with events like: three legged race, potato sack races, relay races and more. As you might guess, it was a blast.

This afternoon was Water Battle. It starts out as a water fight and ends up as a mud fight. It is probably my favorite time, I really feel like a kid again in all that mud.

This evening we had our Red, White and Blue dance. The dance was held down on the beach and it was the perfect weather. We ended the evening with some fire works and singing "I am proud to be an american." This will be a 4th of July that none of us will ever forget.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the Gang

July 2nd Blog

Howdy Circle F Family,

Sorry we had some technical difficulties with our internet. Here is the blog from July 2nd:

We are over half way done with Session Two . We have done so much already and now we will start the run to our exciting climax.

Rrrr waterfront staff arranged a special afternoon activity called Pirate Day today. There was buried treasure, eye patches, walking the plank, sailing wars (with water balloons) and other piratical activities. Be sure to check the website for pictures (www.circle-f-duderanch.com).

Today we had a big storm. In just over an hour we had one and a half inches of rain drop. The softball field was flooded and the lake rose nearly 3 inches due to runoff. There were also strong winds that dislodged the blob and dock on the lake and knocked down some branches. Luckily, we were able to track the storm early and we had everyone safe inside buildings during the short but fierce storm. One of the great things about camping in Florida is that it does not rain for a long time. As soon as the storm let up (about an hour), the campers were back out and onto the next activity. We quickly fixed the dock and will have the blob up and running before its next scheduled use.

Tonight’s evening program was the Co-Counselor Showdown. This game is a lot like the Newlywed Game. We take two counselors who have been living together for the whole summer and ask them questions about the other. Some examples included: “what is your co-counselor’s biggest pet peeve in the cabin,” “who is the bad cop in the cabin,” “what is your co-counselor’s favorite meal at camp” and more. The first counselor writes down the answer and then the second counselor tries to guess what they wrote. This leads to some very funny answers.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the Gang

P.A.T.H. Not just another hike...a journey.

By: Bri Cavion
As the female head counselor for the girl’s line this summer, my day is filled with laughter and joy of spending my time with all of the ladies and also learning how to resolve many of their self-made “camp dramas” that develop here in our closed lives. I have found in my experience with adolescents and children that nature has an uncanny way of bringing to light our true colors as human beings and revealing our abilities to problem solve - our Pioneer Campers this summer have been experiencing this very thing.

P.A.T.H. (Pioneer Adventure Teambuilding Hike) was developed by my good friend and coworker here at Circle F, Steven Murray, as a response to the lack of an interactive overnight experience for the Pioneer Campers. He brought me on board while we were both still working in wilderness therapy in Utah, and the idea seemed magnificent- taking a group of Pioneers into the “Back 40” (Circle F’s back property) at set up sights, teaching about nature, ourselves as people, and developing team building activities that put the campers in situations where they have to problem solve, communicate, and work as a singular unit.

Before the journey begins, I as the female P.A.T.H. coordinator instruct the girls that complaints will be met with a request for one positive acknowledgment, that we will provide everything they could need while we are out on P.A.T.H. and that their job is to maintain open minds and hearts for what they are about to experience. There are four phases to P.A.T.H. each relating to a different natural element. The first phase, led this last time (2nd session girls P.A.T.H.) by Pioneer 1 counselor Liz, was Water. Here she split the girls into three teams based on random counting. The challenge was to get the entire “team” onto a single log, then to organize themselves by birthday without falling off of the log. The team to complete the challenge first, wins. I then talked about water essence, how we as females can either create beauty in our own and other’s lives, or choose to destroy what is around us by word or deed. The journey continued to the next site.

Wind came next, with a teambuilding activity led by Sarah and Emily, the two other Pioneer 1 Counselors. Their game of “group juggle” gave the girls the opportunity to work together while learning each other’s names. We finished up this site by discussing what is most important in our lives and how we should pursue it, for our lives are truly as fleeting as the wind.

Fire would have come next, but the weather decided to create a different activity for us. The Pioneer 2 Counselors Mia and Rachel were in charge of distributing the jobs of collecting the firewood, food, and water and taking it to our final site. Though it was pouring, the girls donned their “rain jackets” (trash bags) held their heads high, and managed to get all of the provisions to the sleeping site. They ate their sac burgers and smores while the rain fell around us, we protected by our tarp shelter we had just put up. I personally, was very proud at how the 30 girls maintained their composure, and survived together as a single unit.

At the final resting site of Earth, I read a Hopi Native American story about taking the advice of our families, and learning to be satisfied with the simple things in our lives. We slept with the soft pitter patter against our tarp shelter as we huddled in close to stay warm.

We woke up and greeted the sun at 6:00 a.m. and the girls began to chat and giggle about how exciting the previous night was. Tiff and Allison, the Pioneer “0” girl Counselors organized the site cleanup and prepared the girls for their trek back into camp.

But what is a journey without a proper ceremony? The girls were then led into a “borra ground” a sacred site where I painted their faces with native symbols signifying their growth during their outdoor adventure. They then were each given a leather band to help them remember their experience in the wilderness and how they worked together to survive. We then packed up our bags and journeyed back into camp.

The official end of P.A.T.H. only comes however with the now-traditional jump in the lake following breakfast. We held hands as we scampered into our lake, now ready for a shower and a nap. The Journey ends here, but what was learned and developed while on P.A.T.H. is something that we can hold on to for much longer.

Sunday....not just another day!

Hi Families,
What a fantastic day we had today. We all got to sleep a little later than usual,believe me, we all needed it after the first week of non-stop action. After wake-up at 8:00 the campers enjoyed a picnic breakfast of bagels, cream cheese, granola bars, bananas and milk. It was such a beautiful morning. After breakfast we have the big Sunday morning clean up. Everyone takes their trunks outside and reorganizes all of their stuff...yes, your child actually did that! They also changed their sheets and helped to get the cabin clean. You would be amazed at the team effort that goes into getting that done. You would be proud. I know we are! After breakfast we have an extended morning thought. It was Roger's turn this week (we rotate the administation.) His was based on the Dr. Suess book about the Lorax. For those of you not familiar with that, it is basically about the environment and what happens if you don't take care of it. We are trying to make the campers more aware of taking care of "Mother Earth." We then did an all camp clean up followed by the ever popular general swim. A favorite lunch of chicken tenders was enjoyed by all. By that time everyone was ready for a siesta! The afternoon was sooooooo much fun. We had a Carnival with 2 bounce houses( one looked like a monster truck), a huge blow up slip and slide and a big waterslide. We also had apple bobbing, face painting, weight guessing, basketball toss and more. The kids had a blast and so did the staff. We followed Carnival with another general swim (a great way to get some dirt off) before heading to cabins to shower for dinner. Of course, Sunday night is everyones favorite PIZZA! You would think they had not had pizza for a year. It really is fun to watch them go crazy for it. We ended the evening with a movie, Enchanted, then store. It is raining lightly and I am listening to the sounds of laughter, conversation and children being children. I cannot explain how much pleasure we all get from that. Thanks for allowing us to enjoy your children. We really do have the best job in the world. Your kids are being kids and we love it! Have a fantastic week,
Diana and the whole Circle F Gang

Happy Un-Birthday!!!

Howdy Circle F Family,

Happy Un-Birthday!!! Today is the Un-birthday dance (imagine a big birthday party). We had piñatas, party favors, pin the tail and the donkey, clowns and great music. Campers love the dances because it gives them a time to be silly and to have a lot of fun. Be sure to check out the pictures tomorrow to see the festivities.

One of the funnier moments of the day happened when the Buck 2 Girls (B2G) Cabin staged a protest to save a turtle. The girls had come up with signs, songs and chants to demand that a turtle that was caught in Nature Lore be set free. Of course the turtle was never really captured, but that did not matter to the B2G's who wanted to make sure that their little animal friend was treated kindly. It felt like we were at a 60’s protest. Things like this can only happen at camp. The protest did force Diana to make a proclamation declaring that all turtles will be treated with respect and love (lol).

Yesterday we had a visit from Howie Mandel and the models from Deal or No Deal (see picture). Campers were competing to win prizes ranging from Ice Cream for the Whole Camp, Choose a Counselor to Throw in the Lake to Pie in the Face and Get Squirted by the Hose.

There was a request for the evening program schedule so here it is:

Sunday: Carnival/Movie Night
Monday: Men’s Beauty Review
Tuesday: 80’s Masquerade Ball (Dance)
Wednesday: Counselor Showdown (Kind of like Newlywed Game)
Thursday: Swim Meet
Friday: 4th of July Celebration (Olympics/Water Battle/Red White & Blue Dance)
Saturday: Mid-Summer Campfire
Sunday: Build-A-Boat/Islands of Adventure/What’s the Movie
Monday: Nerd Dance
Tuesday: Earth Day
Wednesday: Circle F Feud
Thursday: MTV Night
Friday: Banquet and Final Dance
Saturday: Rodeo/Good Bye 

Wow, I can’t believe we still have that much fun to have.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the Gang

PATH (Pioneer Adventure Team-Building Hike)

Howdy Circle F Family,

As promised, here is a blog written by a couple campers. Five Year Camper, Serena Collins and, two year camper, Nicole Raabe, recentley took part in our PATH program. Here is a blog they wrote about their experience:

It began w/ a circle of frightened yet excited pioneer girls. As we all told each other who we are and where we lived the bond finally began. As we sat off on our 2 mile hike, we had a total of 3 stops, each that had team building activities. We each learned how to connect to the elements of nature, but soon learned as it started to pour, that water over-powered them all. However, the rain didnt stop us.

Our head-counselor Bri taught us many ways to survive in the outdoors. For example, we used garbage bags as raincoats, our backpacks as pillows, and a tarp as a shelter. As we reached our 3rd stop, we realized we had to prepare our own food, and transported the grill, wood, and coolers to our final destination, out shelter. As the rain let up, we all sat around the fire and ate our food. The night ended with a lot of laughter and an awesome story told by Bri.

As the rooster calls woke us up, we cleaned up our final ceremony. We each got a bracelet and a tribal sybol on our face to remind us of the bond we built with each of the cabins.

We set off on our hike back to camp where we made it just in for breakfast. All in all, PATH was a great experience that build a lot of character.

Yee Haw

Talent Show
Howdy Circle F Family,
Wow, time is flying. The campers are in the camp groove and things are going great. A lot has happened since the last blog and I will try to catch everyone up. Two nights ago we had Water Mania. This is the second year we have this evening program and it is turning into a camp favorite. Water Mania consists of five games: Slip and Slide Tug of War (where you play tug of war on a soapy slip and slide), there’s a hole in my bucket relay race (where you pass a bucket of water (that has holes in it) to your teammates over your head), battleship (a version of the classic board game where the campers are the boats and the missiles are wet sponges) and slip and slide races. It is as wet and fun as it sounds.

Yesterday was a cold day at camp. I know in the last blog I said that you shouldn’t write too much about the weather, but, it was freezing here. We had a few cold showers in the afternoon that made the temperature drop so much that we had campers coming in wanting to buy sweatshirts. You may be wondering, What do you do when it rains at camp? If it is just raining we keep going with normal activities and sometimes we get a big game of GatorBall going. Yesterday we had a big game of Gatorball going. This is played like soccer but with some strange rules. You can pick up the ball and run with it if the ball is over your waist. When someone picks up the ball it becomes a two hand touch game. The game is fast, wet, dirty and a ton of fun. If there is lightening at camp, we have all of the campers get to either the Round-Up or Lasso Lodge where they will play inside games with the counselors. Luckily in Florida it hardly rains more than 30 minuets in a row.

Last night was our Talent Show. One of the greatest things about camp is that camp is a place where children (and counselors) can gain self confidence. The Talent Show really highlights this. There is nothing like a camper getting up in front of 176 peers and singing, dancing, telling jokes, acting out a skit, performing an instrument, or doing a magic trick and then being supported by their peers. I am always amazed how loud the audience will cheer for the campers who participate in the Talent Show. Even if the camper didn’t hit every note, or forgot the punch line to the joke, the audience will still show amazing support. We believe that everyone is a Superstar in camp and the Talent Show is a great way to drive home this point.

I have had some requests for the daily schedule, so here it is:

DAILY SCHEDULE


7:30 AM Reveille
7:50 AM Waiter’s Call
8:00 AM Flagraising
8:10 AM Morning Thought
8:20 AM Breakfast
8:50 AM Clean-up
9:20 AM Bell---Begin First Activity
Bunkhouse Inspection
10:30 AM Bell---End First Activity
10:45 AM Bell---Begin Second Activity
11:55 AM Bell---End Second Activity
12:10 PM Waiter’s Call
12:25 PM Lunch
1:05 PM Siesta/ Infirmary Call
2:15 PM Cantina Time
2:35 PM Bell---Begin Third Activity
3:45 PM Bell---End Third Activity
4:00 PM Bell---Begin Fourth Activity
5:10 PM Bell---End Fourth Activity
5:30 PM Waiter’s Call
5:45 PM Supper
6:30 PM Infirmary Call
7:15 PM Evening Program
8:30 PM Evening Medications
8:45 PM Co-Buck Vespers
9:05 PM Buckaroo Vespers
9:25 PM Wrangler Vespers
9:45 PM Pioneer Vespers
10:00 PM Taps
Now you know what you campers are up to at anytime in the day.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the Gang

Letter Writing Day

Howdy Circle F Family,

Wednesday is letter writing day at Circle F Dude Ranch so you can expect at least one letter from camp (lol). Letter writing is a skill that is being lost quickly as texting, facebook, email, and cell phones all give us 24/7 instant connection. Why would anyone write a letter anymore? By the time it gets there it is already old news. Camp may be one of the last times that your camper is disconnected from their cell phone/computer for the rest of their lives. Treasure this time and use it grow your relationship with you camper through writing. Writing makes us sit down and really think about what we want to say. Sure we could srcibble off a quick "I miss you and the dog is good" message. Or we could also use this time to write some meaningful messages to our campers about what our hopes and dreams our for them. What we want them to get out of camp. What you are learning about yourself from being away from them. Write them a story about when you went to camp or when you had an adventure. Here are some letter writing tips that I stole from a website and updated:

1.) When writing to children under 12 years of age, print (not cursive writing)
2.) Writing letters takes time.
3.) Form a mental picture of your camper, and the things that you enjoy or appreciate about them.
4.) Be specific and be descriptive. Try being funny.
5.) Don't spend a lot of time describing the current weather. Exceptions would be abnormal weather conditions for the day.
6.) Highlight information you don't want your reader to miss.
7.) Attach stickers to emphasis a point or just to add fun.
8.) What you share should be fun and interesting, but, most importantly, a part of you. Your interests and experience matter.
9.) Include a photograph, draw a picture, be creative.
10.) Find time to write another letter. Make it a habit.

I have found that the more your write the easier it becomes. It's like when you talk to a friend you haven't seen in some time you can run out of things to talk about. But when you see the person everyday, you never run out of things to talk about. Be as specific about your day as possible and your letters will start to come alive.

You can send your letters to:
Circle F Dude Ranch Camp
Attn: Camper Name (Cabin #)
PO Box 888
Lake Wales, FL 33859

If you do not have your cabin # it is ok. It just helps us disperse the mail faster.

Today I am writing to you during Siesta. Siesta is a time after Lunch where we take a break. All the campers go to their cabins and either take a nap, read, listen to music or write a letter. During siesta today we had a monsterous lightening storm. It rained over an inch in an hour. Campers and Counselors love it when it rains during Siesta. It is perfect napping weather. I just had a camper come in and complain of being cold. Luckily, right at 2:15, when Siesta is over, the storm cleared and now the campers are at Cantina.

Last night was a ton of fun. Our program director Murray came up with a new program called game show night. We had the dating game where counselors played funny characters on the classic question and answer game. Some of the characters included a robot, a pirate, Mary Catherine Gallagher (super star), and a Polk County country girl. The second game was "are you smarter than a co-buck." I variation of the Jeff Foxworthy game "are you smarter than a 5th grader." We had an incoming high-school junior try to make it through elementary school questions, with some help from some of our younger campers. I had a lot of fun as the sound effects guy. I had the sounds from some of your favorite game shows, canned laughter, canned cheering, and other funny sounds and songs to play during the event. The game show night was a huge success and will be a crowd favorite for a long time.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the Gang

Welcome Dance

Howdy Circle F Family,

Things are going Fantastic!!! The campers are having an absolute blast. Yesterday was the first day of activities. At the barn the campers were put through a skills test and then assigned to a ring. We have 3 rings at Circle F: yellow ring is for beginners, red ring is for intermediate and blue ring is for advanced. Now that the campers have been assigned to a ring and now have a horse (we have over 60) they will alternate between ring work (where they work on skills) and trail rides (where campers get to use their skills out on our 400 acres of trails). Campers who sign up for horseback riding get to ride everyday except for Sunday. It is definitely one of the most popular areas of camp.

For the first day of the Rock Wall/Zip Line, campers do an activity called the trust fall. The trust fall is done by standing on a platform about 3 or 4 feet in the air and free falling backward into the hands of fellow campers and counselors. You have to have absolute trust in your friends to catch you. This activity is mentally challenging and a lot of fun.

The evening activity was the First Timers Ice Cream Social and Opening Dance. The Ice Cream Social is for all of our first time campers. It is a chance for them to meet other first time campers and it is also a chance for us to teach them some of our traditions including our songs. After the Ice Cream social the First Year campers run through the welcome tunnel (which is made up of second + year campers) into the dance. This is to symbolize that they are now part of the Circle F Family. Then they dance.

Tuesday is picture day at Circle F. All of the campers get a Circle F T-Shirt (which looks awesome if I do say so myself) and then they get both cabin and individual pictures. The cabin photos will be posted later today. We will also be sending a printed copy of the cabin photo to the parents/guardians at home. The individual pictures will be for sale at check-out.

Tonight we have game show night. I will write more about that later.

Tomorrow we start allowing parents to call in at meal times. As I have said before, Diana and I are not big fans of having parents call campers. Often times it does a lot more harm than good. It happens almost every day: A camper, who seconds ago was laughing and singing with their new friends, is now crying and missing home even more because of a phone call. For a homesick camper a phone call from home is one of the worst things that can happen. Homesick campers need to realize that they are in charge of whether they have fun at camp or not. When parents call it opens the flood gates and it stunts their growth. Also, I think many children want to please their parents. One way they do this is by acting upset for a phone call home to show how much they miss you. If you really feel like it is important to call here are some things to remember:
1) Meal Times are at 8:10AM, 12:25PM and 5:45PM.
2) Please keep calls short (2 mins. or less)
3) We only have one phone line so it can be very difficult to get through (use redial button)
4) Please try to limit how many times you call so other parents can get through
5) The meals are very loud
6) The phone number to call is 863-676-4113

So now that I have convinced you not to call you campers at camper you are probably wondering what you should do to feel connected to your campers? WRITE. Letter writing is a lost art nowadays. This could possibly be the last time that you are unable to reach your child by phone. So pick up a pen or pencil and write a meaningful letter. Ask questions, give observations. Campers love mail at camp.

You can also fax. The fax number is 863-676-5263. Faxes go out at lunch everyday so there is no need to send more than one fax a day. We also do not need a cover letter on the faxes. Just make sure that the cabin number and or name is on the fax.

It is just about dinner time. I will talk to you y'all soon.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang

First Day of Session Two

Howdy Circle F Family,

Today was the first day of Session 2. I would like to welcome all of the new friends and families who are reading this blog for the first time.

I realized something this weekend. People are stalking this blog. On multiple occasions this weekend people told me that they could not sleep without their daily blog. One mother even told me that she would read my blog with, one eye open, in bed on her Iphone. I will try to write everyday and give you a run down of the day and some of my observations of camp. I am also going to try to get some guest bloggers (campers and counselors) to write as well. If you have any questions or comments I will be sure to respond. So let us begin.

Today was the opening day of the second session. It was so great to see so many returners and a lot of new faces as well. We have moved back check-on to 10am to allow us a little more time to prepare camp and it has resulted in a longer line. We want to apoligize for the long wait time today. Please know that we work hard to make the line move as fast as possible. This year we added a new medical form that really added to the time spent in line. However, everyone made it through and everyone made it their cabins and met their counselors.

We had an awesome lightning storm that really cooled down the day. After the rain we had our swim test and then a general swim. A general swim is when the entire camp goes swimming. It is such a great way to start the session.

For dinner we had fried chicken (trans fat free), mashed potatoes, broccoli, rolls, salad, and there is always peanut butter and jelly. During the meal there are tradition "knit one pearl twos", singing and dancing and general merriment.

The first part of our evening program was the photo scavenger hunt. The object is to take pictures around camp that are worth points. The 4 cabins with the most points win a ice cream and movie party. Not only is this a great way to learn where everything is, it is also a great cabin team building event. Here are a couple of the examples of the pictures on the scavanger hunt: A pyrimid of campers in front of the barn, spell out the word camp on the beach, do the trust fall at the rock wall, a group hug at the climbing tree, and they had to do the Aroostasha with me (the Aroostasha is a very funny song where you contort your body, there are some pictures of campers doing the dance under pictures). In the end the winners were the Wrangler 2 Girls, Wrangler 2 Boys, Buck-a-roo 4 Girls, and Buck-a-roo 2 boys.

After the photo scavenger hunt were the Counselor Skits. This is a chance for the different activity areas to perform skits that may, or may not, introduce themselves and their activity areas. Rock Wall had a skit involving Tarzan and Jane, The office girls had Miley Cyrus (spelling?) (sorry I am not a 12 year old girl) (you will find that I like to write in brackets) (I think it is hilarious)(are you laughing yet?), riding did a Wild Wild West dance, and the strangest was by our Nature Lore/Camp Craft who threw pennies on the stage. It was so camp.

Now the campers are in bed. Lying down for the first night of camp. I wish you all a great night sleep. Please know that your campers are in good hands.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the Gang

Final Day of First Session

Howdy Circle F Family,

Today was the longest day of the year, literally, and we were so happy to share it with your campers. The last day of a session is always a magical day. We have a special day on the last day with rodeo practice,a general swim, pack out and a very special banquet.

The banquet is a Circle F tradition going back 57 years. It is a special dinner where we present ribbons to campers who excelled at the different activity areas. We also hand out the year awards. First year campers receive a bandanna, second years get a horseshoe, third year campers get a hat, fourth years get a lasso, fifth years receive spurs and sixth year campers can choose between a horse (yes a real one), a free fourth session of camp, or cash. The banquet always has a lot of crying, cheering and general merriment.

After the banquet we do our closing dance. We started by showing the DVD (which will be available for sale at check-out). Then we party like rock stars. In fact the oldest campers are still dancing.

I look forward to seeing all of our 1st session parents and families tomorrow. Please be sure to stop by the announcing booth for the rodeo to say hi.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the Gang

Circle F Feud

Howdy Circle F Family,

We had our last day of activities today :(. We are going to miss all of our friends. Tonight's evening activity is a camp favorite: Circle F Feud. It is kind of like Family Feud but the questions are about camp and there are consequences for getting the answer wrong. Questions range from favorite food to favorite activity area. There were three rounds, campers vs. campers, campers vs. counselors, and counselors vs. counselors. The game ended with the boy counselors beating the girl counselors and giving the girls a pie to the face. You have to love camp.

I have to share a story with you that just happened to me. This story really captures how amazing Circle F can be. I spend a lot of time outdoors; it is my favorite thing to do. I have seen a full Moon rise many times and I was super excited to find out that I was leading the Wrangle 4 Girls, Wrangler 5 Girls and Wrangler 3 Boys on the hay ride and campfire tonight because I knew I would get to see the moon rise. During our s'mores and storytelling, we looked over and saw this magnificent moon rising in the East. Everyone dropped everything to go and look at the moon. However, and this is where it got kind of weird, there was a small object in the sky with the moon. The best way to describe it would be a star on fire. It was much bigger and brighter than a star, it pulsed like a star, but it was certainly not a star. Of course this led all of the campers (and staff) to start guessing as to what this phenomenon was. Just when I thought people would get bored with the fire ball and the discussion would change to something else, it disappeared. Whoa, I have never seen anything like it. The ball of fire just disappeared into thin air. Again the campers (and staff) starting guessing as to what it was. Just when I thought the campers were going to get bored again, it came back. This is truly the strangest thing I have ever seen. And it all happened at camp. The best part was that we got share this experience with each other. We did not run to the computer to see what it was, we did not turn on the TV, we only had each other to share this moment. No one else in camp even saw it. It was a unique moment just to that group at that time. Those campers will always remember the night when they saw the ufo/blimp/gas/satellite/star/planet/etc... That is the cool part about camp, all the unique moments that shape who we are and bring us together as people.

Just another reminder. Pick Up time for session 1 is from 9am-12pm on Saturday. Drop off for Session 2 is from 10am - 2pm on Sunday. For more information on pick up please see my previous post.

I can't believe that this is my second to last post for session 1. I will miss all of the parents, friends and families of our session 1 campers. Please check-in on this blog from time to time as I will continue to blog everyday of summer camp and throughout the year.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the Gang

P.S. What did the ocean say to the beach? Nothing it waved!

Dun da dun daa, dun da dahh, dun da duhn daa, dun da dun da da!!!

Howdy Circle F Family,

Indiana Jones was at Circle F today in search of his Random Stuff (hence the Indiana Jones theme music in the title of this blog). This was a game of physical, mental and all-around skills. Campers competed in Canoe Races, Rock Wall Climbing, Archery and Puzzle Solving. Music from the movies rang through camp as the campers ran from obstacle to obstacle trying to unlock the mystery. In the end, all had a great time and all found the treasure at the end of the rainbow: evening store.

Each meal we start with a song. After the meal we sing some of the most outrages songs you have ever heard. We have the "Banana Song," "Um-Oht," "The Canoe Song," "Little Red caboose," "the froggie song," "the welcome song," "good morning campers," "down by the bank," "hi my name is Joe," "tarzan," "arustacha," "Johhny Rebec," "the beaver song" and a whole lot more. As the names suggest, these are some crazy songs. A lot of them involve different hand motions and dances and others make you contort your body into hilarious positions. This is one of the wonderful things about camp. Nobody ever questions whether or not we should be singing these wacky songs. If someone were to, at home after the meal, stand on our chair and break into a loud,rambunctious song about a person sticking their head into a skunk whole, we would probably call the looney bin. At camp all of us are crazy and that is what makes camp so much fun.

I really have to throw a shout out to our counselors. They are working so hard to put on the best camp possible. If you were to ask me to choose in between my staff and all of my fun camp toys such as the blob, rock wall, etc... I would take the staff in a second. Many of our counselors are former campers and they are trying to give these campers the same great experiences that they had when they came to Circle F. This is always impressive to me because it shows that they have matured enough to realize the benefits they received by going to camp. I wish that all of you reading this blog could really get to know the counselors. We have the future movers and shakers right here at Circle F. They have so much energy and passion for life. It is part of my job to keep them inspired and motivated, however, I feel like that often times they are the ones who are motivating and inspiring me to reach my full potential. The work they are doing with the campers is truly inspiring. The first goal of Circle F is to help campers grow more independent and more self confident. It is an amazing byproduct that our counselors (and administration) also grow in the process of growing our campers.

If you have any questions about camp, camp philosphy, camp history, or if you have a funny joke please comment on the blog and I will try to answer your questions.

As we come near the end of the first session (sigh), there are some FAQ's that parents normally have:

Q:What day is Pick-UP?
A:Pick up is on SATURDAY June 21.

Q:What time is Pick-Up?
A:Campers will be ready for pick-up by 9:00AM. All campers should be on the road by Noon unless prior arrangements have been made.

Q:When is the Rodeo?
A:The Rodeo is at 10:00AM.

Q:Will my camper be in the Rodeo?
A:The rodeo is open to all campers, however, some campers choose not to participate.

Q:What if my camper wants to stay another session?
A:We do have availability for our 3 remaining sessions. We can arrange for your camper to stay for our next session or to come back for our 3rd or 4th session. There is a 5% discount on you additional session and you also receive a 5% discount on the current session.

Q:How do I sign up for next year? When will you have the dates available? Will the prices go up?
A: I am glad you asked. We have set the camp schedule for 2009 and we will have registration forms available at check-out. If you sign up for Summer 2009 before November 1st with your $500 deposit you will lock in the 2008 rates. You will also receive the early bird discount of 5% off tuition. I highly encourage you to sign up your campers for next summer before November 1st to take advantage of this huge discount.

Q:What is the deal with tipping counselors?
A:We neither discourage or encourage tipping. Our counselors are primarily college students working for money for tuition, books and extra spending money. If you feel the desire to tip your counselors you are allowed to, but it is not expected. Counselors appriciate any type of recognition, and are happy to know that you you, as parents and guardians, appriciate the hard work they have done.

Q:Should I tip the Assistant Director?
A:YES!!! (just kidding)

That is all for tonight. I wish you the happiest dreams of all time.

Fantastic Wishes,
Roger Hanafin and Gang
Assistant Director

P.S. your text language lesson for the day is "B4N" meaning "Bye For Now."