Mandarin Camp Day 3
- Dave
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Last night’s game was a huge hit with the campers! Unfortunately, since it takes place in a dark room, we don’t have any photos to share—but rest assured, there was plenty of laughter and excitement.
This morning, we brought everyone together for one of our most popular activities: the Giant Swing. Just like it sounds, campers wear a rock-climbing harness and are clipped into a long hanging cable. Their teammates help pull them high into the air—unless they call out “stop!” partway up. On the count of three, the camper pulls the release themselves and swings out into the air. It’s thrilling and empowering, and always a highlight of the week.
Next up was Pillow Polo, a camp favorite that’s similar to field hockey but played with soft foam clubs and a big sponge ball. We keep everyone in one group and mix up teams. Since it’s a game most campers haven’t played before, everyone starts on equal footing, which helps keep things fun and inclusive.
In the afternoon, campers had a free choice period. They could pick between another round of archery or shrimping in the streams around camp. These small pools are full of critters like freshwater shrimp, crabs, and tiny fish. The campers split about evenly between the two activities, which made for a nice balance.
Rain started to fall during the free choice time. Archery continued under cover, and the shrimping crew had their raincoats, but the wet grass made our planned outdoor game a bit tricky. So we made a quick switch and ran a set of indoor team challenges instead—flexibility is key in camp life!
After dinner, we have something special planned: movie night! After three full days of activities, it’s a nice chance for the campers to slow down, relax, and recharge. We’ll serve popcorn and do our best to recreate the theater experience right here at camp.
That is all for tonight. They need my computer to show the movie. As usual, there are pictures below.
