Sunday is the Big Day at JNC and the Staff works up to the last minute to make sure everything is ship shape and ready for the campers.
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Naturalist Dave Sapienza reviews the Junior Nature Camp bird lists from previous years.
Sunday started out with a staff bird walk, breakfast and then more meetings and chores.
The empty nest - but not for long!
Assistant CIT directory Jessica Altemus makes sure every camper has a hand made name badge ready and waiting for them.
Ready to be claimed - and cherished as a nice Junior Nature Camp memento.
Nurse Lois goes through the registration process with 3rd year camper Jon Hostottle.
One of the many instructional posters - this one hand drawn, which adorn the front porch of the dining hall. These posters are referred to constantly and frequently by both campers and staff.
There are nature lessons everywhere at Junior Nature Camp. Head Cook Kim told me about this great photo opp on the back porch of the kitchen. It is a Robin's nest.
Mom (Alumnus Kit Reed) helps her son, Ethan, get settled in to his home for the next week.
Naturalist Dave and I spotted this interesting shelf fungus which is in the early stages of development. It is growing on a White Ash in Mingo unit.
Hamming it up for the camera.
Everyone always has lots of stuff to move in.
A sudden thunderstorm during move- in sent everyone scrambling for shelter and rain gear. Here, first time Junior Nature Camper Jack Tappert show his off. A good lesson for all campers - be prepared!
It poured and poured for about 45 minutes. But, it takes more than that to dampen spirits at Junior Nature Camp
This camper was prepared also and heads to her tent to wait out the rain.
Some of the Counselors and CITs talk over camp details.
A little volley ball after the rain.
Staff sets up the dining room on the first day while campers get moved in and reaquainted.
Like the rest of the staff, the cooks are always busy.
Ben, the dining hall manager stands aside as Ethan gives the dinner bell rope a good pull...
... and the campers pour in for the first me at Junior Nature Camp.
At Junior Nature Camp every one pitches in helping out with chores. One of those is scraping the plates after every meal - not a fun job. So, Naturalist Dave came up with a solution - The Clean Plate Club. When you sit at Dave's table he explains the process: If you don't want to scrape then whatever goes on you plate goes in your mouth.
It works! No scraping for this table!
After out first dinner Director Jeff Altemus introduced the staff. Shown here are all the counselors and Director Jeff in the foreground.
Assembled here are the Senior Staff. Contrary to popular belief they are not called "Senior" because of their age.
A lovely sunset on Ska-no-wun-de, the Winterized Lodge.
Every full and busy day ends with two Junior Nature Camp traditions: Vespers, shown here and Campfire. Vespers is a time of to calm one's self and reflect on the days activities. Quiet, calming songs are sung, poems are read and everyone gets to enjoy the quiet beauty of a mountain sunset.
Another beautiful evening at Camp Giscowheco, home to Junior Nature Camp.
After vespers the campers get a healthy, sugar free snack before heading up the hill to the Campfire circle.
After vespers the campers get a healthy, sugar free snack before heading up the hill to the Campfire circle.
Here, Jonathan acts as Ishkete, the fire starter. This is considered a great honor at Camp and is taken very seriously.
As the fire grows and brightens, songs are sung, nature observations are reported and, on this first nite, introductions are made all around. And so it goes - the end of the first day, but the beginning of another great Camp.