UPLAND HILLS FARM DAY CAMP MOOSLETTER

MOOSLETTER SESSION 5

July 21 - 25

Well here we go again!  It is already 5th session. 

The week started with getting the new campers settled in with a tour of the Farm to learn where and what everything is - bathrooms, water fountains, places they can and cannot go and swimming tests. Then on Tuesday we are able to have a normal day which consists of chores after the bus arrives, assembly (we find out what is happening for the day) then activities.  Following an explanation of each activity a description is used - a D.O. (you come at the beginning of the activity and then you may drop out), D.I.D.O. (drop in drop out), S.W.U.T.E.T. (stay with us the entire time) or a K.T.K. (kids teaching kids) activity.  If a camper has an activity that he/she may want to share, they just need to meet with a counselor to organize supplies and to help them lead the activity.  The D.I.D.O.'s and D.O.'s enable the campers to move to a different activity. 

As you may guess, cooking is a very popular activity.  This week there were cooking projects such as  banana boats, butter making, glass candy and blueberry muffins.  Some may think Nature Nick has the best job on the Farm.  Besides taking hikes, making Petoskey stones shine, pressing flowers, Nick takes the campers swamping.  When going swamping you bring a change of clothes and shoes so you can become totally submerged in the swamp trying to catch that prize snake, turtle or frog.  After swamping campers can jump in the lake with their swamping clothes on prior to taking them home.  In the sports department there was putt putt golf, kick the can and the usual games of basketball and lightening.

Super Hero day was a super success.  Not only did we have batman, Spiderman, cat women, cheese man and superman; we had real heroes.  Our Addison Township Fire Department and E.M.T.'s showed up to let the campers in the truck to blast the horns.  (A little loud just right outside of the cow barn.)  The Firemen held onto the fire hoses and shot a water cannon that could reach a third story window.  It was a truly super day.

Even though it’s after hours, Latch Key is a big part of camp.  Some of our campers are here from dawn till dusk.  Our caregivers have some fun times with the latch key crew.  Often you can smell bacon sizzling in the morning along with some pancakes and eggs (from our chickens.)  After hours they usually make mac & cheese, spaghetti, etc.  No one in latch Key starts or leaves camp with an empty stomach.  Latch Key is truly a relaxed environment for those who stay with us all day long!

It has been a fun week.

Thank you,

Leslie Webster

MOOSLETTER SESSION 4

July 14 - 18

Wow, another session of UHF Day Camp is over!  Time flies when you're having fun.  So much happened this session that I'm sure I will forget to mention some neat activity.

Even though we had a little thunder and rain, the overnight survived and so did all the campers.  Everyone enjoyed a dinner of spaghetti, garlic bread and tossed salad made with lettuce from the camp garden.  There was an evening of entertaining skits performed by each group.  The bonfire followed the skits but was short lived as it started to rain.  Andrew, a new counselor this year, thoroughly enjoyed the skit initiating him into the brotherhood of counselors.  I think they made Andrew into a hamburger and actually poured ketchup and mustard on him.

One super activity that the children loved was Steve giving mule rides throughout the Farm.  Steve knows it's the pedal on the right so the rides are a little speedy.  The rides cost each camper 10 pieces of litter off of the ground.  Almost like going to Cedar Point.  Steve also had a great group of girls helping him with the horses daily! Thank you girls for all of your horse help.

New kittens just appeared in the barn this session.  We are still waiting for Dora to have her kittens too.  So if anyone would like to adopt one of these adorable creatures, please stop by to see me in the cow barn.  The kittens are $25.00 and they come with a worming and their first set of shots.  They have been loved and cuddled constantly so they will make great pets!

On Thursday everyone on the Farm was exuberant when Charlie made his Chili.  Actually it's his father's secret recipe and boy is it good!  There were a lot of other goodies made this week like ice cream, potato pancakes, homemade lemonade and butter using cream from UHF cows.

There are usually 10 to 15 activities offered daily here.  There was a rope swing in the woods, slip-n-slide, golf driving range, pet rocks, glass etching, nature photography, making cat toys, tie dying, papermaking, animal care, horseback riding, woodshop and much much more.

A wonderful part of camp is Patrick, our bus driver.  Patrick makes the ride to and from camp on the bus truly safe and enjoyable!  All of our children and staff love Patrick!

Well, just five more sessions to go.  So we are almost halfway through a great summer at Upland Hills Farm.

Thank you,

Leslie Webster

MOOSLETTER SESSION 3

July 7 - 11

This summer Counselor Sean has everyone sawing and hammering away to create blue bird houses.  Campers delight in learning how to build a home for our little bird buddies.  Campers were also seen decorating their flip flops.  The next day children were walking around the Farm with sparkles, glitter, tassels and even eyes on their feet.  Once a week there is the ever-popular tie dye creations.  Then on Friday, everyone wears their tie dyed clothing.  I must say we are the most colorful camp ever!

During Session 3, a clip-clopping sound was heard coming down the road and beautiful Bruzilla trotted into camp making Upland Hills Farm her new home.  Neighbors of UHF, Al & Sandy, donated the 18 year old Arabian mare.  As Al rode her into camp she snorted at the pigs, stared at the chickens and said to the cows you're big, but not a horse!  All these new sites and sounds for Bruzilla to learn about.

Frogs, snakes and turtles beware!  Nature Counselor Nick went swamping with the campers again.  Also, there is always a sport or two taking place at camp.  This session we had broom hockey, soccer, lightening and capture the flag.  Then swimming every afternoon (weather permitting) along with boating and sand castle building. Animal care always has something happening!  Be it chicken catching lessons (for the children who we fondly refer to as chicken terrorists),  holding baby chickens, milking a cow, loving kittens and sitting with baby ducks.Something's always cooking at camp like cookies, ice cream, monkey bread or butter making.  Egg collecting happens throughout the day.  As they collect the eggs the campers take them into the office and place the eggs into a basket on the counter.  We think the campers wait by the chickens for an egg to drop out so they can take it to the office.  Then they go back and wait for another egg to be laid.  Oh what fun!

Thank you,

 Leslie Webster

MOOSLETTER SESSION 2

 June 23 – 27

Second session at UHF Day Camp was awesome.  We pulled Steve out of the mothballs to oversee the horseback riding program.   Steve offered open riding daily and campers learned how to go and whoa!  Maggie, Stomp, Thunder, Riley and Louise were saddled and ready to go every morning.

Leslie was often found working in the cow barn.  The cow barn is a favorite spot for campers because the kittens and animals are plentiful.    Animal activities held by Leslie were chicken catching lessons, cow milking and she taught want to be farmers how to trim rabbit toes!   (See Leslie if you would like to adopt a UHF kitten!)  After camp, parents often enjoyed hanging out at the cow barn too.  It’s just the place to be! 

Gretta finally had her calf.  It’s a boy.  The calf was born on the overnight and we all missed seeing the birth by minutes.  The mother goose finally hatched her eggs and so far there are three goslings.

Nature Counselor Nick hosted swamping and hiking events.  The Nature Center is the home of frogs, toads, turtles and snakes caught by UHF nature enthusiasts.  The brand new junior naturalist program began this session. Children were taught fire safety, followed by how to start a fire without matches or a lighter.  We attempted two methods of fire starting. One was using a bow which rotates a hardwood branch on top of a softwood base and the other was using a magnifying glass to amplify the sun’s rays.

Counselor Meghan enlightened campers on how to make and churn butter so it would be available on the overnight for the morning’s pancakes!  Some campers even took the butter home.

 All of the UHF staff created group banners to hang in the assembly barn.  Andrew Whetstone was seen in the craft shop many times after hours working intensely on his group banner.  (Allie helped him with some ideas.)

The Craft Shop was the center of activity for making cookies, candle holders, paper, invisible ink, bird houses, crocheting, basket and finger weaving.  Cat toys were created for the kittens on the Farm and for camper’s cats at home.  Sporting events are popular at camp and some of these were capture the flag, fishing and dodge ball. These activities were all led by enthusiastic UHF Counselors!  

Camp Directors Casey and Sarah made sure that camp ran smoothly.  They also held tie-dye Wednesday, planned the meals and events for the overnight and promoted a safe and fun environment for all of the UHF campers.   Patrick, our bus driver made sure all the campers arrived to camp and returned home securely.

The overnight skits were star studded and a smashing success with Oscar performances from the Giggle Pigs (5 year olds) to the Tasmanian Devils (12 year olds.)  During the overnight we managed to dodge most of the rain drops.  No amount of rain could put a damper on an UHF Day Camp overnight!

MOOSLETTER SESSION 1

 June 16 - 20

Wow!  Another summer of Day Camp is here and there is a lot going on.

Theme Day on Thursday was Pirate Day and many campers came dressed as a pirate.  Activities included boat building and making crafts such as eye patches, parrots, flags, honey cakes, balloon swords and tin can lanterns.  Many campers were sporting  beards and tattoos while others were digging for treasure.  Camp Directors Sarah and Casey were even dressed as buccaneers.  Poor Tinker Bell was kidnapped by some bad pirates but then later rescued! 

Every day there is open horseback riding at camp.  Our new horses Stomp, Black Jack, Riley and Pilgrim are welcomed and loved by all!  Farmer Steve was even reputed to have hopped on Louise for a spin around the ring.  Thunder is still at UHF and is an all time favorite.

The animals at UHF are also busy.  Gretta is due to have her calf any day.  Hopefully, a photo will soon be available and posted on this link.  There are now 14 kittens on the Farm.  These kittens are available for adoption.  If any campers would like to adopt an UHF kitten, please have one of your parents talk with Farmer Leslie.

Some non-pirate activities this week  were horse grooming, brownie baking, wood burning, paper making, flower pot painting, producing goat cheese, fishing, designing dream catchers and creating cat toys for the kittens.

Even though the weather was not the best for swimming, campers did go to the lake on some of the days.  There is always tons to do at the lake - boating, swimming, sand castle building, frog catching and more.

The sports enthusiasts at UHF enjoyed games of kickball, broomball, flag football and free the prisoners.

Our first session is almost complete, eight more to go!