This week in Kangas was full of creativity, connection, and some very special moments that reminded us just how much these campers have grown into a community.
One of my favourite moments was watching Eden win the Big Chair. She has been trying to win one for three summers, so when her name was announced, she perked up in shock. Then the biggest smile spread across her face as she ran up to receive it. Her peers were just as excited as she was, cheering her on and wrapping her in a huge group hug. It was one of those moments where the award itself was only part of the story. The best part was seeing how genuinely happy everyone was for her. We also had some pretty fabulous cabin spirit this week. Lolly and Forest’s K2 cabin put together an amazing group costume, with the counsellors dressed as Radtagz bands and each camper representing a tag. Their creativity paid off when they won Silly Bananas, and they were absolutely thrilled!
Our specialist activities brought plenty of hands-on fun. In Krafty Kids with Vine, campers made their own “catch the ball in a cup” games. They had a blast decorating them, putting them together, and then immediately testing them out. In Science with Chord, campers built lung models using balloons and cups. It was one of those activities where the science suddenly became something they could actually see happening in front of them. Watching the models work gave campers a really cool, tangible way to understand how their own bodies breathe. As always, our Kangas loved singing their hearts out in the Recording Studio!
Unit Time was all about getting creative together. Campers made ombré tie-dye shirts using pink and blue dye, discovering that when the two colours met in the middle, they could create beautiful shades of purple. Everyone approached their shirt a little differently, and by the end we had a whole collection of completely unique designs. There was something especially fun about seeing campers start with the same colours and finish with something that felt entirely their own. We also worked together with the Tigers to create a Senior Camp banner. Having all of Kangas and Tigers contribute to one shared project made it feel like a real piece of our camp community.
And then, of course, there was MusicFest. Ariel led the whole camp in camp songs, bringing everyone together for one of those wonderfully loud, slightly chaotic, very camp moments. Later, Fox played guitar while the whole camp sang “Home.” With everyone gathered together and singing along, it was a beautiful way to mark the last day of camp and celebrate the community we had built together.
There were lots of reasons to celebrate during Schmooze this week, too. Our Silly Bananas winners were Elijah, Elenora, Sedona, Bridget, and the whole K2 cabin of Lolly and Forest. Vladimir from K3 earned his 5-year tag, while Eamon and Felix from K1 and both Zacharys from K2 earned their 3-year tags. And then there was Eden and her long-awaited Big Chair victory! She finally got her moment—and judging by the reaction from her friends, it was a win for the whole group.
Staff Celebration Moment
This week’s staff celebration goes to Forest. Forest has a real gift for making campers feel seen. He builds deep connections with the kids in his care, while also being incredibly organized, attentive, and committed to keeping everyone safe. What stands out most is that his connection with campers isn’t limited by cabin assignments or how long they have been at camp. A camper can spend one week or nine weeks here and still feel like Forest knows them and cares about them. A perfect example came this week when Elijah dressed up as Forest—even though Elijah wasn’t even in Forest’s cabin this summer. Apparently, the Forest fan club extends well beyond K2! It was a very sweet reminder of the kind of impression Forest makes on campers simply by being present, caring, and genuinely interested in who they are.
Caregiver Question of the Week
When does registration open for Summer 2027?!?
We open registration in October each year. You’ll receive an email with further information!
