What an incredible week with the Tigers! One of my favourite moments came on the very first day as I looked across the field and watched our four Tiger groups jumping into their welcome activities. One group tossed around a giant beach ball covered in “get-to-know-you” questions, and within minutes, campers who had arrived as strangers were discovering shared hobbies, favourite sports, and common interests. Conversations quickly turned into laughter, and laughter turned into new friendships. That spirit of connection continued throughout the entire week. We watched campers who may have started the week feeling a little unsure become more confident each day, eagerly joining games, introducing themselves to others, and cheering each other on. During Schmooze, our entire unit celebrated four Tiger birthdays together, filling the space with enthusiastic singing and cheers for Max, Lucky, Wheels, and Amelia. By Friday, the friendships that had formed were impossible to miss as campers excitedly passed around goodbye cards, asking one another to sign them, exchanging contact information, and promising to keep in touch.
Our specialist activities gave campers plenty of opportunities to explore new interests while having lots of fun. During Choose Your Own Activity (CYOA), campers loved the freedom of selecting the activity that excited them most. A brand-new favourite this week was Ultimate Frisbee with Wheels, which quickly drew a big crowd, while Gaga Ball remained one of the most popular choices as always. In Arts & Crafts, campers created personalized miniature fence posts with their names proudly displayed. At Adventure Valley, counsellors who return for their third summer earn a fence post with their name as a lasting part of camp, so perhaps these miniature versions are a glimpse of some future AV counsellors in the making! Nature also provided a memorable experience as campers made bird feeders, perfectly timed with a visit from two beautiful hawks perched quietly in a nearby tree. Everyone paused to admire them respectfully, creating one of those unexpected camp moments that reminds us how special it is to spend our days outdoors.
During Sizzle’s Shenanigans, campers embraced this week’s Monsters vs. Aliens theme by creating colourful splatter-painted monsters and aliens. The excitement was contagious as paint flew onto paper, each splash creating a completely unique masterpiece. Music filled the space while campers laughed together, shared paint and supplies without hesitation, admired each other’s creations, and helped one another bring their imaginative creatures to life. It was wonderful to watch creativity flourish alongside teamwork and kindness. Sometimes the best memories aren’t just about the finished craft, they’re about the conversations, laughter, and friendships built while creating together.
This week also brought lots of exciting celebrations! Congratulations to our Silly Banana recipients: Brooke, Brody, Nathan, and Max for spreading positivity and bringing smiles to those around them. A big congratulations as well to Dylan and Max, who earned this week’s Big Chair Award! We were also thrilled to recognize our returning campers. Congratulations to Brody, Brooke, Nathan, Neha, Evelina, and Peyton on earning their 3-Year Turtle Charms, and to Ellie, Owen, and Elouise for receiving their 5-Year Footsteps RadTagz. Thank you all for continuing to make Adventure Valley such a special place year after year!
Staff Celebration Moment: Mojo!!
This week’s staff spotlight goes to Mojo. Even when she isn’t with her own group, Mojo has an incredible way of making every camper feel seen and included. Whether she’s walking across camp or passing a group on the field, she’s always smiling, inviting campers into games, and making sure no one feels left out. Her nurturing personality helps campers feel safe, welcomed, and valued from the moment they arrive. One of my favourite examples of this happened when she created a special theme song for a camper who loves to dance. Although the camper isn’t even in Mojo’s cabin, Mojo knew exactly what would make her smile. It’s thoughtful moments like these that show just how deeply she cares for every child at camp. Caregivers may only see a few minutes of pickup each day, but behind the scenes, Mojo is constantly finding little ways to make campers feel loved, celebrated, and excited to come back the next morning.
Caregiver Question of the Week
How does the Tuck shop work?
On a Unit designated Tuck Day, counsellors receive a tuck order form with their attendance. If a child has money in their account, counsellors ask campers to choose from a list of items. Our office packs the tuck and counsellors hand it out at afternoon snacktime!
