What an incredible week it has been for our Kangas! This week was filled with teamwork, laughter, challenges, and so many moments that showed what makes camp such a special place. One of the biggest highlights was watching Henry achieve a goal he had been working toward all summer: winning Big Chair. After three summers at camp, Henry finally earned his first Big Chair win, and the moment was unforgettable. As he ran up the hill with tears in his eyes and the biggest smile on his face, he shared that he couldn’t believe it had finally happened. His cabin was cheering him on as he celebrated, and it was amazing to see how proud his friends and counsellors were of him. Henry’s journey this summer has been about showing leadership, trying things that are outside of his comfort zone, demonstrating respect, and checking in on those around him. This win was about so much more than a competition—it was a celebration of his growth and the support of the community around him.
Another incredible community moment came during Wednesday Warrior, where our very own Kanga counsellor, Fluffy, took home the win and became the Champion of July! Fluffy competed against fellow Kanga counsellor Emu in the final round, where they used their memory skills to build block figures across the field as quickly as possible. The Kangas cheered loudly for both competitors, celebrating not only the competition but the teamwork and spirit behind it. The celebration didn’t stop there! After Fluffy’s win, the Kangas threw a Warrior celebration party complete with posters, balloons, bubbles, Gaga ball, and plenty of cheering. Campers were so excited that they spent the rest of the week telling everyone about it. Hearing Kangas cheering as they walked between activities—“2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? FLUFFY!”—was one of the biggest reminders of the friendships and connections that make camp special.
This week during Sports with Jay, the Kangas were up on their feet, laughing, and working together through relay challenges. Campers worked as cabins, encouraging one another as they completed each task. It was amazing to watch campers celebrate each other’s successes and see how much fun they had while working together.
We loved seeing how these activities encouraged campers to communicate, support their teammates, and step outside their comfort zones. Whether they were racing through a relay or cheering on a friend, the Kangas showed that teamwork is one of their greatest strengths.
Caregiver Questions to Ask:
Rubber Ducky got up to no good again this week and accidentally let all of the farm animals escape! The Kangas had an important mission: work together to find all the missing animals and complete the scavenger hunt before time ran out.
Each cabin worked together to search for clues and collect their scavenger hunt items. K1 came out on top and earned a point toward the Kanga Cup after showing great teamwork and determination. But the fun didn’t end there! Each cabin had the opportunity to earn a bonus point by designing their own cabin barn, complete with their own farm animals, farm names, and creative slogans.
One of the best parts of this activity was seeing campers work with different counsellors. For the challenge, campers switched cabin counsellors and had the opportunity to build new connections. Instead of feeling nervous about the change, campers embraced it, created cheers for the counsellors who helped them, and celebrated the new friendships they made. Watching counsellors cheer for campers and campers cheer right back showed the true spirit of the Kangas—a community where everyone feels supported.
This week brought some exciting moments during Schmooze!
Congratulations to Fluffy for winning Wednesday Warrior and becoming the Champion of July! We are so proud of the way our Kangas came together to celebrate this achievement.
A big congratulations to our Banana winner, Charlotte!
And congratulations to our Big Chair winners: Henry, Kyal, and Keira! Each camper showed confidence, determination, and the willingness to step forward and take on the challenge.
Lastly, we celebrated our Longevity campers – campers who attend 3 summers at Adventure Valley earn a Turtle Tag for their Radtagz bracelet. Congrats to Colton, Ihan, Ihyun (K2) and Finnegan, Charlie, Evie, Myer, and Nicolas (K3). We appreciate your long-term commitment to camp!
Staff Celebration Moment
This week we want to celebrate Fluffy, a counsellor who truly embodies the feeling of camp.
Fluffy is one of the biggest motivators in Kangas, and always brings energy, enthusiasm, and fun into every day. He works hard to make sure campers feel safe, included, and excited to participate. Whether he is leading a game, creating programming, or joining campers for Gaga ball, Fluffy has a way of making every camper feel like they belong. Although Fluffy may move between cabins, the friendships he has built with campers continue wherever he goes. Campers look for him during activities, cheer for him when they see him passing by, and celebrate his successes because they know how much he cares about them. This summer, Fluffy has shown up consistently for campers, continued to grow as a counsellor, created exciting programming, and remained open-minded and willing to learn.
Caregiver Question of the Week:
Is there camp on Monday??
No! We are closed for the Civic Holiday. Please enjoy an extra day together, and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!
