Thursday, March 21, 2013 @ 10:56 am | (0) Comments
Wednesday was a jam-packed day here at Camp Blue Skies-Atlanta at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge! Seriously, it was almost like a whole week of camp in one day.
The activities switched up a little. Campers enjoyed fishing and driving the paddleboats, pounding the drums at the treehouse, flying down the zip-line out over the lake, learning more about our environment during a nature walk and creating more mementos and gifts during arts & crafts (which included banner-making).
During lunch, campers and counselors presented the banners that each group made… accompanied by Olympic-style theme music. The hearty lunch that we devoured and the Olympic-esque music seemed to put everyone in the mood for a noon-time dance party! Just imagine what the dance is going to be like tonight!
In the afternoon, we added a “Free Activity” session. Campers could choose from soccer and kick ball, dance practice, basketball, archery, farming, arts & crafts and a visit with some guest therapy dogs. Wrigley, the therapy dog who has been with us all week, was quite happy to have some four-legged pals to hang with.
After dinner, Alan Ross of Pharris Wheel Entertainment returned for Karaoke Night as our night-time fun! What songs were popular? “I Will Always Love You,” “Baby,” “Call Me Maybe” and “Sweet Home Alabama!”
It was a-maz-ing! Want to join us for camp as volunteer? Click here to sign up!
by Crystal Dempsey
Category: Blue Skies Updates, Events, News, Volunteer
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 @ 4:15 pm | (1) Comment
The first thing to know about Day 2 is that the weather was incredible! Sunny and near 70 all day. We reminded everyone to drink plenty of water and apply lots of sunscreen.
The theme for Tuesday: Try new things! Campers and volunteers alike challenged themselves to do just that.
For some, that involved the Giant Swing and for others, it was performing during Skit Night. The ponies continued to be a big favorite. Their names, by the way, Golden Aspen and Sugar Maple! Thanks to Sheryl Jordan, the equestrian director at Ford Plantation, and her daughter, Angela Nunez, for bringing the ponies to camp.
The sunshine also meant we were able to get in some game time!
The gorgeous day also meant that we got to have Skit Night outside! The skits got big laughs. So did some of the jokes from The Jokesters (Camp Blue Skies founder Dick Sesler and Camp Blue Skies-Atlanta director Trey Barry). Sample joke: Why did the golfer wear two pairs of pants? In case, he got a hole in one.
And finally, we all got to enjoy some S’mores!
By the way, you may have wondered how we had a campfire indoors on Monday night. Our friends at Camp Twin Lakes were prepared. (The “fire” is in the lower right corner.)
by Crystal Dempsey
Category: Blue Skies Updates, News
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 @ 8:47 am | (0) Comments
Good morning! Our Day 2 Recap from Camp Blue Skies-Atlanta will be coming around noon!
We wanted to remind everyone that you’ve got until 11 a.m. THURSDAY to enter our Hoops For Camp NCAA Bracket Challenge and fill out your brackets on CBS Sports. The clock is ticking…
The Bracket Challenge is a great way to have fun and raise money for Camp Blue Skies, weeklong camps for adults with developmental, intellectual and cognitive disabilities. Click here for more info on Camp Blue Skies.
The suggested donation is $10. PLUS, a winner will be randomly selected from a drawing of the top 10% of bracket winners, and will receive a $500 gift card to shop at The Apple Store or Apple.com!
Please click this link to become a Team Captain, a Teammate or a No. 1 Fan! (Or click the image below!)
Please share with your family, friends and coworkers and help
by Crystal Dempsey
Category: Blue Skies Updates, Events, Fundraising, Hoops for Camp, News
Tuesday, March 19, 2013 @ 10:59 am | (0) Comments
Greetings from Camp Blue Skies at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, Ga.!
We had a wonderful opening day Monday (3/18/13). The campers arrived safely, settled into their cabins and met at the flagpole for a welcome from Camp Blue Skies Founder Dick Sesler and Camp Program Director Liz Golembeski.
While the forecast called for rain, our afternoon schedule went on as planned. Campers enjoyed activities such as…
- The Giant Swing, complete with lots of smiles and shouts of joy
- Fun with Food, where Chef Jeffrey taught them how to make healthy smoothies and personal pizzas.
- Ponies, where campers learned about grooming and exercising them at the barn.
- Ceramics. Many made mementos to take home.
- Farm. We did move this one inside so Farmer Nate talk about gardening and why fresh eggs are so tasty.
Last night, the rain finally arrived so we moved our “campfire” indoors to the gym.
After a dance party on the stage, we all enjoyed the “Day in the Life of a Camper” skit by the Very Special Blue Skies Players, some stories, more songs, a “Day In Review” slideshow and cannoli instead of S’mores!
Don’t forget to sign up for our Hoops for Camp Brackets Challenge!
by Crystal Dempsey
Category: Blue Skies Updates, Fundraising, Hoops for Camp, News
Thursday, March 14, 2013 @ 9:13 am | (0) Comments
A few of the Team Captains in our Hoops for Camp fundraiser are sharing their stories about why they’re involved with Camp Blue Skies and why they’re participating in the bracket competition. Long-time supporter Tom Cox shares his story:
What is Camp Blue Skies? Camp Blue Skies is an annual bright spot for 200+ adults in the Charlotte area. Roughly 130 of these adults have developmental, intellectual and cognitive disabilities. These are our “campers.” The rest of us are volunteers… in-cabin counselors, activity coordinators and helpers of all kinds.
That’s volunteer me in the photo squeezed between volunteer Bill Southerland and CBS founder Dick Sesler. Our family is “all in” on Camp Blue Skies. I have been an in-cabin counselor for three years. After she retired, Millie ran the Command Central desk her first year and helped her sister Dede last year with the art activity. Liza is camp photographer and energy source. We’ll be back this year, too.
Why Hoops for Camp?
Our donations make camp affordable for many campers. Your $10 combined with other people’s $10 puts so much good stuff into the lives of these adult campers.
Doing an NCAA bracket can be fun, even if you don’t know or care about college basketball. Maybe you are going to fill out a bracket next Monday anyway. Or your spouse is going to complete one for you. Camp Blue Skies is giving away a $500 Apple gift card to the winner.
Click here to donate. It is simple, fast and totally secure. And you can donate as little as $10.
One more thing.
The camps at YMCA Camp Harrison (Wilkesboro) this year are the first two weeks of October. Why not volunteer? Yea, its a bit of work… but it’s good work and is guaranteed to change someone’s life.
Click here to volunteer.
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by Crystal Dempsey
Category: Fundraising, Hoops for Camp, News, Volunteer
