Counselors help campers overcome many challenges they face in sports and activities when they are at camp, it’s their goal to help campers achieve their own goals. Counselors encourage campers to keep practicing their overhand serve in beach volleyball, to continue going over their scales in piano and trying their best to get the right angle for a picture in Digital Photography. Even though counselors give a helping hand in activities that are a part of summer camp, they also help campers strive to overcome very unique challenges. A Lower Senior boy names Jason came to camp with the goal of solving a Rubik’s cube in under sixty seconds. Before camp, he had only been able to solve it in a minute and a half, but when he met his counselors, he received the moral support to overcome his challenge. Shaving forty five seconds from his fastest solving time, Jason had been motivated by his counselors to practice every day, having them time him and mix up the puzzle for him to solve. Even though the Rubik’s cube is a small puzzle, Jason’s counselors transformed the puzzle into an impressive feat for Jason to master, pushing him to not only overcome his original goal of solving under a minute, but to go further and solve it under forty five seconds. The counselors could have congratulated Jason as soon as he reached his goal but they decided to take it a step further because they saw his potential and wanted him to realize his own potential as well. The counselors motivating their camper to be their best in something unrelated to a sport’s team or an activity they are apart of for summer camp shows how they help campers succeed outside of summer camp too. This small act of encouragement portrays how at Camp Starlight all campers are pushed to see their true potential in whatever they are passionate in.
Posts Tagged ‘benefits of camp’
Counselors Help Campers Overcome Challenges
Monday, August 7th, 2017Upper Senior Volunteers Are Serving up Smiles
Monday, August 7th, 2017
Camp Starlight gives a camper everything they could practically want when they are at summer camp: fun, adventure, music and anything else under the sun. To acknowledge everything Camp Starlight gives to its campers, the Upper Senior boys and girls give back to camp by volunteering at every camp cook out. Preparing, serving and smiling, the Upper Seniors help out tremendously by sacrificing their own down time to make every campus cookout run smoothly. Often wearing punny shirts that say “Lettuce Serve You,” the Upper Seniors make volunteering and giving back to camp a really fun experience. Handing out every hotdog and hamburger with a smile, they show how volunteering can be a rewarding experience and they give the support staff a well deserved break. Their hard work in setting up the food and serving all of camp sets themselves as great role models for Lower Camp as well, portraying qualities of responsibility and leadership that are a part of Camp Starlight’s philosophy in teaching campers important lessons. When the campers from Lower Camp see the oldest campers give back to Camp Starlight, they are inspired to do the same and take the initiative to be selfless. The Upper Senior’s volunteering sets a chain reaction for other campers to follow in these acts of kindness. While the Upper Seniors are helping out campers enjoy a fun cookout, they are also helping Camp Starlight continue to become a more positive place all summer long.
Camp Starlight Celebrates 71st Anniversary
Sunday, August 6th, 2017
Since its founding in 1947, Camp Starlight has been a home away from home for campers, counselors and staff from all over the world. For all these years, Camp Starlight has been bringing people together from every and any place imaginable and this year is the celebration of Camp Starlight’s 71st anniversary. Looking back at all the memories Camp Starlight has helped inspire and create, a great celebration for all of camp took place around the flagpole, the quintessential point of camp. Gathered around the flagpole, the place where every morning starts and evening begins, all of camp sits together to enjoy a giant cook out to celebrate the history of Camp Starlight. Mustard is spread along foot long hotdogs and blue and white sprinkled cupcakes rest in the hand of every camper, everyone is enjoying the company of an all camp cookout. With all the great food, the entirety of camp looks back at how far Camp Starlight has come since its beginning in 1947, recognizing so much can change for the better in 71 years for a summer camp. Even though so much has changed, Camp Starlight has never changed its message and goals of making campers happy and enjoy a summer like no other. Buildings have come and gone, activities have been added and special traditions have been tacked on to the growing history of Camp Starlight, but one thing has truly remained the same, and that is the ability to make campers who come to Camp Starlight experience an amazing summer and smile every day they are here. Helping campers smile, laugh, overcome challenges and learn new things, Camp Starlight has been able to transform every camper’s summer into a magical experience and that is something to truly celebrate today, tomorrow and in the future.
National Friendship Day
Sunday, August 6th, 2017
It’s National Friendship Day and campers at Camp Starlight know how special it is to celebrate the friendships they have formed at summer camp. Campers know that summer camp is a magical place like no other, there are an infinite amount of different things to do so there are just as many ways to make memories and build friendships. When you spend an entire summer with the same people living in your bunk, friendships form just as naturally as the flowers bloom. Friendships at Camp Starlight are so special for that reason, campers spend quality time with others in large quantities of time, transforming friendships in positive ways. Campers are always able to rely on their friends to support them when things get tough or when they feel homesick, their friends are there to help them fall asleep at night or pull them back up to get back into the game. They also support each other when things are going in the right direction, cheering them on as they are winning the game or performing on stage, these friendships battle the bad and the good for the sake of each other’s happiness. Campers know they have friends to back them up and encourage them to do their best. Additionally, with the amount of silly, ridiculous and outrageously fun activities campers get to experience, campers are able to deepen the bonds of friendships when experiencing these activities together. They are able to make every moment turn into a memory because it’s with their friends. When campers look back at every sporting event during Olympics, every dance performed for Spirit of Starlight or every challenge that was overcome during relay races, they look back at who was standing next to them, laughing and smiling along with all the ongoing fun. These special memories are why friendships at Camp Starlight should be celebrated, they will stand the test of time and last forever in each other’s memories.
All Teams Win With Starlight Leagues
Friday, August 4th, 2017
After battling other teams all summer long for the title of Starlight League Champion, the winners of Starlight Leagues have come out on top. The Starlight Leagues divided all the divisions into four different teams that went head to head at all sorts of sports on campus. Taking it from the sand of the volleyball courts or the pitch of the softball and baseball mounds, the teams had to work together all summer long to win the game and then ultimately a Ben & Jerry’s catered ice cream party. Every single camper contributed to their team’s wins, meaning they had to practice respectful sportsmanship, encourage their teammates–especially during the tough times–and work together as one team and not rely on one individual to succeed. The Starlight Leagues competition also helps campers meet new friends at camp from outside their own bunk, creating more unified divisions across campus. The bonds these campers make when fighting for the win on the basketball court or kicking a soccer ball for the goal with all their strength is what really unifies and strengthens the connections between campers. Even though only one team from each division won the chance to enjoy an ice cream party, every camper got to experience the joy of cheering on their teammates and in turn forming new found friendships. The point of Starlight Leagues was not to stress the focus on winning or losing in sports, but to show how important it is to truly work as a team and see what you can achieve when that does happen. There is no denying that Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is sweet, but nothing is sweeter than forming new friendships from team work, regardless if the points added up to 100 or 0.
Lower Senior Girls Basketball Headed to Championship
Thursday, August 3rd, 2017
For the first time in the team’s history, the ninth grade girls are going to the championship. Starlight clawed its way out of a 12 point deficit to win against Levi 37-49. Starlight started out slow with only 6 baskets in the first quarter and only 14 points in the first half. Sabrina W. scored 6 of the first 14 points. Ellie K. and Dani S. dominated defensively with 4 steals combined. Tessa G. and Kaylee W. were the positive source, bringing nothing but smiles and hustle. Daryn C. and Brooke E. came in the second half ready to go, forcing 6 turnovers. Ryan G. was a post threat, shutting down Lavi’s post player and pulling down 6 rebounds. Chloe W. and Nikki L. helped spark the team with their loud cheers and quick defense. Amanda S. came out in the second half pulling down 6 rebounds, 4 assists and scoring 6 points. Alex S. lead the team offensively with 18 points. Sam E. took on the leadership role and brought the team together to pull out the win, scoring another 15 points in the last quarter. Ellie K. scored the last basket to seal the win. The girls will be playing Westmont for the championship and are eager to bring home the trophy for the first time.
Upper Seniors Girls Basketball
Wednesday, August 2nd, 2017
The tenth and eleventh grade girls basketball team dominated in the semi-finals against Lohikan with a 33-8 victory. Morgan S. lead the team with 13 points and 8 rebounds. Andie R. chipped in with 4 points and 2 steals. Sammy B. dominated defensively with 4 steals and added 2 points. Vanessa M., Ally J., Jesse W. and Alexa I. all added 2 points to the team’s total score. Tori D., Reese C. and Maddy G. were explosive with their defense combining for 5 steals each adding 2 points to the final score. alexa W. had 5 defensive rebounds and 2 offensive. Izzie A. showed a dominating defensive game with 2 steals and a block. Katie M. was a positive force on and off the court. With this huge team win Starlight will advance to the championship game. The team is determined to bring home a win and be able to rush the lake.
Junior Boys Basketball Championship
Wednesday, August 2nd, 2017
The Starlight third and fourth grade boys basketball team brought Starlight basketball its first championship of the summer with a 28-16 victory over Chen-a-Wanda. Justin J. led the eam with 8 points. Lucas L/ and Jackson H. closely followed with 6 points each. Reid S., Max S., Eric R. and Harrison R. all had 2 points. Jesse J. and Benjamin W. each played big with 4 rebounds. Marc F., Carter B. and Calen T. were the distributors with a combined 11 assists. Sam Rose., Rhys B. and Max S. held it down defensively with a combined 6 steals and 4 blocks. Overall it was a great way to finish off an unbelievable championship season by the Junior boys.
Lower Inter Girls Basketball
Tuesday, August 1st, 2017
The fifth grade girls basketball team won their second round game against Westmont 30-22. Harper L. had 10 points, 3 steals and 5 assists. Lilly T. lead the team offensively with 16 points, 1 steal and 4 rebounds. Dylan A. and Emmy P. added 2 points each for the team total. Sophia J. was a defensive threat the whole game with 4 steals. Jordyn G. and Calliope W. were explosive on the court, forcing 6 turnovers combined. Ava F. and Jordanna G. kept their players to zero points. Lily R., Taylor M. and Sasha L. were all positive players on and off the floor. With their second win, Starlight will move on to the Wayne County Championship.
Junior Boys Basketball
Tuesday, August 1st, 2017
The Starlight Junior boys basketball team took a great team win from Tioga, winning 38-8. Every single player on the team contributed. Justin J. led the way with 10 points and Reid S. added 6 points to the total himself. Jackson H., Miles L., Max S. and Harrison R. all scored 4 points and Rhys B. added 2 points. Calen T., Marc F., Rhys B. and Jesse J. played very big with 2 blocks and 14 combined rebounds. Carter B. played great offensively with 4 assists. Overall it was a combined team effort to come out victorious over Tioga.
