Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Kailey

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Meridian Teen Camper Kailey:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Sleep and eat yummy food, because I love sleep and yummy food!

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Lighting the fire at Opening Campfire. I'm the longest returning camper (11 years), and as the longest returning camper I got to light the fire!

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

Not everyone enjoys singing for their food.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Cameron

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Boise camper Cameron:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

My favorite thing I did today at camp was play the game Candyland. I enjoyed it because you got to build teamwork within your group and because you get to win a prize at the end if you win.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Today I tried reaching out to people. I'm usually pretty shy around people.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

One thing I learned about others is that they come to this camp from out of state. I thought that was interesting.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Megan

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Boise Ranger Camper Megan:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Archery was my favorite because it was really fun.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

I used a hammer and a saw to work on the Ranger projects. It was cool learning to do new things.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

I learned that I can make new friends more easily than I thought.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Tanner

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Boise Youth Camper Tanner:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Going to the waterfront. There's fun activities you can do.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Yes, went to Y Camp. It was fun because I made a lot of friends and learned a whole bunch from my Camptivities and counselors.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

That I can make friends easily.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Katie

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Boise camper Katie:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Hiking, because when we were done we found a place to build a fort.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Canoeing. We didn't get wet and it was fun to look at things that are in the water. You also get to have somebody in the canoe with you so you have somebody to talk to.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

I learned new things I like to do and have done things I never would've done.

Tips from a Y Camp Mom

One of our Y Camp Moms, Kathlyn (whose three daughters have attended Y Camp for several years), recently shared with us some tips for making the camp experience even better for your kids.

Here's one of Kathlyn's tips:

"I loved picking my kids up at the camp rather than having them ride the bus home. They love to be able to show you around the camp, their cabin, and introduce you to all the friends they made. And they love to talk on the way home. Sometimes when they ride the bus, they are so tired when they get home that they don't tell you about their week."

Want to hear more about the camp experience from a parent's perspective? Read our Quotes from Y Camp Moms (and Dads)!

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Veronica

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Carlsbad, California, camper Veronica:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Making new friends because everyone is nice here.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Yes, I did the zipline and it was a lot of fun.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

That we work well together, especially when we did the high V's.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Hallie

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Boise camper Hallie:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Swim. We only have a pool by our neighborhood and I like to swim in lakes.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Yes, canoeing. It was hard to paddle.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

That some people aren't homesick. They like being away from their parents.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Cammron

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Boise Youth Camper Cammron:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

I liked canoeing. It was a great team-building exercise.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

I played basketball. It was fun.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

All my cabinmates can get competitive in sports but we're family and they always got my back.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Connor

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Meridian camper Connor:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Presenting a skit because I came up with a funny idea and got to show the whole camp.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Court Sports. It was really fun. I never knew you could play hockey on the blacktop!

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

Everyone is special.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Nicole

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Meridian Youth Camper Nicole:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Playing on the rock playground. It was fun to run around.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Mindfield. We were blind-folded and walking around.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

I learned everyone's name in my group.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Kiana

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Boise Youth Camper Kiana:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Swimming. I loved the trampoline.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Archery. I hit the target twice!

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

That camp is really fun and my counselors are awesome!

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Lara

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Boise camper Lara:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Fishing because I love fishing and the instructor was very good.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Yes, I tried an egg and bacon burrito.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

That I attract lots of mosquitos!

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Zac

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from London Youth Camper Zac:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Fishing.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Making a fire was fun.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

To be respectful.

Tips from a Y Camp Mom

One of our Y Camp Moms, Kathlyn (whose three daughters have attended Y Camp for several years), recently shared with us some tips for making the camp experience even better for your kids.

Here's one of Kathlyn's tips:

"Pick a theme and then go to the dollar store and the party store. Get decorations for the theme, box them up and mail them to your camper for her whole cabin to enjoy. This will instantly make your child feel like part of the group and it gives the whole cabin something they can all share in.

"For example, one year I sent Hawaiian stuff — plastic leis for each girl in the cabin, a fake flower for their hair, paper cut-out decorations for the walls, a sign for the door. It is amazing what you can find at the dollar store!

"Another added benefit — all the kids think you are a really cool parent, and your kid will, if for just a moment, realize that you are pretty great."

Want to hear more about the camp experience from a parent's perspective? Read our Quotes from Y Camp Moms (and Dads)!

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Courtney

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Eagle Youth Camper Courtney:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

Arts and Crafts because we made friendship bracelets.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

Canoeing. It was fun because we got to go far out into the lake.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

That I really like to make friendship bracelets.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Henry

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Boise camper Henry:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

B.B. riflery because I shot clay targets.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

I tried to qualify as a marksman.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

I learned that I could make a lanyard.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Laurel

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Eagle Ranger Camper Laurel:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

I liked when we built up trust with the other boy rangers. We would set and unset mouse traps with our eyes closed with only our partner to help us.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

This was also with the trust activity where we would have to stand on a wire opposite of each other that gradually got wider and we had to walk down it, leaning on our partner for balance and support.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

I learned that keeping your hands up and hips in will help you balance on a wire.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Jake

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Eagle camper Jake:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

All Camp Kick-the-Can! I loved running around and trying to kick the can.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

I made a candle! It was so fun and I got to watch the wax be put in the can.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

I learned that the grossest thing my counselor has ever eating was blood pudding.

Dispatches from 2011 Y Camp: Aidan

All season long, YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir campers and staffers are sharing their Resident Camp experiences with parents, camp alumni, prospective campers and Y Camp blog readers.

Below, we hear from Meridian camper Aidan:

What was your favorite thing you did yesterday?

BMX, because I got to make a jump and ride off it on my bike.

Did you try anything new yesterday?

BMX. It was a little scary at first, but the counselors helped me and it was awesome.

Share something you have learned about yourself or others at camp.

It's good to be responsible and caring, because being nice and helping each other is how to make friends.