While pre-camp didn't officially start until the evening of June 11, folks have been up at camp since May 17 getting ready for North Star's 73rd summer. The kitchen opened a few weeks earlier than it typically does so that we could host a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course. WFR is the certification that our trip leaders get so they can provide medical aid on our cabin trips.Staff then started filtering in to begin physically preparing camp for the arrival of campers. This includes getting the docks and boat lifts in the water (and the boats after them), cleaning the floor of the fieldhouse, replacing the Senior Village benches in the council ring and many more projects. Thanks to the hard work of staff that came up early, camp is looking great.
The weight room has moved into the back of the fieldhouse, which will also have ping pong and foosball tables for campers to enjoy. The building that was formerly the fitness center will now house ecology and rocketry. Moving rocketry freed up space to give the trip staff a dedicated food preparation area. The renovations to the Senior Village washhouse are also finishing up.Starting on Thursday the 8th, we hosted lifeguard training for many of our counselors who will be working on the waterfront this summer. Luckily for them, we had a warm few days during lifeguard training, for which they were in the water for large portions of the day.
After lifeguard training we held certification courses for climbing, archery and riflery. These two-day courses teach our staff to safely instruct on some of our adventure activities. After these trainings, pre-camp officially started. While we had canoe training and a tour of camp planned, a rainy day (even though it never rains at North Star) meant we had to audible. Instead, we began pre-camp by showing the new staff the 2016 reunion video. By Monday the 12th, most of the staff will be at pre-camp (aside from a few late arrivals). We'll spend the week preparing and getting excited for the first session campers to arrive!
