In lieu of our regular content, we've decided to put together a list of commonly used SEP terms to help out any blog readers who are unfamiliar with camp jargon.
5-8/9-11: SEP is divided into two camps: junior camp, for rising 5th-8th graders, and senior camp, for rising 9th-11th graders. These two camps are referred to as simply 5-8 and 9-11.
Suite: In previous years, SEP was held in suite style housing, with each counselor and his/her group of campers living in a single suite. Though we've moved on to hall style living spaces, each group of campers is still referred to as a suite.
Super Floaters: Super Floaters are incredibly important to the SEP experience. They fill in for any counselors who have their day or night off, while also planning major camp-wide events and assisting the head counselor with their responsibilities. There are four super floaters in 5-8 and two in 9-11.
St. Anne's-Belfield: St. Anne's is a private school only a short walk from the dorms. SEP classes and special topics are held here, as are breakfast and lunch during the week. Often abbreviated as STAB.
Observatory Hill: UVA cafeteria where campers eat dinner, as well as most meals on the weekend. Usually referred to as O-Hill.
The Corner: A popular street of shops and restaurants in the center of the UVA campus. Some campers enjoy doing some shopping there during their free time on Saturday.
Special topics: Short classes taught by counselors throughout the session. 5-8 special topics last two days while 9-11 special topics last three. Often referred to as "spesh tops" by counselors and campers alike.
Evening Activities: Evening activities (sometimes abbreviated as ev-acs) take place almost every weekday evening. Campers are divided randomly into groups of sixteen and participate in varied counselor-led activities. Some popular ev-acs include: name that tune, staring contest competition, air guitar showcase, and mind reading.
Rec Time: It's important that campers stay active, so every weekday evening campers are encouraged to participate in a variety of games and sports, including basketball, ultimate frisbee, creative relaxation, and frolicking.
Trivia Challenge: Campers are divided into teams and spend the afternoon competing with each other in a series of head to head trivia challenges, culminating in a final trivia round in which one team is declared the winner.
Mental Challenge: The camp is given a task that they must complete with their suite given certain supplies and a limited amount of time. Previous challenges have included building a chair or a marshmallow launcher. This year, 9-11's mental challenge is an egg drop, while 5-8 must build an umbrella to protect their counselors from a water balloon popped over their head.
5-8 Party/9-11 Dance: Held on Saturday night, the 5-8 party is a chance for everyone to dress up and spend the evening dancing or playing games. The 9-11 dance is the last big event for senior camp, held on the last night. As the name would suggest, the 9-11 dance is focused more on actual dancing, while the 5-8 party is all about having a great time in general.
Schaffer Games: Since the camp's beginning, SEP has been in a state of constant rivalry with the villainous Schaffer society. No one can entirely anticipate the Schaffers, but it's their M.O. to kidnap certain members of the staff and force the campers to complete a series of tasks and games in order to get them back.
Larry Ball: An SEP original, Larry Ball is a variation on the classic blacktop game of four-square. Where foursquare is played on a 2x2 grid of squares, Larry-ball features a neutral middle square in which all players on the court can make plays. Possibly the most commonly played game in SEP history.
Counselor Dating Game: When the weather is uncooperative and it becomes necessary to cancel rec time or evening activities, the counselors organize a campwide indoor activity. The Counselor Dating Game (sometimes abbreviated as CDG) is the most popular among the campers. CDG is a variation on the classic "dating game" format, in which one counselor questions three eligible suitors (counselors dressed in outlandish outfits and playing absurd characters) to see who would be the best boyfriend or girlfriend for them. Campers are then given the chance to decide which contestant was the best.
Field Day: Held on Sunday for both 5-8 and 9-11 (though at different times), field day allows campers to spend a day out in the sun, competing in classic camp activities. 5-8 suites are paired with a suite of comparable age and opposite gender, while 9-11 teams are sorted randomly. Activities include: tug-of-war, water balloon toss, dizzy bat, and the relay race. The winning team is allowed to pelt their counselors with water balloons!
The Barbecue: The only time that 5-8 and 9-11 mix, the barbecue is held Sunday evening after 5-8 finishes their field day but before 9-11 begins theirs. Campers are treated to a buffet of hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, fruit salad, and other favorite BBQ foods.
Talent Show: For the 5-8 talent show, each suite is pared with the suite closest the them in age. Their counselors assign them a song to which they must plan a skit and/or dance. The 9-11 talent show operates more like a traditional talent show. Like 5-8, each suite must plan a skit or dance. Unlike 5-8, individual campers are encouraged to show off their talents.
Assassins: Assassins is a game that can be played among both campers and counselors. Each participant is given a target whom they must "kill" (hit with a sock). While attempting to kill their own target, players are themselves targeted by another player whose identity is unknown to them. The only way to be safe from a sock-y onslaught is by following the day's immunity: a specific action or clothing that protects the player, decided by the assassin's master. During session two, the counselors play an enormous campwide game of assassins, in which campers are encouraged to participate by scouting for danger or diving in front of a barrage of socks.
Secret Pals: The opposite of assassins. Each participant is given a target whom they must shower with a series of gifts throughout third session. Each day, participating counselors are given a small token of appreciation from their secret pal. Campers are often used to deliver these gifts while maintaining anonymity.
The Triple Crown: A rare achievement, the triple crown is awarded when a single suite/team of campers wins the mental challenge, the trivia challenge, and field day. It has been five years since the last triple crown.
The All Night Party: On the last night of camp, campers are allowed to ignore the usual rules about bedtime and stay up as late as they can, eating candy, playing games, watching movies, and saying goodbye to their friends.
The 8th Grade Party: To celebrate their "graduation" from junior camp to senior camp, 8th grade campers spend the first hour or so of the all night party apart from the rest of camp, hanging out in the quad with the other 8th graders.
Junior Farewell: On the last day of camp, 9-11 gathers together to celebrate the rising Juniors who will be unable to return as campers. Each of these campers is given a moment to talk about their experiences with SEP, and to say goodbye to the camp. The Juniors are then encouraged to place an item in a SEP time capsule, keeping a record of their summer.
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