The campers have all left. The decorations are down. The chalk, markers, poster board and kick balls are back in storage for another year.
It's been a summer to remember. To the faculty and staff at St. Anne's, to our fantastic teachers, to the wonderful counselors, and, of course, to the amazing campers who make this camp what it is, we at SEPblog would like to say thank you.
Our tremendous Head Counselors, Seamus O'Toole, Jessica Ravensbergen, and Elizabeth Holohan, were unfortunately too consumed by their responsibilities to sit down for a feature on the blog, but we'd like to give them this little shout out regardless.
We hope you've enjoyed reading. We've loved writing for you, and we'll see you next year for another great summer at SEP!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Special Report: Junior Farewell
On the last day of camp, 9-11 holds a
very special sending off ceremony for its oldest campers. The Junior
Farewell is a way for those who won't be able to come back as campers to
share with the rest of camp what SEP means to them, and to say
goodbye.
Rising Juniors each get a moment to speak freely about how they feel about the end of camp. At the end of their speech they place an item in an SEP time capsule, explaining what makes it so important to them. Some of the items chosen this summer include a Dutch version of a map of America; cough drops from a camper who was battling a summer cold; a suite-signed memento from hall decorations; a burned playlist of favorite songs from the summer; the remains of an extremely handy roll of duct tape; and a plate from O-Hill dining hall.
A brief selection of quotes from the event:
"I've gotten enough out of SEP to hopefully last the three years until I can come back as a counselor"
"Advice to freshman and sophomores...don't take your time for granted!"
"I can say without a doubt that I've made some of my best friends at this camp"
"The highlight of my summer, and maybe of the year, too"
"Every year I came a little bit further out of my comfort zone...it's one of the most amazing places on earth"
"I never thought four years ago that I would count down the days waiting for SEP to start"
"My counselor and I had so many funny and enlightening conversations"
"It takes a really special, awkward group of people, and really patient, awkward counselors to put up with me, and you all pulled it off"
Rising Juniors each get a moment to speak freely about how they feel about the end of camp. At the end of their speech they place an item in an SEP time capsule, explaining what makes it so important to them. Some of the items chosen this summer include a Dutch version of a map of America; cough drops from a camper who was battling a summer cold; a suite-signed memento from hall decorations; a burned playlist of favorite songs from the summer; the remains of an extremely handy roll of duct tape; and a plate from O-Hill dining hall.
A brief selection of quotes from the event:
"I've gotten enough out of SEP to hopefully last the three years until I can come back as a counselor"
"Advice to freshman and sophomores...don't take your time for granted!"
"I can say without a doubt that I've made some of my best friends at this camp"
"The highlight of my summer, and maybe of the year, too"
"Every year I came a little bit further out of my comfort zone...it's one of the most amazing places on earth"
"I never thought four years ago that I would count down the days waiting for SEP to start"
"My counselor and I had so many funny and enlightening conversations"
"It takes a really special, awkward group of people, and really patient, awkward counselors to put up with me, and you all pulled it off"
The Day's Schedule: Thursday, July 25
It's the last day of camp! Morning and afternoon classes have the opportunity to show other campers their final projects and presentations.
Even though campers are super tired from the night before, they are enjoying the last day of classes and both teachers and campers are sad to see the session come to an end.
Even though campers are super tired from the night before, they are enjoying the last day of classes and both teachers and campers are sad to see the session come to an end.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Live Blogging the 5-8 Talent Show
The 5-8 talent show has begun!! Brother suites and sister suites pair up for great skits, dancing and more. Masters of Ceremony Tim Hilliard and Joanh Dister lead the masses in group dance, energetic cheers and all around silliness.
7:00
Isabel and Kelly's girls start the night with a skit about getting hypnotized and then break into song and dance to "Do You Believe in Magic?" Classic cuteness with the youngest girls' suites.
7:02
Dance break! "Twist and Shout" provided by Secret Squirrels. Complete with synchronized clapping, of course.
7:05
Cameron and Robbie's boys begin with a skit, about life at a boot camp. The boys try to be serious, but they can't help but giggle throughout the skit. Out of nowhere, "Dancing Queen" begins and all the boys break out their disco moves and sing along to the iconic words.
7:12
Chelsea and Adrianna's girls start with a classic counselor grouping skit and counselor Sam is kidnapped by the Schaffers. Sam escapes into a tree, but wait... "Its not same went into that tree... it's this will be!" "This Will Be" begins to play and girls line up for a synchronized dance.
7:16
Surprise skit by Josh's boys - A Secret Squirrel gift for Scooter!
7:18
Andrew and Sam's boys reprise a classic class skit, "Tea Time with Matthew", including Batman, Yoda and counselors Savannah, Jonah and Josh. When a loose lip gloss is tossed in the crowd, the boys start dancing to "Lip Gloss" and the crowd starts cheering. Laughs and claps all around.
7:24
Maggie Huff and Leah's girls are next! Each girl takes on the role of a different counselor and they all head to a dance party. "Hollaback Girl" starts to play and girls show off their synchronized moves. When the song ends, the girls run around the auditorium cheering for SEP!
7:33
Jonah and Vipin's suite is on the stage! Campers take on different personas, like Justin Beiber, Zac Efron and more, and explain how they crashed landed on a deserted island. Highlight of the skit is Taylor Swft's arrival, counselor Vipin's favorite person, ever. "Thanksgiving" starts playing and the boys show their moves to the camp. Laughs are endless.
7:41
Katya and Kelsey's girl are up. Doing a great counselor line-up, the girls figure out they can't find Vipin! After a brief flashback scene, he is found. Spice Girls "If You Wanna be my Lover" starts playing and the girls end the skit with "We love you Vipin", displaying the classic Vipin arms.
7:50
John and Tim's suite start with the classic "counselor trivia" skit. Highlight of the skit are the campers demonstrating the best way to "grow a beard", an inside joke from throughout the session. A dance to "Time After Time" ends the act; the song is a crowd favorite.
7:59
Secret Squirrel reveal! Seamus, Chelsea and Liz sing a song to Josh -- Liz reveals she is his Secret Squirrel! Tears all around.
8:05
Destine and Savannah's girls begin with a skit, starting with some serious "beard business". Classic puns all around: "Wait, it's not finding the Josh map, it's dancing to parent trap!" A great synchronized dance follows, the crowd is impressed.
8:12
Another secret squirrel reveal! Scooter plays guitar and sings to Kelly. The audience gives him a standing ovation!
8:16
Mike and Scooter's suite start with a skit, but end with a dance to "Say My Name". Their crazy dance moves make the audience laugh and clap throughout the dance. They even dance in color coded groups, a nod to the original music video.
8:21
Sarah and Maggie Chamber's girls start their skit with more beard jokes, a staple of the evening. In the skit, they shave Josh's beard in his sleep, which upsets him greatly. They end their skit with a song about beards and some synchronized dancing around the upset Josh character.
8:27
Jonah and Seamus show off their secret handshake. It's impressive.
8:28
Saving the best for last! Sean and Josh's boys are up, starting their skit with a funny math joke. One Direction then jumps on the stage, but are fought off by a hard rock-metal-progressive band. In the end, only one stands, the boy who told the math joke.
8:32
The camp video slideshow!
8:54
Counselors sing their goodbye song, to the tune of "I've Got a Feeling".
Counselors and campers return to the dorms for the all night!!
7:00
Isabel and Kelly's girls start the night with a skit about getting hypnotized and then break into song and dance to "Do You Believe in Magic?" Classic cuteness with the youngest girls' suites.
7:02
Dance break! "Twist and Shout" provided by Secret Squirrels. Complete with synchronized clapping, of course.
7:05
Cameron and Robbie's boys begin with a skit, about life at a boot camp. The boys try to be serious, but they can't help but giggle throughout the skit. Out of nowhere, "Dancing Queen" begins and all the boys break out their disco moves and sing along to the iconic words.
7:12
Chelsea and Adrianna's girls start with a classic counselor grouping skit and counselor Sam is kidnapped by the Schaffers. Sam escapes into a tree, but wait... "Its not same went into that tree... it's this will be!" "This Will Be" begins to play and girls line up for a synchronized dance.
7:16
Surprise skit by Josh's boys - A Secret Squirrel gift for Scooter!
7:18
Andrew and Sam's boys reprise a classic class skit, "Tea Time with Matthew", including Batman, Yoda and counselors Savannah, Jonah and Josh. When a loose lip gloss is tossed in the crowd, the boys start dancing to "Lip Gloss" and the crowd starts cheering. Laughs and claps all around.
7:24
Maggie Huff and Leah's girls are next! Each girl takes on the role of a different counselor and they all head to a dance party. "Hollaback Girl" starts to play and girls show off their synchronized moves. When the song ends, the girls run around the auditorium cheering for SEP!
7:33
Jonah and Vipin's suite is on the stage! Campers take on different personas, like Justin Beiber, Zac Efron and more, and explain how they crashed landed on a deserted island. Highlight of the skit is Taylor Swft's arrival, counselor Vipin's favorite person, ever. "Thanksgiving" starts playing and the boys show their moves to the camp. Laughs are endless.
7:41
Katya and Kelsey's girl are up. Doing a great counselor line-up, the girls figure out they can't find Vipin! After a brief flashback scene, he is found. Spice Girls "If You Wanna be my Lover" starts playing and the girls end the skit with "We love you Vipin", displaying the classic Vipin arms.
7:50
John and Tim's suite start with the classic "counselor trivia" skit. Highlight of the skit are the campers demonstrating the best way to "grow a beard", an inside joke from throughout the session. A dance to "Time After Time" ends the act; the song is a crowd favorite.
7:59
Secret Squirrel reveal! Seamus, Chelsea and Liz sing a song to Josh -- Liz reveals she is his Secret Squirrel! Tears all around.
8:05
Destine and Savannah's girls begin with a skit, starting with some serious "beard business". Classic puns all around: "Wait, it's not finding the Josh map, it's dancing to parent trap!" A great synchronized dance follows, the crowd is impressed.
8:12
Another secret squirrel reveal! Scooter plays guitar and sings to Kelly. The audience gives him a standing ovation!
8:16
Mike and Scooter's suite start with a skit, but end with a dance to "Say My Name". Their crazy dance moves make the audience laugh and clap throughout the dance. They even dance in color coded groups, a nod to the original music video.
8:21
Sarah and Maggie Chamber's girls start their skit with more beard jokes, a staple of the evening. In the skit, they shave Josh's beard in his sleep, which upsets him greatly. They end their skit with a song about beards and some synchronized dancing around the upset Josh character.
8:27
Jonah and Seamus show off their secret handshake. It's impressive.
8:28
Saving the best for last! Sean and Josh's boys are up, starting their skit with a funny math joke. One Direction then jumps on the stage, but are fought off by a hard rock-metal-progressive band. In the end, only one stands, the boy who told the math joke.
8:32
The camp video slideshow!
8:54
Counselors sing their goodbye song, to the tune of "I've Got a Feeling".
Counselors and campers return to the dorms for the all night!!
Special Report: Field Trip to "Telegraph" with Zines Class
Parents, don't be surprised if your high school campers beg to stop back by on your way out of town!
Counselor of the Day: Mister Fitzgerald
What made you want to work at SEP?
I remembered how much I enjoyed SEP as a camper and how much fun I had, and I also thought it would be a great summer job to get paid to watch over kids.
What's your Special Topic?
"Act A Fool", which teaches the kids different genres of acting, and how to still be themselves when they portray another character. It's fun!
What's your favorite part about camp?
My favorite part of camp is definitely move-in day with the kids. Getting to know them is amazing and seeing how smart they are and how anxious for the weeks to come makes me wish I was a camper again sometimes.
What's your suite theme?
My theme is the sports arena and every one of my campers' doors have various sports equipment on them.
What's your favorite memory from being a camper?
My favorite memory from being a camper was my last year in 9-11 when my suite sang "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton for the talent show. The girls went crazy and will remember our performance forever!
O-Hill or St. Anne's?
O-Hill, because it's all you can eat, unlike St. Anne's where you can only have ONE PANCAKE! Plus they always have fries. I love fries.
What's something about you that someone might not expect if they didn't know you well?
That I'm a Theater and Performance major.
What's one thing that surprised you after you started working here?
One thing that surprised me when I started were all of the perks we get as counselors, like room and board, staff gifts, catered lunches during orientation.
Without using any camper names, can you tell us a funny story from the summer?
Funny story: On my first day off, I was attempting to catch the trolley to go to the corner so I could get lunch. I stood at this bench and kept waiting for the trolley to come and I saw a few pass by but not stop and thought nothing about it. I stood there for 45 minutes in concern until I realized I was on the wrong side of the road for the trolley stop :(
What do you know about gifted education?
I know that with gifted education, most kids are gifted in their own ways, you just have to design ways and problematic activities for them to express these gifted talents.
The Day's Schedule: Wednesday, July 24
It's the last full day of camp, and it's a busy one.
In lieu of special topics, 5-8 will be holding the trivia challenge. Suites will travel from room to room in STAB, going head-to-head in six rounds of trivia before converging on the auditorium for a grueling final trivia round.
After dinner, both camps will have time to prepare for their evenings. 9-11 will dress their best for the big dance tonight, while 5-8 will put the finishing touches on their talent show skits.
After those events, both camps will return to dorms for the all night party!
In lieu of special topics, 5-8 will be holding the trivia challenge. Suites will travel from room to room in STAB, going head-to-head in six rounds of trivia before converging on the auditorium for a grueling final trivia round.
After dinner, both camps will have time to prepare for their evenings. 9-11 will dress their best for the big dance tonight, while 5-8 will put the finishing touches on their talent show skits.
After those events, both camps will return to dorms for the all night party!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)