July 20th, 2026

Black River is officially underway!

Yesterday was Opening Day as campers arrived, moved into their cabins, met their cabinmates and counselors, and got to know camp through our Checkpoint Challenge. Dinner was our opening day classic, spaghetti and meatballs, and the evening wrapped up with campers being sorted into their Grecian teams: Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Thebes. Let the games begin!

This morning started with our Polar Bears (staff only!) waking up camp before everyone headed to breakfast for eggs, bacon, and toast. As always, oatmeal and cereal were also available for campers who wanted something different.

After breakfast, campers completed their swim checks to earn their tags. Each color represents a different swim level and helps us keep everyone safe while enjoying the lake all session long.

The morning also included a lively game of Koopa Poopa, where the rules never stop changing, keeping everyone on their toes. Campers then headed off to their first electives, choosing from World Cup Review, Chalk Art, Ultimate Frisbee, and Aggressive Self Care.

Lunch was mac and cheese, peas, and sweet potato fries before campers dove into their first PM Focuses. Unlike electives, Focuses meet every day, giving campers the chance to build skills throughout the session. This session's Focuses are HPFC, Sculling, Farm & Garden, Lake Living, Sailing, Creative Writing, and Woodworking.

The afternoon continued with a second round of electives, including Mermaid Lessons, Pickleball, Beach Volleyball, Meditation Drawing, Giant Jenga, and Archery.

The weather has been absolutely perfect, with a gentle breeze keeping everyone comfortable. What a great day for a sail!

We're off to a fantastic start and can't wait to see what the rest of the session brings!