As 2019 has come to a close, we are so very grateful for those who came to spend their New Year with us this year at Winter Camp! Though we started with a bit of rain, we were able to ring in the New Year in a snowy winter wonderland.
If I could sum up Winter Camp in one word, I would say Winter Camp is cozy. The Lodge fireplace was constantly ablaze with a fire going, keeping the whole living area of the Lodge warm and comfortable for those of us sipping hot drinks, playing boardgames, snuggling under blankets, and spending some well-deserved time resting, reading, and enjoying the atmosphere.
The couches around the fire were occupied for majority of the day, unless of course we were at meals or out playing hockey on the iced over Crystal Lake. We were blessed with some thick ice this winter, so thick, in fact, that we weren’t even able to cut through it to do the Polar Bear Plunge.
It was no matter though, and after mourning for a moment over the loss of having to jump in the freezing, freezing cold water, out came the goals, hockey sticks, and pucks for a full couple afternoons of loud, energetic hockey games. The game went back and forth from hockey to simply just sliding around on the ice, but regardless everyone was smiling all the while – cold, but smiling.
We participated in many activities during the last couple days. There was a Sing-spiration where we all gathered the first night to sing hymns together around the fire. We also all put together some gingerbread houses that were truly a spectacular community of colorful houses. Quite the neighborhood I’m sure any one of us would want to live in. Peppermint windows and gummy doors? Yes please.
Every evening we came together to have some hot drinks and snacks (including chocolates, cookies, cheese, crackers, and popcorn) at five in the evening. It was our pre-dinner snack time, so to speak. It was the time of the day we would all come together after our afternoon activities had ended and camp out around the fire to warm up and refresh. The fire was always roaring and the mugs were always warm in our hands as we all ate maybe one or two many cookies.
Winter Camp is a great opportunity to relax and stay warm by the fire while also having the opportunity to go out and explore the beautiful winter that Crystal Lake displays. We were fortunate enough to have a good amount of snow by the end as we rang in the New Year. It wasn’t too much snow that we were overwhelmed, but it was definitely enough that it crunched under our feet as we all made our way out to the Game Field on New Years Eve to see the fireworks to ring in the New Year.
New Year’s Eve was quite the spectacle. We had an ice cream social and then watched the New Years celebrations from across the world while celebrating the past year. And of course, the fireworks were a great touch!
We are extremely grateful for everyone who joined us for Winter Camp this year. It was a great time of relaxation and also immersive winter activities – hikes, hockey, and enjoying the beauty of Crystal Lake in the wintertime. You can find all the photos from Winter Camp in our Winter Camp 2019 SmugMug folder, which we’ve linked to this blog for easier access.
Happy New Year to you all and we look forward to sharing more of 2020 with everyone!
– Zoë
Social Media Director/Camp Photographer
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