Carnival Olympics Style
July 17, 2012
Posted by Jennifer Finch
Camp News
To commemorate the 2012 Olympics in London, Blue Star Camps opened Second Session Carnival with a Parade of Nations and a Symbolic Olympic Flame and torch to light the Blue Star Menorah. Due to our international staff, 14 countries including Mexico, Europe, Australia and New Zealand along with America were represented in the parade. Many of these staff members have worked at camp for many seasons and serve in specialty, administrative and support areas; some as cabin counselors. Proudly marching with their countrymen and flags to their national anthems, the staff were excitedly greeted and cheered on by all the campers lining the parade route. Eszti Slezsak is Blue Star’s Video option specialist. This is her third year as a blue star staff member with her first two as a waitress in the kitchen. Ezsti is from Hungary, “I was proud to represent my country along with Csilla one of the mountain bike specialists, and am surprised at how many Blue Star Campers have a Hungarian heritage”.
Danny Brennan is from England and this is his inaugural Blue Star Summer. Danny is the Guitar specialist and says, “Being from Great Britain in the year in which it hosts the biggest sporting event in the world has enhanced my pride and desire to promote my country”. Not only do the campers appreciate Danny’s guitar teaching skills, they also get a kick out of his Northern English accent.
Each camp had a representative help with the declaration of ‘The Opening of the Carnival’ and the Menorah was ceremoniously lit with Blue Star Camps Olympic Flame. Campers were then let loose to enjoy the array of booths, rides and games available. The Whirly Bird, The Obstacle Challenge and The Dragonfly Swing rides were brought in especially and proved to be camper favorites. However, pony rides, marriage booth and mouse racing with Harry are still some of the most loved at every Blue Star Carnival day.
Just as we were all needing something a little more substantial than snow cones, popcorn and lemonade, the heat of the day rose, clouds formed, and a torrential yet cooling downpour occurred. While the dining hall staff rushed to move the hotdogs and watermelon into the rec hall, a few lucky campers (and staff) experienced a real Blue Star moment and continued to enjoy the oversized slip and slide as the heavens opened. While some enjoyed the slippery, soapy joy of the slide, several individuals were spotted doing cartwheels and headstands on the middle athletic fields. Nothing quite beats the joy of playing in the rain!
As the rain continued to fall and the carnival booths and rides packed away, rest hour was enhanced by the sound of rain on cabin roofs and a quiet moment felt throughout camp…….for an hour at least.
Danny Brennan is from England and this is his inaugural Blue Star Summer. Danny is the Guitar specialist and says, “Being from Great Britain in the year in which it hosts the biggest sporting event in the world has enhanced my pride and desire to promote my country”. Not only do the campers appreciate Danny’s guitar teaching skills, they also get a kick out of his Northern English accent.
Each camp had a representative help with the declaration of ‘The Opening of the Carnival’ and the Menorah was ceremoniously lit with Blue Star Camps Olympic Flame. Campers were then let loose to enjoy the array of booths, rides and games available. The Whirly Bird, The Obstacle Challenge and The Dragonfly Swing rides were brought in especially and proved to be camper favorites. However, pony rides, marriage booth and mouse racing with Harry are still some of the most loved at every Blue Star Carnival day.
Just as we were all needing something a little more substantial than snow cones, popcorn and lemonade, the heat of the day rose, clouds formed, and a torrential yet cooling downpour occurred. While the dining hall staff rushed to move the hotdogs and watermelon into the rec hall, a few lucky campers (and staff) experienced a real Blue Star moment and continued to enjoy the oversized slip and slide as the heavens opened. While some enjoyed the slippery, soapy joy of the slide, several individuals were spotted doing cartwheels and headstands on the middle athletic fields. Nothing quite beats the joy of playing in the rain!
As the rain continued to fall and the carnival booths and rides packed away, rest hour was enhanced by the sound of rain on cabin roofs and a quiet moment felt throughout camp…….for an hour at least.