By Jennifer Cohen

July 5th 2012

It is hard to believe the first session of the 2012 camp season is quickly coming to an end. It seems like just yesterday the campers were arriving, unpacking their clothing, getting settled in their bunks, selecting their options, and learning their way around camp.

It has been an amazing four weeks here at Blue Star. Old friends were reunited and new friendships were formed. Campers had the opportunity to participate in options ranging from waterfront, tennis, archery and basketball. They competed against their opponent in Color War, sang songs and performed in the Zimriah show. They went on overnight camp outs and out of town trips, and some even went zip lining and white water rafting. Now, campers are getting ready to pack up their belonging and their memories and head back home.

As the first session of camp is coming to an end, campers have a range of emotions. While most of them are excited to see their family and friends, everyone is sad to be leaving the place that they have called home these last few weeks.

This morning was the annual Friendship Circle program. The entire camp gathered in the HeRo for one last time. Jason welcomed the campers. “Today is a sad day because it is the last day here but this has been a wonderful opportunity to make friends and special memories,” he said before he thanked everyone for a wonderful summer.

Campers shared their original thoughts on how they felt about their time at camp and their feelings on going home tomorrow. Everyone expressed their sadness over leaving but shared how happy they are to have been here and have the experiences they had.

Carly Stevens and Jonathan Furman were selected as the “Ultimate Teen” and were presented with Blue Star Camps T-shirts.

Campers sang songs including the emotional Hallelujah which made some campers cry even harder.

The camp recited a Traveler’s Prayer and a video slide show was played, showing pictures from the last four weeks and Teen Village led the camp in singing “You Are My Friend”, a song that is only sung at Blue Star during the Friendship Circle event.

Tears flowed from almost everyone’s eyes. There were hugs and circles of friends holding each other, comforting those who were especially distraught.

Griffin Jacobs was in Juniors this year. This was his second year at camp. He is both happy and sad to go home. “I’m happy I get to go home because I will get to play with my video games and stuff but I’m sad to leave camp too,” said Griffin. His favorite part of camp was athletics, especially dodge ball and Griffin wants to come back next summer.

Myles Krachman lives in Tyler, Texas. He was also in Juniors during his first summer at Blue Star. He is sad to go home. “I have to leave this camp and I don’t want to leave.” Myles specially enjoyed Color War. “It was just so fun,” he said. “I want to come back next year.”

Brittany Blum is from Asheville, North Carolina. She was in Pioneer Girls 3 and this was her fifth summer at Blue Star. “I’m sad to be leaving. I will miss my camp friends,” said Brittany. The best part of camp for her was seeing all of her old camp friends and meeting new friends.

Senior Girl Rachel Nelkin said she was really sad to leave her friends. “We have to wait a whole year to see them again.” When asked what the best part of camp was, Rachel said, “The boys,” with a smile.

Lindsey Fields has been in Pioneer Girl 3. She will be going back to Memphis. Lindsey had a great time at camp and is sad to leave. “I’m sad to go. I will miss my friends,” said Lindsey. “The best part was seeing my old camp friends and making new friends this summer.” Lindsey especially enjoyed Color War. “I was on the Red team and we lost but I don’t really care. It was still fun. I’m going to miss being at camp.”

Jamie Kurzer lives in Miami. This was her first summer at Blue Star. She was in Juniors. Jamie has mixed emotions about leaving camp. “I’m happy I will get to see my parents but I will be sad to be away from camp because I like it here,” said Jamie. Her favorite part of camp was evening programs because she liked going to the lake, the delta and paint tag.

Dylan Heller was in Pioneer Girls 1 this summer. This was her first time at Blue Star and she is feeling both sad and happy to be going back home to Miami. “I’m sad because I’m going to miss my friends here but I’m also happy because I will get to see my family.”

Shoshanna Halperin was in Pioneer Girls 2 this summer. This is her second year at camp. She will be going home to Boynton Beach, Florida. “I’m sad because I don’t want to leave my friends,” said Shoshanna. She enjoyed taking tennis, archery, nature and web news this summer and she especially liked Color War. “I want to come back next year for sure,” she said.

“I’m really sad. I wish camp could go on forever,” said Senior Allison Schwartz from Boca Raton, Florida. “I’m going to miss seeing my friends. Of course I will be back next summer.”

Noah Stein from Miami Beach was also especially emotional about saying goodbye. “I’m sad,” he said, unable to get any more words out.

Senior Girl Breezie Edelson from Davie, Florida, shared her thoughts on the end of camp. “The moment when you realize you have a special connection with someone, if it’s your first or last year or you live near or far, you know in your heart you will always have that special connection with you wherever you go. And wherever you may go in your life, you will always know that Blue Star Camps is your forever home.”

June 30, 2012 – 10:30pm

From out of the trees they came screaming; their high-pitched and tortured wailing pierced the dark and silent night. Two figures raced across the battle field, heralding the start of a battle.

Then the Red team, Fire, descended slowly across the field, clad in grass skirts and, with torches raised, made their way to the center of the field and stood ready for battle. Their bodies and faces were painted red like tribal warriors. Their leader chanted in primitive tongue and his tribe knelt down in a circle around him, banging their fists and open palms on the dry Earth, chanting like ancient Aborigines.

This brought out the members of the Blue team, Ice, from the other side of the field. Their faces were painted in white and blue markings and glitter blue lips. Clad in capes and spears with glowing blue neon tips, members of Ice made their way to the center, their shoulders swinging and swaying from left to right, the way apes and primitive man once moved. Their war cries and witchy shrieking could be heard for miles as they stood head to head with the Fire team. The air filled up with smoke which slowly evaporated into the night sky.

Blue Star Campers were screaming wildly from the audience, filled with excitement and anticipation, anxiously waiting to see what would happen next. Under an almost full moon, Fire and Ice stood at the ready for a moment. The quiet before the storm. Then both teams slowly circled around each other, their sticks and fists raised in the air, waiting for the right moment. Suddenly, both teams charged. Fireworks exploded against the dark background of night while Spirit Leaders led chants and cheers with the campers. Then, black out.

This was War.

This was Blue Star Color War, 2012. The battle of Fire and Ice.

This was how Blue Star Campers learned that Color War was underway. After the show, the entire camp gathered in the HeRo to learn what would take place on Sunday. Campers were assigned to a team and went to sleep knowing that when they awoke on Sunday, they would be competing against their opponents.

The next morning, from sun up to sun down, campers participated in numerous challenges. There was archery, tennis, tug-of-war, musical plates, dodge ball, relay races, track and field, kayaking and basketball competitions, just to name a few, and each team pulled together to fight for their team.

Under the hot sun, chants of “Let’s go Blue Team!” and “Go Red!” could be heard all over camp. Campers got into the spirit of the day and dressed in their respective team colors. In addition to wearing red or blue, some decorated their faces and bodies and hair with red or blue paint and glitter. Some Blue team members wrote “Ice Ice Baby” and “Blue Is For You” on their stomachs while Red team members wrote “Burn Baby Burn!” and “Go Red!“ on their arms and foreheads.

Spirit leaders donned flowing capes, with decorations of flames and red glitter for Fire. The Ice team members wore light blue capes with “ICE” on the back.

Evidence of the competition could be seen all over camp, with dueling signs posted side by side. Posters that read “Fire Melts Ice!” and “Is It Hot Outside Or Is It the Red Team?”were hung right next to posters that said “What’s the Color of Blue Star?” and “Ice Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Blue Team!”

Points from each challenge were turned in and tabulated throughout the day. By Noon, the Red team was in the lead with 12,620 points while Blue trailed behind with 10,850 points.

The sun beat down on the campers as they fought for their team. Of course, keeping the campers safe and hydrated throughout the day were two big priorities. Water stations were set up all around camp and the Juniors even had a water drinking contest. Frozen fruit bars and Popsicles were distributed to the campers making sure no one got dehydrated.

Two of the biggest events of the day were the greasy watermelon competition and the fire building contest.

After a watermelon was coated with vegetable shortening, it was thrown into the lake. Members from each team battled it out, wrestling in the water trying to get hold of the coveted water melon which kept slipping out of the campers hands.

After the last challenge, campers had a chance to eat and rest. Later, as the cool air finally moved in, the entire camp gathered to watch their members of their teams on International Island race to see who could build a fire faster. Campers cheered their team members on with “Build that fire, higher, higher!”

From there, the entire camp gathered in the HeRo for the evening’s closing ceremony which included the songfest, the glitter plaque awards, video awards, and of course the announcement of the winner of Color War. Points were tabulated and counted for one last final time.

Each camp unit performed a song about their Color War experience and how it was now time to reunite Blue and Red and come together again as one camp. “Blue and Red today have worked so long. United we’re a force ultimately strong” sang the Senior Boys Blue Team.

Campers presented their glitter plaques and gave explanations for the meaning behind their designs. Senior Girls and Teen Village plaques symbolized the unification of camp after Color War.

“The numbers 2012 rising from the burning fire illustrates how we must cherish the short time we have left here. Though this summer will eventually fade into a memory, just as the 2012 diminishes into thin air, we will hold onto it for a lifetime.”

“The purple in the heart represents how both red fire and blue ice unite as one team at the end of the day. The heart outlining the logo demonstrates how Blue Star is forever in our hearts.”

Both teams worked hard but in the end, it was the Blue Ice team who won Color War 2012. The Blue team erupted with cries and screams when they heard they were victorious. Immediately after, the campers enjoyed fireworks before heading to bed after a long day.

Color War 2012 was a day of competition. But it was also a day of sportsmanship, teamwork and encouragement. There were high-fives and pats on the backs, handshakes and hugs. “Good job” and “Nice try” could be heard as campers cheered their teammates on. By the end of the night, Blue Star Camps was no longer divided and once again, everyone was reunited in their Forever Home.

by Jennifer Cohen

For thousands of years, before the advent of metal tools, primitive man used stones to create sharp tools and weapons. This summer, the campers at Blue Star are also learning how to co-exist with nature and make tools from the land.

Jon Rousseau is the Ancient Arts instructor at Blue Star. This is his first summer at camp. Previously, Hawk ran the option for Ancient Arts. Jon and Hawk have been friends for 20 years. Hawk was not able to come to camp this summer and he asked Jon to fill in for him. (A pioneer boy recently gave the nickname of “Cobra” to Jon.)

In Ancient Arts, campers make various items working with materials found only in nature. Campers decide what they want to make. Gourds are made into bowls, containers, and percussion instruments such as water drums and udu drums. Campers must first wash and smooth their gourd and remove the seeds from inside. Campers carve, file and whittle until their projects are completed.

The campers also learn how to make items from bamboo such as didgeridoos, slit drums, and a handle for a throwing weapon called an atlata which predates the bow and arrow. Campers also have the opportunity to make dream catchers, leather pouches, medicine bags, net bags, canteens, and a digging tool that also has a storage compartment. Jon helps the campers with all of these projects. In addition, he also teaches the campers to respect nature and animals and tells the campers stories.

Ancient Arts is very popular, especially with Pioneer boys and girls and Junior and Senior boys who especially like learning about “fire by friction” which involves learning how to rub sticks together to make a fire.

Jon was born in Jacksonville, Florida and has lived in Asheville for the last 18 years. He did not become interested in Ancient Arts until he was in his mid 20’s. He earned a Degree in Economics from Auburn University and a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia. His first job was taking juvenile offenders into the wilderness for a month. Jon took them white water rafting, back packing, rock climbing, and on other adventure trips. That experience made him interested in learning and teaching. “Ancient arts is a doorway to remembering how our ancestors used to live,” said Jon.

At home in Asheville, Jon contracts with schools and other organizations and teaches the children Ancient Arts techniques similar to those he teaches at camp. He also share stories,and teaches nature awareness through games, and drumming. Jon also works with adventure groups and a nonprofit group that mentors teenage boys and teaches them what it means to be a man. Jon also works with an African healer.

Jon teaches survival skills to older campers. He shows them how to make water from air and teaches the Senior boys how to make a blow gun. “Those are pretty hard to make,” said Jon, who loves being at camp. “For me, being at camp is an opportunity to meet people from all over the world and make new friends. This summer is an opportunity for me to do what I love for an entire summer with kids who are very enthusiastic about doing it,” said Jon. “I’m very impressed with the camp structure and the organization,” said Jon. “The focus here is always on the kids. That’s really prominent and evident. The children are the priority and I really appreciate an organization that puts the kids first.”

Many wonderful things are spread throughout camp. Joy, friendship, happiness, sunshine, germs; WHAT? We all know the wonderful effects of the closed environment of camp, but one of the more negative effects is the ability for germs and disease to spread quickly.

While campers are out and about, their hands are dirtied by numerous things. Gardening and caring for the horses, goats, rabbits, chickens and other critters at Farm and Barn. Harry Nature is a hands-on man while educating the children about birds, mice, snakes and guinea pigs. The Delta, horseback and runny noses are just a few of the other grubby things we all come in contact here many times a day. Blue Star Camp is well aware of this and to combat all those micro gremlins, hand-washing stations are located throughout camp. We, as adults know that the most effective way to prevent the spreading of germs is regular and effective hand washing however, children tend to neglect this concept of basic hygiene. In places where hot water and soap is not available, there are hand sanitizing stations.

Counselors and staff are always urging campers to wash their hands thoroughly with warm water and soap and to use sanitizer if a sink is not available. Sanitizing stations are also located inside and outside each dining hall, just in case it may have been overlooked. Blue Star is committed to the prevention of the spread of germs and disease and will continue to do our best to keep our cosy closed environment disease free.