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Equestrian Vaulting - best described as gymnastics on horseback - is an extremely popular activity at Kennolyn.
Campers learn many different moves, practicing them first on a stationary barrel.
Once they have the moves down, they can perform them on the horse.
The campers today were practicing standing up as the horse went around the circle.
To do so requires great balance and a little bit of courage too!
Each summer our friends at Trapeze Arts build a full size trapeze here at Kennolyn. Trapeze is available as a single activity period KC Select option, however Session 3 campers were lucky enough to get a free half day of Trapeze on Monday, before it was dismantled to await it's return to Kennolyn in 2010!
As you can see, the Trapeze is quite an impressive structure, taking up the whole grass area next to the volleyball courts.
After making their way up the ladder and onto the platform...
...it's time for the campers to swing!
What a view!
Campers start with the basic arm hang...
...and rotate their way up...
...for a knee hang!
And if they're really bold, they can try for the catch!
Nice catch!
Today's Friday Funday theme is "International," and the campers' activities are taking them on a trip around the world!
One of the games the campers are being exposed to is Cricket.
I know nothing about Cricket, so I will just have to guess about what is going on in these pictures*
*(This post is meant entirely in jest - for an accurate account of how Cricket is played, see Wikipedia's Cricket entry.)
How to Play Cricket:
First you start by standing next to three upright sticks holding an oar which someone sawed the handle off of.
Then you get a friend to throw a ball at your three uprights sticks.
Finally, get some more of your friends to stand around and watch.
Once the ball has been thrown, try to hit it with your sawed-off oar before it knocks down your sticks!
Repeat.
If you happen to hit the ball before it hits your three sticks...
...all your friends who were standing around watching will finally have something to do!
And that's how you play Cricket!
Kennolyn remains true to it's traditional roots with one of our most popular activities - Archery.
Campers of all ages love archery, and it's available to all with equipment sized to fit kids of all sizes.
Archery is a fun activity that allows campers to build confidence as their skills improve with every shot.
A very traditional outdoor camp activity, archery is often new to our youngest/first time campers because there aren't many places left in the world outside of camp where they would encounter it.
Campers learn safety first and foremost, and then they learn how to use the equipment, how to hold the bow, how to knock the arrow, etc.
It doesn't take long before bullseyes are being hit one after another!
Archery is equally popular with both boy and girl Kennolyn campers...
...and it is an activity available to Resident campers and Day campers alike.
The targets are placed at a distance relevant to the age and skill levels of the campers.
Robin Hood would be proud!
Last night was Family Night at Day Camp. Campers got to show all their favorite activities to their parents and other family members!
This camper is showing off her "vaulting" skills she's learned while at camp.
These campers are making masks in arts and crafts.
Here a couple little archers show their skills!
The climbing wall was a popular destination. Campers got to show their families just how high they could climb.
The ropes course was also very popular.
This camper speedily makes her way across the tight rope.
All the fun made everyone very hungry...
...so thankfully the CITs (Campers in Training) were there to serve dinner!
Afterwards, the counselors serenaded the crowd with camp songs.
While everyone finished off the day with a nice cool popsicle!
I think this picture was snapped somewhere near the "tut tut" portion of the song.
Fun times for all! Thanks to everyone for coming out to Kennolyn's Day Camp Family Night!
Our final Friday Funday for Session 1 is all about the superhero!
Kennolyn became a sea of capes and masks this morning.
Rising early from their fortresses of solitude, the campers came ready to mete out justice, Kennolyn style!
"Criminals beware!"
The bad guys don't stand a chance against that hammer. Thor has nothing on this guy!
Our own resident superhero "Bag Lady" takes a crime fighting time-out to pose with some young campers...I mean Heroes in Training.
Kennolyn was also visited by a few superheroes famous...
...and not so famous. I'm not sure what Captain Pink's superpower is, but I'm pretty sure criminals cringe in his presence!
Yesterday was Senior Camper beach day!
We brought some big red flags so the campers would always be able to spot our area.
Time to hit the sand.
It was a perfect, warm and sunny day, and since it was Monday it was also easy to find plenty of space to park our campers...
...who wasted no time jumping in the water!
The swells were small but enough to give everyone some fun.
The waves were big enough for a little body surfing and Boogie Boarding too.
Some campers were better at it than others.
Kennolyn Camps; where else can campers spend the morning in the surf and the afternoon in the redwoods?
Last Friday Day Camp celebrated their Friday Funday with a 4th of July theme.
'Pin the tail on the donkey' is always a hit - even if the camper's aim is not.
Face painting also took on a patriotic theme!
There was plenty of fun to be had in arts and crafts...
...where the campers made little American flags.
The 'find the jelly bean in the whip cream' contest was particularly popular. Because win or lose, you got a mouthful of whip cream and a jelly bean!
Bowling was also a lot of fun - Uncle Sam hat optional.
Finally, the campers got the opportunity to dunk their favorite counselor in the dunk tank.
You can tell by his expression that John wasn't expecting this throw to hit the target. Either that, or the water is very cold!
This year, one of the activities our campers get to choose from is a class in Cartooning! This activity is available because cartooning and animation are my expertise - and I am teaching the class all summer.
In addition to covering the basics of cartooning (basic drawing construction, face and body language, story, character design etc.) we also cover the basics of animation and the campers get to do some animation exercises of their own.
With the magic of computers, I'm even able to create animated GIFs from these exercises!
Briggs animated a baseball bat and ball:
Daniel animated a face changing from happy to angry:
Kristen animated a tether ball:
Stella animated a guy jumping up and down:
Clara animated a girl not only jumping up and down, but yelling "Hi!" as well:
Jack animated a boxer punching a heavy-bag:
Unfortunately one more camper, Kelly, was unable to attend the last day when I collected most of these from the campers. So if you read this, please email me a scan of your animation drawings! Kelly did a neat animation of her mouse character waving his arm up and down.
Thanks to all the campers who made my first Kennolyn Cartooning class a hit, and I look forward to many more great sessions in 2009!
