Back in the early 90’s when some of us (ahem) were campers, rainy days at camp were an excuse to lay low, write letters, and catch up on summer reading. We called it “Bunk-O.” When the head counselors declared “Bunk-O,” we languished in our cabins, listening to cassettes of Steve Miller and Cat Stevens on someone’s boom box. Though we’d never have admitted it, we were bored.

Fast forward to today. Rainy days at camp no longer banish campers to the confines of their bunks. We put on our rain boots and rain jackets, and splash through puddles on our way from one activity to the next. Though we may not swim or use the lake, our Key Staff is still able to provide programming that gets campers moving and stimulates their bodies and brains. When the sky opens up, that’s when our Key Staff gets really creative!

It all starts with utilizing our weather-proof facilities. The dining hall is a great place to run an impromptu cooking period. Scotty’s Stage can host trivia, lip-sync battles, and silly games like “Go Bananas.” The HBC allows us to play basketball, rain or shine, and can even provide a space for obstacle courses and games like Speedball or Matball. Inside the HBC, we have a weight room, a fencing space, and a wrestling area. The Silverdome is a great place to congregate on a rainy day, whether you are playing hockey or Bombardment. The Arts & Crafts/Rocketry pavilion allows campers to get their creative juices flowing even when the sun isn’t shining. All of these locations in camp give us a place to go when it rains so we can engage in fun activities and still get a bit of fresh air and outdoors exposure.

Rainy days at camp aren’t an excuse to just “hang out.” We stick to the schedule format and run regular periods, in order to provide a variety of things for campers to do. Yes, we still play cards and board games. Yes, we still have Rest Hour. No, we are not confined to our cabins all day long, wistfully looking out the window and wondering when the rain will let up. We pivot and shift gears, keeping everyone moving so spirits stay high.

The best thing about rain is that it does eventually stop. And as soon as it does, we drop what we’re doing, toss aside our rain boots, and return to the Great Outdoors! Even if we have to wait all morning or all afternoon to return to business as usual, we stay active and busy. We all know the best place to be in camp is under the sun. And we also know that good things come to those who wait!