Camp News

“The grass is always greener on the other side.”

— Proverb

Conventional wisdom says that you shouldn’t covet what someone else has simply because it’s different from your own. Different is good, but different isn’t always better. Sometimes, it’s just…different.

And so it was that the Juniors awoke to a half-empty camp this morning and traveled down the road to Timber Tops for a morning’s worth of something different. When our campers arrived, beach towels in hand (if the weather is going to stay this hot, we might as well take our towels everywhere we go), they were briefed by CTT staff on the variety of activities in which they could choose to participate. Whether they came for sports, arts, or just something different than what is offered at Owego, there was something for everyone!

These Juniors might tell you that the most unusual part of the morning was using equipment they are not accustomed to using. A totally different Wibit in the lake? Bring it on! A kitchen used for cooking lessons? Yes, please! A gymnastics pavilion loaded with trampolines, balance beams, and other apparatuses? We are so there!

But the magic of Switch Day lies not only in the opportunity to do things differently, but to do it alongside our Timber Tops sisters. Every activity that was offered today was co-ed. In other words, Owego boys and Timber girls side by side, experiencing all of the wonderful options each camp has to offer. It was a peek into “how the other half lives.” And the perfect occasion for brothers and sisters to reconnect!

Some chose to brave the heat and play tennis, basketball, or soccer. Others opted for the shaded setting of gaga or ping pong, the calm of arts and crafts, or the thrill of gymnastics. Even Junior Head Counselor Mike was spotted on the balance beam! The lure of yummy treats appealed to our boys, as they baked chocolate chip cookies inside the CTT kitchen. There was even an option for outdoor cooking, as campers made S’mores sandwiches over the campfire! For some Juniors, the cool, refreshing water of Lake Selma was just too tempting to pass up. The Wibit was crawling with boys and girls, all delighted to beat the heat together!

Before departing to head back to Owego, the Juniors had the rare opportunity to eat lunch in the CTT dining hall! Undeterred by the singing and chanting that characterizes a typical CTT meal, our boys held their own with a rousing rendition of “Little Red Wagon.” It was quite a raucous meal, but don’t worry — there was even some eating going on!

The afternoon was spent hosting the CTT girls at Owego. More fun, more beating the heat, more trying something different. Our boys were happy to share their sacred spaces with the girls from Timber Tops, especially after receiving such outstanding hospitality earlier in the day! Tomorrow, we will take a little journey to Owegoland, without ever leaving our own camp. With most of the Upper Camp trips returning to Owego tomorrow night, the Juniors have to squeeze every last ounce of excitement out of their 2-day reign!

 

Early this morning, the 9th and 10th graders rubbed the sleep from their teenage eyes, grabbed their overnight bags, and boarded coach buses already filled with Timber Tops girls. The 10th graders departed first, their giant green bus hightailing it out of camp and down Route 6. Final destination? Niagara Falls! The 9th graders left camp a short time later, heading north to New England. Needless to say, there was a noticeable absence at morning lineup!

Tomorrow morning, the Tents will awaken at the break of dawn to paddle away on the 100-miler. The Seniors, AKA 7th and 8th graders, will board buses for their overnight trips to the Adirondacks and the Finger Lakes, respectively. Think about that for just a moment. As of tomorrow’s morning lineup, no camper over the age of 11 will remain in camp. Pioneer Village will become the official hub of camp and the Juniors will have the run of the place!

Preparations were put well into place today, as the youngest campers spread out across camp and took advantage of the extra space. They played basketball in the HBC, practiced their forehands and backhands on the tennis court, and lived out their Sesame Street fantasies with a puppet workshop at Scotty’s Stage. It was another scorcher today, and many Juniors chose to spend quality time at the lake. Whether on the Wibit or in the water, the campers stayed cool while having a blast! Sure, the Seniors were still hanging around, but there was a current of anticipation running through camp as the Juniors inched closer to a complete takeover.

Tonight’s evening activity for the Juniors was an all-time favorite of Owegans past and present: Steal the Bacon! This tag-based game involves teams competing to retrieve the “bacon” from the center of the playing area and return it to their side without being tagged. Steal the Bacon isn’t just about being the fastest runner. It’s about teamwork, listening skills, and strategic thinking. When your number is called, you need to be ready to move!

Tomorrow, after the remainder of Upper Camp hits the road, the Juniors will participate in Switch Day with Timber Tops. Half of the day will take place at Owego, with the girls as our guests, and half will take place at CTT. Switch Day is like a “try it” day where the campers will get to experience their choice of activities at each other’s camp. Held every summer during trip week, Switch Day is a unique opportunity for our boys to utilize the facilities at CTT and to get a sense of what life is like at our sister camp.

The Juniors are calling the shots, and it’s going to be epic!

 

 

 

 

The day after Visiting Day was anything but a let-down, as we jumped right back into our regular schedule. We were gifted with a late sleep this morning, which was the perfect remedy to yesterday’s sugar-fueled excitement! (Some of us are still enjoying those delicious black and white cookies which we may or may not have stuffed into our bags while exiting the dining hall.)

Aside from all of the action going on at camp, we had the 8th graders out on the Delaware River with their grade-level counterparts from Timber Tops. It was a perfect day to be out on the water, as temperatures soared to near 90 degrees. Those lucky 8th graders beat the heat AND had a great time canoeing and swimming in the refreshing water!

Our Top Cooks headed over to Pine Forest for a special session with guest chef/Timber Tops mom Michal Levison. Michal’s session last summer was a big hit, and she was gracious enough to return today to guide our chefs-in-training from all 3 camps! The campers made three different types of bruschetta: two savory (think avocado, tomato, radish, scallions) and one sweet (strawberries and cream). The campers enjoyed chopping their ingredients and assembling their own bruschetta. We were ready to help them eat their delectable creations, but alas, there were no leftovers!

The 9th and 10th graders will depart bright and early tomorrow morning for their overnight trips, so they spent time after dinner tonight packing their bags. The 9th graders are headed to Boston and other parts of New England, while the 10th graders will be exploring the U.S. side of Niagara Falls. Both grades will be out of camp for two nights!

Elsewhere in camp this evening, the Juniors enjoyed a pool party with swimming, water games, a crazy jump contest, beach Newcomb, and ping-pong. The Seniors had their own shindig down at the lake, assisted by the Tents. Campers were paddling canoes, climbing on (and jumping off) the Wibit, and playing Spike Ball on the floating dock! Others opted for dry land and played Kan-Jam on the shore, tossed around a football, or played card and board games on the gathering deck.

Over the next couple of days, camp will begin to clear out as the older campers set out on their overnight trips. The 7th and 8th graders will leave on Wednesday, and the Ridge will be empty. This can only mean one thing: the Juniors/Inters will officially take over camp! Stay tuned for their adventures!

 

Those of us who have been at camp since Opening Day on June 28th wrapped up our fourth week and plowed ahead into Week 5 today. With so many exciting events still on the horizon, it’s hard to fathom that camp has been rolling for about a month already. With Visiting Day tomorrow and Senior/Hi-Senior trips heading out this coming week, we feel inspired to squeeze as much activity as we can into every day we spend at camp. Leave it all on the field, so to speak.

This morning, fueled by a breakfast of pancakes, campers seized the opportunity to spread out all over camp and fully immerse themselves in activities. Today was one of those days where you just relish the chance to get out there and play. Some chose to play sports: soccer, baseball, tennis, or perhaps fencing. Others played in the water. The lake was filled with canoes and kayaks, and the Wibit was crawling with campers. In the picnic grove and on the Gathering Decks, campers played card games and board games. At Scotty’s Stage, the cast of the upcoming “Young Frankenstein” play-acted, already well into rehearsals for their August performance. No matter where you planted yourself, the spirit of fun and the joy of recreation pervaded the atmosphere.

The Tents have begun training for the 100-miler, which will commence on Wednesday, July 30th. Today, they strapped on their life vests and “canoed” to the Upper Field. This involved teams of 2 carrying the canoes over their heads and down to the lake from the Upper Field. The 100-miler is a grueling 3-day trip that demands both physical and mental endurance, and every Owegan dreams of the day when his time will come.

After a dinner of yummy pizza, everyone headed back to bunks to put on longs and longs for tonight’s divisional campfires. Since our second session campers just arrived on Wednesday, tonight was the perfect occasion to take new Owegans under our wing and acquaint them with our traditions. Returning campers finally got the chance to participate in the songs and chants that they have revisited over and over again all winter long, patiently waiting for the time when they would be reunited with their Brothers in Blue.

As July draws to a close and August looms closer and closer, we hold on to these traditions for dear life. We know that although these songs and chants and inside jokes will never really leave us, we will eventually have to leave camp. But for now, we just throw our arms around one another. We sing, we laugh, we smile.

And we play.

 

 

 

This is not a drill. We are precisely 24 hours away from Visiting Day 2025, and the excitement is palpable. We thought this might be a good time to offer some Visiting Day advice to new families, while gently reminding those for whom this is not the first rodeo!

Visiting Day is a jumble of emotions for everyone: Campers, Parents, Siblings, Key Staff, and Counselors. The best way to approach it is to have NO expectations. Nothing will go exactly as hoped and planned, and it is imperative that everyone remain flexible. We’re already bracing for an uncooperative Mother Nature, so let’s practice the art of the pivot and be ready to switch gears!

We’ve compiled a list of things you SHOULD do on Visiting Day:

1. Expect to pull your car up to the line of vehicles on Route 6 until the gates open at 11:30. Yes, you’ll have to wait. But it’s a great opportunity to say hi to your camper’s bunkmates’ families!

2. Wear comfortable shoes. Camp is all about walking, often on uneven terrain. If it rains, leave the fancy kicks at home and be prepared to soak up some of that Greeley mud!

3. Let your camper guide the conversation. There are a million things to cover, and your child will likely be talking a mile a minute. They will share what they want, and guide you to areas of camp that have special meaning for them.

4. Speaking of areas of camp, get out of the bunk and explore! Even if you’ve visited Owego a dozen times, your camper will likely want to shoot some hoops in the HBC or take a kayak out on the lake. Go with the flow and see where the day takes you!

5. Enjoy the camp food! Sure, some families may choose to leave camp to treat their camper to a restaurant meal, but there’s something really unique about breaking bread with your child’s bunkmates in the dining hall! The wraps are delish!

6. Stop by the table in front of Crockett to take advantage of early-bird prices and register your camper for 2026. Our amazing office staff will ensure that it is quick and painless, and you may even walk away with a special gift!

7. Take the time to meet your child’s counselors. These are the young men who have been looking out for your camper, making sure he showers, brushes his teeth, and changes his underwear. And it’s very likely that your child thinks the world of them! They are eager to meet you, as well.

8. Take lots of photos! Our camp photographer will be walking around with her camera, but you don’t want to miss the opportunity to snap a pic of Grandmom in a canoe with her grandson! Or one of little brother (a future Owegan, perhaps?) playing Knock Hockey on the Junior Gathering Deck.

9.Validate your child’s feelings. He may be sad to say goodbye. He may be counting down the minutes until he’s back with his summer Brothers with no parents in sight. Both are normal! Even the most stoic of campers may express atypical emotions on Sunday, so keep an open mind.

10. Stay present for the entire 3 and a half hours! The time goes by quickly, so make the most of it and be together as a family. Even if you’re just sitting by the lake, or hanging out in the bunk, it’s time well spent.

This gift you’ve given your child — the gift of overnight camp — is one of the most valuable things you could possibly do for them. That doesn’t mean that every camper will love camp equally! It just means that all of them are growing and benefitting in some significant way.

We can’t wait to see you on Sunday, rain or shine! Come with your smile and your sense of adventure, and you can’t lose.

In 2021, current Junior Head Counselor Mike Simone came up with an idea. Mike wondered, “Since the Tents have the 100-miler and the 10th graders have the Grand Owegan, what if we created a special “tripping” experience for our youngest Hi-Seniors?” And the 9th grade overnight hike, or “Mike Hike,” was born.

This morning, our 9th graders set out on this long-distance hike, with just the packs on their backs to sustain them for the next 2 days. They are drinking creek water that they filter themselves! How impressive is that? Today, they covered 12 miles of the Thunder Swamp Trail loop. They set up camp for the night, and will wake up bright and early tomorrow morning to trek another 8 miles! It’s summertime, but we still did the math. That’s a grand total of 20 miles! This is a tough hike, but we know these 9th graders can do it. We’ll be cheering them on!

Back in camp, it was a Canteen day — the first one for our second session campers! Everyone lined up, letters in hand, and waited to step up to the door. Eager campers handed over their letters and scurried up to the table to select their snacks. While Canteen is always a highlight for these boys, now is a good time to remind you that Visiting Day is less than 3 days away. If you’ve received lists requesting tons of candy, keep in mind that these boys have not gone without sweet treats for the past month!

Tonight’s evening activities were: Running Radios for Juniors/Inters, Speed Ball for Seniors, and a Cooking Challenge for Hi-Seniors (at least the ones not currently in the midst of a 20-mile hike)!

With Visiting Day so close on the horizon, full session campers are beginning to get very excited to see their families. We have had a string of beautiful days this week, and we are hopeful that Sunday brings more sunshine. Truthfully, though, we know it will be a lovely Visiting Day no matter what the weather brings!

 

 

Imagine stepping off the bus and into the loving arms of a Band of Brothers who have been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Perhaps you spent the first half of July on a family vacation. Maybe you attended a sports camp. Whatever you’ve been up to since June 28th, it has led you here, to Owego, at the start of second session. Some of you have been here before. You have been regaled with stories from Olympics past, and you know there is no way you’re missing Frontier Week. Some of you are brand-new to Owego. You’re trying it on for size and you’re not really sure what the next 3 and a half weeks has in store for you.

Oh, boy, are you in for a treat. Second session starts NOW!

Unlike the full or first-session campers who arrive on Day One, you second session-ers are entering a sacred world where the ice has already been broken and memories have already been made. But rather than feeling like you’re starting out with a disadvantage, you should know that your Brothers in Blue are just waiting to bring you into their space and indoctrinate you to all of the magical things that will make the next 3 and a half weeks unforgettable.

This morning, cars and buses rolled down the driveway and deposited our new campers onto the Lower Field. Kyle and Freedo greeted the boys with hugs, high fives, and questions like, “Are you ready to go one-on-one on the tennis court?” Key staff, counselors, and many full session campers were also present to welcome our new arrivals. Once bunks were assigned, it was off to the races!

We showed our new Brothers the pool and the lake, the Ropes course and the tennis court, and gave them pointers on how best to navigate the dining hall queue. We caught up with friends from summers past, and learned about the hobbies and talents of our new Owegans. There was an electricity buzzing through camp as we braced ourselves for all of the amazing things still to come: Visiting Day, Upper Camp trips, Switch Day, Intercamp games, the 100-miler, Frontier Week, Banquet, and the Rats Ceremony — just to name a few! But first thing’s first — we have to get our new arrivals settled in.

Tonight, our second session campers were treated to our traditional beginning-of-session evening activities: Fox and Hound for the Juniors/Inters and Bombardment for the Seniors/Hi-Seniors. It was a great start to what will undoubtedly be a phenomenal second session!

As a session camp, we are accustomed to saying goodbye to some campers and staff in mid-July. Though we are sad to see our Brothers leave, we understand that people have other plans and commitments. While some of us stay at camp for the full 7 weeks, we see others come and go, and it reminds us just how quickly the summer passes. Every moment is fleeting, and we have to hold on to the memories until we can be reunited next summer.

Today, the first session campers packed their bags, in advance of tomorrow’s departure. We enjoyed temperatures in the upper 70’s and a clear, sunny sky. It was a perfect day for the Hi-Seniors to visit Costas. Our oldest campers had waited patiently all session for their turn, and they were rewarded with waterslides, Go-Karts, and ice cream! Even a high-schooler can’t help but smile when he’s zooming around the track with his bunkmates.

After dinner, everyone threw on longs and longs for end of session divisional campfires. Awards were handed out to first session campers in all areas of camp: athletics, camp craft, arts, etc. There were jokes and cheers, and a rendition of “Little Red Wagon” that was so loud it could be heard through the woods and across the lake! These boys will treasure their Lake Owego plaques for many years to come. Trust us!

Once the campfires wrapped up, everyone marched to the Stage. The entire camp was in attendance for a few extra-special awards, which Kyle introduced and the division leaders presented. First up was the Bill Robinson Award, named after a former Owego pool director and swim instructor. The winner was Junior Colin McCoy. Next was the Tom Jacoby Award, named after a longtime Owego director. Hi-Senior Harrison Berman received this award. Finally, there was the Jon Singer Award. This award was named after a boy who was a bunkmate of Kyle’s in the early 90’s, but who unfortunately passed away after his first summer at Owego. The recipient of this award was Hayden Ackerman. Congratulations to these outstanding Owegans!

The culminating event of the evening was the slide show/video montage of first session highlights, including the first day of camp, the 4th of July, the Tents in Costa Rica, the Grand Owegan, the performance of Aladdin, and, of course, Olympics. Set to the songs that became each Olympic team’s anthem, the video had the audience singing along while reliving all of the amazing moments from the past 3 weeks. This video will be posted to our You Tube channel in the coming days, so the campers can watch it all year long!

Tomorrow, our full session campers will travel to Montage Mountain Water Park for a day of fun in the sun! While they are splashing it up, the Key Staff will be cleaning out bunks and getting everything ready for the arrival of our second session campers on Wednesday.

Thanks for a phenomenal first session! We can’t wait to see what the second half of summer has in store for us!

 

With tomorrow being the last day of first session, there are so many mixed emotions about saying goodbye to our first session campers while also looking forward to what is yet to come for our full summer and second session Owegans. So we coped by doing the only thing we know how, which is to GET BUSY!

Sunday Funday is a way of life at camp, and today certainly brought the fun. The morning was filled with Intercamp games against campers from both Pine Forest and Timber Tops. Campers participated in flag football, soccer, and basketball. These Intercamp games are not only a way for us to show our competitive spirit, but also to spend time with fellow campers from our Route 6 family of camps!

After lunch, our brothers hopped the bus to Timber Tops for some quality time with their sisters. Despite knowing that they will visit every Sunday, the siblings don’t seem to grow tired of these get-togethers. As soon as the boys step off the bus, there’s a magnetic pull that only familial bonds can explain. There are lots of hugs and big smiles. Parents may not believe it if they didn’t see the photographic evidence. It doesn’t matter if you’re a big brother, little brother, or middle brother. This is a special time to step away from the regular camp day and share space with your siblings.

Back at Owego, we hosted a swim meet with Timber Tops. It was a perfect day to swim! Our boys did a great job and earned ribbons galore. The best thing about these swim meets is that you don’t have to be a superstar swimmer to participate. Anyone can do it, whether you excel at backstroke or are just learning butterfly. The more, the merrier!

After dinner and SFA, the Juniors held wacky relays for evening activity, while the Inters played mat ball and the Seniors played Where’s Woody (that goofy scavenger hunt for a little toy dinosaur). The Hi-Seniors traveled down the road to Pine Forest for the annual “Under the Lights” basketball game. Our boys played hard, but ultimately were defeated by 10 points. The cheering section for Owego didn’t let up the whole game, and showered our players with support.

One thing you can say about us is, we’ve got an abundance of spirit and a love for our Brothers in Blue!

Today marks a full three weeks at camp, and Summer 2025 is still going strong. Though we are sad to see some of our campers and staff depart at the end of first session, we are excited to greet our second session Owegans on Wednesday!

We welcomed more prospective campers today for the second Play Day of summer. These (hopefully) future Brothers couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to try out all of the amazing activities Owego has to offer. Whether they were on the Ropes course, at the lake, or on the tennis court, these boys had fun!

Tonight’s main attraction was, of course, the performance of “Aladdin” on Scotty’s Stage. The cast included campers from all divisions, plus numerous counselors and even a cameo by members of the Key Staff! Scotty always crafts his scripts so that the action takes place at camp, and this show was no exception. When Aladdin rubs the magic lamp and the Genie grants him 3 wishes, Aladdin’s first wish is to “go to a boys’ camp in America.” Wish granted!

So Aladdin and the Genie travel to Owego, where they encounter singing campers, a power-hungry assistant director, and a crooning counselor from Britain who doesn’t even know what “O.D.” stands for! Even Kyle and Freedo made an appearance on stage as “heightened” versions of themselves. Add in a few songs from the Disney movie and a few popular ones, plus a curtain call that has the entire camp singing along, and you’ve got all the entertainment you could possibly want!

After the show, each division gathered separately for evening snack before returning to bunks. The cast of Aladdin was treated to an after-party in the dining hall, where they enjoyed cake and soda. These campers worked hard to prepare for this performance, and really shined on stage. The show was recorded and will be uploaded to our You Tube channel in the next few days, so do yourself a favor and watch!

As Scotty announced after the curtain call, next session’s show will be “Young Frankenstein,” and we hope that tonight’s performance inspired a few campers in the audience to join in the fun next time! At Owego, you really can do it all.