“Why are there so many songs about rainbows?

And what’s on the other side?”

Well, Kermit, we’re glad you asked.

March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb. It brings us the first day of Spring, the NCAA basketball tournament, and mischievous red-bearded leprechauns…and it also brings us one month closer to Summer 2026!

The color green dominates the March landscape. Everywhere we look, we see emblems of St. Patrick’s Day — shamrocks, rainbows, and big ol’ pots of gold. Legend has it that you can follow the rainbow to its end and discover the leprechaun’s hidden treasure. But we Owegans have no need for myths and legends. We have the real treasure right in front of us: CAMP.

Once or twice a summer, we are treated to the majestic sight of a rainbow arcing across the Greeley sky. The colors remind us that camp is an amalgam of ages, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. When combined, they create something awe-inspiring and unique. Let’s go on a journey with Roy G. Biv (neither leprechaun nor Owegan) to explore all of the many colors that make Owego so special.

RED: From the life vests on the lake shore to the lifeguard shirts at the pool, the color red represents safety and security at camp. It’s the color of last summer’s Frontier Week runner-up, Unami, and 2024’s Olympic champion, Bangladesh.

ORANGE: The color orange can be found on the basketballs in the HBC and in the ever-present cantaloupe in the dining hall. It’s also the color of Barbara Black’s homemade Nova lox that we are lucky enough to enjoy every Sunday morning. Speaking of Nova lox, if you were lucky enough to snag one of the super-soft, salmon-colored Olympic shirts in 2022, you are now in possession of a rare Owego treasure.

YELLOW: We eat yellow bananas with breakfast and “yellow” Challah with Friday night dinner. Some of us prefer a certain yellow condiment on our B’s and D’s. The Wibit at the lake, while also featuring green and blue, stands out against the natural terrain because of its bright yellow hue. Yellow is sunshine and happiness, both of which we get in abundance at camp!

GREEN: Now that we’ve made it out of winter’s icy grip, we can focus on the return of sweet green. The grass begins to dominate the landscape once again, and the trees start to bloom. Cue allergy season! Green is the color of the Owego cabin doors, the tennis courts, and THE Gambia. More green is headed our way this summer!

BLUE: This “official” color of Owego can be found in our logo and even in our nickname, “Brothers in Blue.” Take a look at our Instagram feed and you’ll see a splash of blue in pretty much every photo. We wear our camp officials with pride! As if the Owego clothing wasn’t enough, our canoes are blue, as is the bell hanging by the Junior Gathering Deck that marks the end of periods.

INDIGO/VIOLET: Purple is the color of last summer’s Olympic champion, Tanzania. It’s also the color of the wildflowers scattered throughout the woods as we walk to Friday night campfires. The ubiquitous purple Grimace costume makes its way around camp all summer long, and most campers don’t even know who Grimace is!

As Kermit the Frog sits by the swamp, strumming his banjo and singing about the majesty of rainbows, we eagerly anticipate the colorful maelstrom that awaits us in just 105 days. From the Lucky Charms coveted by Junior campers at breakfast, to the sea of Olympic shirts at the closing ceremony, rainbows are never far away at Owego.

“All of us under its spell

We know that it’s probably magic.”