In this time of lasts today was a first…the first full rain day that is.  This morning we woke up to some wet weather that lasted all day.  After a lazy breakfast we sent the camp back for an extra good cabin clean followed by a rainy day morning.  Instead of regular activities we offered board games in the dining hall, a special Timber activity in Uncle Milts, and some banquet prep and bunk time for our Summits.  Although it was dreary outside our spirits were all upbeat as headed into the afternoon.  After lunch we had our “Messy Monday”/”Twisted Tuesday Eve” that G-14 arranged.  After “attacking” Kate Monge in the dining hall with water balloons and whipped cream the entire camp proceeded to the softball field for a game of paint twister and a slip n slide.  Everyone had a blast and really enjoyed themselves.  After the messy start to the afternoon everyone relaxed with a few movies around camp and truly enjoyed a “lazy” day that we had very few of this summer.

Slip Slidin' Away

Today we celebrated our last Shabbat, the first of what are to be many lasts over the next several days.  The morning started with our traditional Shabbat PJ breakfast followed by our Shabbat morning activities.  Because the weather has been so amazing this summer we have not been able to do “Micah Cribs”( a rainy day activity where each cabin decorates their bunk in a certain theme)so we decided to have Micah Cribs as the second part of our morning. It was so much fun to walk around to see how all of the cabins decorated.  The themes ranged from Jungle to Candyland to Empire Strikes Back.  This again is another activity that showcases how creative our campers are.

After lunch and our extended rest hour we welcomed the Magician, Gary Goodman to camp.  Gary performed two separate magic shows along with a workshop for the campers today.  Everyone really enjoyed seeing him perform his tricks and then learning some of the “secrets” .  After the magic show we had our Shabbat choice period followed by our Shabbq and campfire.  Tomorrow we have a late wake up (8:30 Breakfast) and then normal activities.

As promised … here is the list of readings from tonight’s Shabbat Service.

Reading 1:

A great pianist was once asked by an ardent admirer: “How do you handle the notes as well as you do?” The artist answered: “The notes I handle no better than many pianists, but the pauses between the notes—ah! That is where the art resides.”
In great living, as in great music, the art may be in the pauses. Surely one of the enduring contributions which Judaism made to the art of living was the Shabbat, “the pause between the notes.” And it is to the Shabbat that we must look if we are to restore to our lives the sense of serenity and sanctity which Shabbat offers in such joyous abundance.

Reading 2:

I am almost a hundred years old; waiting for the end, and thinking about the beginning.
There are things I need to tell you, but would you listen if I told you how quickly time passes?
I know you are unable to imagine this.
Nevertheless, I can tell you that you will awake someday to find that your life has rushed by at a speed at once impossible and cruel. The most intense moments will seem to have occurred only yesterday and nothing will have erased the pain and pleasure, the impossible intensity of love and its dog-leaping happiness, the bleak blackness of passions unrequited, or unexpressed, or unresolved.”

Readings 3:

Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. Rich people can’t buy more hours. Scientists can’t invent new minutes. And you can’t save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you’ve wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow.

If I could reach that certain star
And make a wish so true
It would not just be a wish for me
but a wish for all of you.

In a world so full of problems,
My wish would be for peace
People of all nations joining hands
Not wanting to escape or be released.

War, crime destruction
These three words we use every day
If I had that one wish
These three words would be wiped away.

Countries would no longer be at war
People would be good to each other
We were all created equal
God said to love one another.

So if I had that one wish
It would be for peace not sorrow
This way children just like you and me
Would have a future – a tomorrow.

Reading 4:

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves – who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence liberates others.

Reading 5:

I love to change the world,
But I rarely appreciate things as they are.
I know how to give,
But I don’t always know how to receive.
I know how to keep busy,
But I don’t often listen.
I look, but I don’t often see.
I yearn to succeed,
But I often forget what is truly important.
Teach me, God, to slow down. May my resting revive me.
May it lead me to wisdom, to holiness
To peace and to You.

Reading 6
There is something about the congregation praying together, as one, that makes me feel more alive than on a brisk winter’s day. There is something about all of our voices rising together, as one, which fills me with a quiet happiness that stays with me long after the singing stops. Why is it that here, I can feel separate bodies come together, as one, and hold on to that perfect unity as long as possible? Why, here, am I able to reach out effortlessly, and touch someone’s hand, by doing that, touch heaven? There is something about this place, which brings out the best in me, for it brings out the best in us all. Surely this place is holy and I did not know it. I give thanks for this new and beautiful finding.

As i write this blog our oldest boys are watching the Patriots game on a giant screen outside the dining hall while our oldest girls are sleeping under the stars at the ladder. The rest of our evening activities were a blast; The Critter Girls has a campfire sing-a-long and s’more fest. The Critter Boys and all Prowlers went to a Luau at the pool hosted by the fantastic CIT. There were yummy snacks and drinks and of course lots of games and laughs. The Timber girls had an Iron Chef competition while the Timber Boys played a wacky game of tennis on the soccer field. All in all it was an amazing evening of unique Micah experiences.

A today began as very rainy trip day and many of the units were off to the movies. The brave Summits went to Funtown and enjoyed the park to themselves. One counselor said that he rode the Excalibur twelve times. It was a great day and the sun came out briefly in the afternoon.

Tonight was our last dance of the season in Uncle Milt’s, a great night for all! We are all looking forward to counselor switch day tomorrow and many other end of the season Micah traditions in the coming days.

The Final Countdown

Gold and Blue awoke this morning to the traditional playing of “The Final Countdown.”  The teams were excited to get started on the final day of Color War.  The morning started with team rallies and breakfast cheers.  After clean up, the teams gathered in the chapel for the inaugural Camp Micah Spelling Bee, hosted by the one and only Scott “Flick” Flickinger.  Both teams had a lot of fun, f-u-n, fun.  After the Spelling Bee, the teams rallied to prepare for their final lunch cheers.  It’s amazing to see how creative our campers are each day as they create unique cheers to perform at every meal.  After lunch, each camper got in a solid Rest Hour before getting back to the competitions of the day.  Every camper and staff member was looking forward to the Micah Marathon (where Gold and Blue race through a series of events, passing a baton along the way, and culminating in our Rope Burn).  This year, we saw the closest marathon in Micah history with Blue edging out Gold as their ropes broke just 12 seconds apart.  Each team then did a great job cleaning up the entire camp before their final SING practices and team rallies.  As Gold and Blue entered Uncle Milt’s after dinner, everyone could feel how close the competition was.  It was truly anyone’s game this year.  SING began with the presentation of each team’s plaque that will soon hang in our Dining Hall.  After each team performed their cheer, alma mater, and free song, the Summit Captains and Co-Captains spoke to the camp about how much these past three days have meant to each of them.  The judges then left our theater to tally the scores as each team waited in anticipation.  Without further ado, the winner of Color War 2011 is….BLUE!  Congratulations to both teams for an incredible three days filled with competition, spirit, and sportsmanship.

Day two of Color War is in the book and it seems as if everything is very close.  Today the day started with two rounds of Unit activities in the morning followed by our Track and swim meets in the afternoons.  During the first hour of the track and swim meets we received a really heavy rain that seemed to really wake up the campers and rejuvenate their spirits.  Tonight we did the Micah Clue Hunt where teams had to figure out clues that would lead to another and another.  It was a lot of fun and really goes to show how smart and resourceful our campers are.  Tomorrow is the last day of Color War and we look forward to our two signature events; The Micah Marathon and The Sing.  Make sure to check back in tomorrow night to find out who won Color War.

Who would of thought, a snow day at Micah in August?  I’ll tell you who, the Color War Committee.  I am pleased to announce that we broke our second session Color War this morning by waking the camp up to a snow day.  The campers were woken up to “Winter Wonderland” and a special edition of the Micah Update which announced the freak August snowstorm.  After the wakeup campers and counselors proceeded to the dining hall where three snow machines were making it snow inside.  In addition to the snow machine there were decorations, once of which featured a board of camp closings.  Needless to say everyone was excited and eager to get to the activities.

After breakfast we had the Tug of War followed by two rounds of Unit activities in the afternoon.  Although it looked like rain most of the day, we were able to get all activities done as scheduled.  This evening we unveiled a new allcamp, Micah double dare.  Here campers competed in trivia and challenge.  Everyone had a blast and is also worn out from a long day.  Tomorrow promises to be another exciting day of Color War.

Today was not only the start of second session CW, it was also Alumni Day.  We were so excited to welcome all those back home even if it could only be for a day.

Snow Day

Tonight, I am going to write this blog post in reverse order of the days events.  Our evening activity was an amazing concert by Stephen Marcos and a dance in Uncle Milt’s (the Critter girls are spending the  night at the ladder) .  The camp was rockin’ and many campers got his autograph after the concert.

We are so happy that the Micah In Israel campers and staff arrived home safely.  Everyone looks great!!!!  They are simply abuzz with stories and anecdotes about their five week excursion in Israel and Poland.  I cannot wait to hear more stories from them at Shabbat services tomorow night.   Our weary travelers got a very warm Micah welcome complete with a giant welcome home sign and many, many hugs from all of their friends and family.  It was a very happy reunion for all.

We also had a quick Counselor Appreciation meeting after dinner.  We showed the staff a short video which we hope will help keep spirits up as we move into the final days of camp.   (You can find the video on our Facebook page.)

The Upper Timber Girls returned from their Sacco Canoe trip right before dinner.  They had a great time and one of them actually said (out loud)  that they enjoyed hiking and sleeping in a tent and wanted to canoe longer.  They also enjoyed a quick visit to Starbucks on the way home.

At Micah it is Tie-Dye Thursday and  we had activities and a soccer game at Camp Winona.  There was also a hike to Pleasant Mountain.  The pool staff is busy preparing for our annual swim meet which is scheduled for tomorrow.

Today was Wednesday and we all know what that means, TRIP DAY!  The camp enjoyed an late wakeup and then each unit was off to their awesome destinations.  The Critters and Prowlers enjoyed the day at Sebago Lake State Park followed by a trip for ice cream and the Gazebo.  The Lower Timbers spent the day at Big Adventure while the Upper Timbers enjoyed a hike up Mt. Willard.  Our Summits spent the day at York Beach and then enjoyed the evening in Old Port, Portland where they were able to shop and go out to dinner.

Tomorrow we resume normal activities and are really looking forward to our concert tomorrow night featuring Steven Marcos, a Tampa, FL based singer.  As you can only imagine with each passing day the talk of Color War keeps intensifying.  Who knows, maybe it will break tonight???