Woodstock Day School & Unison Arts Center

Week 1

There was an abundance of excitement in the air at both camps as we started our first week of camp this summer. We ran around and laughed in wacky games, played capture the flag with swords (with 83 kids!), and learned about the worlds we would venture into later in the week. It is always a joy to see familiar, yet much older, looking faces on the first day; as well as the new faces of soon to be friends. At lunch I saw more than a few Magic the Gathering games take place.

At Woodstock Day School our campers won many battles, including the legendary Grass Wars (a battle that has been raging for eons; but at long last Jud succumbed to battle fatigue) and an epic round of Staff vs. Campers. A long-time staple of the WDS last day of camp, Staff vs. Campers is a battle where, as the name says, the staff are pitted against the campers. It has historically been an incredibly difficult fight to win. Yes, there are 55 kids fighting about 10 staff members, but years of experience (and ALL of the monster weapons available) usually wins out over sheer numbers. It is becoming clear that after time our campers are getting very good (dangerously good) at sword fighting and destroyed the staff the week in at least one round.

The Adventure Game at WDS was written by former WDS camper Eric Lasko, and paid tribute to the golden age of comic books. Our heroes had to stop the world from being destroyed! (Literally.) Which they did indeed do, however after that business was taken care of, they were tasked with deciding what to do with the villains who made the mess in the first place. Following deliberation, and after making the noble choice to give them a second chance, our heros noticed that the villains had (in classic comic book fashion) slipped away to plot and scheme another day!

Meanwhile, over at The Unison Arts Center, the Adventure Game was a little different. Written by a new friend to the Wayfinder Experience, Emma Puranen’s Wandering Stars was a tale celestial tribes that followed the various planets. It was a beautiful tale about putting aside small, but long held grudges and differences to do what was right. Through a series of quests, encounters and the deciphering ancient texts our heroes uncovered a 50 year old deception that began a war that tore the very universe apart. They managed to band together and work with their former enemies to defeat the powerful and false priest of the Sun, bringing peace to the universe. Plus they got to meet this sweet Moon dragon, (Moon dragons are notoriously voracious, cranky and love all things shiny).
A great week was had by all, and for many another week of adventure was to come.

Written by Trine Boode-Petersen
Photos by various staff from both camps