Day 2: Colorful Fun in the Sun

The singers woke up to their first misty morning here at Walker Creek Ranch. After breakfast (French toast, sausages, fruit, and cereal), everyone headed up to Maple for warm-ups, led by Eric. After warm-ups came the first musicianship classes, where the singers worked on skills such as audiation, sightreading, and dictation. After lunch (chicken tenders, potatoes, and vegetables) came rest period, which is a chance for the singers to get some down time and do quiet activities like reading a book or writing letters home.

During free time, today’s arts and crafts special project was bead animals. Many campers made bead lizards and lady bugs, while others made fidget toys, and even an ice cream cone! The lake was also a popular activity during free time—swimming, boating, and kayaking were great ways to beat the heat! Campers also played apples to apples in the shade, and there was the usual excitement about starting new friendship bracelets.

At choir camp, each day has a “spirit day” theme, where the campers dress up and are judged by cabin. The winners get to go first to dinner— a highly anticipated prize. The first spirit day was Color Day and the winners cabins were Otter (CJV) in 1st place (with a shout-out for most-creative-pose), Hawk in 2nd, and Salmon in 3rd, with an honorable mention for cabin Eagle.

Tonights evening activity was Cabin Bounding where the campers had the chance to create deeper and new friendships within their cabin. “Encore” was a popular game played by multiple cabins, notably Frog and Newt who competed against each other and finished with a speed round winner takes all! Meanwhile Camp Joyful Voices enjoyed popular favorites such as “Captain’s Coming” and “Nightwatch” and learned a new round beloved by camp, “I’ve Been Waiting.”

Shoutout to Liv and Nora P. for seeing other people’s cabin doors and making sure they get shut! Today the counselors rescued a few trapped insects and even a small newt who had wandered into cabins. It is only the first full day and the campers and staff have observed a myriad of wildlife ranging from lizards to deer and even 16 turkeys counted by Sophia W.!

After Cabin Curfew, all the campers get the chance to plan for the next day’s spirit day and wind down by reading or journaling. Tonight, some campers also shared their roses (favorite part of their day), buds(something they are excited for) and thorns (something they can improve for the next day). One of our favorite roses we heard were from Tilda and Ava who shared “my favorite part about today was absolutely everything and what I’m most excited for tomorrow is absolutely everything”.

We are looking forward for the joy and community tomorrow holds… see you soon!!