The Campers Have Left the Building

     We had such wonderful time at DLA and Scape this year.   Thanks for joining us for two weeks of laughter, leadership, learning, friendship and fun.  Mark your calendars for Scape and DLA 2016 starting on July 10, 2016.

Scape Memories Video

We had an amazing year at Summerscape, and are sad to see it come to a close. Here is our memories video, we hope you enjoy looking back at your time here this summer!

Mayhem

    Anyone who has looked at the camp schedule for even a moment knows the routine: go here at this time, do this event at this time, this thing is here, etc. The one event not on there, however, is the infamous “Mayhem”. On a certain day of the week, unbeknownst to the campers, the RA’s █████████, then proceed to ███████. After notifying the campers that █████████, we then █████████ after ██████. This year, we started off the events with ██████████ giving us ██████████████████ where we had to █████████, and from there ███████████████ ███████ ████████████. This one was the event that most campers got stuck on, as it involved ██████████ and ██████████.

    After completing the first stage of the event, we went to █████████ to begin part 2. We needed to ███████████ ████████ and ██████████ them into ██████████. However, while doing this we also had other challenges, such as ██████ or █████████. Most of these involved some sort of teamwork. When we completed our ██████████, we needed to grab it and take it to █████████, with some challenges such as ████████ and ██████████ on campers. As we arrived at ███████, we noticed multiple ██████████ lying on the ground next to ████████. We needed to use our device and █████████, all the while ensuring that we didn’t mess up, lest incurring the wrath of ██████████████.

    Directly after this stage, we left and went to ████████████. This challenge involved campers █████████████ and ███████████ while ██████████ █████████  ████████████. Most completed it with ease, while some ██████ ████████. When this part of the challenge was done, we were able to return to ███████ █████████ to finish the final stage of Mayhem. We talked to ████████████████ and answered various ████████ ███████ about the night, then went to the back of ███████████ to finish off the final stages of Mayhem 2015.

    Most campers thought that Mayhem 2015 was a huge success, with ████████ █████████ saying “My favorite part was when we █████████████████████████, but I really enjoyed ████████████████ at the end of ███████████. The staff also loved Mayhem, “especially the way the house groups worked together at ██████ in order to ███████ the ██████████”, said ████ ██████████.

Tuesday MADNESS!

As the biggest and most anticipated event of camp rapidly approached last night, the excitement in the air was palpable. Campers were challenged more than ever before. For example, they used the best of their agility to make it through a laser room. Proved their wit while answering a dragon's riddles to get into the castle. Displayed some rockin' skills on the dance floor as they jazzercised with their friends. Stargazed to find constellations that unlocked a puzzle to find Jenny's number. They decoded encrypted clues to find their next challenges. After overcoming 11 grueling hurdles, our teams emerged at the end closer than before. Each event rewarded the teams with a single piece of a tangram puzzle that was inscribed with a characteristic word key to that specific event. They assembled the tangrams at the end of the night to see that these words (confidence, teamwork, trust, etc.) all worked together to create the big picture. Through a creative metaphor, the Scapers all learned and grew together. Following are pictures from the several of the events, including crossing the "lava" to get to the dragon, becoming Pac Man, jazzercising, and assembling one of the puzzles!

Throwback Tuesday

Check out this news story about Summerscape 1987!

http://www.ky3.com/news/local/summersape-cliff-challenge/21048998_34220000

Off Campus Night

During DLA 2015, the students had the opportunity to participate in the annual off campus night.  They had the choice of four activities: bowling, Lasers Tennis, 1984, and Mini Golf.  “Off campus night is my favorite part of camp,” said Daniel Wang.  

I had the amazing opportunity to interview the one and only Arylle Kathcart.  When I asked what she thought of 1984 she responded with “I played 132 games of Defender, but it was still fun”.  This sheer determination of just this one DLAer just shows how much fun everyone has on off campus night.

I also had the chance to catch the illusive Kyle Jeziorski.  I asked him what he thought of Putt Putt at Fun Acres.  He responded with “it was really fun and I bonded with the few people that came.” 

            Bowling was yet another activity that was offered to the students. Bowling had the second most attendance behind 1984, with 12 campers going.  On lane seven I was able to get a play-by-play game.  After a long tedious game Carson Turner was down by 2 in the final frame and Charlie Stebbins managed to win.  

            Springfield lasers is the fourth and final event that was offered to the DLAers.  With only three students that attended, I was unable to get a ravishing interview.  But Springfield Lasers is the professional tennis team for Springfield Missouri and would be very interesting to attend. 

Carson Turner 

Nightly News

The tune to the Indiana Jones theme rang through the main lobby. "Na na na na, Nightly News!" sang everyone's favorite nightly entertainment staff as they marched into the room. Wyatt, one of the anchors, begins the show by greeting the DLAers and allows senior experience members to come up and make announcements. Then a series of spontaneous and often hilarious skits follow. Highlights include the joker therapist, throwbacks, broom attacks, and most of all, the trash can turtle. The nightly news staff works hard daily to create wholesome fun and ensure campers go to bed with a smile on their faces.

Daniel Wang

Art Night/Pool Night

Summerscape classes resumed yesterday after having a break on Sunday. Students continued their studies in new and exciting ways including some hands-on opportunities. The GPS class headed to Doling Park to practice their newly-learned geocaching skills. Students divided into teams and had to search the park for five different geocaches by using a GPS to find the coordinates given. The kids did a great job!

                Assassins has finally begun, and the students have been wildly searching to find their targets and “kill” them. We promise that nobody is actually being harmed in the playing of this game. However, be sure to ask you student about it when he or she comes home.

                Art Night/Pool Night provided a fun-filled night for the students and gave them a way to release some energy. Students were able to make some galaxy slime, draw, straw-paint, play improvisational games, and go swimming. The diving board and high dive were a huge hit at the pool while other students took an interest in the galaxy slime and improv games. Wrapping up the night, teams competed in a high dive competition, and competitors received a clue telling their teams that Midnight Madness is upon us!

                MADNESS BEGINS TONIGHT!

Power of Myth

Power of Myth

Power of Myth, until today, had developed into a tribal war. Alliances were formed, broken, and falsified. There had been no true battles (before yesterday’s card battles), though the propaganda wars were vicious. “Off with the horn, death to the unicorn.”is one example of red propoganda against the yellow team. Even our stories have included slander against the other tribes. 

However, the tribes have been formed into two teams. Blue team follows the almighty Misha, while yellow team chose the malevolent Tom. Who will reign supreme? Only time will tell. 

by Emma Phillips 

Off Campus Night

Off Campus Night

During DLA 2015, the students had the opportunity to participate in the annual off campus night.  They had the choice of four activities: bowling, Lasers Tennis, 1984, and Mini Golf.  “Off campus night is my favorite part of camp,” said Daniel Wang.  

I had the amazing opportunity to interview the one and only Arylle Kathcart.  When I asked what she thought of 1984 she responded with “I played 132 games of Defender, but it was still fun”.  This sheer determination of just this one DLAer just shows how much fun everyone has on off campus night.

I also had the chance to catch the illusive Kyle Jeziorski.  I asked him what he thought of Putt Putt at Fun Acres.  He responded with “it was really fun and I bonded with the few people that came.” 

            Bowling was yet another activity that was offered to the students. Bowling had the second most attendance behind 1984, with 12 campers going.  On lane seven I was able to get a play-by-play game.  After a long tedious game Carson Turner was down by 2 in the final frame and Charlie Stebbins managed to win.  

            Springfield lasers is the fourth and final event that was offered to the DLAers.  With only three students that attended, I was unable to get a ravishing interview.  But Springfield Lasers is the professional tennis team for Springfield Missouri and would be very interesting to attend. 

Carson Turner 

Big/Little Games

Yesterday Scaper's had a full day of exciting activities! During the big half of the Big/Little games, campers took the place of players on a Foosball table, became Hungry Hungry Hippos, played Oy Echi Michi Oy, sunk enemies in Battleship, and played Water Dodgeball. On the flip side of the games, campers played a plethora of games, including but not limited to a marsh mellow home-run derby, synchronized finger swimming, miniature slam dunk contest, lemon golf, and KerPlunk! With the sun shining, Scapers smiling, and the sky blue, it couldn't have been a better day.

Trivia Night

Do you think you know a lot of facts? Summerscape students battled in out last night during the annual trivia match. The ten categories this year included topics such as Missouri History, Television Sitcoms, Top Stories of the 80s, Super Heroes, and a very special round which included questions about each of the residential assistants and the residential coordinator. The trivia night ended with teams having ten seconds to write down as many digits of Pi as they could, and we found that many students have a very impressive memory when it comes to Pi.

In addition to our trivia game, students have continued learning many new things in their morning and afternoon classes, and many have already gone on field trips as well. In the evening, activity groups continued to work on some crazy and wacky skits for the talent show. All skits must include one prop of choice, one prop drawn randomly, an 80s song of choice, and in some way, include all of the students. Many of the students are working hard, and we are looking forward to watching them perform.

Next Up: The highly popular Summerscape edition of Assassins and the camp dance! Today will be an exciting day!

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

Career Night proved to be an educational experience for 'Scape students as they each went to several sessions and listened to individuals talk about their own career fields. Areas of expertise included a psychologist, lawyer, ER doctor, zookeeper, auditor, entertainment business owner, non-profit business employees, community growth/garden workers, and several others. The ER doctor and psychologist seemed to be among crowd favorites; however, the zookeeper also proved to be a highlight when she brought a couple of animals along with her.

The kids now have their minds reeling about what they would like to do when they grow up, but don't worry--we're not going to let them grow up too fast. After Career Night, we all sat out in front of the Student Center and ate Andy's Frozen Custard. Then the students headed back to the dorm to meet up with their activity groups and begin creating a 1-2 minute skit to perform at the talent show next week!

A good day was had by all! :)

Messy Olympics

Yesterday night was full of excitement and energy as students competed in the Messy Olympics. Students competed with their activity group teams in nine different events ranging from water relays and a gummy bear excavation to a burrito roll and a lemon-sucking competition. It was really cool to see the kids who were initially freaked out by the events step-up with courage and conquer them. Way to go, everyone! The kids had a blast, but all were grateful for the showers which followed the event. :)

DLA -- The First Two Days

     With categories ranging from bugs to John Green's novel Paper Towns, the trivia event Monday night was anything but trivial.  After seven exciting rounds, The HOUSE of Hughes won DLA Trivia 2015 on Monday night.  The HOUSE of Hughes will challenge the RAs in a championship round later this week.  

    Last night, DLA went off campus and watched some tennis, bowled a few frames, putted around the mini golf course or played some 80's video games at 1984.  A great time was had by all and the winners walked away with some interesting prizes and definite bragging rights.  

   

DLA Committees

Each student in DLA serves on a Leadership in Action Committee.  Led by the students in the Senior Experience class and facilitated by the residential staff, each committee is responsible for an aspect of camp.  From planning creative HOUSE tournaments to getting acts for the Talent Show, each committee is working hard!  We will keep you posted on the wonderful work they are doing.

Making A Splash!

'Scapers had an eventful and slightly damp Tuesday. The morning began with awarding Alex Hutson and Anna Mitchell for exemplifying the Word of the Day, encouragement, the day before in their activity groups. Proceeding to their classes, students experienced everything from aeronautical theory to sheep brain and heart dissections.  After their classes, campers met with their activity groups to create flags to carry into competitions later in the camp to represent their group. Later, they had the choice of attending one of 5 off-campus activities, such as: GlowGolf, a Lazers tennis match, bowling, 1984 arcade, and swimming. With an evening full of fun, day 2 of camp was a dazzling success!

And They're Off!

The week was off to a good start as the kids headed to their classes for the first time! With such a variety of exciting course, the kids are sure to have a good time while learning a lot. They also had their first free time period, and kids enjoyed playing games, relaxing, spending time in the library, going to the computer lab, and spending time playing outside. The night was a full one as students met their activity groups, decided on team names, created team chants, and spent a couple of hours playing icebreaker and leadership games.

Camp is going well, and the RA staff is so excited to see where camp will take us next! Thank you for sharing your campers with us!

Minute to Win It Games

As mentioned previously, the Summerscape campers played several Minute to Win It games together with their House Groups on the first night of camp. Whether wrapping each other in toilet paper, trying to get cookies from their foreheads into their mouths without using their hands, sticking as many sticky-notes as possible to their faces, or participating in one of the various other games, the campers did a great job!