It was wonderful to see you all at Fair this past weekend, a resounding success, and fun had by all. For myself it was a time for reflection, although I was in the middle of it all, it was wonderful to see how harmoniously our community operates. Your children have acquired many skills at camp this summer in all of the various activities offered, but what I hope you will witness is something that can not be measured. Each camper has learned how to live and build a community that is safe to live in. They are shown how to be accountable for their belongings, participate in chores, express their feelings openly, and learn how to resolve conflict.
There is a closeness that can not be described, a trust that runs deep, and friendships that are both formed and strengthened. The children learn how to support each other through numerous challenges. For some it may be homesickness or adjusting to living closely in a space with people you do not know. For others it may be as simple as getting into the water for swim lessons, or gaining the courage to climb the chimney. Your children have accomplished much this summer, and I am sad to see them and my wonderful staff go home. I would like to thank you for sharing your children with us, I have cherished each of their unique spirits, and marveled at their growth here at Indian Brook.

Dear Indian Brook Families,

This week has been very busy at IB. Campers are excitedly preparing for Fair and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of parents and friends this Saturday. Please remember to park your car at Bear Creek as per Linda Berryhill’s Letter. There will be shuttles to take you to Farm and Wilderness.

Yesterday was “Someday” at Indian Brook, one of the most anticipated special days of the summer. The theme of “Someday” is to do the things you would not ordinarily do at Indian Brook. We started our day with Blueberries and Cream followed by a dance party with recorded music, much to the glee of the campers. Although the day started with a large thunder storm, the smiles on the campers faces was enough sunshine for the state of Vermont. Our morning activities included dropping chocolate pudding into the campers mouths from the windows of the lodge, playing quidditch in the pouring rain, mattress slip and slide down hills, Hobart showers, followed by pirate fights and breaking Nalgene bottles (which is supposed to be impossible but they did it!)!!
We also celebrated Susan Webb’s 100th Birthday. Susan is one of the founders of Farm & Wilderness, and the first Indian Brook Director. Kristi Webb joined us for lunch and shared many stories about her grandmother Susan. The campers clear favorite, was learning of Susan’s Identical Twin and how Susan would have her twin stand in for her when she was not at camp, without the children and staff ever knowing.

Conversation at the meal tables have already started to be about next year at camp. I sat at Birches, an upper senior lodge table, this morning as the topic of going to Tamarack Farm came up. Susie, a staff member, went into a description of what the Farm was like, saying, “My life would not be the same if I had not gone there.” She reflected on how she has made a lifetime of friends within the Farm & Wilderness community, and how she truly began to understand what sustainable living means by being here.

During Dinner the night before, I sat at a First Lodge table, where campers were trying to decide whether to go to Saltash Mountain next year or come back to Indian Brook. At lunch I sat at Rosa Parks, one of the Big Lodge tables, the conversation was less about what to do next summer, rather the conversation was all about the food at Indian Brook. We had a particularly and I quote “amazing, delicious, nutritious, yum,” lunch consisting of chard from the garden, brown rice, black beans, fried plantain bananas, sweet potatoes and all the fixings…..we all licked our plates clean, a trip tradition learnt on the trail.

It is hard to believe a week and a half ago you dropped your children at Indian Brook. The time has truly flown by. The first week of camp was rather wet, which limited some of the activities that we could do, but certainly did not dampen the spirits of the campers.

During the first week of camp the girls did cabin overnights and trips training, which helped to prepare them for their second week of camp. During the second week, campers go out into the wilderness for 3-7 days, backpacking, climbing, canoeing and service trips. I actually had the opportunity to go out on the Camels Hump trip for a day and have dinner with the group. After six miles of hiking on the Long Trail, that pasta tasted really good. It was especially nice to see how the physical challenges of the trail bring the girls together as a team, and to witness the sense of accomplishment that they felt.

We are having a bountiful year thus far on the farm, and yesterday we harvested a lot of garlic, beans, lettuce and weeds with the campers during garden morning. We have been very lucky to be treated daily to farm-fresh produce at meal times

The campers have all experienced some great day trips to places such as Buttermilk Falls, the Plymouth Caves, and the Plymouth cheese factory. Today we only have 11 campers at camp so we are taking them to the Montshire Museum of Natural Science in Norwich Vermont, a very interactive museum with plenty of indoor and outdoor activities.

Campers are already busy preparing concessions to sell and make during the Fair, on August 9th. Please remember to send your children letters, they truly enjoy opening letters from home.

I hope you are enjoying your summer as much as campers are at Indian Brook.

Camp is going great. We have just completed a successful week of trips, and it is nice to have all campers at Indian Brook again.

Our J2 campers arrived on Sunday, and they were all treated to some traditional camp songs at dinner along with this year’s Interdependence Day song, which is a wonderful 90’s medley depicting a typical summer at Indian Brook. Watch for the words in our soon-to-be-published Lightning Bug.

This week is particularly hot, so we are definitely focusing our afternoon activities around the waterfront, and requiring all campers carry their water bottles with them.

Overall, please know that we are having a great deal of fun, and the pranks are in full swing. We awoke one day this week to no dishes to eat off of, as T.L. placed them in a row boat on the other side of the lake attached to Ant Island. The girls have had a wonderful time coming up with the perfect prank to retaliate with…..when it is finalized I will be sure to let you know.

Until next week, stay cool.

Things are going really well at camp, and your children are settling into their cabins. Many new friends are being made, and our community is forming nicely. We did just say farewell to the J1 campers, who we already miss.

We had our first all camp activity: Garden Morning. The campers had a great deal of fun playing and feeding the sheep, and weeding the garden while listening to music played by our talented staff. Another highlight of the week was having s’mores at cabin night.

On June 28 we had Interdependence Day, the F&W July 4th celebration. Each camp traditionally prepares a song or skit for all of the other camps, and we parade together to the Fairgrounds for the performance. We unfortunately could not parade to the fair grounds for the fire and dance because of a thunderstorm. Instead we hosted Saltash Mountain Camp for dinner and an incredible set of perfomances. Our interdependence day song was a 90’s medley, performed flawlessly by our Indian Brook Community.

Campers are out this week on trips, we eagerly await their return and will keep you posted!

Dear Indian Brook Parents.

I hope this letter finds you well, and that you are excited for your child to arrive at Indian Brook this Sunday for what is sure to be a memorable summer for your children. We have just come through two weeks of training with our staff, and I am happy to say that we have an incredibly wonderful team, with many diversified talents to offer your children.

You may drop your child at Indian Brook between 1-4 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Reeve Basom and myself will be at the entrance of the camp to meet you, let you know which cabin your child will be for the summer, and introduce her to her counselors. I have attached pictures of each lodge group, so your children can see who their counselors will be. For new parents, First Lodge is 9-10 year olds, Big Lodge is 11-12 year olds, and Senior Lodge is the 13-14 year olds. The cabin counselors have spent a considerable amount of time reading through camper applications, reviewing them with their lodge heads, and getting to know your child before she arrives.

If your child is coming on the New York City Charter Bus, please send her with a bagged lunch as it is a long trip. Please feel free to bring a musical instrument, but please no ipods, lap tops, cell phones or valuables. If a counselor finds any of these items after you have left, they will be taken from your child and kept in the office until she leaves camp. Remember to mark your children’s clothes with their first and last name, this includes underwear and socks. There is a laundry service that picks up clothing each week. All of the clothes are put into two bags, there is a great possibility that children will have the same style of LL Bean shorts in a cabin, and if each item is identified there will be no confusion.

Once you place your child’s luggage into her assigned cabin, you and your child then proceed to the nurse to check in. The next step is to proceed to the waterfront where every child goes through a swim test to evaluate what level she can swim at. At 3:00 p.m. there will be a parent orientation.

Please note that Indian Brook has been under construction this past two weeks, having a new septic system put in. The job is complete, and they are seeding the lawn today.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Best,

Nicole Sutherland-Maiden

Indian Brook Director