We were so glad to welcome our Point O’Pines families to visiting weekend. Sharing camp fun with you was a pleasure, and sharing a little of our pride in the accomplishments of your wonderful children is a special treat. We were even able to stay cool in the lake, and on Saturday our younger campers who had their visiting on Friday got to enjoy a special fun packed day at our farm. That was a blast. Once the parents started their journey home we got a bit soaked here at Camp with our annual water-fight.
Thanks again for heading up here to the Adirondacks and sharing such a great time with us.
We are now looking forward to an action packed next few weeks! Today we will be out on the lake for our Team Competition Aquatics Meet, just the thing before cooler weather arrives this evening.
Determination We recognize a camper who gives 100% of her effort to whatever challenge she faces. She is not only enthusiastic about her own passions, but is also supportive of her peers’ interests and goals. Her “can do” attitude is contagious among her friends and is valued by her counselors. She is a hard worker and respects others when they demonstrate determination by trying new things and following through on promises made.
Community Spirit Camper of the Week for Community Spirit goes to a camper who builds up our community by bringing people together inside the age group and out. She embodies the idea of never leaving a camper behind. Her friendliness, thoughtfulness, and generosity contribute to our camp community and without her there would be a noticeable difference in the spirit of the age group.
Tennis at Point O’Pines starts with acquiring love for the game and having fun. Our girls have the highest motivation when they love what they are doing. Instilling love for the game starts and finishes with having fun.
Every instructor at the Point makes sure that each activity is fun for the campers. Instructors encourage and teach both by example and participating. They never instruct sitting down. When campers enjoy themselves, they acquire skills better and faster, just as they do in school with a great teacher who motivates them.
Our program starts with a spacious facility with twelve courts, eight featuring red clay and six featuring green Har-Tru. Our courts are lite for evening play and there is motivational music on every court. Visitors frequently comment on the difficulty and expense of maintaining excellent clay courts to conditions similar to those at Roland-Garros. Yes, that is true but clay is a comfortable, fun surface and quite enjoyable for both playing and learning.
At the Point we have an experienced instructor working with our campers on every court every period. Our instructors are highly qualified not only in playing but experienced in teaching as well. Most of our instructors teach year round and many work during the non-camp season at resorts.
Most of our instructors have been working with our campers for many summers. One of our two Tennis Directors comes to the Point from a tennis career in Mexico where he plays professionally and teaches tennis as a full time career. He has been at camp for 24 years. Our other Tennis Director hails from Australia where she teaches youth tennis full time when she is not at the Point. She has been at Point O’Pines for ten summers. Most of our tennis instructors have similar non-camp season careers and are mature individuals not only experienced in dealing with young tennis enthusiasts but equally able to motivate the beginner. We love having these instructors motivated to spend their summers at the Point.
Campers who love tennis can build as much tennis into their camp program as they desire. There is the opportunity for endless instruction, matches and games. Tennis starts every morning with optional “early bird” instruction before breakfast and ends in the evening under the lights.
Our staff is qualified to make recommendations to our families on equipment for our campers and we are delighted to restring rackets and change grips for our enthusiastic campers.
Team Competition has begun. On Monday night dinner was delayed by aliens (well, Peaker aliens, anyway). The Peak called us to the Rec Hall, where the Team Captains and Lieutenants emerged from the smoky stage and led camp outside for an outstanding dance performed the our Peakers. Camp was divided into the Blue and White teams, and, after dinner, each team met to learn cheers, to hear about sportsmanship at the Point and even to get to know their team for the summer. We were so excited about a great year of Team Competition.
In the morning yesterday (Tuesday) we were treated to a “Sunday” schedule (Sunday this week was delayed to allow time for breakout). After honoring many great campers, including our Campers of the Week we held the annual Scavenger Hunt all around camp. The teams were both terrific, and we look forward to the leadership of the great Peak of 2019! (Many more photos are available when you log in.)
