Another Summer of Friends and Fun at Camp Loyaltown
This summer, Camp Loyaltown transformed the tranquil Catskill Mountains into a vibrant hub of laughter and new friendships. From engaging activities to evening performances, the camp celebrated numerous milestones that fostered a sense of community and acceptance for all.
Getting Ready for the Campers; Session 1
Before June 16, the first day of Session 1, Camp Loyaltown 2024 was filled with excitement as counselors and staff eagerly anticipated the arrival of campers. While you could see counselors exploring the campgrounds or embarking on a project to prepare the camp for opening day, you could still hear the peaceful sounds of the Catskill Mountains.
“It won’t be like this for much longer,” Unit Head Cesar Mendoza Diazleal from Mexico said, with a grin on his face, just a week before camp.
That was certainly the case, as the Session 1 campers stepped off the bus onto the grounds of Camp Loyaltown for the first time. Then, there were constant sounds of laughter and splashing from the adaptive pool, or a rendition of popular music performed by campers amplified on microphone. Even through the excitement, it’s not challenging to find peace at Camp. Ultimately, it’s the sound of new friendships and memories, as well as true feelings of acceptance.
“There is something that is very unique about Camp Loyaltown, and until you come here, you just need to look around and you’ll say the same thing,” said Savita Sharma, the Director of Family Support Services. “It brings people together. It reminds me of unity.”
Daily Activities
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, campers had the option to decide what their day would look like. While some campers enjoyed spending time crafting, other campers liked to play basketball or mini golf.
“We didn’t want the schedule so that somebody had to go to a certain activity. We wanted open activities, so that the campers could choose what they wanted to do. That’s been very successful this year,” Savita said. “And, it’s been successful because we’ve had staff who work with the campers who say, ‘What is it that you want to do? I’ll take you to that activity,’ or ‘We’ll both go to that activity.’”
Popular activities included wading in the adaptive pool, working on coloring pages, ceramics, styling tote bags as part of arts and crafts, relaxing or playing games in the Sensory Room, jamming in the Music Room, and caring for Camp’s resident animals, such as alpacas Beholder and Poppy.
Beholder and Poppy loved exploring the camp, being petted, and visiting campers and counselors. They also loved snacking on the grass that could be found around the camp.
Evening Events
After a full day of enjoying creativity and fun in the Hunter Mountains, campers and counselors gathered for evening events.
At the start of camp sessions, a party often kicked off the week. In the Rec Hall, you’d find campers and counselors showing off their favorite dance moves to popular music. Even people who don’t enjoy getting on the dance floor would participate from their seat, bobbing their head or tapping their feet to the music. Some sessions started on a more relaxing note through movie nights, with flicks like “Up,” “Coco” and “Encanto.”
Campers had many opportunities to show off their talents. There were many “Loyaltown’s Got Talent” shows, where campers performed in front of a panel of judges featuring campers and staff, who would offer positive feedback! Everyone was a winner of “Loyaltown’s Got Talent,” as campers were invited back to the stage at the show’s end to receive a medal.
Campers and counselors were also treated to theatrical performances with “High School Musical” and “Musicals Through the Ages.” Participating campers practiced all week to put on these shows, which were a hit.
“The campers always love to get on stage,” Savita said. “What I noticed this year in the evening activities is that the campers have been getting on stage even without the counselors’ prompting. When they get on the stage, they really enjoy it. You’ll see the whole of the camp is into that performance. People are cheering. They are loving it. It brings the whole camp together every evening.”
Vocational Opportunities
Even while on vacation, many campers enjoyed taking on jobs during their time at camp, including serving food in the dining hall, working in the camp store, or assisting with animal care in the nature barn.
“Seeing them step up and take ownership of these roles has been inspiring,” Savita said.
With the guidance of unit heads and cabin leaders, campers learn about the responsibility their new role requires, becoming a valued member of the team.
“They are so proud of working with their colleagues to achieve something that they’ve chosen to do,” Savita said.
Counselor Enrichment
While Camp Loyaltown’s focus is always on the campers, a fun and enriching experience was shared with counselors who travel from around the world to be a part of the camp. The countries that counselors travel from are celebrated throughout the summer as Chef Dean Vasquez cooks up delicious international meals.
“Fortunately for me, I have a lot of experience in international cuisines,” Chef Dean said. “We’re covering a wide spectrum of cuisine from the regions of the world that these counselors travel from. They appreciate it because it reminds them of home. It gives them a feeling of comfort. I had a counselor tell me that it reminded him of his mom’s cooking. When you hear things like that, it means a lot.”
On August 15, Staff Appreciation Night was held with Citizens Options Unlimited executive staff traveling to camp to celebrate Camp Loyaltown staff.
“The staff from all different parts of the world are now part of the Camp Loyaltown family,” Savita said. “And you can see the campers are getting to do what they want to do with their staff. I feel that the staff aren’t their staff, they are part of their family and the family has just grown.”