Camp Hillard’s 86th Summer Comes to a Close

It is hard to believe how quickly another summer has come and gone!  Camp Hillard’s 86th summer was another successful season, full of fun, friends and really fabulous weather.  This last week of Camp kicked off with a bang on Monday, with the Apache and Iroquois Visiting Evening performance.  The boys and girls set off on an epic journey to Arendelle with Anna, Elsa, rugged mountainman Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven, in a spectacular stage version of Frozen.

The fun continued on Tuesday, with the annual Camp Hillard Carnival.  This year’s Carnival theme was Candyland; every group in Camp was responsible for creating a game booth with a sugary sweet theme.  Skittle Soccer, Candy Craze, Pin the Crown on Queen Frostine, and Rolo Ring Toss, to name a few!  There were exciting rides and attractions on the Main Field for campers to enjoy; a Candyland obstacle course, the Dixie Copter, the Dixie Dragonfly, and the Polar Extreme.  As an extra specially sweet treat, every camper and counselor received a bag of tasty treats including Hershey’s kisses and Twizzlers from the Candyman. The Carnival culminated with one of the most popular refreshments of the summer; a sour, Lick-a-Color ice pop.  It was a truly spectacular day from start to finish.

On Wednesday, we were all treated to a show at the stage where campers performed some popular tunes from their Visiting Day performances.  In addition, some furry four-legged friends returned, joining the Libman family onstage as we presented a generous check of $28,003 to the Heeling Autism-Guiding Eyes for the Blind organization.

Final Day Festivities on Thursday included the traditional Moving Up Ceremony, where campers and counselors moved over or up to a different Tribal Assembly area.  This is always an exciting event for the Huron boys and Girls, who will be moving out of Junior Camp, and the Comanche boys and girls, both moving up to Senior Camp.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch of Chicken O’s, followed by an Ice Cream Sundae, before we gathered at the stage to give Special Recognition  to counselors who really stood out this summer, followed by the ever-popular Counselor Talent Show.  The INA boys rocked their 70’s style performance of The Jackson Five’s I Want You Back, while the Theater Staff put together a rousing seven minute medley of popular Disney songs.  It was a very entertaining and spirited display of talent!

Jim Libman continued his father’s tradition of jumping into the pool in his clothing, much to the delight of campers and staff alike!  The day seemed to fly by, and before we knew it, Tribes were meeting for their Final Afternoon Assembly and refreshments, this time with lots of  goodbye hugs and some tears.  When Lenny gave the word, campers took one last walk with their counselors to their buses, buckled up and rolled down Elizabeth Street for the last time, as The Libman Family and the Leadership Team waved goodbye.  The end of yet another successful Summer!

The 86th Summer was truly terrific. Camp Hillard is a special place, and a big part of what makes it so special is due in large part to that very special group of people, the Hillard Counselors.  What they did this summer was very special.  Our campers truly benefited from all of the care and attention they received from these dedicated and enthusiastic people.

We will shortly begin the cycle again and start getting ready for Summer 2015.  In the meantime, we wish all of you the very best for the rest of the summer and on into the school year.

Thank you again for a great summer!