The fourth week of Camp was another exciting and successful one!  Camp is now in full gear with all of our swim, sports, and arts programs, as well as specialty activities and special events. Campers are in their instructional swim groups, sports leagues are in motion, as are all our regular program areas.

Our 2017 Summer Charity Event began on Monday, July 17.  All campers participated in a fun science event at their group’s Nature period during the week.  Any campers choosing to participate in the charity fundraiser can make a donation.  Your support will directly help those most in need of the Westchester Children’s Museum’s services. Money raised from our fundraiser will provide programming for underserved children throughout Westchester by providing field trips to the Museum and similar STEAM programs at local organizations that serve the underserved. Our goal is to offer the programming to Bright Futures Summer Day Camp, a camp for children living in shelters in Westchester

The Westchester Children’s Museum, located in the North Bathhouse at Rye Playland is a light-filled, colorful, vibrant learning space filled with hands-on exhibits not found anywhere else in this region. Since the Museum opened in March 2016, more than 40,000 people have experienced the amazing exhibits the Museum has to offer in physics, science, art, technology, and design, with places to climb, build, and explore. It is a place where children lead the process of discovery and learning while adults share the experience through their child’s eyes. The Westchester Children’s Museum is seeking to expand its ability to provide a welcoming and enriching environment for as broad an audience as possible, in particular those who need it most in our undeserved communities.

All campers donating at least $40 per camper will receive a very special thank you package.  This package will include a Camp Hillard/Westchester Children’s Museum T-shirt as well as many other surprises.

In addition, any camper donation of at least $100 per camper will entitle the camper’s family to participate in a raffle for a free summer for 2018.  These donations must be made this summer during the fundraiser.  The winner will be announced in the Winter Newsletter, and should the winner be someone who is not returning next year to Camp Hillard, they can give the award to a friend who is.

This week was also highlighted by the Annual Iroquois Overnight to Brookwood in Glen Spey, New York.  This annual trip is reserved solely for the oldest campers, the Iroquois, and the campers really look forward to it.  We departed from Camp early on Tuesday morning, in order to get in a full day of fun at Brookwood!  Lake activities were very popular with campers and counselors alike; everything from kayaking and paddle boating, to water tubing behind a speedboat and the Blob, a giant trampoline-like inflatable that campers could bounce up and down on, splash-landing into the refreshing lake.

The food at Brookwood was great; breakfast, lunch and dinner were served daily, and campers had the option of mac and cheese, fresh veggies, chicken nuggets and waffle fries, spaghetti and meatballs, tacos, grilled cheese, and more.  In the evening, we enjoyed a bonfire by the lake and a delicious s’mores roast.  We had a great full day of activities of Wednesday before saying goodbye to our new friends and making the return trip to Hillard.

Speaking of food, can we talk for just a minute about the food at Camp Hillard?  It really is pretty fabulous. A great deal of time and thought is put into the Menu planning prior to the Summer Camp Season.  Some of the more popular lunch offerings include Hillard’s Famous Cheese Pizza, Nachos Grande with Cheese, crispy Chicken Nuggets, the insanely popular Chicken O’s (think a chicken nugget shaped like a donut), Mexi-Beef Tacos served with Salsa and Sour Cream,  Asian-inspired Chicken with broccoli, to name just a few.  In addition to the Daily Menu, a variety of substitutes are readily available so as to accommodate all camper’s tastes, preferences and dietary needs.  Mid-day snacks and afternoon refreshments are also served daily; Goldfish, Graham Crackers, Oreos, and Kettle Cooked Potato Chips are among some of the daily snack options.  Ice cream and iced pops are served on an alternating schedule in the afternoon; Twin Pops, Chocolate Eclairs, Firecracker Pops, Ice Cream sandwiches and more.  There is no better way to end a busy Camp day than sitting down with friends and enjoying a cool and refreshing treat before boarding the bus to go home.

Friday was our Annual Song and Cheer Contest and Tribal Color Day.  All of the campers and counselors sang their hearts out!  The judges are feverishly studying their notes and the Awards will be announced during Monday morning assembly.

The boys and girls attending the mini-sleepaways departed on Sunday morning.  One again, the boys and the girls will be visiting Camp Pontiac in Copake, New York.  Randi and Bruce, the INA girls and Boys Divisional Head Counselors, are very excited about joining the campers on their mini-sleepaway.

It is hard to believe that Monday is the start of the second half of the summer season.  There are still so many great activities and special events on tap.  Our Instructional swim program is in full swing and theater practice continues for Visiting Day and evening performances.

Swim races, s’mores roasts and ice cream parties are scheduled for next week, and Thursday is Halloween In July; campers and counselors should come to Camp in costume, and be prepared for some Spooktacular Tricks and Treats!

Camp is now in full gear with all of our swim, sports, and arts programs, as well as specialty activities and special events.  Campers are in their instructional swim groups, sports leagues are in motion, as are theater rehearsals, arts and crafts projects, and so much more.

Last week was highlighted by the following special events:

• On Monday, 5th year campers attended a special party, enjoyed ice cream cake, and received a Camp Hillard pillow.
• Junior campers enjoyed some exciting boat rides at the pool.
• On Monday, the Navajo and Apache boys and girls visited Powerhouse Studios
• On Thursday, campers who have been here for 6 or more years, celebrated with a special breakfast; pancakes, French toast sticks, tater tots, eggs and turkey sausage.  They also received an extra special gift, a wireless Bluetooth speaker, emblazoned with the Camp Hillard logo!
• Wednesday was our Annual Festival of Fun.  This year’s theme was the Wild West; Camp was transformed into a rooting-tooting, boot-stomping hoedown! Hillard Cowpokes and cowgirls got to enjoy some inflatable rides and attractions on the Main Field, as well as some Ride ‘Em Cowboy Relay Races, Boot Tossing and Steer Roping on the Upper Field.  Everyone gathered at the Watering Hole for some tasty Barbeque grub.  Yee haw!
• Senior camp boys and girls all had fun on Thursday with the Senior Camp boat races.

Camp Hillard’s  Swim Program is off to a great start.  In Junior Camp, the Pawnees, Chickasaws and Hurons have been assessed and placed in their appropriate swim lesson group. The campers have been assessed based the American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program and the Camp Hillard Aquatic Groups  by certified Water Safety Instructors. Afternoon swims are for play and fun. Campers swim with their friends and are able to use different pools throughout the week. Many campers enjoy a ride on the water slide, while some have fun playing with rings, beach balls or noodles. The deep water challenge is offered to any Junior Camper that is interested. Once campers have passed the deep water challenge they can use the diving board.

The Middle Camp swim program is also off to a great start! After being skills tested, all Cheyenne and Comanche campers are completing their third week with their swim groups. They are already learning new skills and refining old ones. Our instructors are working diligently with your children to help them achieve their swim goals for the summer.

Campers are taking a break from the summer heat during afternoon free swims and enjoying all that the Camp Hillard pools have to offer! Every Cheyenne and Comanche group has taken at least two trips down the “Great Green River,” the water slide located at South Campus. At Main Complex, the campers who have passed the deep water test jump off the diving board, go down the slide, and swim in the deep end.

A lot was accomplished at Senior Camp Swim during these first three weeks of Camp. Many of our campers have taken and passed the Deep Water Challenge.  We continue to offer the challenge every single day of the summer.  All campers have been placed in swim classes, we have had many full days of swim instruction, and all campers are progressing nicely.

In the afternoons, many fun activities are well under way.  Campers have had the opportunity to play in a structured game, enjoy the cool water of the Hamptons (ask your kids about this) and all groups have now experienced the Great Green River water slide.  In addition, this Friday campers participated in Boat Races.  It was a relay race by letter group, and campers had a wild time paddling their boats across the pool.  We also had “Music at the Pool” the last two Fridays.  It’s a joy to watch swimmers and counselors alike grooving to songs as they relax and play in the water.

The Performing Arts program is off to a great start!  The Huron Girls are learning how to have fun “Under the Sea” in The Little Mermaid while the Huron and Cheyenne Boys are having fun pretending to be lions as they learn what it is like to be King of the Jungle in their show The Lion King. Watch out for their “roars!” The Cheyenne Girls are enjoying the songs from the classic musical Annie, while the Comanche Boys and the Cherokee Boys Theater Club are learning how to rock & roll in their show All Shook Up.  The Comanche Girls are learning what is like to live in a world like their books, full of adventure, in Disney’s classic, Beauty & the Beast.

Finally, in senior camp, the Cherokee Girls are learning about the amazing singer/songwriter, Carole King and her timeless music in Beautiful. In addition to that, the Navajo Girls are having an “Aca-mazing” time with their show Pitch Perfect. For the big show, the I-A girls as well as the INA Boys, are preparing to “Welcome in the 60’s” in the Broadway hit, Hairspray!

In music, the Pawnee and Chickasaw Girls and Boys are busy getting ready to perform for all of their family and friends on Visiting Day, which is right around the corner.

Speaking of Visiting Days and Evenings, the Cherokee Boys enjoyed a very successful Visiting Evening on Wednesday.. While Visiting Days are always fun and exciting, there is something extra special about a Visiting Evening; campers get the opportunity to stay after camp has ended, where they get to enjoy a Tribe Dinner at South Campus before family and friends arrive for the evening program.  The Cherokee boys showed off their progress at swim before hitting the courts and the hockey rink to showcase their athletic skills.  The Comanche Boys are looking forward to another exciting visiting evening on Monday; they will be the first Tribe to hit the stage to perform for their family and friends.

There is never a dull moment on the fields at Camp Hillard. The Junior Campers have done a wonderful job playing baseball and softball. They have been working hard on the skills of throwing and catching, hitting live pitches, and running bases.  The Cheyenne Boys have also been working on their baseball skills. The boys have learned how to use pitch backs to not only work on their throwing but also their fielding skills.

The Cherokee Girls have also spent a lot of time on the softball field.  The focus for the last couple of weeks has been practicing situations. “You have the ball, now what?” Hitting skills and fielding skills have shown great improvement.

Soccer has been a major focus over the past few weeks for the Cheyenne and Comanche girls, who have been working on their throw-ins and trapping, shooting a moving ball, as well as honing and refining their dribbling and passing skills.

The Iroquois, Navajo, and Apache Girls have also been hard at work on the soccer fields.  They have been focusing on following their passes, shooting a moving ball, and dribbling.

The Iroquois, Navajo, Apache Boys as well as the Comanche and Cherokee have been working on their basketball skills. Shooting, passing and zone defense have been stressed by the sports counselors and the carry-over has been seen in game play. Their skills are getting better each day. The Sports counselors are very excited over the improvement.

Sports Leagues are in full swing and are going well. Exciting Intra-Tribal competitions take place daily on the hockey rink, the soccer fields and the basketball court, on the baseball and softball diamonds and on the flag football gridiron.

This week will again be very busy.  Here is what’s on tap:

• Our Annual Charity Event for the Westchester Children’s Museum begins on Monday.
• On Tuesday, the Iroquois Boys and Girls leave for their Overnight Trip to Brookwood.
• The Comanche Boys Visiting Evenings will take place on Monday and Wednesday.
• On Friday, it is our annual Song and Cheer contest.  The campers have been practicing every day for this big event.  Make sure to have your campers wear their Tribal T-shirt.
• Marshmallow Roasts and Ice Cream Parties continue, Talent Shows and our regular programming schedule continues!

The second week of Camp was just great!  After a patriotic Four Day Weekend in honor of Independence Day, campers and counselors were anxious to get back into the Camp routine!

On Wednesday, we had our annual lollipop hunt, divided by Division.  Over the long holiday weekend, fireworks went off above the Upper Field, dropping lollipop seeds everywhere.  When we arrived on Wednesday morning, campers discovered that lollipops had sprouted and we needed to collect them so we could play ball again! Freshly picked lollipops always taste the best!!!!   Campers collected and sorted the lollipops into colors, receiving points for the most pops collected.  Congratulations to the Cheyenne B boys, Cheyenne A girls, Comanche C  boys, Comanche A girls, Cherokee A boys, Cherokee A girls, Iroquois Girls and Navajo Boys for being the best lollipop pickers in camp.  As a reward they will each receive a super yummy S’mores Roast!!!!

On Wednesday, July 5^th, all our 2nd year campers received the traditional Camp Hillard banner, and on Thursday, July 6^th,   3rd and 4th year campers received their specially designed and highly coveted t-shirts!  Camp Picture Day also took place on Thursday; campers and counselors sported the traditional white Camp Hillard shirt and their best and brightest smile for their Group Pictures.  The Apache, Iroquois and CIT boys and girls embarked on a fun-filled trip to Playland on Thursday, July 7^th, where they enjoyed various rides and attractions and games of skill of chance.  The overcast, drizzly weather was actually a hit rather than a hindrance; smaller crowds, shorter lines, more fun!

On Friday we continued our summer tradition of Music at the Pools during the afternoon free swims. Marshmallow Roasts continued with the INA boys and the Chickasaw and Huron girls this past Wednesday.  It was a very messy, but delicious affair.  The Chickasaws followed suit on Thursday and they really showed us how to really get messy!!!!!

It has been an amazing first two weeks of camp fun, but we still have lots of special events to look forward to. On Monday, the Navajo and Apache Boys and Girls are travelling to Powerhouse Studios where they will participate in a Wacky and Wild Game Show; 5th year campers can get psyched for their Ice Cream Party on Tuesday; the boats are out of dry dock and are being shined and polished for Junior Camp Boat Rides and Middle and Senior Camp Boat Races; preparations are already in high gear for our Festival of Fun and our second Tribal Color Day on Wednesday; the Cherokee boys are gearing up for their Visiting Evening on Wednesday; and 6th year and more campers will enjoy a bountiful breakfast buffet and a special gift on Thursday!  All of this in addition to more marshmallow roasts, ice cream parties and more….Phewww!  What an exciting week coming up!

See you Monday!!

Camp Hillard’s 89th Summer Season kicked off on Monday, June 26th. After a long, cold winter, campers and counselors and parents were thrilled that Opening Day was finally upon us!

On Opening Day, campers and counselors got to know one another. As groups got off the bus, they were brought to their respective Tribal meeting areas where camper and counselor introductions were made. Tribes got to know each other’s names by playing all different types of Getting To Know You games. After putting things away in our bunks, we had a great first day of activities including our first swim. Camp Hillard’s famous pizza was on the menu for all campers, and the end of day refreshment, a Twin-Pop, was truly delicious!

The rest of Week 1 was also highlighted by:

• Campers being assigned to their swim instruction groups.
• Exciting sports instruction and games.
• Many groups had their first arts and/or other specialty activities.
• Tuesday was our first Tribal Color Day. Camp was awash in a sea of colors as campers and counselors alike were decked out in their special colored t-shirt.
• Marshmallow Roasts began on Wednesday.
• Our Independence Day celebration on Friday was highlighted by an exciting Independence Day parade, an all-camp cookout, special refreshments, a visit from the Fire Department, and other special activities throughout the day.

Next week will be another fun filled week of excitement. In addition to all the fun of the regular schedule, we will also have the following special events:

• The Annual Camp Lollipop Hunt will take place on Wednesday; 2nd Year Campers will receive their Camp Hillard banners on Tuesday.
• On Thursday, our 3rd and 4th Year Campers will receive their special T-shirts.
• Thursday is also our Camp Pictures day. All groups will have their group picture taken. We ask that all campers wear their white Camp Hillard T with the green logo.
• Some tribes are also scheduled for their Marshmallow Roasts.
• On Thursday, the Apache and Iroquois Boys and Girls and the CIT’s will visit Playland Amusement Park in Rye.

For more details specific to your child’s group, please read our Weekly Tribal Newsletters which are found in the Enrolled Camp Families section of our website.

We hope everyone has a safe, healthy, happy, festive 4th of July Holiday! We can’t wait to see everyone on Wednesday!happy, festive 4^th of July Holiday!  We can’t wait to see everyone on Wednesday!

It is hard to believe how quickly another summer has come and gone!  Camp Hillard’s 88^th 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 took to the stage in their 10^th Anniversary production of High School Musical.  They were all in it together, and what a production it was!

On Tuesday, the Libman family was joined on stage by representatives from Friends of Karen for the presentation of a generous check of over $22,000 to this worthwhile organization.  Thank you to all the campers and counselors who participated in this year’s Charity Event.  We also enjoyed a very special Camp show; where campers performed some popular tunes from their Visiting Day performance.

The fun continued on Wednesday, with the annual Camp Hillard Carnival, which was postponed from Tuesday due to a rainy forecast.  This year’s Carnival theme was the Olympics; every group in Camp was responsible for creating a game booth with some Olympic Spirit.  Pin the Medal on the Athlete, Pluck An Olympic Duck, Space Jam Shootout, and Black Hole Bowling just to name a few!  There were exciting inflatables on the Main Field for campers to enjoy; a Candy Land obstacle course, the Goofy Gator and the Sea Fun House, and an Amusement park Obstacle Course.  As an extra special sweet treat, every camper and counselor enjoyed 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.

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 for one last time 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 Cold Play/Beyonce medley, the Cherokee Girls engaged in a Green and Gray Acapella Battle, a la Pitch Perfect, and Jessie from the Creative Arts Staff led the Gymnastics Staff in an energetic Zumba workout.   It was a very entertaining and spirited display of talent!

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 for one last time for the Special Camper Show, where campers performed some popular tunes from their Visiting Day performance.

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 88th 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 2017.  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!

Week 7 was another fun and exciting week at Camp, highlighted by a variety of fun events. Campers continue to put their talents on display, showcasing their singing, dancing, boxball, basketball, break dancing, beat-box, piano, and “armpit-tooting” skills in talent show performances worthy of America’s Got Talent.

Olympic competitions continued in earnest throughout the entire week; groups came together and broke out into their respective countries for Track and Field events including the javelin throw, the broad jump and the shot put, as well as the 40 yard dash.  Other Olympic events included running bases for time, dribbling and shooting competitions at basketball punt and pass competitions at football, mini-golf and tennis tournaments, as well as an intense Olympic Soccer tournament and water polo matches at the Pool.

On Wednesday, the entire camp wore their tribal color shirt and some even added some tribal color accessories, and we all met on the Main Field for a colorful All Camp Assembly – it looked fabulous!  On Wednesday evening the Navajo girls had their visiting evening.  The girls did a great job showing off their swimming skills and did a BEAUTIFUL job on stage performing their show.

Thursday was Crazy Hat/Hair Day!!  Campers and counselor showed off their creative sides, displaying a dizzying array of whimsical and colorful hairstyles; mohawks and faux-hawks, dreadlocks and boxbraids and unicorn horns; not to mention a wide variety of crazy hats including Viking horns, hotdogs and hamburgers, bunny ears and cat ears, and giant Dr. Seuss hats, minus the cats, of course!  It was great to see such an expression of spirit all throughout camp!

Campers continued to work on their American Red Cross swimming skills and are making great progress.  In addition to our regular swim program, Junior Campers participated in Olympic Swim Fun, complete with Medal Hunts, swim races and “silly’ jumps!

On Friday afternoon, the CIT’s took a short jaunt down to the Candlelight Inn for the Annual CIT Luncheon.  CIT’s or Counselors in Training, are the eldest campers at Hillard; all are rising 7^th-10^th graders who work side by side with General Staff in Group or Specialty Assignments. As a special thank you for all of their hard work, they were treated to a lunch that included the Candlelight Inn’s World-famous chicken wings, a messy and thoroughly delicious reward for a successful summer!

On Friday afternoon, the entire Camp assembled once again on the Main Field for our Olympic Closing Ceremonies, which included some intense counselor events, including a 40 yard dash and a football toss.  Six counselors from each tribe were chosen at random to represent each of the six Olympic countries participating; Brazil, England, France, Greece, Israel, and Mexico.  Campers cheered for their respective country, while enjoying their afternoon refreshments, and when all of the events concluded and the medal counts tallied, England was the Gold Medal winner, followed by Greece, who took home the Silver and France with the Bronze.  Congratulations to all our participants!!

The eighth and final week of Camp is sure to be an exceptional four days of fun. The Big Show is on tap for Monday evening; the Apache and Iroquois Boys and Girls are ready to cut loose in the 10^th Anniversary production of High School Musical.  Final rehearsals have been in full gear, and the show is sure to be a fantastic one.

Wednesday, the long awaited Hillard Carnival will commence. It’s also our final Tribal Color Day and an All Camp Picnic. The Special Camp Show and Charity Presentation are on Tuesday; campers are gearing up to take the stage to perform some of the most notable songs from their Visiting Day performances. The counselors have been furiously preparing for the Annual Counselor Talent Show on Thursday, which is sure to be a lot of fun.    On Thursday, we will also have a Moving Up ceremony for all the campers as they step into the shoes of their future tribe; Pawnees to Chickasaws, Hurons to Cheyennes, and so forth!  It is sure to be an exciting and memorable week.

Week 6, Week 6!!? It’s hard to believe just how quickly the summer is flying by.  The week was highlighted by the Swim Festivals; Senior Camp on Monday, Junior Camp on Tuesday and Middle Camp on Wednesday.  There was music at the pools, treasure hunts, swim races, musical water buckets and more!  On Monday evening, the INA boys and girls took part in the annual tradition known as INA night, a spirited competition between Green and Gray.  The boys competed on the baseball diamond, the soccer field and the gridiron, while the girls participated in the Apache Relay.  The competition was friendly but fierce, with the gray team edging out the green team by only 100 points!

On Friday, the entire Camp assembled in Olympic Stadium, (usually known as The Main Field) for our Olympic Opening Ceremonies.  Everyone, campers are counselors alike, was randomly assigned to one of six countries; Brazil, England, France, Greece, Israel, or Mexico; and after Morning Assembly, we filed into Olympic Stadium behind our Country’s Flag Bearer, to the tune of every country’s National Anthem.  The Olympic Flag was raised, the Olympic Oath was recited, the Olympic Flame was raised and the Games were declared officially Open.  The first day of events included an Olympic Soccer tournament, which saw medals awarded to England, Greece and France; gold, silver and bronze, respectively.  An entire week of Olympic competition continues all next week!

S’mores Roasts and Ice Cream Parties are in full swing.  This week, the Pawnees, the Huron boys and girls, the Comanche boys and the Cherokee girls all enjoyed their ooey, gooey, sticky-delicious S’mores Roast, while the Cheyenne and Comanche girls, the Cherokee and INA boys and the INA girls enjoyed their Tribal Ice Cream Party.  Nothing beats a Camp Hillard Ice Cream Party; campers build their very own Ice Cream Sundae, choosing two scoops of ice cream, chocolate or vanilla (or both), assorted tasty toppings like rainbow and chocolate sprinkles, caramel sauce or chocolate syrup and maraschino cherries.  An Ice Cream Float is another option; two scoops of ice cream, swimming in fizzy, bubbly Coca Cola.  A refreshingly tasty treat on a hot summer day!

The week’s Lunch offerings were varied and delicious, as usual.  We started the week with a Mexican Monday, Mexi-Beef Tacos with Cheese, salsa and sour cream. A Make Your Own Sandwich meal of assorted cold cuts, cheeses and french fries was on the Menu for Tuesday.  Wednesday featured Hillard’s insanely popular Chicken O’s; most campers and counselors will admit to saying, “I’m just going to have one more.”  But everyone knows you can never just eat one more Chicken O! Thursday featured one of the more highly anticipated lunches of the summer, Sloppy Joes, prepared with lean ground turkey and served with sweet potato fries.  We rounded out the week with warm and cheesy macaroni and cheese on Friday.

Tribal Talent Shows are in full swing.  Tribes assemble during their Rest Periods, and campers show off their skills; the acts ran the gamut from karate chops and arm farts to hula hooping and rope jumping, to singing and acting and joke telling!  Hillard campers are a pretty talented bunch!

This week, we also saw several nail-biting Sports League Playoff and Championship games.  On Tuesday, the Comanche Boys kicked off the first round of their Divisional Playoffs.  In the American Division the Hillard Scorpions played the Comanche Crushers and the Lightning Strikes took on the Eight Crushers.  The Hillard Scorpions and the Eight Crushers were victorious and played each other in the American Division finals with the Eight Crushers claiming the title!

The National Division saw the Blue Strawberries play the Eagles and the Wrecking Balls took on the Rockets.  The Eagles and the Wrecking Balls won these matchups and had an epic finals matchup with the Wrecking Balls coming out on top.

The Cheyenne Boys continued the playoff action on Wednesday; in the American Division, the Other Guys played the MonStars and the Fire Bombers took on the Golden Hamburgers.   The Other Guys and the Fire Bombers were victorious in the first round and played each other in the American League finals, with The Other Guys claiming the title.  The National League saw the Golden Retrievers play the Camp Hillard Heroes and the Super Ballers took on the Scorpions.  The Camp Hillard Heroes and the Super Ballers won their respective first round games and had an epic National League finals matchup with the Super Ballers coming out on top.

The excitement continued for the Cherokee Boys, with the Mean Green Machines, Gruesome Gray, Terminators, and Fire Scorpions placing first, second, third, and fourth respectively in their Division 1 Championship Games and the Underdogs and Warriors placing first and second in their Division Two Championships

As we near the end of the sixth week of camp, almost every Tribe in Camp has experienced either a Visiting Day or a Visiting Evening.  Campers look forward to these very special days when moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas come to watch them swim, play sports and perform songs or put on a show at theater, while also finally getting to meet the counselors who have been essential in making every camper’s summer fun and successful.

The Pawnees and the Chickasaw Boys and Girls had their Visiting Mornings early in the summer; for many of our youngest campers, Camp may be their first full-day group experience, and moms and dads are eager to meet the counselors and see their little ones in action!  This year, the Pawnees and the Chickasaws showcased their developing athletic skills at a Sports Skills Showcase on the Main Field, participating in a mini-obstacle course which included shooting hoops, kicking a soccer ball and scoring a goal at field hockey.  On the musical side of things, they performed a few special songs that they had been perfecting for the first few weeks of the summer, including songs from The Jungle Book and the Camp Hillard song.

The Visiting Day programs for Hurons and older are a little more intense; in addition to participating in sports and swimming, campers perform a Broadway style show on the big stage.  This summer, the Huron Boys and Girls hit the stage for the very first time, performing Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid!

Visiting Day for the Cheyenne Boys and Girls included baseball and softball and swimming at South Campus Pool Complex, which always includes a ride down The Great Green River!  The Boys traveled to Neverland in their production of J.M Barre’s classic, Peter Pan and the Girls travelled under the sea in their performance of The Little Mermaid!

Comanches and older are always excited by the prospect of a Visiting Evening.  These Tribes get to remain at Camp after every other camper has gotten on their bus and headed home!  Dinner is served at South Campus and campers and counselors gear up for an exciting evening!  The Comanche Boys and Girls showed off their athletic prowess during games of basketball and soccer, respectively, after which the boys hit the stage to perform The Blues Brothers, while the girls were Aca-Amazing in their performance of Pitch Perfect.

Visiting Evenings for Senior Camp take place towards the end of the summer; campers spend six to seven weeks rehearsing for some very exciting shows; the Cherokee and Navajo girls in Beautiful and the and The Really Big Show during the final week of Camp.  This year, A-I Boys and Girls and the Cherokee Boys Theater Club are starring in the 10^th Anniversary Celebration of High School Musical.

Next week, the fun continues!  Olympic Competition continues in earnest, in addition to the Junior Camp Olympic Swim Fun and the Middle and Senior Camp Crazy Dive Contests.  Thursday is Crazy Hat/Hair Day; everyone is looking forward to getting all wild and crazy!

It’s hard to believe we have just finished up the fifth week of Camp!  We are now deep into the camp season and there’s no end to the fun we have been having.

The boys and girls departed for their mini-sleepaway to Camp Pontiac on Sunday morning, and they had an amazing time!  Water front activities, including banana boating, kayaking and the brand new Tarzan Swing were a big hit with campers and counselors alike.  The boys and girls also enjoyed arts and crafts, cooking, dance and woodshop.  The food at Camp Pontiac was varied and delicious; multiple salad bars, pasta, grilled chicken, homemade, thin-crust pizza hand-fired in state of the art pizza ovens, in addition to afternoon snack offerings and evening trips to the Canteen or the Ice Cream Shop. A particularly cool aspect of Camp Pontiac’s Canteen, The Pont Roc Cafe, is that it is a stylized version of the Hard Rock Cafe!  One particularly special highlight of the trip was an Overnight Sleepout in Tree Top Village for both the boys and the girls.  This sleepout was a great opportunity for team building and bonding, as well as for a mini-prank war between the boys and the girls.  When the Pontiac Shuttle buses returned to Hillard, the everyone chattered excitedly about their experience, and they are all looking forward to visiting again next summer.  But everyone was really excited to be back home at Hillard, just in time for the Beach Dance Party in the Gymnastics Pavilion and the Cruise Ship through the Islands in The Creative Art Center!

Speaking Beach Party Day; during the fifth week of Camp every summer, we celebrate a different special event.  Everyone know that the regularly scheduled programming at Camp Hillard is unparalleled, but every once in a while, we like to switch thing up a bit and add something special.  In summers past, we have celebrated Halloween in July, complete with spooky costumes and trick or treating; International Day, when we celebrate different cultures and customs from around the world; and this summer, DJ Joe spun the hits on the turntables for our Beach Dance Party, complete with colorful leis and grass skirts, a Limbo Contest, and a Tropical Snack; refreshing Pink Lemonade and Pretzel Goldfish.  A Cruise Ship to the Islands embarked from The Creative Arts Center, and campers and counselors enjoyed a relaxing excursion to a variety of Tropic Locales, including the West Indies and the Hawaiian Islands.  Tropical Tribal Games, including nautical relay Races and steamy Scavenger Hunts were also on the Itinerary+ for the day, which concluded with an extra special afternoon refreshment; a Banana Chocolate Rocket Pop!

It has been an awesome 5 week of camp for Here at Hillard. A little more than half the summer is done but there are so many fun activities to go!!

• Our Swim Festivals begin next week!  Campers can expect treasure hunts, boat rides, lifeguard relay races, music at the pools and more!
• The INA Boys and Girls Night will take place on Monday night.  The INA boys and girls eagerly anticipate this Annual Evening Event, a Hillard tradition, that includes spirited competition between the Green and Gray teams known as the Apache Relay.
• The INA girls can look forward to some more wintry fun on Wednesday when they travel to the Playland for an ice skating trip.
• Our Visiting Day and Evening Programs continue with Cheyenne Boys and Girls and the Cherokee Girls scheduled for next week.
• Ice cream parties and s’mores roasts continue, as do Talent Shows and Hillard Voice.
• Camp Hillard Olympics Opening Ceremonies are scheduled for Friday

The fourth week of Camp was another exciting and successful one!  Camp is now in full gear with all of our swim, sports, and arts programs, as well as specialty activities and special events. Campers are in their instructional swim groups, sports leagues are in motion, as are all our regular program areas.

Our 2016 Summer Charity Event began on Monday, July 18. All campers will participate in a fun art event during that week. Any campers choosing to participate in the charity fundraiser can make a donation. More details on how to make donations will follow shortly. All money raised will be given to Friends of Karen.

For 38 years, Friends of Karen has been providing financial, emotional and advocacy support, at no cost, to families in the New York Tri-State region who are caring for a child battling cancer or another life-threatening illnesses.  In 2015 alone, Friends of Karen helped 669 critically ill children and 1010 of their siblings. Your donation will enable their experienced team social workers to guide families through their child’s illness and help them anticipate changes in employment, family routine, financial stability, social life and school. They cover vital medical and household expenses, child care for siblings, food, and other necessities that become unmanageable when medical costs soar and parents must stop working to care for their child – and address so much more during a family’s very difficult journey will illness.

Friends of Karen has consistently received the top 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that evaluates the financial efficiency and responsibility of over 8,000 U.S. charities, and is an accredited charity of the Better Business Bureau, meeting 20 rigorous standards for accountability.  83 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to helping Friends of Karen’s families. For more information about this summer’s charity, visit the Friends of Karen website www.friendsofkaren.org.

All campers donating at least $40 per camper will receive a very special thank you package. This package will include a Camp Hillard/Friends of Karen T-shirt as well as many other surprises.  In addition, any camper donation of at least $100 per camper will entitle the camper’s family to participate in a raffle for a free summer for 2017. These donations must be made this summer during the fundraiser. The winner will be announced in the Winter Newsletter, and should the winner be someone who is not returning next year to Camp Hillard, they can give the award to a friend who is.

Thanks to Camp Hillard families, we have been very successful with our annual charity events over the past 21 years. With your help and generosity, we will make this year’s fundraiser the most successful ever.

This week has been highlighted by some exciting out of camp trips.  On Monday, the Navajo and Apache Boys and Girls visited Powerhouse Studios.  They enjoyed participating in an interactive game show, The Wild ‘N Wacky Challenge, where every camper had the chance to get doused with green slime or to get a pie in the face.  Good times!  The Emcee would call on certain campers to play the Lucky Number game, and the winners would get to choose a counselor or a Tribe Leader to slime!  One highlight of the trip was the lunch; really tasty pizza and All You Can Drink Soda!!!

On Tuesday, the Iroquois Boys and Girls embarked on a very special, Iroquois Overnight to Brookwood in Glen Spey, New York.  This annual trip is reserved solely for the oldest campers, the Iroquois, and the campers really look forward to it.  We departed from Camp early on Tuesday morning, in order to get in a full day of fun at Brookwood!  Lake activities were very popular with campers and counselors alike; everything from kayaking and paddle boating, to water tubing behind a speedboat and the Blob, a giant trampoline-like inflatable that campers could bounce up and down on, splash-landing into the refreshing lake.

The food at Brookwood was great; breakfast, lunch and dinner were served daily, and campers had the option of mac and cheese, fresh veggies, chicken nuggets and waffle fries, spaghetti and meatballs, tacos, grilled cheese, and more.  In the evening, we enjoyed a bonfire by the lake and a delicious s’mores roast.  We had a great full day of activities of Wednesday before saying goodbye to our new friends and making the return trip to Hillard.

Speaking of food, can we talk for just a minute about the food at Camp Hillard?  It really is pretty fabulous. A great deal of time and thought is put into the Menu planning prior to the Summer Camp Season.  Some of the more popular lunch offerings include Hillard’s Famous Cheese Pizza, Nachos Grande with Cheese, crispy Chicken Nuggets, the insanely popular Chicken O’s (think a chicken nugget shaped like a donut), Mexi-Beef Tacos served with Salsa and Sour Cream,  Asian-inspired Chicken with broccoli, to name just a few.  In addition to the Daily Menu, a variety of substitutes are readily available so as to accommodate all camper’s tastes, preferences and dietary needs.  Mid-day snacks and afternoon refreshments are also served daily; Goldfish and Pretzel Goldfish, Graham Crackers, Oreos, and fresh fruit are among some of the daily snack options.  Ice cream and iced pops are served on an alternating schedule in the afternoon; Twin Pops, Chocolate Eclairs, Firecracker Pops, Ice Cream sandwiches and more.  There is no better way to end a busy Camp day than sitting down with friends and enjoying a cool and refreshing treat before boarding the bus to go home.

Friday was our Annual Song and Cheer Contest and Tribal Color Day.  All of the campers and counselors sang their hearts out!  The judges are feverishly studying their notes and the Awards will be announced during Monday morning assembly.

The boys and girls attending the mini-sleepaways departed on Sunday morning.  One again, the boys and the girls will be visiting Camp Pontiac in Copake, New York.  Randi and Bruce, the INA girls and Boys Divisional Head Counselors, are very excited about joining the campers on their mini-sleepaway.

It is hard to believe that Monday is the start of the second half of the summer season.  There are still so many great activities and special events on tap.  Our Senior Camp Challenge continues with the Gray team currently ahead, instructional swim is in full swing and theater practice continues for Visiting Day and evening performances.

Swim races, s’mores roasts and ice cream parties are scheduled for next week, and Thursday is Tropical Islands Day; campers and counselors will participate in several tropical activities and events during the day, including a special Beach Dance Party in the Gymnastics Pavilion.

Camp is now in full gear with all of our swim, sports, and arts programs, as well as specialty activities and special events.  Campers are in their instructional swim groups, sports leagues are in motion, as are theater rehearsals, arts and crafts projects, and so much more.

Last week was highlighted by the following special events:

• On Monday, 5th year campers attended a special party, enjoyed ice cream cake, and received a Camp Hillard pillow.
• Junior campers enjoyed some exciting boat rides at the pool.
• On Tuesday, the INA boys headed out to the ballgame, taking in a Rockland Boulders Minor League Baseball Game.
• Wednesday was our Annual Festival of Fun.  This year’s theme was Hollywood; upon arriving at Camp, campers were greeted by an array of iconic Hollywood characters and celebrities, from Darth Vader and Princess Leia, to a plethora of Angry Birds and Minions, in addition to the iconic Super Heroes, Superman and Captain America, and Batman and Robin.   
• On Thursday, campers who have been here for 6 or more years, celebrated with a special breakfast; pancakes, french toast sticks, tater tots, eggs and turkey sausage.  They also received an extra special gift, an insulated Hillard lunch tote, which included a Hot Cup, a Water Bottle and a Bento-style box complete with a salad dressing container, a spork and a knife!
• Senior camp boys and girls all had fun on Friday with the Senior Camp boat races.
• The Senior Camp Challenge continues, with Grey currently in the lead but there is still many weeks left of fun competition!

Camp Hillard’s  Swim Program is off to a great start.  In Junior Camp, the Pawnees, Chickasaws and Hurons have been assessed and placed in their appropriate swim lesson group. The campers have been assessed based the American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program and the Camp Hillard Aquatic Groups  by certified Water Safety Instructors. Afternoon swims are for play and fun. Campers swim with their friends and are able to use different pools throughout the week. Many campers enjoy a ride on the water slide, while some have fun playing with rings, beach balls or noodles. The deep water challenge is offered to any Junior Camper that is interested. Once campers have passed the deep water challenge they can use the diving board.

The Middle Camp swim program is also off to a great start! After being skills tested, all Cheyenne and Comanche campers are completing their third week with their swim groups. They are already learning new skills and refining old ones. Our instructors are working diligently with your children to help them achieve their swim goals for the summer.

Campers are taking a break from the summer heat during afternoon free swims and enjoying all that the Camp Hillard pools have to offer! Every Cheyenne and Comanche group has taken at least two trips down the “Great Green River,” the water slide located at South Campus. At Main Complex, the campers who have passed the deep water test jump off the diving board, go down the slide, and swim in the deep end.

A lot was accomplished at Senior Camp Swim during these first three weeks of Camp. Many of our campers have taken and passed the Deep Water Challenge.  We continue to offer the challenge every single day of the summer.  All campers have been placed in swim classes, we have had many full days of swim instruction, and all campers are progressing nicely.

In the afternoons, many fun activities are well under way.  Campers have had the opportunity to play in a structured game, enjoy the cool water of the Hamptons (ask your kids about this) and all groups have now experienced the Great Green River water slide.  In addition, this Friday campers participated in Boat Races.  It was a relay race by letter group, and campers had a wild time paddling their boats across the pool.  We also had “Music at the Pool” the last two Fridays.  It’s a joy to watch swimmers and counselors alike grooving to songs as they relax and play in the water.

Camp Hillard’s Performing Arts program has gotten off to an illustrious start.  The Huron and Cheyenne Girls are travelling under the sea to perform The Little Mermaid, where they hope to find out if the grass is really greener under someone else’s lake, while the Huron and Cheyenne boys are off to Never Land, in search of the Lost Boys in their performance of Peter Pan.

The Comanche  Girls   are having an “Aca-mazing” time with their show Pitch Perfect, while the Comanche Boys are learning how to have “soul” in their production of The Blues Brothers.

In senior camp, the Cherokee and Navajo Girls are celebrating the iconic sounds of  Carole King in their production of Beautiful, while the Iroquois and Apache girls and boys are preparing for the really big show, a Ten Year Anniversary performance of High School Musical!

In music, the Pawnee and Chickasaw Girls and Boys are busy getting ready to perform for all of their family and friends on Visiting Day, which is right around the corner.

Speaking of Visiting Days and Evenings, the Cherokee Boys enjoyed a very successful Visiting Evening on Wednesday. While Visiting Days are always fun and exciting, there is something extra special about a Visiting Evening; campers get the opportunity to stay after camp has ended, where they get to enjoy a Tribe Dinner at South Campus before family and friends arrive for the evening program.  The Cherokee boys showed off their progress at swim before hitting the courts and the hockey rink to showcase their athletic skills.  The Comanche Boys are looking forward to another exciting visiting evening on Monday; they will be the first Tribe to hit the stage to perform for their family and friends.

There is never a dull moment on the fields at Camp Hillard. The Junior Campers have done a wonderful job playing baseball and softball. They have been working hard on the skills of throwing and catching, hitting live pitches, and running bases.  The Cheyenne Boys have also been working on their baseball skills. The boys have learned how to use pitch backs to not only work on their throwing but also their fielding skills.

The Cherokee Girls have also spent a lot of time on the softball field.  The focus for the last couple of weeks has been practicing situations. “You have the ball, now what?” Hitting skills and fielding skills have shown great improvement.

Soccer has been a major focus over the past few weeks for the Cheyenne and Comanche girls, who have been working on their throw-ins and trapping, shooting a moving ball, as well as honing and refining their dribbling and passing skills.

The Iroquois, Navajo, and Apache Girls have also been hard at work on the soccer fields.  They have been focusing on following their passes, shooting a moving ball, and dribbling.

The Iroquois, Navajo, Apache Boys as well as the Comanche and Cherokee have been working on their basketball skills. Shooting, passing and zone defense have been stressed by the sports counselors and the carry-over has been seen in game play. Their skills are getting better each day. The Sports counselors are very excited over the improvement.  

Sports Leagues are in full swing and are going well. Exciting Intra-Tribal competitions take place daily on the hockey rink, the soccer fields and the basketball court, on the baseball and softball diamonds and on the flag football gridiron.

This week will again be very busy.  Here is what’s on tap:

• Our Annual Charity Event for Friends of Karen begins.
• The Navajo and Apache Boys and Girls will be visiting Powerhouse Studios on Monday.
• On Tuesday, the Iroquois Boys and Girls leave for their Overnight Trip to Brookwood.
• The Comanche Boys Visiting Evenings will take place on Monday and Wednesday.
• On Friday, it is our annual Song and Cheer contest.  The campers have been practicing every day for this big event.  Make sure to have your campers wear their Tribal T-shirt.
• Marshmallow Roasts and Ice Cream Parties continue, Talent Shows and our regular programming schedule continues!

The second week of Camp was just great!  After a patriotic Three Day Weekend in honor of Independence Day, campers and counselors were anxious to get back into the Camp routine!

The week started off with our Senior Camp Challenge opening ceremonies.  Cherokees and INA’s were divided into teams of Green and Gray, with everyone receiving a special t-shirt.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we had our annual lollipop hunt, divided by Division.  Over the long holiday weekend, fireworks went off above the Upper Field, dropping lollipop seeds everywhere.  When we arrived on Tuesday morning, junior campers discovered that lollipops had sprouted and we needed to collect them so we could play ball again! Freshly picked lollipops always taste the best!!!!  On Tuesday, middle and senior campers enjoyed their Lollipop Hunt, with as slightly different twist.  Campers collected and sorted the lollipops into colors, receiving points for the most pops collected.  Congratulations to the Cheyenne C boys, Cheyenne A girls, Comanche D  boys, Comanche A girls, Cherokee C boys, Cherokee A girls, Apache  Girls and Navajo Boys for being the best lollipop pickers in camp.  As a reward they will each receive a super yummy S’mores Roast!!!!

On Tuesday, July 5^th, all our 2nd year campers received the traditional Camp Hillard banner, and on Wednesday, July 8^th,   3rd and 4th year campers received their specially designed and highly coveted t-shirts!  On Thursday, campers and counselors sported the traditional white Camp Hillard shirt and their best and brightest smile for their Group Pictures.

 Marshmallow Roasts began with the INA boys and the Chickasaw and Huron girls this past Wednesday.  It was a very messy, but delicious affair.  The Chickasaws followed suit on Thursday and they really showed us how to really get messy!!!!!

The Apache, Iroquois and CIT boys and girls embarked on a fun-filled trip to Playland on Thursday, July 7^th, where they enjoyed various rides and attractions and games of skill of chance.  The hot weather was actually a hit rather than a hindrance; smaller crowds, shorter lines, more fun!

On Friday we started our summer tradition of Music at the Pools during the afternoon free swims.

It has been an amazing first two weeks of camp fun, but we still have lots of special events to look forward to. 5th year campers can get psyched for their Ice Cream Party on Monday; the boats are out of dry dock and are being shined and polished for Junior Camp Boat Rides and Middle and Senior Camp Boat Races ; the INA Boys are heading out to the ballgame on Tuesday, for a Rockland Boulders Minor League game; preparations are already in high gear for our Festival of Fun and our second Tribal Color Day on Wednesday; the Cherokee boys are gearing up for their Visiting Evening on Wednesday; and 6th year and more campers will enjoy a bountiful breakfast buffet and a special gift on Thursday!  All of this in addition to more marshmallow roasts, ice cream parties and more….Phewww!  What an exciting week coming up!

Camp Hillard’s 88^th Summer Season kicked off on Monday, June 27th.  After a long, cold winter, campers and counselors and parents were thrilled that Opening Day was finally upon us!

On Opening Day, campers and counselors got to know one another.  As groups got off the bus, they were brought to their respective Tribal meeting areas where camper and counselor introductions were made. Tribes got to know each other’s names by playing all different types of Getting To Know You games. After putting things away in our bunks, we had a great first day of activities including our first swim.  Camp Hillard’s famous pizza was on the menu for all campers, and the end of day refreshment, a Twin-Pop, was truly delicious!

The rest of Week 1 was also highlighted by:

• Campers being assigned to their swim instruction groups.
• Exciting sports instruction and games.
• Many groups had their first arts and/or other specialty activities.
• Tuesday was our first Tribal Color Day.  Camp was awash in a sea of colors as campers and counselors alike were decked out in their special colored t-shirt.
• Our Independence Day celebration on Friday was highlighted by an exciting Independence Day parade, an all-camp cookout, special refreshments, a visit from the Fire Department, and other special activities throughout the day.

Next week will be another fun filled week of excitement.  In addition to all the fun of the regular schedule, we will also have the following special events:

• The Junior Camp Lollipop Hunt will take place on Tuesday, as will the Senior Camp Challenge Opening Ceremonies for Cherokees and INAs.
• The Middle and Senior Camp Lollipop Scavenger Hunt takes place on Tuesday.

• 2^nd Year Campers will receive their Camp Hillard banners on Tuesday, and our 3^rd and 4^th Year Campers will receive their special T-shirts on Wednesday.
• Thursday is our Camp Pictures day.  All groups will have their group picture taken.  We ask that all campers wear their white Camp Hillard T with the green logo.
• Some tribes are also scheduled for their Marshmallow Roasts.
• On Thursday, the Apache and Iroquois Boys and Girls and the CIT’s will visit Playland Amusement Park in Rye.

We hope everyone has a safe, healthy, happy, festive 4^th of July Holiday!  We can’t wait to see everyone on Tuesday!

It is hard to believe how quickly another summer has come and gone!  Camp Hillard’s 87^th 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 traveled to a small-town in middle-America where both dance and music has been forbidden in their spectacular production of Footloose.  Let’s hear it for the boys and the girls!

The fun continued on Tuesday, with the annual Camp Hillard Carnival.  This year’s Carnival theme was Outer Space; every group in Camp was responsible for creating a game booth with an intergalactic theme.  Pin the Antenna on the Alien, Saturn Ring Toss, Space Jam Shootout, and Black Hole Bowling just to name a few!  There were exciting rides and attractions on the Main Field for campers to enjoy; a Space Shuttle obstacle course, the Dixie Copter, the Dixie Dragonfly, and the Jurassic Adventure.  As an extra special 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.

Senior Camp Challenge Closing Ceremonies took place on Wednesday morning.  Counselors representing the Green and Gray teams took part in a rousing Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament, followed by the traditional Pie Eating Contest.  The competition was heated and messy, and in the end, the Gray Team was victorious.  Congratulation to all of the Senior Camp participants for their energy, enthusiasm and good sportsmanship during the summer long contest.

On Wednesday, 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 Bruno Mars inspired performance of the Amy Winehouse classic, Valerie, the Cherokee Girls engaged in a Green and Gray Acapella Battle, a la Pitch Perfect, and Jessie from the Creative Arts Staff led the Gymnastics Staff in an energetic Zumba workout.   It was a very entertaining and spirited display of talent!

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 for one last time for the Special Camper Show, where campers performed some popular tunes from their Visiting Day performance.  In addition, the Libman family was joined on stage by representatives from Sunrise Day Camps for the presentation of a generous check of $24,000 to this worthwhile organization.  Thank you to all the campers and counselors who participated in this year’s Charity Event.

Jim Libman continued his Hillard’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 87th 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 2016.  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!

Week 7 was another fun and exciting week at Camp, highlighted by a variety of fun events. Campers continue to put their talents on display, showcasing their singing, dancing, boxball, basketball, break dancing, beat-box, piano, and “armpit-tooting” skills in performances worthy of America’s Got Talent.

Campers continue to work on their American Red Cross swimming skills and are making great progress.  In addition to our regular swim program, all campers got to have some extra special fun at the pools; Junior Campers were transported to Hawaii for an Aquatic Luau Wednesday, complete with inflatable Limbo sticks, palm trees and Tiki torches. Middle and Senior campers took to the diving board for their Crazy Dive contests on Thursday.  Cheyennes and older showed off their formidable diving skills, spinning and twisting and cannonballing and bellyflopping into the pool!  Their counselors also participated in this highly anticipated event, jumping into the pools while being cheered on and splashed by their campers!

Thursday was Favorite School/Sports Team Day!  Campers and counselors sported t-shirts, jerseys, hats and headbands representing their favorite school, from Quaker Ridge  and Brearley, to Hackley and Stepinac, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Duke and more; or their favorite sports team, be it Yankees, Giants, Red Sox or Red Bulls!  In some cases, campers combined the two, wearing garb that represented their Favorite School’s Sports Team; Mamaroneck Tigers, Scarsdale Raiders, Wisconsin Badgers, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Gators, just to name a few.  It was great to see such an expression of spirit all throughout camp!

Sports Leagues are entering into their Playoff and Championship rounds.  Wednesday saw several nail-biters of Sports League championship games for the Cherokee Boys, with the All-Star Underdogs, Green Gators, Space Jam, and Hall-of-Famers placing first, second, third, and fourth respectively in their Division 1 Championship Games and the Legends and Green Goblins placing first and second in their Division Two Championships.

The Comanche Boys concluded their Sports Leagues on Friday; this year the boys competed in two divisions, La Liga and Serie A.  The Fireballs took home the crown in La Liga and The Thunderbirds earned the championship in Serie A.  Congratulations to the champions and all of the campers who participated and gave it their all during this year’s Sports League season.  The results of the Cheyenne Boys and Cheyenne Girls Sports League Finals are still being calculated; the winner will be announced next week!  Senior Camp Challenge will conclude next week; the race between the Green and Gray teams is still too close to call, so the Closing Ceremonies are sure to be more exciting and action-packed than ever!

The eighth and final week of Camp is sure to be an exceptional four days of fun. The Big Show is on tap for Monday evening; the Apache and Iroquois Boys and Girls and are ready to cut loose in their production of Footloose.  Final rehearsals have been in full gear, and the show is sure to be a fantastic one.

Tuesday, the long awaited Hillard Carnival will commence. It’s also our final Tribal Color Day and an All Camp Picnic. The counselors have been furiously preparing for the Annual Counselor Talent Show on Wednesday, which is sure to be a lot of fun.  The Special Camp Show and Charity Presentation are on Thursday; campers are gearing up to take the stage to perform some of the most notable songs from their Visiting Day performances.  On Thursday, we will also have a Moving Up ceremony for all the campers as they step into the shoes of their future tribe; Pawnees to Chickasaws, Hurons to Cheyennes, and so forth!  It is sure to be an exciting and memorable week.

For more details specific to your child’s group, please read our Weekly Tribal Newsletters which are found in the Enrolled Camp Families section of our website.

Week 6, Week 6!!? It’s hard to believe just how quickly the summer is flying by.  The week was highlighted by the Swim Festivals; Senior Camp on Monday, Junior Camp on Tuesday and Middle Camp on Wednesday.  There was music at the pools, treasure hunts, swim races, musical water buckets and more!  On Friday, we honored and celebrated the Women’s World Cup Soccer with Hillard’s own World Cup Soccer Tournament!

S’mores Roasts and Ice Cream Parties are in full swing.  This week, the Pawnees, the Huron boys and girls, Cheyenne and Comanche boys and the Cherokee girls all enjoyed their ooey, gooey, sticky-delicious S’mores Roast, while the Cheyenne and Comanche girls, the Cherokee and INA boys and the INA girls enjoyed their Tribal Ice Cream Party.  Nothing beats a Camp Hillard Ice Cream Party; campers build their very own Ice Cream Sundae, choosing two scoops of ice cream, chocolate or vanilla (or both), assorted tasty toppings like rainbow and chocolate sprinkles, caramel sauce or chocolate syrup and maraschino cherries.  An Ice Cream Float is another option; two scoops of ice cream, swimming in fizzy, bubbly Coca Cola.  A refreshingly tasty treat on a hot summer day!

The week’s Lunch offerings were varied and delicious, as usual.  We started the week with a Mexican Monday, Mexi-Beef Tacos with Cheese, salsa and sour cream.  Tuesday featured one of the more highly anticipated lunches of the summer, Sloppy Joes, prepared with lean ground turkey and served with sweet potato fries.  Hillard’s insanely popular Chicken O’s were served on Wednesday; most campers and counselors will admit to saying, “I’m just going to have one more.”  But everyone knows you can never just eat one more Chicken O! A Make Your Own Sandwich meal of assorted cold cuts, cheeses and french fries was on the Menu for Thursday, and we rounded out the week with warm and cheesy macaroni and cheese on Friday.  For the first time ever, South Campus Cookout was transformed into A Grilled Cheese Grill; rather than Hiilard Burgers and Hot Dogs, every group had the chance to partake of this special sandwich that has heretofore only been offered for dinner during Visiting Evenings.

Tribal Talent Shows are in full swing.  Tribes assemble during their Rest Periods, and campers show off their skills; the acts ran the gamut from karate chops and arm farts to hula hooping and rope jumping, to singing and acting and joke telling!  Hillard campers are a pretty talented bunch!

This week also featured another Tribal Color Day on Friday.  This time around, campers and counselors added some colorful flair to their Tribal Color Shirt; the INA girls sported some red face and body paint, many of the Huron Girls were bejeweled with pink beads and headbands, Chickasaw girls added yellow knee socks and tutus, and the Huron Boys rocked some cool blue hair and wrist bands.  Campers and Counselors assembled on the Main Field, which was awash in a sea of Tribal Colors,  for our first All-Camp Assembly and an All-Camp Photo.  Such a fun and colorful start to another great Friday at Camp Hillard!

As we near the end of the sixth week of camp, almost every Tribe in Camp has experienced either a Visiting Day or a Visiting Evening.  Campers look forward to these very special days when moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas come to watch them swim, play sports and perform songs or put on a show at theater, while also finally getting to meet the counselors who have been essential in making every camper’s summer fun and successful.

The Pawnees and the Chickasaw Boys and Girls had their Visiting Mornings early in the summer; for many of our youngest campers, Camp may be their first full-day group experience, and moms and dads are eager to meet the counselors and see their little ones in action!  This year, the Pawnees and the Chickasaws showcased their developing athletic skills at a Sports Skills Showcase on the Main Field, participating in a mini-obstacle course which included shooting hoops, kicking a soccer ball and scoring a goal at field hockey.  On the musical side of things, they performed a few special songs that they had been perfecting for the first few weeks of the summer, including What a Wonderful World and the Camp Hillard song.

The Visiting Day programs for Hurons and older are a little more intense; in addition to participating in sports and swimming, campers perform a Broadway style show on the big stage.  This summer, the Huron Boys and Girls hit the stage for the very first time, performing Take Me Out to the Ballgame and The Sound of Music!

Visiting Day for the Cheyenne Boys and Girls included baseball and softball and swimming at South Campus Pool Complex, which always includes a ride down The Great Green River!  The Boys traveled to the Arabian city of Agrabah and met a magical genie in their production of the Disney classic, Aladdin and the Girls were transported to the snowy realm of Arendelle for their production of Frozen!

Comanches and older are always excited by the prospect of a Visiting Evening.  These Tribes get to remain at Camp after every other camper has gotten on their bus and headed home!  Dinner is served at South Campus and campers and counselors gear up for an exciting evening!  The Comanche Boys and Girls showed off their athletic prowess during games of basketball and soccer, respectively, after which the boys hit the stage to perform a new show to Camp Hillard, The Blues Brothers, while the girls entered the story book world of the Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast.

Visiting Evenings for Senior Camp take place towards the end of the summer; campers spend six to seven weeks rehearsing for some very exciting shows; the Cherokee and Navajo girls in Pitch Perfect, the Cherokee Boys Theater Club’s rendition of The Blues Brothers, and The Really Big Show during the final week of Camp.  This year, A-I Boys and Girls will be cutting loose in their spirited production of Footloose.

Next week, the fun continues!  More Talent Shows and S’mores roasts, in addition to the Junior Camp Swim Luau and the Middle and Senior Camp Crazy Dive Contests.  Thursday is Favorite School/Sports Team Day; everyone is looking forward to getting all decked out and representing their favorite!

For more details specific to your child’s group, please read our Weekly Tribal Newsletters which are found in the Enrolled Camp Families section of our website.

The second week of Camp was a great week of Camp!

The week started off with our Senior Camp Challenge opening ceremonies.  Cherokees and INA’s were divided into teams of Green and Gray, with everyone receiving a special t-shirt.

On Monday and Tuesday, we had our annual lollipop hunt, divided by Division.  Over the long holiday weekend, fireworks went off above the Upper Field, dropping lollipop seeds everywhere.  When we arrived on Monday morning, junior campers discovered that lollipops had sprouted and we needed to collect them so we could play ball again! Freshly picked lollipops always taste the best!!!!  On Tuesday, middle and senior campers enjoyed their Lollipop Hunt, with as slightly different twist.  Campers collected and sorted the lollipops into colors, receiving points for the most pops collected.  Congratulations to the Cheyenne D boys, Cheyenne A girls, Comanche D  boys, Comanche B girls, Cherokee C boys, Cherokee C girls, Navajo Girls and Iroquois Boys for being the best lollipop pickers in camp.  As a reward they will each receive a super yummy S’mores Roast!!!!

On Tuesday, July 8^th, all our 2nd year campers received the traditional Camp Hillard banner, and on Wednesday, July 9^th,   3rd and 4th year campers received their specially designed and highly coveted t-shirts!  On Wednesday, campers and counselors sported the traditional white Camp Hillard shirt and their best and brightest smile for their Group Pictures.

 Marshmallow Roasts began with the INA and the Chickasaw and Huron girls this past Wednesday.  It was a very messy, but delicious affair.  The Chickasaws followed suit on Thursday and they really showed us how to really get messy!!!!!

On Friday we started our summer tradition of Music at the Pools during the afternoon free swims.

It has been an amazing first two weeks of camp fun, but we still have lots of special events to look forward to. 5th year campers can get psyched for their Ice Cream Party on Monday; the boats are out of dry dock and are being shined and polished for Junior Camp Boat Rides and Middle and Senior Camp Boat Races ; the INA Boys are heading out to the ballgame on Tuesday, for a Rockland Boulders Minor League game; preparations are already in high gear for our Festival of Fun and our second Tribal Color Day on Wednesday; the Cherokee boys are gearing up for their Visiting Evening on Wednesday; and 6th year and more campers will enjoy a bountiful breakfast buffet and a special gift on Thursday!  All of this in addition to more marshmallow roasts, ice cream parties and more….Phewww!  What an exciting week coming up!

See you Monday!!

Camp Hillard’s 87^th Summer Season kicked off on Monday, June 29th.  After a very long, cold and snowy winter, campers and counselors and parents were thrilled that Opening Day was finally upon us!

On Opening Day, campers and counselors got to know one another.  As groups got off the bus, they were brought to their respective Tribal meeting areas where campers were introduced to one another and counselors met their campers. Counselors and campers got to know each other’s names by playing all different types of games. After putting things away in our bunks, we had a great first day of activities including our first swim.  Camp Hillard’s famous pizza was on the menu for all campers, and the end of day refreshment, a Twin-Pop, was truly delicious!

The rest of Week 1 was also highlighted by:

• Campers being assigned to their swim instruction groups.
• Exciting sports instruction and games.
• Many groups had their first arts and/or other specialty activities.
• Tuesday was our first Tribal Color Day.  Camp was awash in a sea of colors as campers and counselors alike were decked out in their special colored t-shirt.
• Our Independence Day celebration on Thursday was highlighted by an exciting Independence Day parade, an all-camp cookout, special refreshments, and other special activities throughout the day.

Next week will be another fun filled week of excitement.  In addition to all the fun of the regular schedule, we will also have the following special events:

• The Junior Camp Lollipop Hunt will take place on Monday, as will the Senior Camp Challenge Opening Ceremonies for Cherokees and INAs.
• The Middle and Senior Camp Lollipop Scavenger Hunt takes place on Tuesday.
• 2^nd Year Campers will receive their Camp Hillard banners on Tuesday, and our 3^rd and 4^th Year Campers will receive their special T-shirts on Wednesday.
• Wednesday is our Camp Pictures day.  All groups will have their group picture taken.  We ask that all campers where their white Camp Hillard T with the green logo.
• Wednesday is also a special evening for our INA Boys and Girls!
• Some tribes are also scheduled for their Marshmallow Roasts.
• On Thursday, the Apache, Iroquois and the CIT’s will visit Playland Amusement Park in Rye.

For more details specific to your child’s group, please read our Weekly Tribal Newsletters which are found in the Enrolled Camp Families section of our website.

We hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend!  We can’t wait to see everyone on Monday!