News & Events

News & Events

Day 5 of M/E - Aug. 28th 2009
by Sara

Dear Manitou Experience Families,

Our campers are settling in for their last night at camp. We have seen each of them grow this week in ways we couldn't imagine and it was wonderful to see how they opened up to us and each other throughout their time here. Today was the last loop of instructionals and bunk activities, completing a wide variety of sports and projects for every camper. This afternoon we had the X-Games for College League, bringing the scores within very close range. It looks like it will come down to the final event tomorrow to determine which team will win.

This evening we had our banquet dinner, a slightly more formal occasion to celebrate the last night of camp. Campers were invited to light a candle in memory or for a wish before walking through our traditional Manitou crest, made from wood shavings. The story goes that if you get some of the shavings in your shoes, then you will return to Manitou. We hope that all of our campers will be able to return next year and help carry on the old and new traditions that we've seen this week. After dinner, we went to our neighboring performing arts camp, Acting Manitou, for a performance of Arabian Nights. But that was nothing compared to the ice cream social that followed. You would have thought these guys hadn't seen girls in a month! Finally, we returned back to camp for Manitou Movies, a video and slideshow recap of our week at camp.

Tomorrow we'll be busy packing, finishing college league and getting your boys back to you! We have so enjoyed our time with them and nobody can believe it's over already. We hope they can all return next year and attend some of the winter reunions we'll be planning. Until then, thank you again for trusting us and allowing us to share these wonderful days with them.

Best Regards,
Sara