July 13, 2009 It is hard to believe that we are already at our last day in camp for first session! Trillium and Clintonia returned from their trips on Lobster Lake and the West Branch of the Penobscot on Saturday. Yesterday we welcomed back Trout Lily (our hikers who were out on the Appalachian Trail), Penobscot Whitewater Kayakers, and the Allagash Canoe girls. The buzz in the dining hall last night was amazing. All faces were aglow and voices filled the room sharing stories, laughter, and song. We ended the evening with an incredibly fun filled campfire down at our waterfront. Each yurt group shared a bit of their three-week experience with the larger community. Individuals got up to share poems, stories, silly skits, rap songs, and reflections. Today we woke up to another day of sunshine! The air is crisp and the sky is clear. A perfect day to collectively celebrate the accomplishments of all. Campers are cleaning up their yurts, packing their things, and helping to clean up the campus. We are gearing up for a delicious warm meal at lunch of vegetable lasagna and fresh salad greens. After lunch we will head down to our waterfront for individual recognitions. This is done by each leader, they have put together certificates for each girl sharing highlights from their journey together. We will wrap up the day with an outdoor grill, closing campfire, and a slideshow, sharing images from the all adventures had by all. We will be on the road early Tuesday morning, hoping to arrive in Wiscasset ahead of our 2pm pick up time. I look forward to seeing the faces of parents and daughters reuniting! Thank you all for your trust in our program. It has been a wonderful start of the summer getting to know them and watch each one of them take risks, try new things, laugh, create friendships, and simply be. Best, Genell Vashro