Super Seniors Rising

The Super Seniors arrived in Denver this past Wednesday in grand fashion. Compliments came from far and wide, the lady at the flight check-in counter, multiple passengers on the airplane, and our first night's hotel manager. Well done - this would be the first of many times this group would rise to the occasion and impress so many. 

Thursday, we journeyed to Grand Junction. As we headed West, we gazed out the window as the breath-taking scenery continuously awed  us with each passing mile. Upon arriving, we took on the task of rock-climbing and rappelling at some unparalleled sites. Deep along the Unaweep Canyon, multiple ascents were setup for us by our top-notch guides. Each Super Senior challenged themselves on various levels and the guides were so impressed they added a couple additional paths for the group to enjoy!

                                                                                                                                     At the other site, Colorado National Monument, the group had the chance to experience a few different elements. A rappel, canyoneering features, scrambling, various squeezes, additional climbing, and more at this location was a quite remarkable day! "Best day of my life" per one Super Senior. Again the rock climbing guides were throurughly impressed, but better yet the Super Seniors impressed themselves with not only how much they enjoyed the challenging activities, but how well they completed them. Super Seniors were rising.

How do you compete with rock climbing? Let's try whitewater rafting through Westwater Canyon on Level 4 rapids at a premium time with perfect conditions! Throw in epic water battles on the raft, amazingly delicious meals cooked up by our river guides, camping under the stars along an unimaginable canyon wall with rapids as background music, songs and stories, exploring and relaxing, and you get an experience no one will forget. Wow. Super Seniors rode the rapids, including a particularly wet one called Sock-it-to-me. It lived up to its name for sure...and the Super Seniors continued to rise as well.

Now, let's go biking!

24 Hours of a Lifetime

      The words of Ellis Jones, Super Senior:

          My experience visiting Morry's Camp was incredibly enlightening. After swimming and running laps for six years, finally being able to see where the money goes was a very enticing idea. And it was exactly and the exact opposite of what I had expected. First off the unbelievably welcoming and warm feel of the camp threw me for a loop. Whether it was a "Hello Southwoods!!" while walking through the soccer field, a friendly wave while touring the camp or even just a simple dance battle during dinner when the Super Senior Boys showed off an intense display of Baritone in a spectacular rendition of Billy Joel's "For the Longest Time". Everyone welcomed us with open arms and never before at a visiting camp have I felt so at home.

           Secondly at Morry's there is an incredible sense of community. Everybody knows everyone, everyone helps everyone, and most importantly everyone includes everyone. It is a real home to everyone there and everyone is grateful for it. Also I noticed a wide sense of diversity at Morry's between both the counselors and campers. There are people from different backgrounds and different places all with a desire to enjoy the camp experience.

             
   However it also had many things that I had anticipated such as basketball, a lake, fun counselors and passionate campers. The BBQ dinner was delicious and the campfire that followed had all the makings of a Southwoods party; fun songs, warm smores, and a safe distance between boys and girls. I also loved how Morrys offered learning options to its campers and offered the resources to learn that many of them don't have at home.

           Lastly, and most importantly my visit to Morry's reignited my love for camp. To the kids there its more than just a place to spend the summer, its a place to grow, to learn, to break out of your shell and to most valuably of all call home. As someone who has been given this gift for now seven years its easy to forget how valuable it truly is and how much the camp experience changes you. But it was these kids that simply loved that they get to go to camp that reminded me how much my seven years of camp helped me become the kid I am today.

Top Thrills All Day Everyday

     Early morning run? Questionable. Early morning run along the trails of Niagara Falls? Most Definitely! A large group started off our second day with a jog, it soon picked up speed aboard the Whirlpool jetboats! Dunk tank tsunami describes our morning fun the best as we conquered Class 5 rapids multiple times. All aboard the vans for our next destination...OHIO!

The van rides have been quite a whole other experience upon themselves so far. We've had singing video battles between the vans, jam sessions, the now infamous license plate scavenger hunt, hysterical improv games, and sooooo much more! Often we hear statements such as, "We're there already?", "Before a 3 hour ride was painful, now it's so much fun and is nothing!", "The van rides have been far better than expected!" We can guarantee many more memories are to be had in van rides ahead.

Ohio brought us thrills of gigantic proportions. Riding a 420 foot, 120 mph roller coaster at one moment, winning oversized animals from the midway games another, and visiting the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame on July Fourth the next. It has been non stop and we're just getting started. As one Super Senior put it - "The first five days of the trip have been amazing. Possibly the most fun I have ever had!"

The Mist - The Deluge - The Canadian Surprise

      And we're off! Super Seniors 2014 assembled on Sunday upon arrival at camp and never looked back. What a way to start off the summer on Monday than enjoying Early Morning Ski followed by the Giant Swing. We continued to swing into summer in style with an evening excursion to Lake George. The stories and laughter at dinner spilled over into the multi-floor Laser Tag battle and the wild Go-Kart tracks. The excitement for the next day's departure to Niagara was palpable, the energy was high, it wasn't contagious because everyone was already infected with Super Senior Syndrome.

     One of the 8 Wonders of the World lived up to the hype, and the timing of our trip turned out to reap huge results. We treated the epidemic of Super Senior Syndrome with a cool down in none other than the Niagara Falls themselves. Riding the Maid of the Mist we powered our way against the current, witnessed rainbows rise and fall amongst the waterfalls and succumbed to the mist itself. Off the boat and up the stairs into the deluge as the strong winds swept the falls into us as we struggled both to maintain balance and soak up the beauty that was pelting us. This phenomenal experience just increased the symptoms of the syndrome...too much fun!

 

      After dinner the group strolled down to the Falls once more as they were lit up at night. We heard the roar of the river as it rushed over the cliffs. Amazing as it was, we were in for a surprise. It was Canada Day, so our friends over the border decided to put on a show for us as we arrived on our night walk. The fireworks were unreal and put a perfect cap on the first day of Trip One. Wow.