The sun was shining, the waves were calling, and Camp ROGA was ready for a week of seaside fun during Beach Bash Week! From sandy crafts and ocean-inspired snacks to exciting gymnastics adventures and a splash-filled Water Day, campers spent the week soaking up everything they love about summer. Grab your sunglasses and join us as we look back at another unforgettable week at Camp ROGA!
One of the best parts of going to the beach is playing in the sand by the water. Sure, the water is nice and cool, but in the sand, you can make anything that your creativity can dream of, so we decided to give campers a little taste of that. The first craft on the agenda made great use of sand and creativity, both with some sticky sand art. Each camper got a sticky sheet covered with foam strips and a few vials of sand. Whenever they wanted to add some sand to their art, they would tear off a strip of foam and pour the sand over it, making colorful sandy pictures. And while the castles might be 2d, they sure weren’t any less fun to put together! After putting together their sandy fortresses, campers decided they needed ocean denizens to populate their halls. However, in order to catch them, they first needed some heavy-duty fishing rods. Constructed from popsicle sticks and clothespins, these fishing rods were custom-made by the beach-going campers to catch all the deep-sea critters they could get their hooks on! When it finally came time to cast, however, the first thing to get caught was not a fish, but a crab! These little critters, made from putty and pipe cleaners, were more than happy to take a trip to the campers’ castles, each of them giving their camper a little happy wave and a hello on the way. And finally, with all the fun they had at the beach, each camper was sad to see it go, so we made sure to send them home with a little piece of it. Each camper returned home with an aquarium made from colored water, glitter, and fish toys, each one a reminder of an awesome time spent at the beach.
With the sun shining on Beach Bash week, campers spent their days surfing from one gymnastics event to the next, making waves with every routine, floating through the air like they were underwater with each jump. The gym was filled with the energy of summer as campers practiced new skills while enjoying a week inspired by sandy shores and seaside adventures. At the bars, campers got into the rhythm of rolling ocean waves, practicing pull-overs, casts, and controlled dismounts, each sway and rotation reminiscent of cresting waves; and when they finally careened up and over the bar, they came down with the crash of a mighty wave against the side of a shore. The balance beam this week was a weather pier the campers had to navigate across, the sunny weather turning into a storm that threatened to throw them into turbulent weaves, every step fighting against the winds (but more so their own balance). And when the weather finally returned to a wild ocean breeze, campers celebrated by taking a dip in the (sea) foam of the pit and enjoying the soft landing.
After a full day of gymnastics and soaking up the fun of Beach Bash week, campers were always ready to recharge with a lineup of delicious beach-inspired snacks. But while they were taking a rest, they were not taking a rest on the beach. To start their snacks off, campers took a load off at the beach, munching on dunes made of graham cracker dust and jello. And while it is true you are not supposed to play with your food, who can pass up on building an edible sandcastle to chow down on later? Next, since they were by the sea, campers decided to go for some deep-sea fishing. But, though the ocean is surely bountiful, these gold fish fishing cups are ridiculous! Every cast saw a handful (or two!) of goldfish climb up the fish line into a waiting mouth; if only all our fishing trips could catch so many fish! And since the campers were out on the ocean, how could they pass up on a trip beneath the waves? Deep down under da sea, campers spotted another tasty snack, one that was sure to give them plenty of vitamin C. Crawling along the ocean floor were a score of Crab Oranges, each leg a slice of delicious fruit with a center topped with a cheese hat to make the fruity crustaceans a little fashionable. While the campers were down picking their fruit crabs, they also got a chance to sample the salty seafloor. Rocks of bugle chips and cheese puffs, and seaweed made from veggie straws made for a nice salty snack to end off the week of beachy culinary deliciousness.
Beach Bash week wouldn’t have been complete without a day spent cooling off in the sun, and Water Day delivered all the excitement of a perfect summer trip to the shore. Plenty of wet shenanigans abounded, “beach balls” filled with water chief among them. The crash of waves came upon Camp ROGA’s shores with every dive across the slip and slides, causing a wave of water to come and splash the little beach goers, surfboards skidding over the makeshift blue wave in the center of the lawn. The kiddie pools and splash pads served as relaxing beach lagoons where campers could cool off between adventures and prepare for the next round of watery fun. And when the surprise splashes here and there became too much, campers could head over to the beachfront area to relax on some towels and enjoy the sun high in the sky, a truly fitting way to end the campers’ adventures on the beach.
As Beach Bash week came to an end, campers headed home with sandy souvenirs, new gymnastics accomplishments, and plenty of sunny memories to share with their families. Enjoying every moment in the gym, in the craft room, and out on the makeshift beachfront, it was a week filled with laughter and summer fun. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back for another exciting Camp ROGA adventure next week!