The Olympic torch made its way to Camp ROGA this week as campers spent the week competing in their very own ROGA Olympics! Gymnastics events were only one aspect of the Rogalympics, though, as we made sure to include a little of every event in the Olympics at camp this week, from beachball to bobsleighing, and we even made time for a little snack and craft as well. Even the rainy weather couldn’t dampen the excitement, as campers took their marks at the starting lines and raced off into another week jam-packed with fun.
Every four years, the world’s greatest gymnasts gather to compete for Olympic gold, but this week Camp ROGA welcomed a hundred or so future contenders of its own. With the Olympic torch burning bright over Camp ROGA, campers stepped onto the competition floor, the roar of an imaginary crowd (and the massive amount of rain this week) thundering all around them. Despite the awful weather, the spirit of the Summer Games came alive in the gym this week as each of the campers competed for medals in every gymnastics event the Olympics had to offer. While normally on an Olympic stage it would be the whole world watching, in this case it was only their fellow campers and coaches cheering them on and encouraging them to greater heights. Regardless of the size of the crowd, every camper gave it their all on every event, from the vault to the beams, to the floor, to the bars, and when it was all over, every camper had earned that golden medal hanging around their necks (which they had made on the last day of camp, of course).
Every Olympian knows that great performances deserve great rewards, so our campers spent the week creating everything they needed for a proper celebration of the Games. To begin, each athlete designed their very own gold medal, cutting and decorating construction paper medals worthy of hanging around the neck of a champion after a hard-fought competition. Of course, no victory ceremony is complete without a little Olympic flair, so campers also crafted their own torches in two unique styles. For the first torch, we thought we might stick with the old school flames(tissue paper) and wood, though our wood was sliced a few more times than usual (into paper). For the second, since the weather was so bad this week, we thought it best to make sure the torches didn’t go out as their bearers were sprinting to light the Olympic flame, and we made them waterproof. Pool noodles and ribbons typically don’t light on fire, but they do provide a colorful symbol for campers to wave around, which we know will never go out. Between opening ceremonies and medal presentations, campers also designed bead necklaces and bracelets in their favorite colors, stringing together keepsakes to remember a week full of friendly competition.
Every Olympian knows that training for the Games works up an appetite, so our athletes gathered each day for a lineup of snacks worthy of the winners’ circle. To keep the Olympic spirit burning bright, campers were served ice cream cones filled with Cheetos. The celebration continued with Rice Krispie treats decorated with colorful M&M’s to resemble Olympic rings. Medal ceremonies wouldn’t feel complete without something to wear, so campers earned edible medals made from fruit roll-ups and vanilla wafers, but campers found it hard to rest on their laurels when those laurels were already in their stomachs. Thankfully, we also had some craft medals to make sure our campers went home with something more than a full belly. To finish things off, a red, white, and blue trail mix brought a patriotic touch to snack time, giving campers one last boost of energy before returning to the day’s events.
After the gymnastics arena emptied for the day, the Olympic Games marched outdoors for a series of splash-filled aquatic events. Rowing is a time-honored part of the Olympics, though it is one that usually requires some boats. Not to be deterred from the lack of boats or proper oars, though the campers made do with some bodyboards, some pool noodles, and a little imagination to turn the slip and slide into a river. Also on the slip and slide, the Summer games turned to the Winter ones. Not content to row gracefully down an imaginary river, some campers hit the slides running using their bodyboards as toboggans and the slip and slide as an ice track. Not far away, the water polo stadium was filled with crossfire as campers launched soft balls toward moving targets, though the targets seemed unusually keen to not be hit this time around. Even the beach volleyball venue found its place in the Games, though there was less of a net and a court and more like an agenda to make sure the beach ball never hit the ground. Between events, competitors cooled off beneath sprinklers and relaxed in the kiddie pools or dried off in the dry area before returning to another fun set of games. Campers ensured that the Roga Olympic highlight reel was absolutely chock-full of memories and photos, some of which you can find here, and more of which are available all over our Facebook.
As the closing ceremony came to an end, every camper headed home an Olympian in their own right. The campers’ start to their gymnastics careers was surely deserving of a medal, but their skills in craft and play were certainly rivals for attention as well. Whatever they did, they did with gusto and spirit, and we know that whatever their future endeavors are will be fuelled with that same energy. We loved cheering on all of our athletes and can’t wait to see what adventures await at Camp ROGA next week!