Camp ROGA transformed into a headquarters for heroes this week as campers suited up for Superhero Week! From designing their own secret identities to swinging through the gym like comic book legends, every day was packed with action and imagination galore. Whether they were battling villains, cooling off with an Aquaman-inspired Water Day, or enjoying hero-worthy snacks, our campers proved they had everything it takes to save the day.
Before our superheroes could don their capes, power up, and set off to kick some supervillain butt, they needed something to protect their secret identities. Every good superhero needs a mask to keep supervillains off their tails, but a great superhero mask also shows off the hero’s powers and personality to everyone who sees them. Knowing this, campers infused every one of their masks with a little bit of their spirit, taking great care to draw exact lines or circles, or putting a bold marker stroke through the mask, or just dosing the whole thing in glitter. Regardless of whatever design choices they made, it was clear by the end who’s mask belonged to who, even without reading the name on the back (especially if their hands were covered in glitter). The mask wasn’t the only part of their superhero arsenal, though. In order to give themselves more defensive power, campers each designed a shield for their personal use. Much like with masks, campers went about making the shields their own with gusto, more glitter and markers, plus some colored tape for some extra reinforcement. But what made the shields really special was that once they were paired with the masks, the campers turned heroes were ready to go fight some crime, their shields put to the test by waves of foam swords chopping down in the grips of some dastardly villains.
Once they were defeated, though, the heroes found themselves ambushed by reporters, their pictures set to run through the daily news the next day! Luckily, the campers had some friends (or maybe just their alter egos) on the news team who helped them spruce up their pictures for the media. On Wednesday, campers got to decorate their own picture frames, in which they proudly displayed themselves in the midst of their heroic activities, each frame a personal front page for every camper. On our final day in camp, we decided to give campers one more gadget, one that could see them soaring through the air like any other flying superhero: a kite. On to this magical device, you could attach just about anything: a camera for sneaky spying on villains’ evil plans, an encoded message sent to your fellow heroes, or just your picture of you in superhero gear flying off to save the day.
In the gym, campers got a chance to soar through the air just like their favorite heroes. Weaving through New York City on the ninja rings, campers ducked beneath bridges and swung between skyscrapers as they chased down the Green Goblin. The rings made the perfect substitutes for web swinging, the motions virtually identical. This meant a villain was apprehended and physical endurance was trained in the same fell swoop. Taking a break from the rooftops, campers crept across narrow rooftops atop the beam, mimicking the caped crusader as they slinked through the gym, on the lookout for any suspicious activity. And when they found nefarious ill-doers, the campers sprang into action. Some opted for a graceful glide through the air, reminiscent of Superman over Metropolis, whereas some just hit the ground hard in a big Hulk smash. Regardless, our coach/villian stand ins were certainly feeling the hurt.
Even superheroes need to refuel occasionally, and the ROGA Snack Development department had them covered. After a long day crafting, fighting crime, and doing gymnastics, we thought it best to offer some healthy food to get them back up to crime-fighting shape. Strawberries, blueberries, and a couple of marshmallows made up our Captain America fruit shield, with plenty of healthy fruits and some sweets to make a nutritious midday snack for each and every masked menace. One Tuesday, we partnered with Wayne Enterprises to produce some superhero rice crispy bars, each stamped with the logo of a prominent superhero. And finally, we opted for some superhero fruit snacks to power up some muscles and laser beam colored popcorn for a little bit of extra punch.
Water Day made a splash as campers traded the gym for the kingdom of Atlantis, where everyone had the chance to channel their inner Aquaman. With a pool noodle trident in one hand and a water balloon in another, campers charged in to defend Atlantis from Black Manta and save the fish kingdom once and for all! With Aquaman’s call ringing through the air, campers slid over the slip-and-slides with dolphins swimming alongside them, both heading the call of the king of the ocean. The crash of the ocean waves sounded overhead as sprinklers threw down waves of water on all sides, and campers stepped through a secret sprinkler waterfall to find a hidden underwater cave of treasure (more water balloons to throw at their friends). If Aquaman had stopped by to visit Camp ROGA, we’re sure he would have felt right at home.
As Superhero Week came to a close, our heroes hung up their capes after another unforgettable adventure at Camp ROGA. Creative crafts, action-packed gymnastics, tasty snacks, and an afternoon spent defending Atlantis meant that there was never a dull moment. We loved seeing every camper bring their own unique hero to life, and we can’t wait to see everyone back for another week filled with new activities and even more fun!