This week at Camp ROGA, the magic shone brighter than ever as campers stepped into a world of wonder, imagination, and adventure during Disney Magic week! From stepping into the shoes of beloved heroes to singing along with favorite characters, every day was filled with fairy-tale fun, big dreams, and happily-ever-afters in the making. With creativity, courage, and a sprinkle of pixie dust, our campers brought Disney stories to life, proving that the magic of Disney isn’t just on the screen; it’s alive in the memories we create together.

With all the magic flying around in the air, the campers were ready to soar, but before they did, they had to make sure to stop in for some pixie dust to keep themselves afloat!  Campers carefully mixed different colored glitter, layering each hue into tiny stoppered bottles that sparkled like treasures straight from Tinker Bell’s satchel. The room buzzed with imagination as tiny stoppered bottles filled with rainbow magic took shape, each one a spellbinding keepsake of the week. Campers had a variety of different ideas about how they wanted their pixie dist to look. Some went with all cool colors, the deepest blues and purples swirling together like frozen glaciers, seeming to glitter with the light of Elsa’s magic. Others decided to warm things up with colors like red, orange, and yellow blended, lighting the campers’ way with the glow from Rapunzel’s lanterns (from the Tangled movie). Once the stoppers were sealed, the real fun began, as campers took turns shaking their bottles silly, grinning as if they had just bottled up a little bit of Neverland. 

Pixie dust wasn’t the only thing sending campers up, up, and away. Campers also got to experience what 1000 balloons together were capable of while painting the famous flying house from Up! In this activity, campers were given a base picture with the Up house on it and then were let loose to create as they willed. Balloons of all different shapes and sizes were made, and some students decided to redesign the whole picture with a painting of whatever struck their fancy in the moment.

Of course, no pixie dust would be complete without testing its magic! With bottles tucked safely away, campers sprinkled a little “imaginary sparkle” over themselves before heading to the gym floor. Suddenly, leaps felt higher, flips felt lighter, and balance beams became runways for flight. Campers practiced soaring jumps, graceful arabesques, and daring dismounts with newfound confidence, believing that just like Peter Pan, they too could lift off with a little pixie dust. And Neverland was not the only place that the campers visited. When they approached the vault, they found themselves within Toy Story as a Space Ranger Captain, ready to go up, up, and away right alongside Buzz Lightyear. When they twirled on the beam, they found themselves spun into a ballroom dance, right alongside Bell and a thousand lively pieces of furniture. Even the tiny and insignificant moments saw each camper fall into a story all their own, with magic truly in the air.  

To populate the kingdoms of their imaginations, the campers had to create numerous little denizens to act alongside them within their land of dreams. To begin with something magical, each camper was given a troll to design and shape how they wanted. With colored construction paper, two-sided tape, and some yarn for their hair (or beards!), each camper brought a troll to life in their hands. Some had sparkling cloaks, others had silly hair that stood straight up, and a few had big, goofy grins and looked ready to roll down a hillside. One camper decided to make hers an old and wizened grandfather troll and slapped her two-sided tape and yarn across the top of the troll’s lip, giving him a big bushy mustache and beard. As the trolls took shape, they began to look more and more like characters ready to leap into a storybook adventure. Some were given names and special powers, while others were decorated to be the jokesters or caretakers of the group. By the end, a whole tribe of trolls had gathered, each one as unique and magical as the camper who created it.  

Out on Camp ROGA’s lawn, the magic of Arendelle came to life with a round of Frozen Freeze Tag! Campers ran like their lives depended on it while an “Elsa” dogged their every step. Each time she caught someone, they froze in place like statues of ice, arms outstretched, legs curled mid-leap, or caught in the middle of an embarrassing dodge. Not all was lost, though! A quick tap from an “Anna,” or friend, set frozen campers free again, sending them back into the game. Imagining some ice while caught in a hot summer day was nice, but all the playing also made for some hungry work.

Luckily, snack time was never far away, and Camp ROGA made sure that even our mid-day treats carried a touch of Disney magic. Each snack was not only delicious, but fun, colorful, and sometimes even a little sneaky in how it got campers to love their veggies! Here’s a taste of the magic from the week:

Bugs Life celery: Crunchy celery sticks became tiny leaf bridges, topped with pretzels, and “bugs” scurrying across. Paired with ranch for dipping, this snack won over even the pickiest eaters, because who could resist joining in on the fun of a Bug’s Life adventure?

Ariel’s Fish Friends: After a high-energy round of Frozen freeze tag, campers dove into bowls of Goldfish crackers and Cheetos. A salty, crunchy combo (with plenty of water to wash it down!) gave everyone a little “under the sea” refresh.

Orange Pumpkin carriages: Whole oranges with celery “stems” transformed into tiny pumpkin carriages, straight out of Cinderella’s storybook. Sweet, juicy, and crisp all at once, this snack was a fairytale favorite and a fun experiment in flavor.   

Mickey Mouse berries: Bright strawberries, fluffy whipped cream, and plump blueberries came together in a classic Mickey-inspired treat. Refreshing and sweet, it was one of the most popular snacks of the week, and a picture-perfect ending to a magical day.

For our last day at camp, campers headed under da sea and into a magical underwater world of mermaids and talking fish. Even the simplest splashes became magical, as campers tossed water in arcs like fountains of sparkling sea magic. Campers scrambled between water bins, collecting a variety of water balloons and cups to add to their personal collections. An orchestra of sounds played at all times; the cheers and laughter of the campers rang out in every moment. And once it was time to grow human legs again, campers left the sea with an ocean of fond memories.

With their week of magic complete and challenges conquered, our campers stepped out of their enchanted adventures, tired, proud, and carrying a little extra sparkle in their hearts. Though this fairy-tale chapter has closed, the story of summer isn’t over just yet. Next week, Camp ROGA opens its doors one final time for the Summer of 2025, inviting campers to journey through time itself. In Time Travelers Week, imaginations will soar across centuries, laughter will echo through history, and every camper will get the chance to become the hero of their own epic adventure.