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!

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!