Imagine if Hogwarts had a day camp for aspiring young wizards. That thought wasn’t too far a stretch one afternoon this past summer at Horizons. It was “choice” period at Horizons, the only non-residential camp of The Aloha Foundation. On a broad grassy playing field, Chipmunks to Falcons — campers ranging in age from kindergarten graduates to nearly-out-of-middle-schoolers — were preparing for an important match. They wriggled into green or yellow pinneys and chose carefully among a pile of brightly colored swim noodles. Some of the children taped big letters — B, C, K — to their pinneys. At the ends of the playing field, three tall wooden stakes held hula hoops aloft — yellow, pale green, and, higher than the other two, pink. Together, the stakes and the upended hoops looked like enormous bubble wands — but were actually goals for the quaffle. The lettered pinneys stood for Bludgers, Chasers and Keepers. And the field was set for an all-out, campers against counselors, game of Quidditch. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘camps’
How wizards spend a hot summer’s day at Horizons Day Camp
Monday, December 12th, 2011The Nature Principle Applies at the Camps & Programs of The Aloha Foundation
Saturday, May 7th, 2011
Children gain immense self-esteem conquering challenges outdoors
Richard Louv is back, and this time, he’s telling us that not only should children be spending more time in the woods, but that his advice goes for plugged-in adults too. That means you, reading this post on your laptop, and for me as well, writing inside on a beautiful spring day in Vermont. The bestselling author of 2005′s Last Child in the Woods has written The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder, which will be in bookstores on May 10th. Like his previous book, The Nature Principle is likely to make a big splash in the media, and in our collective consciousness, as Louv argues that the success of future generations will belong not to people who focus solely on technology and the digital world, nor to those who eschew the progress made by technological advances and improvements, but to those who Louv would claim, have a “hybrid mind,” able to enjoy and harness the powers of both worlds. (more…)
Aloha Foundation Cook Teams Reach Out Through Community Dinners
Friday, May 21st, 2010
Several times a year, staff members from The Aloha Foundation’s office converge in a church kitchen in White River Junction, VT to prepare and serve dinner to hungry members of the Upper Valley region of VT and NH. From Executive Director Jim Zien, Lanakila Director Barnes Boffey, Aloha Hive counselors and Development Department members Marisa Miller and Laura Gillespie, everyone pitches in when it comes to serving a Listen Center Community Dinner. Five nights a week, local cook teams serve meals to the community on behalf of Listen. The Aloha Foundation’s teams have been pitching in since 2008, and contribute to the approximately 20,000 meals served annually.
The Aloha Camps’ Director of Food Services, Phil Ameden supports the team, allowing them to order the raw ingredients through the camp kitchen purveyors, Burlington Food Service and Upper Valley Produce. Phil often pitches in to help prep some of the menu in the Hulbert Outdoor Center kitchen. On the appointed evening, eight to ten chefs arrive at the church to get roasting pans in the oven, finish peeling and chopping vegetables, make salad, plate desserts and pour beverages. (more…)
