Camp News
The most up-to-date information for each session of Camp Massasoit will be posted here.
Summer 2016
General Camp News
Theme Day
On the first Friday of each session campers have the opportunity to dress up according to a predetermined theme. The camp schedule for theme day follows the typical schedule; the only difference is the anticipation of campers dressed in a different wardrobe. We look forward to seeing your camper's creativity! Below are the themes for 2016.
- Session 4: When I grow up
All Camp Day
On the Tuesday of the second week of each session, the camp adjusts its programming to allow all the campers to come together as a large group in celebration of a common theme. This day is split in half with the morning programming typically allowing for a "carnival" type atmosphere. The afternoon portion is an "All Camp" swim followed by an option to purchase a frozen ice cream treat at the end of the day. Below are the themes for 2016.
- Session 4: Olympics
Family Fun Night
Thursday, Aug. 18, from 5-8 p.m. will be our third Family Fun Night of the summer! Letters went home to inform you about the evening events. We hope to see you all there.
Download the Family Fun Night form.
Day Camp Info
Zunis-Groups: 1-6
Monday 8/15
1,2,3-Have you ever made art with Bubbles?! Well, that’s the plan for campers in 4,5,6 today! They will make their own bubble wands and then have the opportunity to make bubble art with those wands! They will be able to come together to make one giant masterpiece that we think will look beautiful!
4,5,6- Prison Ball, Steal the Bacon, and Toilet tag are all games that I would certainly want to be playing while at camp! I don’t know who names these things, but I'm certainly sold on them! Campers will compete both as individuals and in teams to come out on top in each of these categories!
Wednesday 8/17
1,2,3- The most magical part of a backyard in summer time is all of the colorful birds and their beautiful singing that fills the air! Campers will be calling upon them today as they create and design their own bird feeders to bring home and hang in their yards!
4,5,6- How many times have you gotten to the bottom of the crayon box and just had a bunch of small broken crayons that would be really difficult to use and hold in your hand? Well today, we’re going to give those washed up crayons a purpose! With the help of counselors, campers will melt those crayons together, to create one large multi-colored crayon!
Thursday 8/18
1,2,3-How many times have you all watched Minute-to-Win-It and thought “Are you kidding me! I could totally do that in a minute!” Well, today campers will put that idea to the test and their test their abilities in a handful of Minute-To-Win-It games. Let’s see who will beat the clock and come out on top!
4,5,6- The squad in 4,5,6 will be having a poppin' time as they make things POP during their open block! They will be attaching balloons to their ankles and doing their best to not let anyone pop their balloons!
Friday 8/19
1,2,3-Today, campers will partake in a camp fire in which they will get to make smores and tell some campfire stories! They will also be receiving some small awards from their counselors, so be sure to ask them which one they received!
4,5,6- Today, campers will be partaking in classic camp games! They will also be receiving some small awards from their counselors, so be sure to ask them which one they received!
Hopis - Groups: 7-10
Monday 8/15
7,8-Being that Camp Massasoit is closely related to Springfield College, we take our Basketball very seriously. Campers will be playing Beanbag Basketball which is similar to normal basketball, but with a twist. It’s essentially the little game you play with yourself every time you have a kleenex or wrapper and attempt to knock it into the trash can. Will our campers make it in? Or will mom and dad come in yelling to have them pick up their trash?!
9,10- Rainsticks are probably the most calming thing on the face of the earth! You can waste countless hours moving them back and forth and listening to their beautiful sound. Today, campers will have the opportunity to make their very own rainsticks and hopefully use them as calming mechanisms when they’ve had a long and tiring day!
Wednesday 8/17
7,8-Snakes may very well be the most feared animals on the face of the planet! They slither and creep and lead to awful things if you get too close! Our campers are apparently not scared of snakes at all though because they will be creating the largest one of all time! ….Out of paper links of course! They will come together as a group to create the largest creature of all time!
9,10- TBD
Thursday 8/18
7,8- Today, campers will be builders or bulldozers, but don’t worry, no power tools will be in use here! Then, it’s Chicken Impossible time!! Campers will have the opportunity to test their group communication!
9,10- Today campers will be playing some games that have never been played at Camp Massasoit before! They are Orbit and Pass the Parcel! Both of these games require focus, energy, and fun! Come prepared!
Friday 8/19
7,8- Today, campers will be partaking in classic camp games! They will also be receiving some small awards from their counselors, so be sure to ask them which one they received!
9,10- Today, campers will be cooling off with some fun and exciting water balloon games! They will also be receiving some small awards from their counselors, so be sure to ask them which one they received!
Sagamores - Groups: 11-14
Monday 8/15
11,12-With the Olympics taking place this week, we thought it would be awesome for campers to create their very own flags that represent who they are and all that they stand for! We can’t wait to see the great ideas that these awesome campers will come up with!
13,14-Who has walked into a toy story and found themselves instantly entertained by a kaleidoscope?! All of its beautiful colors and shapes are mesmerizing to the human eye. Today, campers will have the opportunity to create their own kaleidoscopes and enjoy many shapes and colors!
Wednesday 8/17
11,12-Bowling is fun when we play it inside, while we’re dry, and have gross community shoes. But just think about how fun it is outside, with a waterslide, and a camper as the bowling ball! Campers will need to have their bathing suits ready because they’re human bowling today! They will slip and slide down to see who can knock over the most (soft) pins!
13,14-The best day of the school year is hands down, field day! You don't have to do any work and you can spend the whole day running around and having fun with your friends! They will have play field hockey, have a beach ball race, and a classic game of tug-of-war!
Thursday 8/18
11,12-The best day of the school year is hands down, field day! You don't have to do any work and you can spend the whole day running around and having fun with your friends! They will have play water balloon toss, have an egg spoon race, and bob for apples!
13,14-Today, campers will play both funky and wet team building games! They will have a cup stacking challenge, a unicorn ring toss, and a shoe bucket challenge in which they attempt to hold up a bucket of water with just their feet!
Friday 8/19
11,12- Today, campers will partake in a camp fire in which they will get to make smores and tell some campfire stories! They will also be receiving some small awards from their counselors, so be sure to ask them which one they received!
13,14- Today, campers will be creating some pretty awesome science experiments! They will be performing one experiment with toothpaste and looking at how it can foam up without being brushed against your teeth! They will also be receiving some small awards from their counselors, so be sure to ask them which one they received!
Sachems-Groups: 15-18
Wednesday 8/17
15,16-Prepare for your kids to come home smelling like after shave and early morning! Campers will spend the afternoon playing a classic game of wiffle ball, but with shaving cream!
17,18-Campers will play different improv games to get out of their everyday comfort zones and try something new! They will take on theatre as they use their imaginations to represent different people, and create places and concepts!
Thursday 8/18
15,16-Nature surrounds us every day at Camp Massasoit, however sometimes we forget to really look at all of the individual aspects of nature. Today, we will regain our appreciation for this earth and all that fills it as we head out on a nature scavenger hunt.
17,18- Today, campers will play a variation of an all-time favorite, Dodgeball! Dr. Dodgeball is the name of the game and competition is big in this one! Only once a member of the other team is out, can a member from your team return! I hope you don’t have anyone on your bad side!
Friday 8/19
15,16- Today, campers will play a variation of an all-time favorite, Dodgeball! Dr. Dodgeball is the name of the game and competition is big in this one! Only once a member of the other team is out, can a member from your team return! I hope you don’t have anyone on your bad side! They will also be receiving some small awards from their counselors, so be sure to ask them which one they received!
17,18- Today, campers will partake in a camp fire in which they will get to make smores and tell some campfire stories! They will also be receiving some small awards from their counselors, so be sure to ask them which one they received!
Voyager Info
This session the Voyager campers will be focusing on developing a variety of skills which will occur through on and off site trips. Below is a list of their day trips that they will be taking during session 4.
Wednesday 8/10 – Hiking; Mt. Tom, Holyoke, MA
Friday 8/12 – Rock Climbing; Wolf Rock, Mansfield, CT
Tuesday 8/16 – Paddling; Big Otis Pond, Otis, MA
Thursday 8/18 - Mountain Biking; Robinson State Park, Agawam, MA
Friday 8/19 – Disc Golf; Wincham Park
Walk-A-Bout Info
This session the Walk-a-Bout campers will be focusing on a variety of skills which will occur through on and offsite trips. Below is a list of their day trips, as well as their overnight that will be taking place during session 4.
Tuesday 8/9 – Rock Climbing; Wolf Rock, Mansfield, MA
Thursday 8/11 – Paddling; Barton Cove, Gill, MA
Friday 8/12 – Hiking; Mt. Tom, Holyoke, MA
Monday 8/15 – Mountain Biking, TBA
Wednesday 8/17 – Ramblewild; Lanesborough, MA
Thursday 8/18 – Hiking/Camping; Mt. Greylock, Lanesborough, MA
Update:
8.17: Walk A Bout called in this afternoon as they came down off of Mt. Greylock. The group had a great hike up to the summit and continued on to a second peak nearby. Overall they hiked approximately 4 miles today. The group was going to travel to their campsite for the night and set up camp, enjoy some dinner and games this evening. They will be sure to get some rest in preparation for an exciting time at Ramblewild tomorrow. We may not hear from them again this evening due to limited cell coverage in their area, if we do an update will be provided again tomorrow. We are excited to hear all about their adventures when they return tomorrow.
Adventure Info
This session the Adventure campers will be focusing on a variety of outdoor skills which will occur through on and offsite trips. Below is a list of their day trips during their first week. Check back during their second week to receive daily updates if cell phone coverage is available!
Tuesday 8/9 – Paddling; Quaboag River, Warren, MA
Wednesday 8/10 – Mountain Biking; Robinson State Park, Agawam, MA
Thursday 8/11 – Rock Climbing; Crow Hill, Westminster, MA
Monday 8/15 – Bigelow Preserve, Stratton, ME
Tuesday 8/16 – Bigelow Preserve, Stratton, ME
Wednesday 8/17 – Bigelow Preserve, Stratton, ME
Thursday 8/18 – White Water Rafting; Kennebec River, Bingham, ME
Updates:
8.16: Adventure staff reported in yesterday evening of a successful drive up to Bigelow Preserve in Maine. The drive was long but worth it when they arrived at a beautiful campsite on the lake. The crew was going to enjoy some lake fun and prepare for their backpacking trip departing today. The weather looks like it is going to cooperate as the rain is not expected until later this evening and ending tomorrow morning. The staff may not be able to make contact with us while backpacking but if we hear from them an update will be posted. If we don't hear from them we operate on the motto of "No news is good news".
8.17: Adventure checked in this morning. The had a great day hiking yesterday. The group made their way up the trail and connected with the Appalachian Trail and followed that to their campsite for the evening. Once they had camp set up the group set out again to summit Avery Peak with lighter packs. The group made it half way up to Old Man's Head, a great lookout then headed back to camp. The weather was wet last night but the group stayed warm and dry. They will be hiking back out to their campsite by the lake today. We will report in once we hear back again.
8.18: We heard from the Adventure crew this morning, they had a great hike out back to their lake side camp site yesterday. The group got a later start to their hike to dodge the rain and made it down safely. They spent their afternoon resting by the lake after a hard hike and prepped for today's rafting trip. The group is heading to the river for a six-hour trip. We hope to hear from them once they are heading to their campsite tonight.
