Activities

Kayaking

By Keenan McAuliffe
 

Don't forget your skirt, or you're doomed in the wild ride of Kayaking. Kayaking is a thrilling experience that uses our strength of mind, body and technique to help us along in the water without capsizing and

getting stranded in the middle of the lake. Kayaking is an adventure itself because everyday is a new quest. The training Kayaking gives you is not only

for the water, but also for life. For example, practice hard, keep going, don't give up, etc. Overall, Kayaking is a journey floating around, waiting to be found by you and me.

 
 
Corsecuencia
by Roberto Pardo
 

The Shohola and Netimus dances are very fun. You will have a great time making news friends that are girls. You will see a lot of friends, but I am from Venezuela and

I took a great surprise, a friend told me there's a Venezuelan girl but not just a Venezueland, but one from my school! You see, Shohola and Netimus are magical places, where people all over the world go to have a good time.

 
 
Nature
By Nick Mower
 

Nature is a wonderful activity to attend because you learn so much from the things that you might not even know was ever there. I took nature my first year at Shohola and I loved going on the nature trails and identifying different bugs and other animals that are living everywhere; in the water, on the land and sometimes, even in the sky. Plus, there are two new actives! Nature Crafts and Nature Trips! Nature crafts are so cool and I am taking it this year and so far we have made a box full of nature materials, we wove straw and

sticks together and put all sorts of plants inside and we made nature puzzles and switched with each other and tried to put them together. That was the hardest part. Plus, the other piece to nature is Nature Trips, which you can't sign up for on sign-up day, but you can meet George on the deck after the meal and sign up then. Believe me, these trips are a lot of fun, and maybe, just maybe, if you sign up you

will figure out one of Nature's sweetest secrets.

 
The Barn
By Brent Fried
 

Stay away from the rear, horses will kick. There is mucking and feeding. Riding is not as easy as you might think. You have to saddle up, go into the ring and get on, but that's only half of it. The rest is experience. You have to be gentle and strong and willing to not give up if you fall off. I give thanks to Emma, Lisa, Rileen, Darrin, and Manuel for a great summer at the barn.

 
The Amateur Radio Hamfest

By Chris Gibson

Working Senior

On Sunday morning the campers in the Amateur Radio ham class, Advanced Computer Class and Advanced Electronics went to the Matamoras Airport to an electronic flea market called a Hamfest. We each were given ten

dollars to spend and get the best electronic gadgets we could find.

Paul Fremeau got a VHF and UHF scanner and said “this is the best bargain I ever got”. I got a Nintendo 64 with twelve games, two controllers, a steering wheel and a memory pack. Kyle Egan got an antique, eighty year old amp meter, a frequency meter and a bunch of circuit boards. Most of

the stuff we got was less than a dollar, but some was a little more. Some of the stuff was even free. There were boxes of stuff all over that were full of things free for the taking. Everyone was very nice and they were happy to help us find what we needed. I was looking for a television modulator and they announced it over the PA system to everyone at the Hamfest. There was a lot of electronic junk there including computer circuit boards, satellite receivers, lot of ham gear, and electronic test equipment. This was my first Hamfest and it was great.

Video Production
By Zach Herring
Counselor, Cabin 3
 

I speak as a new-comer. This is my first year as a counselor, so it’s also my first year to teach Video classes to anyone, much less in a summer-camp environment. I will say that I’m impressed. Earlier, during the first month, a group of some 8 kids got together and in the span of roughly 12 hours (a one hour class three times a week) assembled a full-length. It was executed wonderfully, from brainstorming for the concept to scripting to execution and post-production. And it was funny. Not in an amateurish, look what the kids are doing on-screen sort of way, but in a legitimately creative method they presented a satire of a television show, and it was fantastic. What is more, it was not just this class, or just this assortment of kids. The other class that I had a pleasure to teach first month (project code-named Green-White War) and the two projects that were undertaken this month were startlingly good. The kids exhibited an amount of creativity and dedication to their ideas that I was not expecting and I only regret that I wasn’t able to entirely keep up with their pace.  Only one of the four classes really finished their movie from class (the other three were hamstrung late in the post-production stages by our ever-present enemy, technology) but they all presented formidable, truly great ideas. Their creativity deserves applause, and I feel this is the best way to give it to them. So to the guys of Video Production; thank you for sharing your talents, your ideas, and your effort. They were very much appreciated and I hope to work with all of you again, next summer.

Baseball

By: Drew "Hebrew Hammer" Levan

Although Camp Shohola has many sports for its campers it seems that basketball has always been at the top of the list. There are 4 classes offered of basketball and for all of them there are people signed up. Even when the kids are not in class they always find their way to the court. There is really a time when someone is not playing basketball, well except in meal times. In addition there is also the NBA which is the basketball league offered in camp for kids in upper camp. This allows kids to play competitively and in organized games in the evening. The final always prove to be dramatic and tends to draw people’s attention. 

Woodshop

By: Anonymous

Playing with wood all my life is what I liked. I liked that here in Shohola I got the opportunity to use my knowledge and build something. I am building a sward. It is long and very strong and with nice decorations. I like woodshop because it is my passion to play with wood. I would encourage to try this activity next year. 

Silvershop

By Anonymous

When it was the day to sign up for our activities I knew exactly what I was going to do except for one period 4B. I decided to take Silvershop because everything else was full. I ended up being very interested in it. Rob and Nicole were really helpful helping me make my project. Silver shop ended up being one of my best activities in camp. 

Painting and Drawing

By: Alex Pipiris

I am a person who all the time likes to do sports, but I took this class because I wanted to learn how to draw. At the beginning everyone thought I took this class only to be with Nichole but at the end everyone realized that I took that class for my talent. As I came the first week at camp I knew I was going to take that class to improve and I did. My talent grew and so did my pictures. I think I am going to quit playing sports. Jajaja.

Babysitting

By: Sheba

Many people in camp look at me and wonder what a lady is doing in camp. The answer is I am a babysitting. I take care of the Bargers and the Hazells. It is a very good job until someone starts crying, that is when I go crazy. Well that is basically what I like to do at camp.  

Soccer

By: Juan Manuel Jimenez

Every time I come to camp I have a variety of activities to choose from. I always try to choose the activities you wouldn’t normally do at home such as kayaking. But soccer even though I play it in Mexico it makes me want to play it here. Here in camp we play vs. several camps. Soccer to me is very important but in camp soccer changes. It makes me happy playing with people of other nations and seeing how we come together by one sport...SOCCER 

Amateur Radio

By: Paul Fremeau

In my opinion, Amateur (Ham) Radio is one of the best activities offered at Camp Shohola. It offers many opportunities to meet new people in your town and around the world. Ham Radio is a mix of electronics and radio broadcasting. You will learn skills that you can use for the rest of your life. With the skills you learn in class, you get an immense amount of enjoyment, which could lead to a great job in electronics or radio communication.

In class this year, we talked over the radio to a man in England, and a man driving in a car in South Africa. It is really cool to be able to talk in this way. Ham Radio has many different aspects because of the different ways we can talk to people. Amateur Radio operators can talk to each other by bouncing radio waves off the atmosphere, linking people together over the Internet by sending text messages, and they can even send pictures. There are even satellites orbiting earth that relay signals so that hams can talk to each other through the satellite.

If you like talking to other people and would like to try exciting things, like talking to people through a satellite or by bouncing signals off the moon, Amateur Radio is the thing for you. 

Electronics

By: Anonymous

Electronics is a very cool thing to try in CommTech. In electronics, you have your choice of kit to build. I chose to build a digital entry keypad. When you type in the correct code, the door will be unlocked. But this is just one of hundreds of kits that you can build. Other examples are burglar alarms, FM transmitters, MP3 transmitters and many other projects. While having fun, you learn some important skills that you will be able to use when you get a job somewhere. Electronics is a great thing to try. 

Kayaking

By: Hector Vazquez

Camp Shohola has several popular activities, such as ropes, rugby, sailing, skateboarding, and others. However, one activity has remained consistently popular; kayaking. Considered the best activity in camp, kayaking offers kids the opportunity to explore new things. In the past teachers like Pedro, Alberto, and even Tom Daniels handled the class well. Now, Shinky, Jordan, Izaak, and Chris Wright are the only counselors left. That is why Working Seniors, like Edmund, JuanMan, Tom Melton, and Hector Vasquez (ME) had to put in an extra effort to help in the class.

Paddling is an essential part of a kayaker's ability to perform. Once someone can paddle well, he can start trying T-rescue rolls. When he has covered those, he can try a harder roll called the Eskimo roll. This roll involves flipping back over with your paddle only. For more experienced kayakers, hand rolls provide an excellent challenge. They involve a lot of hip movement, and strong determination. This year, hip-rolls have been performed by Shinky, Edmund, and Hector (ME). To do a hip roll, you must have an amazing hip movement, because you can't use your hands or your paddle.

Kayak polo is another big part of the kayaking class. Overall, kayaking has to be one of the best activities in camp, because ot the counselors, working seniors, activities, and opportunities. I strongly encourage everyone to give kayaking a try. 

Photography

By: Anonymous

This year in photography, we had a blast. We learned how to take better pictures, and we even got to develop them ourselves. We also got to use digital cameras, and we learned how to edit pictures and also how to make them bigger. It is so fun to develop your own film. It is so cool to use the darkroom. I recommend photography to absolutely anyone. It is just so cool. 

Sailing

By: Edmund Carlton

Sailing is a really fun thing to do when there is wind. It is one of my favorite things to do at camp. In the sailing class, learning, and then practicing is the key. In sailing, we use a boat, but not just any boat. We use a boat with a sail that captures the great power of the wind. Great adventures can be had sailing. With sailing, you experience something that no other sport offers; harnessing one of nature's most powerful forces. I highly suggest trying sailing as one of your activities. 

Ropes

By: Paul Fremeau

Everyone this year has had a great time in Ropes class. We learned how to tie some useful knots, and we got to climb a lot. One of the most fun things was the ropes competition that we had with some other camps. In ropes, you can do rappelling, rock climbing; you can play in the cargo net, and use the zip line. The zip line is one of the most fun things to do. You go whizzing down the line at breakneck speeds, and then you let yourself down slowly, as if you are rappelling. It's totally awesome. Also the catwalk is sweet. You walk up a slippery log, climb up a huge tree, and then walk along a skinny log, suspended 40 feet in the air. Then, when you get to the middle, you jump, you fall, and then the rope catches you. It is extreme.  

Earlier this month, a trip was embarked upon by the brave souls at Landsports to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. A select few could go, and so to help decide who the lucky kids would be, all applicants were asked to write an essay listing the reasons why they should be allowed to go to Cooperstown. Here are a few examples of what was presented.

Owen Kimmel

Cabin 12

Dear Mr. Rubin,

I would like to go on the trip to Cooperstown because I love baseball. I practically walk, talk and breathe baseball. I would lie if baseball was non-existant. I was crying when Roger Clemens was retiring from the Yankees. I would gladly miss the Dance and/or the Red Baron's game. One of my life goals is to go to the Hall of fame.

David Hecker

Working Senior

I think I deserve to go to the baseball hall of Fame in Cooperstown for more reasons than one. One reason is that as you know, I'm in the Working Seniors cabin and this is my last year as a camper, and my last chance to go on this trip. Also, I believe I deserve to go on this trip because not only do I take 8 Landsports classes, 2 of which are baseball, but I love sports with a fighting passion. Finally, I think I should go to Cooperstown because I went on this trip in 1999 (Cabin 3) and got car sick and didn't get to experience everything because I was throwing up. That is why I think I should be chosen for the Cooperstown trip.

Greg Rosen

Working Senior

I should go to Cooperstown because of two majors reasons. One is my understanding of time as a socially created figment, thus I would be able to derive more enjoyment from a lesser span of "time." The second reason is that I am a Working Senior and there are several reasons why this is advantageous. The first being my level of knowledge and maturity would alleviate some of the responsibilities of counselors. The second is that Working Seniors are a close group of friends and the more Working Seniors there are, the better the group’s unity will be.

Jafet Garcias

Counselor, Cabin 2

Porque tengo que ir al Salon de la Fama?

La resquesta es simple, bueno no tan simple ya que ustedes deben de pensar que soy turista y que no conosco nada de basebal. Lo unico que conosco es que es el deporte mas visto porlas americanos, pero eso no es todo; que me discende Los primeras personas que estruvienon en el salon de la fama como Ty Cobb que fue un gran jugador de los Tigres de Detriot yd Philadelphia Athletics tambien conocido cmom "Georgia Peach", Walter Johnson "the big train" que pichaba como los grandes, a velociades increibles, christy Mathewson, picher conocido coma "matty" con uno de los mejore records; or Babe Ruth, the "sultan of swat" que tenia un record e 215 of the 226 and the last one is Honus Wagner que tenia una; manos enormes para poder controlar su posiciion de short stop lo llamban "flaying dutchman" gano 8 National League batting con mas de 3000 hits. Como puedoen ver no soy tan ignorante como creen pero si ustedes no me escojen estaran comeltienda un gran error al no dejarme convivin y crecer en miss cononscimientos.