Lunch is served at 12:15. The “Hoppers” arrive at noon to set the tables and begin to place food on the tables.

Every day there is a central lunch entrée and a primary main course type salad. Some of the salads selected for this year are Chinese Chicken, Greek, Spinach/Pear/Gorgonzola, and Caesar.

Lunch entrees will be of the fun food variety including, BBQ Chicken Breasts, Hamburgers and Veggie Burgers, Hot Dogs, along with favorites like Pizza, Sloppy Joes, and last years favorite, “Build your Own” Deli Sandwiches.

In addition to the standard choices, campers who don’t like the main entree being served will always have available sandwich makings such as “stand-by favorite” peanut butter and jelly, cheese, tuna fish, etc.

Side dishes will include chips, potato salad, cole slaw, etc. Every lunch will also have fresh fruit and an ice cream/popsicle type dessert.

Campers definitely look forward to the Siesta time that follows lunch.

In an attempt to keep things simple, and find a suitable new location I spent a little time driving around the area and have found a fabulous new spot. We will be using the parking lot by the boat ramp at the end of Powell Street.

The new directions are, take Powell Street exit off Interstate 80, same as before, but go West, instead of East, past the Holiday Inn. Proceed approximately 1 mile to Parking lot which will be on the right side of street, directly across the street from the Chinese Restaurant.

Jay Levine, the Assistant Director, has been busy this winter with his new puppy, “Barney.” Barney is a gorgeous Golden Retriever. Although only a puppy, she is showing the perfect disposition to be a great camp dog. If Barney can learn the lesson of not jumping up on campers by June, she will definitely be a fixture in camp this season.

Skylake is not immune from the rapid changes that seem to be taking place in our society. Our young people are exposed to choices that they are not prepared to make. Sex, drugs, alcohol, violence are issues 11 and 12 olds now not only see on every movie screen and TV screen, they see it on their own playgrounds.

We like to promote Skylake as a “Safe Zone.” In an effort to set a tone for the campers before they arrive in camp, this year we have instituted a new ”Code of Respect”. Parents are asked to read this document with your camper, make sure the ideas are clearly understood, and then both sign the document. The basic ideas contained in this Code will play a focal role in all discussions held with campers this summer regarding behavior.

I invite parents and campers to submit comments on this code. These words are designed to be the starting point of discussion and a basis for behavior. They are not a set of commandments.

However, age has been taking its toll on the cabins. They were actually built in the 60’s and are showing their age. Over the last 3 years we completely replaced the screening on every cabin. The goal this year was to replace all of the floors of the cabins in Girl’s camp with a snazzy light pine wood with a honey colored stain. That has been completed and the cabins are much brighter. We will complete Boy’s camp next year.

We also decided to experiment with new siding on a couple of cabins. The results are nothing short of spectacular. Without changing the concept of our cabins, they now have clean and upbeat appearance. We have 37 cabins at Skylake so it is going to take a few years to complete this project, but I am very excited about the look of camp.

The new double sand volleyball court is now complete. It took three years to get the Forest Service approval, and three days to build the court. I anticipate some hotly contested little tournaments will be played out this summer.

We also have built four new ping pong tables that are located throughout camp. These should become nice little energy pockets around camp.

I am just beginning to place all of the orders for new equipment, finishing the menu, and working on our staff training week of workshops. The sun is out and I have the golf bug. It can only mean one thing. CAMP IS NOT FAR OFF!! See you all soon!!

Skylake hires 54 counselors, 8 adminstrative staff, and 16 “Jstaff”. Luckily, Skylake enjoys having a high percentage of staff who return from either formerly being campers or staff members. This is particularly true in Girls Camp. Of the 27 counselors and 8 Jstaff in Girl’s camp only 5 of this summer’s staff do not have Skylake Magic already flowing through their veins. Girl’s Camp is on fire.