Top 5: Reasons why Merrymeeting Lake is the ultimate camp location

There is a tendency for summers at Merrymeeting Lake to drift by in a blur of sun, sand, water, boats, and BBQ.  You fall in to a routine like nowhere else on the planet.  Early morning, purple sunrises with the fog lifting off the water and floating over the mountains.  Sunny days spent out on the boat with friends.  Evenings eating outside on the deck.  Night cruises around the coves and inlets blanketed by a million shining stars.  There are some unique aspects to Merrymeeting that make it the ultimate spot to host a summer camp.

1. So clean you could drink it - The depth and flow of the lake keep it so clean that you could literally bottle the water and sell it at the store.  Merrymeeting is consistently ranked as one of the top cleanest lakes in the country and that is a stat the local residents are proud of and try hard to maintain.  Everyone takes the health of the lake seriously so you rarely, if ever, see floating debris, foreign invasive plants, or oil/gas in the water.
2. Uncrowded/undeveloped - Merrymeeting has a total of one marina on its shores and one public boat ramp yet is miles in length and big enough to cruise around and have fun.  Larger lakes in the area tend to draw the crowds and thus it is common on Merrymeeting to be out on the water mid-week and never have another boat in sight.  Few boats mean less traffic-produced waves which equals glassy conditions most days for boarding/skiing.  Decreased boating also yields an unparalleled playground for sailing, kayaking, and swimming without the risk of getting chopped up by a passing propeller.
3. Perfect temperature/weather - The depth of the lake (125 feet at its deepest point) comes in to play again in maintaining an ideal water temperature.  We have gorgeous summers in New Hampshire with the air temp hovering around 80 most days and the water getting into the 70's by the end of July and staying that way into September.  Not too hot, not too cold, but juuuuust right.
4. Friendly people - There is a camaraderie between the people who share their time out on Merrymeeting.  Everyone is a little more chilled out, happier, and thus friendlier than elsewhere in the real world.  You'll always get a salutation from any passing kayak, canoe, or motorboat and the only road traffic is caused by people stopping in the middle of the road to chat.  While wakeboarding or skiing on the lake you will hear hoots and see fist pumps as you pass people on shore or in other boats...everyone gets stoked to see people having fun on the water.
5. Wildlife - In my years at Merrymeeting I have seen some amazing wildlife.  The lake is home to a few pairs of loons, whose calls you can hear most evenings, and at night you cannot escape the croaking of giant bullfrogs.  There are turtles that lounge on docks, moose and deer that creep to the shores to drink, and bald eagles that circle around and swoop in for their fishy feasts.  I have also see a mountain lion, a few bear, and lots of foxes.  The animals mostly have a complete indifference to us and are happy to just go about their business and leave us to enjoy the perfect lake.

All of these reasons why Merrymeeting is great also remind us to share the lake, keep it clean, and preserve it for years to come.  Everyone surely has their favorite spot to spend the summer but for me it is Merrymeeting Lake so that is where Water Monkey Camp calls home.

Top 5: Types of snow for riding

Just because there is not too much snowboarding to be done this winter does not mean I can't talk about it!  I hit up Sunday River this past Saturday and, while most of the snow was man-made, it actually was not too bad for one day of shredding.  While riding around their multiple peaks I assembled in my head a ranking of the different types a snow you could encounter while riding. Here is my ranking which is by no means a universal standard, just what I like!

Top 5: Types of snow for riding

1. Pow!- Powder is by far my favorite condition to encounter while riding and, to me, the more the better!  Last season I was fortunate to be at Squaw Valley, in Tahoe, for a 100" storm.  Each day was better than the one before.  There is nothing like riding through waist or chest deep, light, fluffy, powder.  In the northeast we are lucky if we get a handful of pow days a season but we definitely know how to take advantage of them when they come!  The best spot in New England for finding pow is indisputably Jay Peak, located in the far north in Vermont.

   

2. Spring Slush - Like I said, this is not a universal ranking, just my preferences.  Maybe it's the spring temperatures and riding in a t-shirt that sways my emotions, but I love spring conditions.  As the mountains start to thaw you can usually ride all day on a nice layer of wet snow.  It is great for throwing hacks, surf style, and is pretty forgiving when you are in the park and take a spill.  You will get wet, this stuff is notorious for making its way through even the most waterproof of outerwear, but luckily it will be sunny and warm!
3. Man-made/granular - If I can't have natural powder I can deal with some man-made stuff.  Some resorts have perfected the art of producing snow and can create relatively light, nice snow for riding.  I guess I would include "cord" in this category, for corduroy, or freshly groomed by a snowcat.  I'd rather the mountains never groom but they have to try to keep the snow down somehow.
4. Crusty/hard-pack - We get a lot of this on the east coast.  It may not snow for a few weeks and what is left is a windblown, over-groomed, sun-baked surface.
5. Ice - It is often said that if you learn to ski/ride in the northeast you can do it anywhere in the world.  Seasons spent scraping down the sides of mountains perfect your edge skills and harden you physically through countless falls onto the rock hard ice.  When riding backcountry in New England it is overwhelmingly likely that you will spend the entire day on ice unless you happen to find some pow (see #1).

Those are my thoughts for the day...here's to powder!

Tips on picking the perfect summer camp - Part 2

At this point in your search you have narrowed it down to two or three camps based on their websites and other online searches and it is time to pick up the phone and ask the big questions.

• Did the phone go unanswered? - A sign of a dedicated camp professional is that they will answer the camp phone any day of the year at almost any time of the day.  If your message is not returned promptly or if a second call goes unanswered you should have serious doubts as to that particular camp.

1. Tell me about your camp - at this point in your research you should know a fair amount about the camp you are calling.  This question allows the owner or manager an opportunity to highlight the important aspects of his/her operation.  A good camp representative will use this to find out more information about the caller and the prospective camper.  Jot down some notes on the structure of the camp program, the number of campers per session, ratio of boys to girls, or any other points that are important to you.
2. How long has your camp been around? - Some camps in the U.S. have been around for nearly one hundred years, others may be embarking on their first summer.  Just because a camp is old does not mean it is any better than another camp; management can change, programs can be altered, or camps can get lazy and rely on repeat business to float along.  Many times camps want to sound old and established to lend an air of credibility to them; make sure you follow through with this question to learn a bit more about a camp's history.
3. How long have you been with the camp and what did you do before this? - An off-season camp manager can be considered a representative for the entire staff of a camp.  He/she is usually an owner or year-round manager and should have a thorough understanding of the camp's operations and the camp industry in general.  You are trusting this person to not misrepresent his/her organization just to get the enrollment so try to get a good feel for him/her.  This person will likely be in charge of assembling a staff and running the camp during the summer so if they are boring or dull you will know what to expect come camp time.  If the representative is unhelpful, uninformed, or rude that is also major red flag.
4. How do you screen your staff? - You want to 100% make sure that a camp employs responsible, age-appropriate, background-checked counselors.  If the director does not tell you point blank that they perform background checks, in-person interviews, and reference checks, move on to another camp.  Counselors will be interacting with the campers 24 hours a day and will make or break a camper's time at camp.
5. What is the counselor to camper ratio? - Having a great staff is a plus, but if the campers vastly outnumber the counselors even the best staff in the world will not be able to run an effective program.  The key ratio to look for in larger, traditional camps is at least 1:4, one counselor to every four campers.  Small specialty camps should have even lower ratios, usually 1:2.  If the camp offers swimming, whether in a lake or pool, make sure to find out how many counselors are lifeguard certified.
6. Can we set up a tour? - Scheduling a camp tour is an awesome way of finding the perfect camp.  Many larger camps will have organized open houses for dozens of prospective families to come check out the camp while other camps will set up private tours.  If you are within driving distance of the camp this step is highly recommended.  Small camps sometimes cannot offer tours as they operate out of rented facilities.  Ask alternative questions like "will you come to our house to give us a presentation?" or "can you send us pictures of your facilities and equipment?".

There are surely many other questions that you will think of throughout your camp search so remember to be upfront and honest throughout the process.  One camp may be perfect for one child but a terrible fit for another: do not try to take a one size fits all approach.  Good luck with the camp search and if you are looking for the ultimate wakeboard/waterski/wake surf/wake skate camp just pop over to our main website (http://www.watermonkeycamp.com/)!

Tips on picking the perfect summer camp - Part 1

Some families struggle to find the right summer camp for their prospective camper.  With over ten million children attending camp each year and thousands of programs to choose from, it is certainly not an easy task.  Once upon a time parents were mailed boxes of promotional tapes and camp literature to sort through in finding the right program.  Today, much of the search is done online and in the end they talk to two or three final contenders.  Below I have listed some tips that I have found helpful over the past six years of helping families decide on what camp to choose. (Keep in mind that every camp is unique and that none fit perfectly into a mold)

• Day camp or overnight camp? - This is really the first place to start.  It is a misconception that day camps are only for little kids and overnight camps are only for older kids and teens.  If you are wondering whether it is too early for an overnight camp ask this question: "Is the prospective camper OK with sleepovers away from home?"  If yes, he/she is likely ready for a week or more of overnight camp.  Many times, it is the parents who are not ready to ship off their kids so make sure not to project your own fears when making the decision together.  Overnight camps tend to help build a camper's self esteem and confidence in a way that day camps cannot approach.  Day camps, on the other hand, are perfect if a camper has weekend commitments elsewhere, wants to test out camp life without having to be away from his/her family, or if overnight camp is truly out of the budget.
• Traditional camp or specialty camp? - There are endless camp programs out there to choose from.  If a prospective camper has a passion for a certain sport or activity you can narrow down your choices by searching only for specialty camps that cater to that activity.  I designed Water Monkey Camp to be a specialty overnight camp which emphasizes water sports -  specifically wakeboarding, waterskiing, wake surfing, and wake skating - and is perfect for the prospective camper who loves to be out on the lake participating in these sports.  Other specialty camps include ones dedicated to baseball, basketball, pretty much any land sport, theater, or horseback riding, technology, and many more.  Traditional camps take a more rounded approach, offering a wide variety of sports and activities with much less depth of instruction.  A balanced summer could include a mixture of traditional and specialty camps.  If a prospective camper has a "must-have" activity make sure it is listed explicitly on the camp website and is offered on campus and included in the tuition (examples of such activities include horseback riding, high ropes, paintball, go karts, or other high cost/high risk activities).
• One-week, two-weeks, four-weeks, or full summer? - Camps used to offer one session: the entire summer.  The modern camp environment is drastically different with camps offering any and every length session you can mathematically derive.  The full eight-week camp session is the extreme while one-week programs are pretty much the minimum.  While the ultimate length of stay depends on your family's budget and scheduling, the norm these days for most overnight camps is four weeks.  A month sounds like a long time but it gives campers a chance to really get settle in and get acclimated to camp life.  Water Monkey Camp, as a specialty camp, was designed around one-week sessions.  We offer intensive, individualized instruction which works best through short one or two week stays.
• Private camp or organization-backed camp? - Camps can be privately owned and operated or run by organizations such as the YMCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or a religious group.  Private camps tend have a bit higher tuition but will offer the nicest facilities and equipment and are not bound by the budgetary constraints and red tape of a large organization.  YMCA, Boy Scout, and Girl Scout camps, are often subsidized by their parent organizations and thus have lower tuition but may offer less in terms of the best equipment, staff, food, and facilities.  Proponents of either type will fiercely defend their camp so pick what works best for you!
• To go coed or not go go coed? – It is the age old question that some prospective camp parents continue to struggle with.  The popular belief is that in a coed environment there is a risk of boys and girls engaging in age-inappropriate behavior.  In reality, a camp with proper policies, an attentive staff, and experienced management will all but eliminate this risk.  Coed camps allow boys and girls to build important interpersonal skills as they interact with each other throughout their days at camp while retiring to separate, supervised cabins at night.  Proponents of all-boys/all-girls camps say that the benefit is in the form of eliminating the distraction of impressing the opposite sex from their campers’ lives so that they can focus on participating in camp activities and grow as individuals.  Whatever your thoughts are on the matter, a prospective camp should clearly state its policies, dispelling any concerns you may have and making this pretty much a non-issue.

These are some initial points you can follow to start narrowing down the field of camps so hop on to Google and start making a list of sites to explore.  In Part 2 I will outline some important questions to ask a camp once you start calling the finalists!

5 things to do during a no-snow winter

I am a snowboarding fanatic.  During the 2010-2011 season I managed to get out on the slopes for over 80 days from November through April.  So far this year I have tallied a total of two days on the snow - and one of those days was after a surprise October storm in NH.  So what to do during a dismal winter season?

1. "Winter" Hiking-

   

   I like to get out into the back country.  At this time of year I usually have my board with me to take advantage of fun, hidden trails but, alas, not this year.  Instead of needing snowshoes I have managed to get by with just some three-season boots and occasionally using my microspikes.  I have found some deeper snow drifts up in the White Mountains but the majority of every trail still has exposed leaves, rocks, and streams making it feel more like fall or spring hiking than anything else.  With few others using the trails and pristine views through leafless trees, hiking should be on your list of to-do's this winter.

2. Indoor Rock Climbing-

   

   Having not tackled ice-climbing yet and with it being too cold to harness up in the great outdoors for rock climbing, an indoor gym seemed to be the best bet for this year.  Some buddies and I found a great place in southern New Hampshire that converted an old mill building into a myriad of different walls.  One of the best features is an old six story elevator shaft with four or five different routes up - definitely not for those who are afraid of heights.

3. Travel-

   

   I am not against flying in search of good snow but this year all the go-to powder spots like Tahoe, Utah, and Colorado seem to be devoid of the white fluffy stuff.  So the next best alternative to snow in my mind is sand (and warm water). I chose to hit up the Caribbean for a week of scuba (usually not a winter sport in New Hampshire) and then a multi-week road trip to Florida to learn how to kiteboard.  Yes, I am lucky to have a flexible schedule as a summer camp director, but a quick jaunt to a warmer locale is not impossible for the student or 9-5 worker out there.  The first step is to pick an activity - scuba, sail, surf, the list goes on - and narrow down some prime locations.  Step two is to scour the internet for special fares or last minute flight discounts.  Step three is to either find a friend's couch, a hostel, or an inexpensive hotel near the beach in your chosen destination.  Lastly, put it all together, pick a week that you're off from school or can cash in some sick days, and let the fun begin!

4. Museums and attractions-

   

   On days when you are all adventured-out there is nothing better (or cheaper) than adding some culture to your life.  Almost every major city has a few free or cheap museums to visit where you can learn new things, meet new people, and get away from the TV/video games/computer.

5. Get into a new hobby- This winter I have been working on new cooking recipes (mostly so I am not forced to experiment on my campers this summer).  With the proliferation of youtube videos on literally any topic you need not go further than your computer to learn a new instrument, take a college course, perform a science experiment (don't blow anything up, please), or any of a thousand other video options.  Do not just sit back and watch, though, a hobby is something you do with your hands and mind, not laying back on your couch or computer chair.

   

Use this list as a jumping-off point to think of your own fun things to do this winter season! If you're lucky enough to live somewhere that has some great snow you should be out there every day you can because that's what I would be doing.