Of the 100 three-weekers who arrived on Tuesday to join the full-summer campers for session #2, several dozen are at Pok-O-MacCready for the very first time.

   14-year old Diego has traveled to camp from Caracus, Venezuela.

   “I was looking at camps in Florida, but preferred Pok-O because it had more activities and it’s farther away from the city.”.....   “I was a little bit scared before coming to camp because I thought I’d be alone all of the time. Now, I realize that all of the people are friendly and I’m improving my English. It’s so fun!”..... “So far, my favorite activities have been boating, hiking, homestead and blacksmithing. I’m also looking forward to doing sailing, archery and the rock wall.”..... “Camp is better than school at home because it’s a better way to learn English, it’s more fun and you can really get involved in everything.”

   Gillian, 11, is a first-time camper from Chicago.

   “I heard about camp from some neighbors who have a summer house in Willsboro. I was always asking my parents if I could go to summer camp and this year we found out about Pok-O and my parents said ‘Yes’”..... I really wanted to go to summer camp because during the summer, my Dad is always working and he can’t take me fishing and camping like the rest of the year. So I still wanted to do it, so I came here.”..... At first I was a bit scared that I’d get homesick, but once I got here, I haven’t goteen homesick because there’s so much to do and it’s so fun!”..... The best part so far has been meeting my bunk mates. I hope to do a couple of hikes and to make a lot of friends.”..... I think people should go to summer camp because you have great experiences with the outdoors and you get to live away from home for awhile.”  

WOODS and WATER

   One day after arriving at Pok-O, the entire boys camp headed into the wilderness on Wednesday. The eight trips raised the summer total to 82 (see list), well on pace to break last year’s record of 103.

   Wilderness trips- a mainstay in the Pok-O-MacCready program- give campers a great opportunity to experience nature and beauty, while testing their skills and endurance. “It’s hard to compete with all of the activities at camp,” admits wilderness coordinators Ken Ryba and Dana Beck, “but with all the possibilities in the woods, we find that the campers learn that these trips are a fantastic experience.”

   Pok-O camper Owen Schoenfeld, newly arrived for his second summer climbed Mount Van Hoevenberg Tuesday. “It was only my second mountain ever. It was difficult, but fun. There was a great view with the mist all around. The best part was walking through the streams.”

   The out-of-camp excursions have come in the form of hikes, nature walks and boat trips but, as always, the premier attraction has been the quest to finish the 46ers: The 4000-foot “high peaks” of the Adirondacks. Three campers have already finished in 2007; boys senior Sam Sprague has 45, and C.I.T. Robin Farrell climbs her 45th today. “This is my fifth year at camp but while I climbed a bit my first two summers, I really hiked a lot this summer. I started with 27 mountains and hope to finish my 46 on Monday.”

   Matt Edwards, with 36 peaks is excited about finishing, but is in no great hurry. “If I finish this summer, great. If not, I plan on hiking a lot anyway, and I can always finish next year.” That sentiment is shared by Farrell, who is excited to finish but says, “The journey is much better than the destination!”

CLICK HERE FOR NEW GALLERY SHOWCASING CAMP’S WILDERNESS TRIPS

COMING TOMORROW: Cabin Photos

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