CHRONICLEDiscover the Spirit!

HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU...

Howdy Pardners

Vol. XXX No. 10 August 17, 2012

Let the Games Begin: Red Avengers & Tan Magic!

CIRCLING THE WAGONS… at Coleman Country’s 5th anniversary is the Coleman family: Founders Marla and George Coleman flanking Jordan Cole-man and Future Camp Director Ross Cole-man, with Hampton, Coleman Country’s first mascot! Check out Ross’ very first camp photo as a camp-er circa 1983! Lots has changed in 30 years, and lots has stayed the same: Coleman Coun-try always has been and always will be a place for children to Dream Big! Happy Birthday Coleman Country!

Fortyniners began their week with a trip to either the beach or laser tag. Things were “bright” for campers at both places!

Tuesday was a Wet n’ Wild reprise! Back by popular de-mand, one of the summer’s favorite activities featured yet an-other water-filled day. The pools had inflatable slides, mazes, obstacle courses, and walk-on-water mats. Also on Tuesday, the 5th grade boys and girls “lit” up at Monster Golf with 18 holes of fun!

Girls and boys in 7th and 8th grades had a choice of Ad-ventureland or Laser Tag on Wednesday. Pioneer counselors, Supervisors Anna and Michelle, Ross, Kelli, Marla, and Sy, along with Pioneer pool staff, put on an underwater adventure show modeled after The Rainbow Fish as they Dared to Care. Campers swam their hearts out at Project Morry’s Swim-a-Thon on Wednesday to raise money to help underprivileged campers go to camp. For every one of over 5,000 laps campers swam, the Coleman made a donation! With a stroke of good effort, campers dared to care.

The rumblings around The Ranch came to a halt on Thursday with the official breakout of Olympics. Spirit was in the air as Pardners and Ranch Hands celebrated Coleman Country’s 30th birthday with the Birthday Ex-travaganza, a terrific showcase of the many talents here on The Ranch. After the last act, a big cake was rolled out and everyone sang “Happy Birthday!” The expected didn’t happen- no one jumped out of the cake signaling an Olympic break! Fakeout! The lights went dim and the Grand Playhouse lit up for a surprise Laser Light show. Neon lights created dozens of designs and pictures! At the conclusion of the show, the lights went on for dismissal… but off they went again! Next, lighting up the Grand Play-house were Red Avengers and Tan Magic emblazoned across the wall in laser light. OLYMPICS has officially begun!

Spirit Soars

Headline

CLIMBING THE WALL OF FLAME...Erin from G6-1 and Michael from B6-1 climbed Macho’s Mountain to“light” the candles as part of Coleman Country’s 30th birthday celebra-tion. Thirty-one “candles” (one for good luck) were placed along the rock wall to honor Coleman Country’s 1983 start.

COLEMAN COUNTRY IN 1983 COLEMAN COUNTRY IN 2012

Marla and George founded Coleman Country Marla and George are directors emeritus/ founding directors

Ross was 5 years old and a Pioneer Ross is the Camp DirectorHampton was the camp mascot Denver and Ringo command The Ranch as mascotsKaren Landsman, Lew Siegal, Gary Spitzer, Dave Goldstein and Mrs. G. were all at camp

Karen Landsman, Lew Siegal, Gary Spitzer, Dave Goldstein, and Mrs. G. are still at camp!

Ross’ grandmother was Arts & Crafts supervisor (Grammy’s Gallery)Ross’ grandfather designed lots of structures at camp (including the benches and roofing at Poppy’s Pavilion)It rained at Coleman Country - so we used the Armory across the street because there were few covered areas at camp

It never rains at Coleman Country!

There were two pools and no slides We have 3 pools-the main pool, the lap pool, and the Pioneer pool-and a big enclosed tube slide.

There was no GaGa, Dream Dome, Playport, MegaMesa, or GPH

We have GaGa- with 5 pits (3 in the Dream Dome and 2 in Rubin’s

Rink), the Dream Dome, Playport, MegaMesa, turf fields, movie theater, and the GPH with Macho’s Mountain, basketball and volleyball courts, and a stage.

There was a lot of mud, a little grass, and no turf All of our fields are turfed, no grass- except in The Outback, and no mud anywhere!

Birthday Spirit AboundsAs part of Coleman Country’s 30th birthday celebra-

tion balloons, streamers, “classic” Chronicles, and photos decorated The Ranch. Pardners and Ranch Hands had a great time trying to identify “vintage pictures” of super-visors and staff who have spent many summers on The Ranch! Make sure you look on Coleman Town to get a peek of these photos and see who you know!

Tan and Red Rally

These fun-filled, action-packed days are brimming with spirit and excitement. Pardners engage in days of friendly competition, showcasing teamwork and personal best. Each day highlights a different event: the Showdown (individual ac-tivities), the Gallop (team field events), and the Splash (races at the pools) are featured on three separate days.

From the swimming pools to the playing fields, the cheers of “Let’s go Tan… Let’s go Red!” are heard throughout The Ranch. Spirited campers and counselors will adorn them-selves with face paint and bandanas and shirts of red and tan, while songs are belted out to demonstrate their pride for their Olympic team. At the conclusion of Olympics, each of the flags will be both red and tan again, signifying a united camp community. Check out the Opening Ceremony on Coleman Town.

Swimmin Hole Soiree Makes a Splash

CAMPERS ENJOYED THEIR UPS AND DOWNS...Wet n’ Wild was a splash. Above, Benjamin, Jaxson, and Julius from B1-5 and Rebecca and Jamie from G3-4 bounced, jumped and slid through inflatable slides, mazes, and walk-on-water mats. Below, Zachary from B1-2 and Sam from B1-4 had a ball on the inflatable ride.

Today, campers received their team bandanas along with “eye black” (either red or tan, actually!). They should wear them daily, along with team colors. To begin the first day of competition, a “Face-off” took place between counselors. Ev-eryone gathered in the Grand Playhouse to watch and cheer on their teammates as they shot baskets and completed relay activities. This first event was followed by the Gallop for all campers; group vs. group competition in all different activities, ranging from GaGa to soccer to softball. With the games under way and a couple of days left of play plus Olympic Roundup (Sing, ropeburn, and the plaque presentation), Olympic spirit is everywhere!

OLYMPIC FEVER...Lauren Smithson, Andrew Tor-torici, Daile Teramo, and Melanye Stromberg of the Red Avengers and Tan Magic are all smiles as they help lead their teams through Olympics.

THREE CHEERS FOR THE RED AND TAN...With Olympics underway campers and counselors are in-volved in competition as each team tries to rack up points towards a victory.

ON THE HORIZON

Mon. & Tues. Olympics Aug. 20 & 21 Stampede, Splash, & Closing Ceremony

Tues., Aug. 21 Hip-Hop Nite B6/7/8, G6/7/8 Home on Bus

Drop-off 7:00 p.m./Parent Pick-Up 9:00 p.m.

Weds., Aug. 22 Rodeo Last Day of Camp See you in 2013!

2013- ???? Continued years of fun!

Coleman Country’s annual Rodeo takes place next Wednesday (on the last day of camp)! Campers have a unique schedule for this day on which they move to all the different amusement areas that are set up around The Ranch. The soccer field is transformed into a carnival! Rides, a big slide, and all different booths are set up. A marriage booth, a pinewood derby booth, nail polish, face painting, a tattoo booth, and so much more cover the turf during this celebratory day. Of course, there are prizes galore!

In Pioneer Station, campers can enjoy cotton candy and popcorn, along with a dunk tank. Under the Big Top, they play a wide variety of games. Coleman Yards and the Field of Dreams are blanketed with rides and mazes. Campers also go to the Grand Playhouse to participate in interactive video games. Up in Pike’s Peak (gymnastics), they play a Jeopardy-style game show with trivia ques-tions about Coleman Country.

Closing ceremonies will conclude the day with the ritual burndown of the numbers 2012. It is a day of cel-ebration that symbolizes the end to another great season! If it’s possible, we look forward to an even better 2013! In the meantime, though, we still have a few more amaz-ing days to go before we have to say farewell to 2012!

Rodeo Rounds Out Summer

A SCHOOL OF GOOD FRIENDS... The Pioneers met the Rainbow Fish, Kelli-Fish, Ross-Fish, Sy the Octo-pus, Magical Marla-Fish, and many schools of fish in their Dare to Care rendition of the Rainbow Fish. Pio-neers learned that to show that you care, you must Dare to Care.

A Fishy Story Unfolds