Camp Chipinaw

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Camp Chipinaw is a residential children's summer camp located in Swan Lake, New York. Camp Chipinaw was founded in 1926.

[edit] Silver Lake Campus

In 2004, Michael Baer, the current owner and director of Camp Chipinaw, purchased Camp Hillel, an orthodox Jewish residential camp which neighbored Camp Chipinaw. This campus was later renamed "Camp Chipinaw @ Silver Lake" and was specifically set up to allow for only two sessions of 4 weeks, whereas the original Chipinaw campus allowed campers the option of staying either 8 weeks or 4 weeks. Following the establishment of the Silver Lake Campus, no new campers would be allowed to enroll for 4 weeks on the main campus. Ironically, in the later years of the Silver Lake campus, some older campers chose to enlist in two 4 week sessions. From the 1940s through the 1970s, Silver Lake was also the home to two other Jewish sleepaway camps -- Camp Ma-Ho-Ge and Camp Ranger, which were later sold. Some of the Ma-Ho-Ge campers and staff went to Chipinaw beginning in 1978 while others spent time at Camp Echo Lake in Poyntelle, PA.

[edit] Chipinaw Campus

Established in 1926, Chipinaw is a "sleep-away" camp that caters to non-religious Jewish children mostly from suburban New York and New Jersey. A large cohort of campers also come from suburban Florida, Maryland, Connecticut, and California. In Chipinaw, there are two campuses that separate the boys from the girls, and vice versa. The ages of the campers range from 7-16. There are 5 divisions on camp and a 6th division/program set up for the oldest campers. The youngest campers, commonly referred to as the "Inters," are 7-9 years old and live in what is called the "Midget House," an old establishment that houses 4 dormitories and a main lodging area for recreational and meeting use. The Freshmen division, second youngest to the Inters, are for campers who are going into 5th grade. The rest of the divisions systematically classify by individual grade. The Sophomore, Junior, and Senior divisions are for campers going into 6th, 7th, and 8th grade respectively. Campers who are just about to enter high school (9th grade) are called "Super Seniors," but are still in a division with the regular Seniors. The oldest campers, who are about to enter 10th and 11th grades, are placed in what is called a waiter and waitress program. Their day consists of working three meals in both the Chipinaw and Silver Lake kitchens. However, their day is less regimented than that of the younger Chipinaw campers.

The campus for males is commonly referred to as "Boy's Side," while the campus for females is respectively referred to as "Girl's Side." A common Chipinaw day consists of 6 periods of activities, which are split up into two periods of electives, two periods of team sports, and two periods of swimming/aquatic activities. At night, there are whole camp evening activities and a "canteen time" for boy and girl campers to socialize.

[edit] Color War

Every year at Camp Chipinaw during the seventh week, (3rd and 7th at Chipinaw @ Silver Lake), there is the traditional "Color War". Two teams, Red and Gray, compete in many activities for points and the win. During Color War campers and counselors cannot talk during meals, must have a letter every night, and the line-up for each meal is a "running line-up". This involves the two teams racing from the bottom of the hill to the top where they stand to be inspected. Teams get points or lose points depending on these things. Other activies include sports such as soccer, baseball, football, tennis, hockey, swimming, and boating. Every year campers anticipate the start of Color War. No one except the directors know exactly how it will "break out". There are traditional fake-outs where the campers are led to believe Color has started, and they are told to go get their team assignments. There they find nothing but a sign saying FAKEOUT. Eventually they get the real thing. What happens is that the entire camp is gathered for a fictious reason. They then are surprised by a large sign, a scream of "This Is Color War!", "Go to the Gym!" At the gym or anywhere else they find many trinkets, red and grey ones. Campers and counselors find their name on these and it gives them a leadership rank, or nothing. One year the trinket was a whistle, one year there was a small towel. Some breakouts include ice cream sandwich wrappers that say COLOR WAR. One rumored planned breakout was a helicopter dropping papers saying COLOR WAR. One of the biggest events is Sing. Sing is an event where each team sings three or four songs or cheers. They are: Cheer, Allamata, Team Song-Make Fun of Others, and an Introduction. This activity is heavily weighted.

[edit] External links

• Camp Homepage