Ononbloga

Hey everyone!
I'm Gaby Cordaro from Rochester, NY. This year is my 8th summer at camp. I was in Tusc 2009 and then took part in the new LIT program. This summer I am a SIT, meaning my first year as a full staff member. I couldn't be happier in any other activity than Onondaga. This session I am one of three counselors of the bunk O-4.
Today was jam packed! After breakfast, we ran to clean up to ensure our cabins were spotless. Soon, we had first period with O-2 and O-3. We all took the short walk to the sing benches for a sing period with Charlie Landsman. Song trivia and freeze dance entertained the girls, and the winners got to choose their favorite camp songs from the new song books. Second period my girls went to the glades next to the beautiful garden started a few summers ago. Mike Toma and Jess Cromwell, Outdoor Living Skills leaders, led the ten girls of O-4 to the middle of the long Camp Road. On the side of the dirt road, Sumac trees grew. I learned (which most of the girls already knew) that the flowers and seeds of Sumac taste like bitter lemons; with some sugar it can be made into a lemonade substitute. The girls harvested the flowers and Mike and Jess helped them squeeze the juice and filter out the seeds. With some added mint leaves from the garden, they had a fancy drink to bring to lunch.
The afternoon was the more exciting part of the day. After lunch and rest hour, the entire camp went to finally show the community all their hard work from their hours in hobby periods. This is called Hobby Culmination Day. I am a staff member in a new and very successful hobby, Zumba. Zumba is a new class taking the world by storm with fun exercise that involves ab work and dance moves- and it brings out the sweat! We filmed the girls making a workout video that was later showcased in the O-Rec. Other campers ran a 5k, competed in an Iron Chef competition, played speedball, or set up creative and impressive art work. By 4 o'clock, the camp watched the Swim The Lake hobby group come to shore, which is important to me as I did the same in 2009. An elongated shower time allowed all the girls shower and do their hair for Hobby Banquet. Awards were given in the dining hall and everyone headed up to the O-Rec to see slide shows, acting and videos of other hobbies culminating. As the evening program came to a close the girls put on their pjs, brushed their teeth and enjoyed their flashlight time. A night surprise for the girls, the staff of O-4 got ice cream sandwich wheels from Seneca Farms. The girls obviously loved the surprise and thanked us profusely. They then went to bed with happy tummys and (hopefully) no ice cream on their faces. That's all for the lovely bunk of O-4, I'll be sad to see them leave!
Gaby Cordaro
O-4 Counselor