Letters from NJ@KT Camp 2024 – Monday Funday
Greetings Friends,
It was a wonderful morning in the Northeast Kingdom and our campers are having an absolute blast. The day started with breakfast at 8am. Eggs, Sausage, home fries, oatmeal with fruit/honey, bagels/toast and some awesome breakfast patties for the vegans in our group that made for a well-rounded breakfast. Huge thanks to Chef Isaac; the culinary team here at BMA takes great care of us!
After breakfast, riders assembled out back for a morning of bike skills and drills. This first-day activity allows ride group coaches to get a sense of rider’s abilities, helping us in confirming the buildup of ride groups and future ride planning. The skills sessions were a ton of fun, and beneficial for those wanting to add to their riding toolset. A highlight of the entire morning was the group photo to pay tribute to our Programs and Camps Director, Jon Olson! Campers spelled out his name in the grass and cheered, “Ride for Jon” at the top of their lungs. It was a very emotional moment for many of us!
The excitement during lunch was palpable, as campers were dressed to ride and ready to venture out into the trail system. Chefs Isaac and Laura put together a wonderful chicken pesto pasta dish with garbanzo beans and roasted red peppers. Side salad and assorted fruits as the standards, along with solid vegan offerings and the ever-present sammie/bagel station. Coaches got together after lunch for a quick trail map and shuttle van discussion, and as if we waved a wand, campus emptied out and riders took to the trails. Smiles for miles!
Upon returning from the afternoon’s rides and a generous hour of bike and self care, we were treated to Chef Laura’s pork, with steamed broccoli and potatoes, and some slammin’ falafel to go with the awesome side salad. We were stoked to sing happy birthday to Shalin C. during the evening recognition festivities too!
After dinner was group activities, where students could sign up for activities of their choosing. Activity offerings included laps of the pumptrack, wildflower pressing, map reading, laser tag, dodge ball (no wrenches allowed), and hydro dipping. Have we mentioned the sunset view? Magic!
We wrapped the night with the ride coaches debrief while taking in the sunset. Blessed to be here!
Thank you for reading, and we hope that you are enjoying the regular updates. Rest assured that your campers are in good hands, and are busy making lifelong memories with friends!
