When you conjure up an image in your head of summer in New England, chances are bright blue skies, shining water, and lush green grass quickly come to mind. And while it’s true that most days at Pemi do indeed fit this stereotype, we have a confession: sometimes it rains at camp. Try as we might to ward off those wet, overcast days or the occasional summer thunderstorm, a few rainy days every summer are inevitable. Luckily, over the course of our 117 summers to date, we’ve developed a whole host of Pemi staples to tide us over until the storm passes.

We’re sharing several – but by no means all – of our favorite rainy day pastimes here, but we’d also love to hear from our current campers, staff, and alumni too. What are your favorite memories from a Pemi rainstorm? Find our posts on Instagram and Facebook to comment, or write in to [email protected] to share your stories. We’ll be updating this blog post to include your memories as they come pouring in! Now for some of our favorites…

Play in the Rain

If there’s no thunder or lightning present, it doesn’t get much better than simply playing in the rain! While some activities – think archery, tennis, basketball, baseball – may not work well during a storm, so many favorite Pemi activities can carry on and may even be more fun. In fact one somewhat recent addition to the Pemi repertoire, barrel ball, feels custom-made for a rainy afternoon. It’s a game that allows campers and staff from a wide range of ages to play together, and the slipping and sliding on the wet grass just adds to the fun. Barefoot and running around, many boys will gladly choose a game of barrel ball over staying inside and dry.

Similarly, that perfect amount of rain can enhance some sports, such as ultimate frisbee and soccer. A softer wet field is the perfect time for practicing your diving catches in ultimate or maybe even a diving header on the soccer pitch. The freedom found in embracing the rain and letting it add to the fun provides for magical experiences that can’t be replicated. There’s something so simple yet profound about running around uninhibited with your friends during a warm summer deluge. Whenever possible, Pemi campers love to play in the rain!

Explore in the Rain

It’s not just Pemi athletics that take advantage of the wet weather. A good storm transforms many of the natural features around us, allowing great opportunities to observe the flora and fauna in a new light. Traipsing through a stream and seeing how the water’s flowing differently, or sheltering under the canopy of a towering pine while observing newly flourishing mushroom colonies can be some of the most memorable experiences during a summer at Pemi. Likewise, boys and staff often take advantage of a rainstorm by grabbing a pair of binoculars and going out to observe water birds. A storm can be the perfect time to see different behavioral patterns or to watch as the birds enjoy a lake free of human occupants.

Of course sometimes we’re dealing with more than just rain. During thunderstorms everyone heads to safe locations such as their cabin, the Senior Lodge, the Nature Lodge, the art building, the woodshop, the Library, and others. Luckily, we have all sorts of activities that take place throughout camp.

Games & Hanging Out in the Cabin

Hanging out in the cabin during a thunderstorm often leads to some of the best group bonding experiences at Pemi, and frequently this takes place over a game of cards. For generations Pemi campers have enjoyed games such as Presidents or Cheat (more commonly known by a different, less polite name) that allow for large groups and quick games with multiple rounds. At a time when so many kids and adults alike default to their screens for entertainment, the social benefits and simple fun of a group card game cannot be overstated. Boys learn to win and lose with grace, to navigate variations in rules across households or cultures, to laugh at themselves and others in a kind and supportive fashion, and to be fully present with one another. And they have lots of fun at the same time!

Another longtime favorite that’s perfect for a cabin or activity group that’s stuck inside is Mafia. This social mystery game involves someone (often a counselor, at least at first) secretly assigning roles to all other participants: villager, night watchman/detective, or mafia to name the most common. From there the game alternates between “night” and “day” phases, where players are secretly eliminated and then the surviving players debate who has which roles and vote to eliminate a suspected mafioso. It’s another great game that teaches social skills like healthy argumentation and debate, how to navigate a seemingly “unfair” loss, and how to band together to achieve a goal even when you have imperfect information. Sticking with our theme, it’s also just a lot of fun!

Storm Watching

One of the most memorable experiences during a Pemi storm, especially one of our fast-arriving thunderstorms, surely has to be simply watching the storm sweep down Lower Baker Pond. Pemi veterans know how to identify the characteristic wind shift and temperature drop that typically precede an upcoming storm. When these signs are felt and we’ve moved inside, those lucky enough to have found themselves in a lakeside building (the Lodge, a Senior Cabin, the Library, or Uppers 1 and 2 to name a few prime spots) often have a perfect vantage point from which to see the wall of rain racing down the lake from west to east.

The sight, sound, smell, and even touch of the air when a storm sweeps in are special sensory phenomena that we rarely get to experience in daily life. These moments remind us of the beauty and power of nature. It’s amazing to see the contemplative or awestruck moods the experience stirs up in boys of every age. There’s just something about it that makes one pause and savor the moment. It’s a timeless moment that can be shared and understood by everyone from an 8-year-old in Junior 1 to a director rushing out of the office and over to the windows to enjoy it from the umpteenth time.

Carrying on with Activities

Many favorite Pemi activities can carry right on through a thunderstorm. A rainy afternoon can be the perfect time for an extended, concentrated effort to finish your project in the wood shop, work on your reference collections in the Nature Lodge, or keep practicing a song in the Junior Lodge ahead of a Vaudeville performance. Down in the art building, boys can take advantage of a storm to experiment with a new medium for the first time or to make something totally different from what they’ve previously been doing. It’s when creativity thrives and when uninterrupted focus can lead to spectacular projects coming to life.

These are just a few examples of Pemi favorites – there’s so much more that goes on around camp than what’s included here. So now we’d love to hear from you! What is/was your favorite way to spend a rainy day at Pemi? What’s your favorite memory from a storm, an activity you can’t wait for this summer, or an opportunity you’d love to take advantage of again?

Please share your favorites on one of our social media posts in the comments or send an email to me at [email protected]. We’ll share the updates below as we get them!

Pat

Camper & Alumni Favorites

“I usually tried to make a point of getting to the library before it hit – (a) to have a sweet view of the sailboats getting knocked around, and (b) to hunker down for a game of Risk or Axis & Allies (or, in the Pip Schlee / Sam Davitt days, occasionally poker).  If I was in the cabin, I have fond memories of playing BS and/or Presidents.  I have a distinct memory of being able to secure a hammock spot on the deck of upper 4 during a really good storm too.” – Danny, former camper