350 Island Pond Road

Previously I have given you an insight into my jobs as a Photography Counsellor and the work the girls produced during my time at Fernwood Cove, I would now like to give you a insight into Camp life itself. 

''Hey girl your a camper

get your Crocs on, go play

Hey now your counselor

get you boots on, get change

all that glitters is green

only Fernwood Cove is our home''

(to be sung to Smash Mouth's All Star, one of the many usual songs that has been adapted to suit camp life, other examples include The adams family theme tune, Sweet Caroline, The Flintstones theme tune, Jay z Forever Young and many more)

Down a normal road in Harrison Maine 04040 lies Island Pond Road, although it may appear to be just another side road, 350 Island Pond the 200 odd acre property at the end of it is anything but ordinary. Fernwood Cove formally Camp Chickawah is a traditional sleep away camp for girls.

During the summer, over both three and a half week sessions, the Camp comes alive with around 400 Campers, 130 odd staff members, around 17 horses, 2 Donkeys, 3 Sheep, a team of Pigs, a lot of chickens, 3 dogs and bunch of other wild critters. I was lucky enough to be able to experience camp life as a Camp Counselor and Bunk 'Mom'. Over the next couple of weeks I will be using the medium of Photojournalism to give an insight into traditional American Summer Camps, as well as my post camp travel and days off. 

350 Island Pond Road, (which according to the Sat Navs doesn't exist) is the home to Fernwood Cove, Extraordinary Summer Camp for Girls, formally Camp Chickawah. Harrison, Maine, June 2014 

The Directors often talk about the 'Threshold' and how we as Counselors are the 'Threshold Guardians' usually this is used to describe separating them from virtual outside influences such as Social Media, Trends and News  however it could also be used to describe the literal threshold between the Extraordinary, simple and traditional lifestyle we live within 350 Island Pond Road and the ordinary one we are part of in the real world , Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, 04040. June 2014

Island Pond, the Hub of Fernwood Cove, perhaps if we were in a Storybook or a Disney film we would describe it as the watering hole inwhich life revolves around however  in real life its just the pond (habited by the so called 'Crazy lady') that we go Sailing, Stand up Paddle boarding, Canoeeing, Kayaking, Swimming ,Wakeboaring and Waterskiing in. Fernwood Cove,  Harrison, Maine, 04040. June 2014

Island Pond, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, 04040, June 2014

The Island within Island Pond, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, 04040, June 2014

ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT ELLIE HETEBRIJ