CBS Mess Phest!

This term of camp has been full of special, unexpected events. This weekend, we introduced what is sure to become another camp classic – the CBS Mess Phest!

The CBS Mess Phest (a play on the word “fest,” in typical CBS Phun Phashion) was designed to give our counseling staff an afternoon break to relax and regroup during our longest term. So while the counselors were enjoying some much-needed R and R, our leadership and full-time staff put on the event of the summer!

After Oasis, campers gathered on the soccer field and Grid Iron for a bit of an extended recreation time – throwing footballs and frisbees, playing Spikeball, socializing, and enjoying some additional snacks and drinks.

After a little while, however, the real activities started. Warming up for our annual Team Comp Paint Wars, campers engaged in a series of four lawn games. In the One Breath Run/Walk/Jog, campers tried to travel as far as they could in just one breath. In Atom Tag, campers played traditional tag with pool noodles and paint (a precursor of what was to come). We also had a Slip ’N Slide relay on an oiled tarp and held a competitive game of “Ichi, Mini, Hoy” on the baseball field.

Then, our Paint Wars began. Campers were divided into our respective CBS teams – The Rough Riders, Texas Rangers, Silver Spurs, and Lone Stars, and set out against each other, aiming to cover a white target on each team’s side with the opposing team’s colors. After the duration of play, the team that has covered the opposition’s target the most is declared the winner.

As you can guess, Paint Wars is typically a messy affair. This year, we decided to kick it up a notch, so after Paint Wars, the real mess began. Campers began jogging in our version of a Spartan Relay, encountering various “mess” obstacles at certain points on camp. Starting at the Grode Pond bridge, campers were confronted with Super Soakers full of soda. At the Thicket Compound, campers dodged flour and leaf blowers. Rounding the corner by our riflery range, campers were greeted by a barrage of water balloons. Finally, the campers took a celebratory “Spartan Mud Bath” at the lakeside just before arriving at our Lake Ted Beach.

At the beach, campers had the opportunity to take photos commemorating the event (and more so, the evidence they were “wearing” because of it!) before cleaning off in the shallow waters of the beach.

We ended the event back at the Thicket for an inaugural “Oasis Dos,” which is just as it sounds: a second helping of our daily snack and social time.

Thanks to all our Term 3 campers for making our first CBS Mess Phest a hit!