🦆 WE ARE GETTING OUR DUCKS IN A ROW — AND WE MEAN THAT COMPLETELY LITERALLY!!

The ducks are COMING. As in real, actual, living ducks. As in the petting zoo is becoming very, very real and we could not be more excited about it. One section at a time, one animal at a time, this thing is happening and it is going to be INCREDIBLE. But more on that in a second — because first, let us tell you about the last few weeks.

Man alive.

🔨 JAMIE. TEN HOURS. EIGHTY DEGREES. LEGEND.

We need to take a moment and formally recognize Jamie, who spent approximately ten hours putting up a brand new fence at the barn in 80 degree heat. Ten hours. Outside. In the sun. With tools.

We believe he lost around ten pounds in the process. We have not confirmed this medically but we are choosing to believe it. Jamie, we see you. We honor you. You are built different and this camp does not deserve you. The ducks will never know what you sacrificed for them, but WE know. 🫡🔥

🍂 THE GREAT LEAF HAUL — IT'S DONE AND WE SURVIVED

Remember when we asked for volunteers to scoop ten tons of leaves out of the pool? Well — we handled it. The leaves have been conquered, evicted, and removed from the premises. We have since begun the patch and paint process and the pool is on its way back to its former glory just in time for summer.

The pool would like to thank everyone involved. The leaves have no comment. 🍃

🚤 NEW PADDLE BOATS AT THE LAKE AND YES WE ARE YELLING ABOUT IT

Did we mention the new paddle boats? We may have mentioned the new paddle boats. We're mentioning them again because they deserve to be mentioned TWICE.

Cruise around the lake, take in the mountain views, catch some fresh air, make some memories — it is going to be an absolute vibe. However, we do need to issue one very important advisory:

Get the front seat.

We cannot stress this enough. If you end up in the back seat, you WILL get soaking wet. This is not a threat. This is not a warning. This is simply the physics of paddle boats and we are just the messenger. Front seat. Every time. You've been told. 🚤💦😂

📋 QUICK HITS — A FEW THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

🗓️ Check-in details are coming — our next blog post will have everything you need to know about arrival day. Stay tuned!

💸 Want to make some money? We are looking for people to help distribute fliers for the camp! Age does not matter — all you need is willpower, determination, and a pair of working legs. If you hand out or place 100 fliers we will gain at minimum one connection, donation, camper, or staff member. That's a real return on hustle. Reach out to Greg@vineyardcamp.com if you're interested!

🐺 New wolf coming soon!! We'll leave that one right there for now. 👀

🙋 Campers are signing up daily and we are locking in the last few staff roles — things are coming together fast!

🪵 Camp has firewood for sale! Make a gift to the camp and we will personally deliver a truckload right to your door. Nothing says "I support this place" like a warm fire this fall. 🔥

🎃 Pumpkin patch incoming! We are planning a pumpkin patch for this fall and we will let you know when they're ready to be picked. Swing by, grab a few, and maybe a goat will judge you while you do it.

🇺🇸 AND NOW — THE STORY OF THE FLAG. PLEASE READ THIS.

We saved the best for last.

Over the off season, a tree — a fully committed, absolutely audacious tree — grew directly into our flagpole and physically fused itself to the American flag. Tree and flag. One unit. Inseparable. Like they had been best friends for years and nobody told us.

We called the professionals. What followed was over an hour of the most dramatic, chaotic, deeply American scene this camp has ever witnessed — grown adults wrestling with a tree, a flag, and a flagpole whipping violently in every direction, with absolutely nobody in control of the situation at any point. At several moments we genuinely considered just cutting the whole flagpole down and calling it a day.

But we did not.

We persevered. We fought. We untangled. We won.

THE FLAG STILL STANDS. 🇺🇸

Francis Scott Key would be proud. The tree has been dealt with. America remains undefeated at Vineyard Camp and that is simply the way it will always be.

Big things coming. Ducks incoming. Flag flying. See you all SO soon. 🏕️🔥