Life at the Bay

It's time for a fleeting glimpse at all the fun that's been going on this week at Sugar Bay: At Monday's Foamy Auction, juniors had 30 seconds to trans foam their teammates into characters to impress the judges, a difficult task since those members of the Royal Foam Family can be pretty fickle. As you can see, campers went all out to make an impression! Of course, cabin pictures are always a really serious affair where no silliness is allowed. Fear of heights... what's that? Trying new things and overcoming obstacles is what camp is all about! What would Foam Party Week be without some epic slip 'n sliding?  Funny stories from Lucky are always a treat.  This face says "I'm free, there's foam and I'm loving it!" And the best part? It's only Wednesday! Fancy joining us for the holiday of a lifetime at camp? The more the merrier is what we always say! Check out our rates & dates fo...

We've been so busy popping molecules, busting myths, camping out and geeking out that we've only just noticed that it's already Wednesday! Which means it's time for a quick recap of the week so far, and since a picture is worth a thousand words (ooh - is that another myth to test?) ... here you go! Myth #1: Blue icing makes every cupcake taste better...   Looks like this one is CONFIRMED! - - - - - Myth #2: A surfboard will not work as a makeshift guitar for super divas.  They seem to be doing just fine... Myth BUSTED! - - - - - Myth #3: There is only one Kid President in the world.   BUSTED! We found another one right here at Sugar Bay! - - - - - Myth #4: This guy isn't scared of an encounter with a Drop Bear on the way to Camp Out.  So clearly BUSTED!   - - - - - Myth #5: Camp is only fun for younger kids.  BUSTED! These AC's (Advanced Campers) are loving all their special privileges!   - - - - -   Myth ...

Since it's Mythbusters Week and we're all about learning new things, here's a fun fact about the little village that surrounds Sugar Bay: Zinkwazi Beach is named after the Zulu word iNkwazi , which means Fish Eagle . And for good reason too. We're lucky enough to share our tropical paradise with many of these majestic creatures and are excited to report that there's a new addition to the family! And not only that, but our resident Fish Eagles have been seen teaching their young chick to fish in the lagoon! Sugar Bay's Project Manager Charl often fishes from the lagoon launching site and was lucky enough to make the sighting.   On the shore opposite the launching site is an old dead tree that hangs over the water, known to all at Sugar Bay as the  Wishing Tree . And it seems the eagles have claimed this as their favourite spot to spy their next meal. In fact, Charl has often found himself competing with the pair for the rights to the bream and perch...

The day was young, the sun still on its way, The making of history was on the cards today. With backpacks full and water at the ready, They started their journey, slow and steady. Armed with sleeping gear, headlamps and plenty of rope Our two brave campers, also known as Nikita and Hope... Hiked on the beach to learn something new And reminisced on surfing yesterday with Iron Brew. They did some team-building, and they walked even more, Comparing notes on how to make the perfect s'more Although much easier to just catch a cab, They hiked on regardless, ...

Raaaaaw! How to Train your Dragon Week has just ended and we are all still flying around like Toothless on a sugar rush! It was an epic adventure filled with very delicious viking dinners and plenty of themed games and activities. This particular week marked 53 weeks at camp for a special young lady, 15-year old Cassady Cassim. We got to chat to her on the Sugar Bay bus back to Johannesburg about all things camp. SB: Hey Cass, how old were you at your first camp?  Cassady: I was 6 years old. SB: What was your very first camp like?  Cassady : It was fun and exciting and a good experience. SB:  So Cass, 53 weeks!That's over a year's worth of camp! We have to know, what's the reason you keep coming back?  Cassady : This is my home, I come back for the people. I come back for the counselors and to make new friends. Everyone here gives me love and treats me well. SB: What's the coolest thing about being at camp for you?  Cassa...

It's no secret that one of the best things about Sugar Bay is the weird and wonderful counselors . They make the Sugar Bay experience an unforgettable one, whether it be during Holiday Camps or School Bonding Tours. But just who are these staff members and how do we make sure they're not crazy in a bad way but only wacky in the good way? I was lucky enough to spend some time with our 17 trainees last week and let me tell you, they are an exceptional group of people. And I'm not just saying that. This group of trainees astounded me. I've spent the past 4 summers in America dealing with over 50 international staff members each summer - I know staff - but hearing these trainees share their passion for camp and the difference it has made in their lives brought tears to my eyes.    Camp Director Zoe Ellender wasn't without teary eyes either as she heard how her dream of creating an American-style summer camp right here in South Africa has touched so many ...

We're sure that even in the time of the vikings they knew that pictures were worth a thousand words. Be sure to check out our Photo Album on Facebook for all the pictures of How To Train Your Dragon Week, but here's a quick snapshot of the week so far... As you can see there's been plenty fun in the sun with kayaking, beach games, dune jumping, sea swim and sand art. When they're not on the beautiful Zinkwazi beach, How To Train Your Dragon campers are enjoying paintball, high ropes and rock wall climbing, not to mention our epic evening activities.  So far our Junior Dragons have had a Dragon Hunt, Camp Out/Camp In and Dragon Training, while seniors have tried their hand at being the Ultimate Dragon Chef, had an epic Vikings Evening and also went to Camp Out/Camp In. A few seniors even undertook an Adventurous Journey as part of the prestigious President's Award. For more details, see here . If you happened to miss out on this April Holiday ...

With the recent news of 56 students being hospitalized for food poisoning in KZN ( read the article here ), we thought it would be a good time to introduce the person in charge of our kitchen and understand the strict hygiene practices we follow to avoid such instances of food poisoning or contamination. When regularly feeding over 150 children and staff members, it's something that we take quite seriously. But first... Time to see your silly side! What's the craziest food concoction you've ever heard of? I have 2 that I eat regularly. Ready for this? Toast. Butter. Syrup. Aromat. Delicious! The other one is Toast. Butter. Tomato Sauce and Marmite. Don't worry though, I won't be serving that at any meal times! What's your favourite camp meal? KFC-style chicken. Just like Colonel Sanders, I've got my own secret recipe of herbs and spices! And NO I won't tell you! What's one food you haven't tried yet? Mopane worms! Our beloved Che...