Frogbridge Color War

For many of us, Color War represents the pinnacle of the summer camp season. It is the single most anticipated event of the camp season. Just think about it, we know when New Year's Eve will be. We can plan well in advance for birthdays and holidays. We can even mark our calendars and make plans for a big Superbowl party at a friend or family member's house because we find out the date a year in advance. For the most part, Color War, or "The Battle At The Bridge" as we call it, is just about the only mystery that we, as excited campers and team members, have all year.

So there we are, staring at the camp calendar as soon as it is released in the spring, checking each date, looking at all of the big events, calling friends, asking parents for help, even begging some team members that we think MAY know more info that we do, all while trying to figure out when the big day will be.

You see, at Frogbridge, Color War kicks off with a huge surprise celebration that we call the "break". It can happen any day of the summer, at any time, during any event or period. You will know the time has come when something out of the ordinary happens. Maybe it's a sudden visit from the State Troopers with sirens blasting. It may happen as we are in the midst of a special event at a Superhero show. Or, there we may be at a special event all together at once, when all of a sudden, our campers are attacked by aliens! How about a helicopter flying overhead showering our campers with green and gold paper? Does a sky diving tandem wearing the camp's team colors that lands right in the middle of our assembly at our annual tug-o-war sound like a pretty cool surprise to you?

As you can see, the where, when and how of the annual Color War break is almost impossible to predict. As you walk around camp on any day of the summer leading up to the big kick off, you will often hear the following whispers throughout our facility:

"I think it's going to break at today's assembly".

"No wait, at today's big special event".

"Is it about to happen right now?"

"Maybe it's tomorrow!"

"I think it's going to break next week!"

"No, no wait....it has to be week 6!"

"But it can be week 5....or week 3....or week 4....or even week 7".

"Agh, I give up. I guess we will never know for sure!"

Let's be honest....you could try your hardest to figure out exactly when the Color War break will happen, and where it will take place, and even how it will be done....but you just don't know for sure until it actually happens.

One thing we do know...once it does break, the Official Team Names, as well as the names of our team leaders, called our Generals, Lieutenants and Captains (a new ranking added in the summer of 2010) are immediately announced.

At this point, we are placed on our teams, Green or Gold, and given our official team bandanas, which we proudly wear throughout the following 3 days as we battle for supremacy in the Battle at the Bridge!

The "Battle" takes place in just about every one of our 86 acres, at just about every one of our 50+ activities. As we play in games and contests all week, we stress two very important factors: fair play and teamwork, and we downplay excessive competition. At Frogbridge, we consider Color War a time to bring our campers together, teaching them how to work together as a team to achieve a common goal.

The last day of the battle begins with our famous 86 acre relay. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the real deal. EVERY camper has a part in the race which starts in the front of our campus and works it's way into and out of every one of our activities along every one of our 86 acres, and ends at the assembly area, as our Generals conclude the race by cracking the combination to a lock which sets free their team's colors into the sky! Later in the day, the battle ends in Harrison Square Garden with a sing down among teams, and a songbook and plaque presentation by our team leaders. The judges cast the scores, the scores are then tallied, and within minutes J.R. makes the announcement we have all been waiting for: "The winners of the Battle at the Bridge are......." The confetti flies into the air, the teams congratulate each other on a job well done, and the victors' flag flies high at assembly.

So as you start thinking about the next Color War break, let's take a look back through the years at all of our previous team names, generals and winning teams.