Here Comes Kieve!

By: Nadia Shah

Who’s ready for Kieve? In a few weeks, 7th graders are going on a 5-day trip to camp Kieve, located in Nobleboro, Maine. It takes about three hours to get there, and three hours to come back. Are you ready to review the trip?

The first thing you should be looking at is your packing list. You are going to need many things, so be sure to read the packing list (included right below):

Personal items: toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, towel, etc.


Sleeping bag and pillow ( or sheets and blankets). Bring in a plastic bag to keep them clean and dry.


Rain gear: unless there is thunder and lightening, we DO go outside.


Cold weather gear: Gloves, hats, scarves, winter boots, etc


Socks, socks, socks: It sounds silly, but if you get wet or cold, you are going to want warm feet.


Clothing that can be layered. Sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts. It is easier to take off extra layers than to wish you had brought more!


Closed toed shoes: This is a requirement to climb on our Ropes Course.


Miscellaneous Gear: Sunscreen, chapstick, water bottle, bug spray, cameras are allowed but not in the classroom, flashlight.


You can leave your school books, pencils and rulers behind. But, you may want to bring reading material for at night.


Medications must be in the original bottle, with the label indicating name and dose. All medications will go to the infirmary upon arrival and be divided into cabins for your cabin staff to distribute accordingly. Our Health Care Manager will be checking all medications and dosage instructions when you arrive. Also, she will be on duty to help out during the week.


We encourage you not to bring electronics, they may get lost. If you need music to fall asleep you may bring an ipod or portable cd player with headphones, but they must be kept in the cabin.

Next, you are going to want to look into where exactly you will be staying. At Kieve, you stay in cabins. Each cabin has their own character. They will keep you warm and dry (don’t worry!). All the cabins have two toilets, two sinks, and two showers, electrical outlets, heat, and up to 16 bunk beds. Some have a lakefront view! Kieve asks that you do not ruin the cabins, because they serve as homes to staff. Be sure to remember that Kieve is NOT a hotel!

Then, you should look at your schedule. You are going to want to know what you will be doing and when out will be doing it. A normal day is as follows:
7:30 - Wake Up


8:00 - Breakfast


9:00-Noon: Classes. Don’t worry, there's a snack in the middle of the morning!


12:00-12:30 - LUNCH


12:30-3:00 - Class


3:00 - Snack #2


3:20 - Choice time. (See below for sample choice time activities)


5:15 - DINNER


6:30 - Evening program


8:00 - Snack #3


9:00 - Lights out(6th graders) 9:15(7th graders) 9:30 (older students)


Finally, you are going to want to know what you are going to eat, since food is your first priority! Kieve has many choices of food, so you will be okay if you are picky! In the morning you will sit at a table with your cabin-mates and have a family style meal. Breakfast choices include cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt, milk, orange juice and a hot entrée like waffles or eggs and bacon. Lunches are served buffet style. You will line up and make selections from the lunch line where you will find a variety of hot foods (turkey with stuffing, chicken fajitas, hot dogs, etc). There is also a sandwich bar where you can make your own sandwich, as well as a salad bar. You can have as many helpings as you want. We just ask that you try to eat what you take. At lunchtime you can sit wherever you please -- catching up with old friends or getting to know new friends and TLS Educators better and catch up from the morning. Like breakfast, dinner is served family style and you will sit with your TLS Cabin Educator and cabin mates. For dinner you can expect things like burgers, spaghetti, stew. There is always a vegetarian choice.

Kieve is an amazing experience (from what I have heard), and I can’t wait to take part in it (and I think you should too)!

Source: Kieve