There are certain moments at Camp Cody that campers look forward to all year long. Some are loud and full of energy, while others are quiet traditions that have been passed down through generations of Cody campers.
For more than 100 summers, these traditions have helped turn Camp Cody from a place campers visit into a community they feel part of. They give first-time campers an immediate sense of belonging, create memories between bunkmates and friends, and connect today’s campers with generations who spent their summers on the shores of Lake Ossipee before them.
Whether it’s your first summer at Cody or your tenth, these are the moments that make Cody feel like home.
The Songs Everyone Knows
It doesn’t take long before a new camper starts learning the songs of Camp Cody.
You’ll hear them around the campfire, during morning gatherings, at special events, and sometimes coming from a cabin when you least expect it. Before long, first-year campers are singing right alongside campers who have known the words for years.
Part of the tradition is passing them down. Older campers teach younger campers the lyrics, chants, dances, and hand motions that they once learned themselves.
From Pump It Up and Little Red Wagon to The Jellyfish and ending the day together with Taps, our songs become part of the soundtrack of summer. And for many campers, they don’t stop when camp ends. They’re sung in cars, at home, and whenever Cody friends reunite throughout the year.
Green vs. Grey
Few days at Cody bring out as much camp spirit as Green vs. Grey.
Campers and staff proudly put on their team colors for a full day of friendly competition, teamwork, and Cody spirit. Cabins compete in challenges throughout the day, from tug-of-war and games to cheers, chants, and sing-offs.
But Green vs. Grey has never been just about which team wins.
It’s about cheering for your friends, contributing to your team, and seeing the entire camp come together for one unforgettable day. The excitement builds throughout the competition before everyone makes their way to the beach for the Rope Burn Ceremony, where the winning team is finally revealed.
For new campers, it quickly becomes a favorite. For returning campers, it’s one of those Cody traditions they can’t imagine summer without.
The Pinecone Ceremony
Not every Cody tradition is loud.
On the final night of each session, camp comes together for one of our most meaningful traditions: the Pinecone Ceremony.
Campers gather with their cabins around the campfire for one last evening together. After weeks filled with activities, adventures, inside jokes, new friendships, and countless memories, the pace of camp slows for a moment.
It’s a chance to reflect on the summer they’ve shared and the friendships they’ll be taking home with them.
For a first-time camper, it can mark the end of a summer in which Cody became somewhere they belonged. For returning campers, it carries the memories of all the summers that came before.
It’s bittersweet, meaningful, and one of the moments that best captures what Camp Cody is all about.
Becoming Part of the Cody Tradition
Our traditions have evolved over the years, but what they create has remained remarkably consistent: connection, belonging, friendship, and memories that last far beyond the summer.
For more than a century, generations of campers have sung Cody songs, cheered alongside their friends, gathered around campfires, and left Lake Ossipee already thinking about the summer they could return.
The best part is that every new camper gets to become part of that story.
Ready to start your own Cody traditions? Get in touch with the Camp Cody team.