Over the past two days – and for the next four – you’ll be seeing countless photos, social media posts, and blog updates about Color War.

If you’re a first-time CGL family, you may find yourself wondering, What in the world is a Rope Burn? or Why is everyone cheering while two guys are eating a watermelon without using their hands?

Don’t worry. We’ve got you.

Here’s your official Color War Glossary to help you follow all the excitement.

Color War

The biggest event of the summer. Camp is divided into the Green and White teams, who spend the week competing in athletic, artistic, musical, strategic, ridiculous, and occasionally downright bizarre competitions for Color War glory.

Break

The moment everyone waits for all summer.

It’s the surprise event that officially launches Color War. Past Breaks have included drone shows, laser displays, parachuting cosplayers, and all kinds of unforgettable surprises. No matter how it happens, it always includes three loud booms that send campers sprinting from every corner of camp.

Rallies

Each team gathers daily to learn songs, cheers, and skits.

Symbol Search

Eleven items representing the year’s Color War themes are hidden throughout camp. Teams search every inch of CGL hoping to find more symbols than their opponents.

Mealtime Mania

Every dinner features two Green and two White campers (one boy and one girl) competing in a quick, often hilarious, Minute-to-Win-It-style challenge.

Scavenger Hunt

The captains receive a list of 40 challenges that must be completed before time runs out. They recruit campers and counselors to help accomplish everything from building the tallest house of cards to painting campers’ toenails to depict team themes, to creating a blindfolded map of camp with only verbal directions. Creativity is definitely encouraged.

Cabin Activities

Bunk vs. bunk competition all week long. Sports, games, and challenges fill nearly every period as cabins earn valuable points for their teams.

Acorn Relay

One of the signature Color War events. Every camper participates in this massive relay that combines speed, teamwork, problem-solving, and just enough chaos to make it unforgettable.

Artwork

Our Greek campers become artists, designers, builders, and engineers. Throughout the week they create incredible themed artwork, including plaques, Picassos, planks, and scoreboards, that transform camp.

Division Relays

Fast-paced relay races across camp where every camper gets a chance to contribute.

All God’s Children

If you remember Olympics, this is the famous “shoe salad” game. Instead of the entire camp competing at once, divisions compete separately to see who can reunite campers with their shoes the fastest.

Rope Burn

Since the Break, the four male Camper Captains have been gathering firewood and planning their strategy. Their mission? Build a fire hot enough to burn through a rope suspended 11 feet in the air while the entire camp cheers them on.

Campfire Skits

Once performed around an actual campfire, these now take place in the Globe. Teams write and perform original skits inspired by their Color War themes. They’re funny, creative, and full of inside jokes that somehow become camp legends.

Tug of War

Exactly what it sounds like. No explanation necessary.

Steeplechase

One of the most anticipated events of the week.

This epic relay race sends campers and counselors all over camp completing obstacle after obstacle. It begins with the female captains eating a bowl of pudding and ends with the male captains devouring half a watermelon. In between? Running from Arch to Arch, throwing footballs through tires, canoeing around the lake inflatables, and plenty of other challenges that only make sense during Color War.

And finally…

Sing

The grand finale.

Throughout the week, each team learns four songs: March, Razz, Alma Mater, and Friendship. During Sing, they perform each one before a panel of judges who award the final points.

Then comes the moment everyone has been waiting for.

The winner of Color War is announced.

There are cheers. There are tears. There are hugs. Lifelong memories are made.

And yes… there’s a canteen treat.

Of course, this is only a small sampling of everything that happens during Color War at CGL. We hope this guide helps you follow along, understand what you’re seeing in all those photos and videos, and feel like you’re right here with us.

Green is Supreme! White’s Outta Sight!

— Aunt Robin