Every summer during staff training we try to prepare ourselves and the staff for how fast the summer will fly by, despite the fact that 10 weeks seems like a long time. We are now at that point - people are somewhat in a state of disbelief that in a few short days the campers will be home, enjoying hot showers and we will be putting camp to bed. We are all very aware that we need to focus and pay attention so we don’t miss any ‘moments’ during this last week.
Last week in review:
Monday was a convergence zone of sorts here on Johns. Our Big Trips left in drizzle and cool temperatures. Trips leaving for the Cascade Mountains departed by sun rise, with bikes and kayaks leaving before breakfast. Lightnings had a more leisurely departure mid morning. Spirits remained positive and as the week progressed the weather improved. All trips reported ‘awesome’ experiences.
Our youngest campers were also up early on Monday, having breakfast at 6:30am and boarding their boat for Anacortes by 7:15. There is always a nice group of campers and staff who come to see them off despite the hour (they could still be sleeping in their tipis but they choose to see their younger friends off). Despite the cool, damp weather the Archers and Explorers were given a wonderful send off.
While these groups were being launched from the island a major food delivery arrived at 7:00am – dirty laundry was then loaded on the empty barge for the trip back to Roche Harbor. Having 3 such significant events occuring almost simultaniously is a test of the community’s ability to work together. Everyone did a great job.
With the youngest and oldest campers gone our middle campers enjoyed more access to activities and time to strut their stuff. Voyaguers and Foresters lead teams in the traditional Nell Robinson scavenger hunt Wednesday afternoon and all campers had a chance to sign up for a special activity that morning.
Overnights were blissfully dry and warm – Foresters paddled to Reid Harbor on Stuart Island while Vagabonds enjoyed a night on Satellite Island. Satellite is owned by the YMCA of Seattle and overseen by Camp Orkila on Orcas. They have given us permission to use some of their overnight sites for our groups and we are extremely grateful. In the past we have done service work for them which has included giving a face lift to one of the island outhouses. All other units stayed on island. Many saw some of the meteor showers. Trips and overnights returned Friday to a feast of Killer Mac, singing, showers and going to bed early.
Visitor’s Weekend preparation had the campers doing unit clean up and property sweeps. Regular clean up happens every Sunday, in departments and Units, partly as a way to control the chaos. It is also how we show respect for the property and the people who’s commitment to Nor’wester has provided us such a stellar home. Before Visitor’s Weekend we make a special effort. We know many guests travel a significant distance to get to Johns and we want them to feel welcome.
We had record numbers of visitor’s this session – almost 150 on Saturday and over a 100 on Sunday. It sounds like a broken record but the weather was again wonderful – cool and clear on Saturday, sunny and warm with nice off shore breezes on Sunday. Visitor’s enjoyed regularly scheduled activities on Saturday and our Sunday guests were treated to a very memorable Musicale – an incredible variety of creativity and talent was showcased.
Musicale is a powerful example of what camp is all about. Campers and staff, some very talented, some less so, find the courage to stand up and perform in front of 200+ people. That might seem like the magical part but what is truly amazing is the respect and attention this audience gives back to each performer. Whether the song is sung in or out of tune each performance is observed without back ground chatter or giggles, and acknowledged with enthusiastic applause. I love this aspect of our community!
The Week Ahead:
Little Big Trips (Foresters and Voyaguers) left on Monday. A group goes to the Cascades, one bikes through the San Juans and the Hunt Canoes paddle around the islands. This is their introduction to coed, extended overnights – presenting them with a new set of challenges and group dynamics.
Everyone in camp will be working feverishly on their Potlatch gifts. Second session we have our version of ‘Secret Santa’, with campers drawing the name of another camper and staff drawing another staff member’s name. We work on a gift for that person, keeping their identity a secret until we exchange gifts at the end of the session. This is a very memorable evening, in the Bighouse illuminated by the glow of the crackling fire.
Potlatch Games will be held Saturday and Sunday – the entire camper population will be divided into two teams, the Ravens and the Bears, and will participate in various activities at each of our departments. Teams work for points, which are awarded for successful completion of an assigned task, sportsmanship, organization, punctuality and spirit.
Saturday night we will enjoy a salmon BBQ and then it’s off to the Bighouse to witness examples of NW Coast Native dances and songs. (excerpted from First Session blog entry) This is a magical time for our community where we come together in the Bighouse, literally around a blazing fire, and enjoy many dances and songs typical of the NW Native tribes. Bill and Marty Holm introduced this aspect of the program back in the 50’s (Bill was first a counselor in 1942 and met Marty when she started on staff in 1948).
Sunday evening we will have our end of session banquet where team leaders will make speeches and the winner of the Games accounced. This is a short version of the first session evening because this session the focus this night is the Gift Exchange.
Then – packing and goodbyes – but for now it’s back to the craftshop to finish that Potlatch gift…
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Packing Day
Morning came early to all of us today. We are dizzy with fatigue, after spending a long, magical night in the Bighouse for the Potlatch gift exchange, and we have a full day of packing ahead of us. This is a bitter sweet period where we find ourselves juggling the anticipation of returning home to family and the sadness of parting from friends.
These finals days have been action packed. Thursday saw all the overnights and Little Big Trips return, dirty and happy. We also had a visit from Calvin and Marie Hunt. Calvin is a world recognized Northwest Coast Indian artist who was a camper back in the 60’s. Since 2000 he and Marie have been sending children and relatives to camp. He and many members of his family have come for several years to celebrate Potlatch in the Bighouse, performing dances belonging to his family. Over the years Calvin has given the camp many works of art, including welcome figures by our dock, a box and bench drum for the Bighouse, and a carved figure clutching a handful of paint brushes that sits on the Craft Shop porch.
This year circumstances prevented them from attending the dances but they had gifts that they wanted to present to the camp so they came for a quick overnight visit. We all gathered in the Bighouse Thursday evening and they gave the camp two staffs, carved by another NW Coast artist, John Livingston, whose grandson is attending camp this session. One represents the Bears and the other the Ravens – the two Potlatch Games teams! These are works of art that we will enjoy forever. It will be a privilege to carry these during the games, available only to the oldest campers.
Calvin also presented us with two paddles for our Hunt canoes. These 22′ fiberglass canoes, made from a canoe carved by Calvin, are Nuu-chah-nulth style. We have two sets of beautifully carved and painted rowers paddles for each boat but were lacking the appropriate paddles for the helmsman. Calvin gave us two wonderful paddles that complete the set.
Friday night we were entertained by the performers in Opry House, our dramatic presentation that comes at the end of each session. The performances were wonderful, if somewhat unpolished. Keep in mind that several of these actors were gone for 5 and 4 days on extended trips, taking their scripts with them.
Saturday was the first of two full days of Games. The Bears and Ravens competed at the waterfront, ropes course and even in activities set up by the craft shop staff. Scores were presented through skits. This session the story line followed the threat of ‘Creeping Adulthood’ taking over the youth of Nor’wester. Fear not – the Creep was stopped by a band of camp Super Heroes!
The salmon BBQ Saturday night was tasty! We ate until we couldn’t eat any more. With a quick sweep of the area to pick up debris and water bottles we headed out to the Bighouse for a full evening of dances performed by Bill and Marty Holm, with family, friends. Calvin and Marie were represented by Ali Hunt, their daughter and staff member, and Spencer Hunt, their nephew, a camper. It was spectacular as always. There was the occasional camper or staff member nodding off periodically (the house gets very warm with the blazing fire in it’s center, and the dances last a couple of hours) but it was a wonderful evening of magic.
Sunday was another day of Games followed by preparation for our end of session Banquet. Tables were set, clean clothes put on and we gathered to enjoy a special time together. Team Captains gave speeches, reflecting on their many years as campers and the influence camp has had on their lives. They each encouraged younger campers to be open to the opportunities presented at camp and they gave touching tributes to the staff and unit mates that enriched their summers here. It was remarkable.
Shortly after dinner it was off to the Bighouse again, this time to gather and share in the effort and creativity everyone put into making a gift for someone else in our community. Close to 200 people exchanged gifts and it lasted long into the night. There were tears and laughter along the way and people shared success stories and Potlatch gift making tragedies. It was like Christmas in August!
So today we are suffering from a mixture of emotions. Trunks are being packed, many held together by a prayer and several feet of duct tape. Lost and found has been distributed to the best of our human ability but we know more will show up just as the boats pull away from the dock tomorrow. Everyone is also working together to return the property to it’s ‘without people’ condition. Our goal is to have the property free of any litter or left behind items that would indicate that people have lived here all summer. Rather, we hope that our neighbors to the east, who have permission to walk the property in the off season, will be moved to remark “It’s hard to imagine that 200 people just spent the summer here – it’s looks so beautiful.”
Tomorrow we meet for breakfast at 6:15AM! We won’t be pretty, but we’ll be together. Then it’s a short walk to the dock and final goodbyes. It has been a wonderful summer and we are grateful for the time we had together. Everyone leaves here changed – many in small ways, some in profound ways. We hope that families will see a positive difference in their camper but more importantly we hope that the campers and staff will see a positive difference in themselves. Until next year….keep your showers short and your garbage sorted.