Today marks the midway point of second session. The lodge is beginning to resonate with comments like “Really, the little campers are leaving tomorrow?” and “I can’t believe that Big Trips leave in the morning!”. Both these events serve as session mile stones – once the youngest campers head home and the oldest campers leave on trips time seems to accelerate. This week the 6 middle units will have the property and program to themselves, celebrating Nell Robinson Day as a highlight to the week. But before I get into this week I’ll give you some highlights from this past week.
As I mentioned last week, on Sunday we gather as a camp for Chapel. Last week the Pioneers hosted the gathering and lead us through a discussion on the topic of sharing. It was a thoughtful presentation, with just the right amount of humor. Monday night the oldest units participated in Older Unit Specials, where activities normally not offered at camp are hosted by staff and open to coed groups of campers.
Our second overnight on Thursday was very successful. The weather couldn’t have been better. Units spent the evening sharing stories and relaxing together, away from the rest of camp. The Wayfarers sailed Lightnings to Jones Island. This is the first Lightning overnight since we moved to Johns Island and it was very successful. Other units leaving the island included the Foresters going to Reid Harbor and the Islanders kayaking to Prevost Harbor, both on Stuart Island. Our youngest units enjoyed prime overnight locations on property – the Archers went to Magic Beach, the Explorers were at Eagle Rock and the Woodsmen chilled out at Cottonwood Cove. The attached may will give you an idea of the camp layout. Color Trail Map
Friday was Island Fair Day, an all-camp celebration when units bake pies, build milk-carton boats and host a carnival booth. The weather cooperated, kicking up a little wind in the afternoon, but otherwise remaining sunny. Booth topics included: Court House by the Islanders, Face Painting by the Wayfarers, Knock-Knock Jokes by the Explorers, and You-Tube ‘video’ by the Rangers. The Foresters took Best Pie for their Chocolate Oreo ice cream cake as well as winning the milk-carton boat race. The Islanders came in first in the kayak race against the 5 oldest units and the Pioneers came in first in the canoe race. The evening was brought to a close with the oldest units gathering in the lodge to watch the video from last year and the youngest units gathering for story-telling at the craftshop. A well deserved ’sleep-in’ breakfast was enjoyed by everyone Saturday morning. We serve a continental style breakfast from 8:30am – 9:30am. Attendance is optional and pajamas are welcome. A camp favorite , it is a very low key way to ease into the morning schedule.
This past week we had the first precipitation since June. Yesterday was definitely rainy and activities were adjusted accordingly. Most impressive was the positive attitude that permeated the camp. It was almost like people were relieved by the rain. It gave the property a fresh look and gave people a chance to unpack their rain gear.
Last night the Mountaineers hosted the all-camp campfire that was focused on saying goodbye to the youngest campers. Today is another Sunday, but not as laid back as our first. Older units will spend most of the day orienting and packing for their Big Trips, youngest units will spend the morning locating lost and found, packing trunks and saying goodbye to older campers. Chapel, hosted by the Rangers is about begin and we have another full line-up for Musicale. Unit clean-up is also on the schedule. For a quiet day it’s pretty busy!
Coming up this week: Nell Robinson Day on Wednesday, when we celebrate the life of Nell Robinson, the previous owner of our property. Campers will participate in an all-camp scavenger hunt and special activities. Thursday we will have the third overnight of the session, Friday the Big Trips return, and Visitor’s Weekend is Saturday/Sunday. Weather reports indicate that the rain is behind us and we are entering another week of sun and scattered clouds. I’ll check back with you in a week with an update.
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Losing Track of Time
My sincere apologies. It seemed like a minute ago it was Sunday evening of visitors weekend and I was drafting a blog entry in my ming and suddenly it’s Thursday morning! This last week is known for its warp speed and I’m afraid I got caught up in it. When you suddenly see the end approaching you find yourself wanting to be out and about, taking in the program and the campers. The office still calls, but you find plenty of reasons to be away from computers and phones…
Visitor’s Weekend was a great success; approx. 140 people attended on Saturday and another 100 came to visit on Sunday. While the numbers are significant I would guess that less than half of our campers actually have family come to the property. Saturday and Sunday are run as usual for us, so campers without guests are fully engaged in the program and guests get a chance to observe what happens during a regular Saturday/Sunday at camp.
Because of the transportation timing guests coming on Sunday do not arrive in time to come to Chapel, our all -camp gathering on Sunday mornings. Last Sunday the Mariners were the hosts and the topic was “Identity”. They lead us through a discussion of private, camp and community personalities. As always there was audience participation from the various units. In discussing private identities – those things that are a part of who we are, but that are not generally shared with others- we discovered that many people, both staff and campers, still sleep with the stuffed animal/blanket that they have had since crib-life! A very unifying discovery.
Monday night the Troubadours hosted Coffee House, our open mike evening for the 4 oldest units. The theme was Lumberjacks, complete with pancakes, lanterns and cut-out thumbs for stirring their coffee. It was a great success. The Foresters and Voyageurs did not attend as they were on their Little Big Trips. Early Monday morning a group left for the Cascades for an alpine hike. Later that morning the bikes left for Lopez Island and the Hunt canoes pushed off for 4 days of paddling around the San Juans (they saw whales their second day out!).
The younger units in camp have full access to the program and they make the most of it. The craftshop is busy with people finishing up projects, drama is preparing for Opry House which happens Friday night and the Adobe oven has be cranking out all sorts of delicious items. Croissants were even attempted – remember, we celebrate effort as well as success!
Last night was the last overnight of the session. Our luck held and the weather was wonderful. This overnight marks the start of the final phase of the session. Units spend some time in reflection – sharing their experiences during the session, what went well for them and what didn’t. Younger campers arrive back before lunch and the Little Big campers will be back on the property before dinner. Camp thespians will put finishing touches on their parts in Opry House which will be presented to the camp Friday night. The younger campers are performing Eighteen Reasons Not To Be In A Play, while the older campers will perform This Is A Test. Then we swing into the closing activities of Potlatch Games, the Native Dances and the Potlatch Gift Exchange.
During the Games the camp is divided into the Raven and Bear teams and they compete in 2 days of activities hosted by the various departments. The evening the first day we have a Salmon BBQ and then head for the Bighouse to enjoy an evening of Native Dances presented by Bill and Marty Holm and friends. Calvin and Marie Hunt, from Vancouver Island will be here with some of their relatives to present some of their dances to the community.
Sunday night we will all come together for our final banquet, speeches by team leaders and a mini-musicale. Then it’s back to the Bighouse for a evening of gift giving. Campers from second session and all staff members draw the name of someone at camp and make a gift for that person. This is our “Play-latch”. The gifts are given as ‘payment’ for witnessing the session we have shared with each other. It is a very special evening that can run late into the night. But we all come prepared with pillows, blankets, flashlights and water bottles.
Monday we pack! How did we get here so fast? Keep in mind when you open trunks that laundry does indeed get sent out 3 times during your campers stay here and we make every effort to have them rotate through all the clothes that you carefully packed 5 weeks ago.
Thank you for sharing your camper(s) with us. It is a gift to be able to spend extended time with them and be witness to their growth.