Another week has passed and we’ve said farewell to some and already welcomed others. With many of our trips coming and going over the course of the next two weeks, our community grows and shrinks every couple of days. We miss those faces we don’t see at Morning Meeting, but also get to enjoy life in a smaller more intimate camp. Of course we find that getting chores done is more of a challenge when the work load remains the same but the number of available hands decreases, but there have been so many boys willing to step up and volunteer to fill in the gaps. Now, I can’t promise that when they arrive home that they will be jumping to do more chores around the house, but we’re trying.
Both morning and afternoon activity groups have been smaller and that has provided more one on one attention and instruction from counselors in all five areas. This week was all about adventure, even for the small number of campers that chose to remain in camp to work on special projects or complete various skill ratings. We’ve continued with our system of staggering our trips in order to increase safety, allow for more consistent programming and also to create more opportunities for the older campers to step up as leaders as the smaller trips. Our first big wave of trips left at the start of the week and began returning near the end, and the remaining trips will take off over the next few days. Backpacking adventures to the White Mountains, Northern Long Trail, Camel’s Hump and several local locations made up the first part of the schedule and all returned with great stories to share with those of us still in camp. This week we will be sending our groups to Silverlake to rock climb, Stone Farm for service work, Lake Ninevah to visit our mountain camps, and two groups will set out to canoe the Raquette and Androscoggin rivers. I was able to go on many of these trips back when I was a camper and cabin counselor, and envy our intrepid travelers, as well as looking forward to their return.
The second week of camp is also about transition, as new campers become more comfortable with camp life and those new faces become closer friends. After a first week of testing the waters in each of the Activity Areas, campers have had the opportunity to begin “specializing” in the areas that have sparked a greater interest. We have boys working towards proficiency in a diverse set of skills: canoeing, botany, carpentry, drawing, Woodsman, trail building, farming, gardening, rock climbing, swimming, animal husbandry and homesteading. Older campers have continued to step forward as leaders for the younger boys and we have been so proud of their efforts to support a community that they love. The farm is now up and running with calves, goats, chickens and piglets creating that early morning symphony that can be heard all through the cabin area.
Monday was Adventure Day, a full day of exploration, adventure and expedition throughout Vermont. Campers were given the opportunity to choose from several options, including a day of stalking and camouflage, visiting a local organic creamery, climbs at Deer’s Leap, visit to the Coolidge Cheese Factory, spelunking at Plymouth Caves, fishing on Woodward Reservoir, visiting Warren Falls, hiking PKS in a Day, exploring Clarendon Gorge and B-Ball in Lebanon. The J1 campers had there own special adventure of Goonies Day, but I’ll let them tell their own story.
As always we played tons of games, including the ever confusing yet highly entertaining TL version of 43 Man Squamish and plenty of B-Blanket, Capture the Flag and Kabadi. And of course these are just the planned events and don’t include all of the spontaneous play sprouting up all over camp from morning to night. We’ve finally been given a break from the constant rains and have enjoyed multiple days of beautiful sunshine, which means lots of swimming and fun at the Waterfront. We have been eating VERY well and I have been amazed by the numerous campers who have gravitated to the kitchen and have been interested in helping the cooks prepare meals. Maybe if you are lucky a chef will return to you at the end of the summer and you can enjoy some four-star meals of your own! We have held our Camper Voice meetings, which give the boys a chance to speak about their concerns and to take a more active role in planning program, establishing tradition and creating ways for camp to function smoother. There has been even more interest in the process this summer and already they have stepped forward with a list of insightful ideas and proposals. We have also heard from many campers during Silent Meeting as they share their thoughts with the larger community. You are raising amazing young men.
And this upcoming week? Cook-Outs, FC Naming Ceremony, more trips, Stagecoach, more adventures, BBQ Night, J2 Overnights, Hulk Day, Lodge Nights with Indian Brook, sunshine, sunshine, sunshine!
It is getting harder and harder every day to imagine leaving at the end of the summer and I do my best to enjoy every single moment. This summer has already proven to be a special one and we still haven’t reached the halfway mark. Thank you again for sharing your boys with us and for letting them be a part of this amazing adventure.