The sounds of 121 campers laughing and singing once again filled the woods of Indian Brook. Campers built fires and community by setting up their cabin agreements. One camper asked to have their own copy of the “rights and responsibilities” to make sure they were fulfilling their responsibility every day they are at camp and when they return home. Two cabins discussed the importance of consent and the seriousness of using their right to say “no.”
For the first few meal times, we sit as a cabin family and learn how to appreciate each other’s company. We enjoyed our traditional recipe for morning glory muffins (one of cabins shares this name) and began our day by singing, “Truck Driving Woman”.
After singing, we sat quietly in our Silent Meeting circle and watched the sun rise higher. Yesterday, we held our orientation stations and prepared campers for what to expect at the waterfront, in their morning activity groups, and as a member of a new community that values meaningful work and listening. Staff encouraged campers to speak their truths loudly (we are a really large group) with a resounding, “Say it Sister!”
During orientation, the full summer Senior Lodgers helped the First Lodgers become more familiar with the traditions and goals. The conversations centered on our Quaker SPICE values; Service, Peacemaking, Integrity, Community, Equity, Simplicity. One First Lodger remarked, “If you’re not yourself, then who are you?” when asked about being true to your inner voice.
In the afternoon, our campers jumped into a wide variety of activities from canoeing to knitting, weeding and feeding! We ended our first full day as a whole camp at our stage. Our staff performed skits/songs for each program area we offer at camp.
— Megan Chamberlain, Indian Brook Director
