We have a camper who has set themselves a goal to achieve our highest rating – “The Pathfinder” It is their last summer here with us, and they have described themselves “Tulio, you know I am a madman for Ratings”. For many ratings, this means that they are eager to work hard and get recognition for their work. That’s how most Ratings or Awards work: you work hard, get a good “grade” and get recognition.
When I was a staff in the 80’s – these ratings were an embodiment of that pioneer spirit of an individual working hard, and often alone to complete a project for the community. I wanted to shift this towards a collective effort, towards the leadership that can build teams. This camper understood that vision.
- He motivated others to join him and had a team of six volunteers to build the trail.
- He came to staff for support on the design and then ran with it.
- He coordinated with others working on different ratings so that his friend working towards his “Foreman” in Work Projects built the large bridge needed for the trail.
- A cabin of First Lodgers were struggling to get up in the morning and he supported them and their staff by coming in at 6.45am to motivate them to get up. No small feat!
- He spoke with vulnerability at our gender awareness night, of how being yourself at school can lose you friends.
- He was honest about being homesick at times at Timberlake, despite being an older camper.
I wanted to share a vision of what can happen when we operate at our highest capacity. This same spirit comes out in many other ways
Campers have been excited about:
- Achieving ratings, especially Work Projects
- A night dedicated to awareness of and removing the masks we wear as young men – aka “The Masquerade”
- Going to the Plymouth Cheese Factory to learn how better to produce their own dairy products.
- Playing “Swamp-um” in the canoes and “King of the Monster”. Simple fun in the sun.
- Exploring the Plymouth Ice Caves.
- Senior Lodgers dressing up like sleepy animals and singing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” for the departing youngest J1 campers.
- The “Shower Boy” rating. Nurse Jill says hygiene has never been better. This looks like, campers arriving to circle in their towels, ready to shower: “Who are we??!” “The Shower Boys!!” Why?? “Because we shower. – Boy!!”
- Excellent games of 3 on 3 basketball on our dirt court and two-below football on a grassy field.
- An afternoon activity of “Manual Labor” that campers enjoyed so much they wanted to skip the
- All Camp Game and carry on. They sawed and moved a felled tree in one evening the OLS Director thought would take a week!
- Six campers and three staff hiked Pico-Killington-Shrewsbury in less than a day, as preparation for an even longer day hike.
- A brand new All Camp Game of “Dungeons and Dragons” with the oldest campers being the Dragons and getting chased by younger campers.
- A full Thanksgiving meal with slow-roasted turkey, gravy, potatoes, vegetables and a pumpkin pie with maple whipped cream topping.
Trips for the younger campers will be back on Saturday, we’ll then go into our final days of finishing ratings, playing our night game of “Society of 39” and planning an unforgettable final Banquet.