Busy Bees

Thursday already? Amazing.

Time really does fly by here, at least it does for us “grown ups”. Opening week is a fast paced blast, culminating on Saturday with our big Carnival. Each day includes a comforting mix of routines: wake up and go to sleep at the same time, classes, mealtimes, and EP’s— start meals with a prayer, end EP with a prayer, and so on till we are once again cozy in our bunks. The “grown ups” are working hard, so time FLIES. Counselors work hard to instruct and entertain in their areas of expertise- building each class experience to add to the one that came before and anticipate the one that will be enjoyed tomorrow. The cabin counselors take this energy and bring it to the cabin time as well, making the routines of cabin life entertaining, inspirational, and filled with love. All of these details takes planning and requires a deep engagement of the counselors with every hour of the day. Time for them evaporates in an instant. Two weeks is gone in a blink!

Campers experience time according to how deeply they engage in these moments. Some children are just natural campers: embracing every minute with the delight of Christmas morning. They greet a new hour with expectant eyes, seeking the many facets of delight that surround them in this remarkable place. They keep their eyes open for new and interesting people, both camper and counselor are candidates. Who will be the next friend, who will tell the next funny story, who will teach the next handshake? These campers inspire eachother and inspire the counselors as well… Greystone is filled with them! Such campers would do fine with an 8 week camp (the only length camp session prior to the 70’s… our first 50 years!). Other children are adjusting… growing into an appreciation of this “different” community. They don’t necessarily focus on the present gift of camp, they are seeking past or future experiences and not immediately entering into camp life. We help them see the beauty; throughout the day giving helpful hints on how to enjoy the present. These girls grow a lot at camp, it is harder but more profound as a life experience. Every day fewer girls are needing help in this way, the community grows stronger and the joy spreads.

August Camp is very hectic for us in the office… not nearly enough time to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of camp. My best opportunity to “float” in the camp bubble comes at mealtimes and EP. Of particular delight is the walk out of the dining hall or pavilion whenever the group is dismissed. As I walk toward the office the girls swirl around me in a rush of enthusiasm for the next thing. I can catch an occasional conversation if I work at it (always brings a smile to hear what they are talking about), and the sights of so many friends (hands clasped, arms linked, or shoulders touching while intensely talking with heads bowed) is an inspiration. I also have to say: they are so small! Main Camp is a session filled with teenagers, about 80 percent are teenage (the oldest are 17). This session is delightfully young, they experience the same camp routines differently but delight in it with the same emotional connection. Seeing such young campers never ceases to bring a smile, all the counselors feel this way. Little girls are delightful!

Food: Lunch will be pot roast, dinner will be pizza! Pot Roast is a Greystone tradition, cooked like Grandmother used to do it (till the meat is fork tender) and served with potatoes, onions, carrots that are all cooked in the pot together… REALLY GOOD. Dinner is amazing in a different way: we will make about 300 pizzas by hand! The crust is the secret (almost the same recipe as the bread, but rolled and hand tossed to a 1/4 inch thickness). A dab of home made marinara sauce, lots of cheese, some with pepperoni, some with veggies, all finished with a bit of fresh basil and drizzle of olive oil. These are legitimate pizzas, tons better than Domino’s!

Weather: hot, but not unseasonably so. Perfect for water activities… chance of rain in the afternoons (afternoon showers during rest hour are a wonderful treat).

Tonights EP is the Counselor Talent Show, a camp favorite. We will present silly skits, lip synchs, dances, and some real talent sprinkled around the edges. The counselors will do a wonderful job, their humor and love for each other will make it a pretty wonderful night. Tomorrow will mark the 1 week countdown… some campers will begin to notice that time is short (more will notice with every passing day, bringing everyone onto the same page).

Thank you for checking in.

Jimboy