Cabin Life

One of you parents (Krista) suggested photos of the cabins when the girls are out in activities. I loved this idea, did it at breakfast this morning! Wonderful insight into camp life. I ran the entire cabin row, randomly taking pictures of various types of living quarters. We have AMAZING cabins, I think they are perfect (except need more outlets and built in fans… tough nut to crack). The closer I looked, the more delighted I became… look closer and closer, become more and more engaged.

It is Monday, a shocking fact to all of the counselors… Monday means that we are going to do our Gigantic, bigger than life, amazing, inspirational, crazy EP known as the “GANZA”. The counselors have been anticipating this EP since it was announced in orientation: 10 campfires built around the lake, cabins are given s’more packs and picnic blankets, and the feasting begins! Of course s’mores are a culinary art form and everyone will want to practice various techniques to get the chocolate and marshmallow to meld perfectly. This (and the obligatory running around while screaming that happens when cabins have free time… am I getting old?) will be the major portion of the daylight EP hour. Then it gets dark and the real fun begins.

We will pull out our own version of an old fashioned drive in movie theater, a 20 foot wide GIANT inflatable video screen and performance grade sound system! As the sky turns from pink to blue and the first stars come out, we will watch a movie and the show in the sky at the same time. Maybe I just love movies more than most… or the gadgetry of such things as 20 foot high resolution TV’s (admit it dad’s, that is pretty cool); but this makes my heart smile. The girls can bring stuff to sit in (crazy creek chairs) or lie on (sleeping bags) or share with friends (cabin picnic blankets). They spread out on the pagent court (not a bad seat in the house), and they watch a great movie with their friends.

It is great to do things at camp that are unique; things that are not duplicated when at home. We have adventure classes, art classes, and skill classes that are often not found near your neighborhoods. The campers try new things, they awaken new talents, and they do it in a new place with new friends. All this novelty can be a bit overwhelming, but it builds excitement for adventure as well. An outdoor movie is a comfortable experience from home enjoyed in an unexpected place. I encourage the girls to watch the stars (it will be a clear night), often it is possible to see shooting stars if you are paying attention (a collective gasp will rise from the crowd if it is a big one that is bright enough to catch the eye).

I love this point in camp, because the girls are settled in and their personalities are shinning. It is like a beautiful work of art. The more you look at it, the closer you get, the more beautiful it gets. Each “brush stroke” of a great counselor, each flash of unexpected color from a camper go into the overall work of art. Each session is a work of art: it has a beginning, a middle, and an end which form a complete experience. It is a chapter of a book, and like a good book— it inspires. It is art, beautiful art.

Your girls are having a blast, they are learning some new skills, meeting new friends, and memorizing some great Scripture. They know some really funny jokes and will try them out on you on Friday. They have heard a lot about how to have a great day, no matter how they “feel”. But most of all, they have enjoyed a chapter of their life in just two weeks. This experience will be cherished like any good work of art that touches a heart. It will be a comforting light, a memory that is deeply etched into their life like initials carved into a tree. I really believe this… the emails, letters, comments, and conversations with old campers are consistent on this point. Even if not a “camper” (some girls just are not campers, they just don’t enjoy being away from home even if they are having a good time), the memory is cherished.

Food today is Kid Food Galore: Sloppy Joe’s and Tater Tots; Cheese Ravioli and Garlic Bread. This and S’mores too, oh be still my heart!

Weather is warm and dry (not humid). High of 88, sunny, breeze from the North East. This is perfect camp weather, God is Good!

Thanks for checking in.