Time to Relax

Today you will have a lot of pictures. That prediction is rock solid, for today is Challenge Day.

Main Camp Challenge Day is a big deal around here. The timing of the event is perfect: it occurs on the 10th day of camp… always has and always will. There is something magical about the 10th day of camp, My great-grandfather noticed it in the 20’s and I see it today. On the 10th day, there is a noticeable sigh of relief as we notice that we have gelled into a tight knit community. It really is a remarkable moment and very hard to re-create in other settings. At this point we have eaten twenty eight meals together (including two big theme nights and two picnics), shared sixty four classes, enjoyed nine EP’s, nine rest hours, nine cabin devotions, six morning assemblies, several surprise rain showers. a concert, and a “midnight movie” (we did that last night). No other camp can duplicate these ten days because no other camp emphasizes community to the extent that we do.

A bold statement but one that I believe is true. The basic ingredient to success is keeping one group of campers and counselors in one place with no distractions for as long as possible. Give them quality things to do (don’t waste a minute with a mediocre class or group event— every thing we do should be surprisingly good)… and provide an over-abundance of excellent counselors (the kind who are obsessed with their campers and are most happy when spending time with them). We do all these things. We do them with the excellence that comes from 90 years of practice.

Out of camp trips are fun if done in moderation. Out of camp trips that miss big events are a mixed blessing (fun and inspirational individually but the community bonding is not as intense nor successful). A great hiking or white water canoeing program will take a camper out of camp for days on end. We used to do these programs and loved doing them (this is a lovely place to hike and canoe). But while the girls enjoy the trips, what they loved more was that intense bond that developes when living together without interruption for weeks on end. A canoeing group returning to camp after a three day trip would feel as if they had “missed” a lot. Missed moments in the cabin, in the dining hall, in their classes, and at EP’s. They could not “catch up” and would feel the void. Not only that, they the the cabin dynamic had changed while they were away: emotional moments between campers and counselors that were genuinely remarkable and could never be re-done for a camper who missed it.

So campers “spoke” with their choices. They chose (more and more) to forego the big trip and stay in camp with their friends instead. A trip with 12 spots open would only fill 7 of those spots (sometimes only 3 spots). Campers would remove their name from the trip list at the last minute as they weighed the benefit of the trip against the liability of the time. On some “big weeks” the trips would leave with almost nobody on the bus. It was clear that the girls found camp to be the best “deal”. I agree with them. This place is so intense, a camper can quickly feel “off” if she is gone for even a little while.

So we live a simple life. We stay here all the time with only a couple exceptions: skiing (miss classes for a day, one meal), trail riding (same schedule), rafting (same schedule), and we surprise whole cabin groups with impromptu trips to Hendersonville for breakfast or lunch.

We intentionally protect the community using the time to build community spirit and trust amongst ourselves… it takes ten days to hit the “sweet spot”.

Today we will relax into the summer with Challenge Day. A break from the routine that begins at breakfast and ends at lunch. A day of big volley ball and soft ball games (played to an audience of the entire camp community), relay races and fun games (played in cabin groups), cheerleaders and team captains urging every camper to do their best for the team. It is a ton of fun.

Our favorite moment is the softball game that starts at noon. We sit and enjoy the slower pace of the game (tired from a very active morning and ready to sit a while). Bill Taylor and David Vining set up a big sound system and play bumper music and provide live commentary on each moment of the game. We sip our Shasta’s and nibble apples, smiling and cheering as the moment demands. It is a glorious feeling.

Every camper feels settled by now (the same for the counselors). We recognize each other and call out our friends names with delight when passing. We walk to class, not run… because we like to savor the moment of conversation or contemplation. We know what is coming next, for the bells and bugles are an expected signal to what always comes next… and yet we are surprised by the details of that expected moment. We chatter ceaselessly yet quiet down instantly when asked to do so. We find ourselves laughing out loud and one minute later tearing up while singing a song in the pit. It is a glorious feeling to be a member of this community.

So, today will be a good one. I can’t wait!

One word on last night’s EP. Team Meetings is never the camper’s favorite EP. It is nice to see the team leaders organize their teams and convey this plan to their respective groups… to choose cheerleaders and mascots… to invent special team building cheers and teach the sometimes strange “traditional” team cheers (Kai ai ai kus/ nobody like us/ we are the Even Team… humm). But compared to what the campers are used to, this is not a “fun” EP. So when it was over, we called the entire camp out to the pagent court to enjoy milk and cookies and watch a movie under the stars.

Our movie screen is a big 20 foot inflatable job, it looks great. The girls came with crazy creek chairs, blankets, and sleeping bags. The milk was presented with cute red straws and Oreo Fudge covered cookies… delightful. We had “endless” milk supplies, some girls drank 4 of those little cartons! The movie choice will please you: “The Parent Trap”… the original version from 1961. The girls loved it. Cheering at the right spots, and absolutely silent at the right spots. The best way to do a movie, for sure. We went to bed late (of course) and loved it!

I will write a little adendum to this update (written at 5:30 AM, it needs a little more current information). This morning did not present a bright sunny, hot July sunrise. No… it was cloudy with a good chance of rain (again). In the history of Challenge Day, it never rains… NEVER. This year, however, it did! This has been a very rainy summer!

The rain has not been nonstop, but it has been heavy at times. A little squall will go by, dumping a ton of rain and making every one scream… then it passes and the rain completely stops. We are goin on (just like we do anytime it rains) as if it was no problem at all; but this day is going to be one for the record books!

Thanks for reading… this was a long one!

Jimboy

PS THE JOKE: An American man is talking to a new friend from Great Brittain. He is trying to follow the conversation but as you know, the “Kings English” is just a little different that we Yanks use. As the conversation is ending the Englishman says that he has to go and ends with a wave and says “Cherio”… the American is a bit flustered and as he waves back he says “And a Rice Crispy to you!”.