1/2 Way Home

We have now been in camp for ten days. In ten days we will be going home. That is the very definition of the half way point of the session, but it does not reflect the reality of camp life.

The first week feels long to a camper. Days are broken down into moment to moment experiences, each fun and able to distract but our resilience muscles were not fully developed so time seemed to go by slowly if we were not constantly “entertained”. Those first days are a vital part of the camp experience for they build a strongly connected community that delights in people not things.

Our community is now strong and functions the way it is supposed to. Our activities are more enjoyable because the fun is no longer dependant on just that skill we are learning… it more dependant on the friends that surround us. Campers and counselors alike take advantage of the quiet moments of the day for “DMC’s” (Deep Meaningful Conversations). We anticipate these moments like a special treat to be savored. We are begining to love everything about camp! The mealtime, assembly, rest hour, and EP routines each are a delight in a different way. Each provide a multitude of silly moments that will not make sense to anyone who wasn’t there. We are officially bonded and loving life, sharing an experience that will be remembered for years to come. These are the golden days of camp!

The ten day mark is always magic at camp… it has been that way since the first summer. It takes that long for a camp to gel and all of us “old timers” can sense the moment when it comes. The girls all of a sudden just feel relaxed, they walk to class (not run); they languish in the lazy days of summer with a sense that they have all the time in the world ahead of them. At this moment of the summer, we celebrate with a carnival!

Tonight’s carnival will be a blow-out food fest, game playing, dance party that will be a high water mark for many girls. They love it! We will start the evening off with some great NC BBQ (we have a HUGE smoker at the kitchen that has been going all night with a full load of pork), fresh corn on the cob, and slaw. If you don’t think your girl will find enough to eat with that menu, fear no longer! We will also be serving every type of carnival food you can imagine: funnel cakes, cotton candy, sno cones, grilled cheese, cookies, popcorn, and corn dogs. The highlight of the night will be the camp wide dance contest… a moment of fun that we will talk about for the rest of the session!

A quick word about the overnight “glamping” trip with Cabin 5-9 at Thunderhead was a huge hit. This was our first use of the newly renovated retreat and the girls absolutely loved it. One comment from a camper upon entering the house was “This is like Vanity Fair!”… it surprised the girls to see such a cool house, the new tents (big enough for a whole cabin), and the amazing food (from appetizers to sliders and s’mores). Such a treat! Cabins 10-12 will go on Thursday, they are already talking about it!

Breakfast was a wonderful egg casserole and fried ham. Lunch will feature Chicken Salad and Pimento Cheese sandwiches. The salad bar had goat cheese and roasted tomatoes yesterday, it was AMAZING! I also have to say that the vegetarian hot dishes on the salad bar yesterday were sublime (doing some wonderful things with sesame seed oil and soy sauce to give it an Asian flair… really tasty).

Thanks for everything.