Smile
Kindness is Currency at Camp.
This simple truth is most easily seen in the great big smiles that are shared throughout the day. “That Great Big Greystone Smile” is legendary, and effective in spreading joy and making friends.
At Breakfast Club this morning I suggested that a simple smile shared with a person you are walking next to on the way to class is likely to result in a new friendship. A smile at the dining hall table, in the shop line, or while sitting in the pit is a hugely effective technique in making new friends. Thus we find ourselves smiling a lot… not “fake smiles” but genuine smiles of affection, humor, good cheer, and interest. We find ourselves seeking reasons to smile, for we know that each smile might lead to a new friend. We never have too many friends, a fact that we discover while at camp.
Friendships sprout and thrive at camp. There will be a hundred opportunities for new connections before lunchtime, and surprisingly, this process never gets old. Camp is a safe, interesting (10 year olds talking to 17 year olds… just imagine), loving, supportive, and heart warming place to make friends. Some of these friendships will last a lifetime.
Counselors know that smiling is a big part of their job. Their leadership in this simple way helps in shorter sessions (when the campers may be new to the Greystone experience and feeling more anxious in the first days of camp) but at Main Camp the campers need no leadership on this regard. They smile ALL THE TIME! They are literally giddy to be back at camp and it shows in their amazing smiles.
When we are outside “the bubble” smiling is not a priority (particularly when we are on a schedule) but while at camp we make it a priority and our lives are better for the effort.
You will see tons of smiles in the photographs we take every day. This is not a show, for we are living in a community that is marked by smiles, I can not imagine a more welcoming environment!
It is another perfect day (much like yesterday). Brilliant blue skies, no clouds, a light breeze, and a good chance of afternoon rain showers. Temperatures are in the 80’s and all classes are meeting with HIGH expectations. The first class is always a big big deal to the girls (who can change classes if they don’t like how it goes). So the counselors work hard to make each class the most compelling and exciting class possible. They don’t want anyone to cancel, thus we try to make every class a slam dunk; we want the campers to leave class already looking forward to returning the next time.
- Breakfast featured our famous home made biscuits, fried ham, baked apples, and cheese grits.
- Lunch will be BLT’s
- Dinner will be baked chicken and rice pilaf
The girls go crazy over our fresh baked bread (we can smell it baking every morning) and the salad bar will delight the “foodies” in the group. My family will never eat better, more healthy, more delicious food than at camp. Gervais and Alli are spectacular and we celebrate their skill, inspiration, and effort to always bring us the best.
One last thing… We encourage you to take the time to WRITE HAND WRITTEN LETTERS!!!! There is a sweet connection that arises from this simple form of communication, IF YOU CAN FIND THE TIME do it. You will be glad you did.