Opening Day!

What a great opening day!

The new system was designed to be REALLY good and we think it turned out better than expected. While we miss hanging out on the softball field and the excitement of the dash up the hill, we DON’T miss the old move in process.

Campers adjust to camp better on their own. They enjoy setting up their bunk, unpacking their stuff, decorating their cabin, and putting their shoes on the rack. All that activity gives them something to do while they get to know each other. And they are busy doing all that work, their counselors are 100% focused on them (as opposed to splitting their attention with the parents). Cabins are much less crazy without all those extra people (remember how awful it was to make that top bunk in the crowded cabin?). The counselors focus is on settling the girls, which works MUCH better in every way.

We think that this is a huge improvement for the camper but we also think it is a huge improvement for the parent. A fast check-in with no lines can be a better experience for the parents… but we acknowledge we lost a lot too. You don’t actually meet your daughter’s counselors, see her cabin, chat with old friends, make new friends, visit with the Millers, and see the camp improvements. Like I said… not perfect, but it is a hit with the girls! Junior and June Campers loved it, the counselors love it, and the maintenance crew loves it. We hope that you loved it too. Make sure you check out the Main Camp Bubble, our newest attempt to better communicate with you in this very important year. You will love seeing a video of your counselors, seeing who else is in the cabin, and checking out their activity schedule for the summer. This is also where we will post any COVID camp wide updates if there is a need to do so (we will, of course, call and email you directly if there is a case in your cabin family).

We now lock our sights on making this the BEST SUMMER EVER! We begin the same way as always:

• An endless supply of Hot Scones (2,150 to be precise!).
• A tour of camp with the cabin (nothing better than talking while walking).
• Check-in with the nurses.
• Cabin Photos taken by the lake.
• Swim test at the pool.
• Buffet picnic lunch and “get to know each other” rest hour.
• Our first assembly.
• Free Activities around camp.
• First Flag, Spaghetti dinner, Program Skits EP, Crackers, Call to Quarters, Taps.

This comfortable routine puts everyone at ease and sets us up to hit the ground running tomorrow.

I will be writing this Blog every day, publishing it before lunch so you can include the details in your emails if you choose to do so. I try to put in enough of the little stuff to make it real (what we eat, our weather, anything special in the program) and also put in what I consider “important” to better understand camp.

Most of you are old-timers (Main Camp has the highest percentage of return campers every year… this year 97%), but even our oldest camp families are feeling a little lost this year. Everything is different in the details, but the essence remains the same as we build a community of love for the glory of God.

The campers and counselors are primed to make it our best year ever and the directors have worked very hard to meet those expectations. Camp is more needed than ever and while we feel the weight of that task we are confident in the outcome. The Lord is making the way straight and the journey delightful.

Thank you for checking in. This is going to be awesome!