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Camp is in full swing. There’s something about the start of Camp this brings a unique energy to all of us here. For the campers, I believe it’s the excitement of starting activities, getting to know their cabin mates, and learning more about their counselors. For counselors it’s the curiosity of learning the ins and outs of a new cabin and beginning to think about how they’re going to bring together this sometimes very different group of children. For me, it purely getting to see a new session of kids getting to experience camp and grow in various ways. I love seeing returning campers connect with old friends and open up to first year campers. I love seeing new campers make good friends pretty quickly and navigate through the first few days of “learning the ropes” in a new environment.

Monday at Camp was good one. We had a full slate of activities, and then gathered in the Front Yard for a classic game of Capture the Flag. Counselors once again didn’t disappoint as they dressed up in crazy cloths and let their inner silliness come out.

We ended last evening with a campus wide Sing Song. Sing Song is a time where all of camp gathers to sing traditional camp songs. In today’s world of technology and non stop business, sing song is a simple and refreshing activity where we just sit and sing with our friends. You’d be amazed about how passionate campers get about sing song and requesting songs. In addition to that, we got to gaze upon the nearly full moon and starlit sky last night as we sat on the pool deck, the traditional sing song spot. I overhead one camper say, “I haven’t seen this many stars ever.” That was good to hear, and good a reminder of how being outside is a longing for children, and moreover, for all of us. I sang You Are My Sunshine, When I First Came To This Land, Salty Dog, Wagon Wheel, Long Black Veil, Preacher and the Bear, and the Camp Song. A really neat thing happened at the end of sing song for me. Ava E. brought me a Coke with my name on it. It was a kind gift and a very special ending to a special day at camp.

We pulled out the water hose last night as a little surprise!

The pool was a refreshing riviera in the afternoon!

Parker and Henry celebrate a score!

Gray and Jake stop capture the flag for a quick photo.

Homesickness

So far so good, as we don’t have any out of the ordinary cases of homesickness. I’ll keep you posted as this week progresses. Again, if you’d like a free copy of the book Homesick & Happy, please post a reply below and I’ll mail you one asap.

Camp is going smoothly. We’ll keep you posted.

Parent, what is the one thing you hope for your child to experience this session?