Hello from Johns Island!
Our first camper week of 2014 has been wonderful, filled with great food, creative activities, lots of singing and budding friendships. Each unit went through Orientation Day on Tuesday, checking in with the nurse, learning about our recycling and trash system at camp, and visiting most of our program areas to learn about safety and all of the potential each activity has to offer. They have also spent some good time in their unit getting to know each other, going over policies and boundaries, and creating their Code of Living, which is a guiding and living document that helps the community live up to their fullest potential with each other. These codes vary, depending on the input of each camper, and include a diverse set of characteristics and tenets that each member strives to live up to throughout the session, such as teamwork, respecting each others opinions and and belongings, being a good listener, sense of humor, and many others.
The Archers and Explorers were able to participate in their first overnight, cooking pita pizzas over the fire and sleeping under the stars (and then under their tarps because it started to rain). We aim for each camper to leave camp this summer feeling comfortable sleeping outside, making food over a fire or camp stove, practicing Leave No Trace ethics, and using proper knife safety.
Other activities that units have been diving into include Arts and Crafts (no kits! – they can make anything their creative mind wants to try), Waterfront (sailing, canoeing, kayaking), Archery, Nature (be sure to ask your camper what ‘nature notes’ are…), Drama (which came in handy with the introductory campfire on Tuesday night – lots of actors in the bunch!), Adobe Oven (the Troubadours were able to harvest mussels with our Naturalist, Rocky, then cook them with Toni, our Adobe Instructor), NCA (Native Cultural Activities), Ropes (both low and high challenges), Garden, Field Games, and service projects with our Camp Operations team, such as fire circle improvement. And camp wouldn’t be camp without music/singing after lunch and dinner and visiting Trader Horn once a week to buy supplies and the occasional sweet treat.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is kind of like our ‘anchor day’, where we clean up our units (tipi inspection day!), come together as a community for some reflection and dialogue at Chapel, then enjoy a delicious mid-day ‘dinner’ followed by Musicale, which is like a talent show where any camper/staff can share any level of talent they choose – and feel supported for doing so! We then have open activities where campers pick what they’d like to do (beach time, games, special craft time, etc) and close the day with Nosebags (picnic on property) and focused unit time.
With brilliant sunshine, chilly mornings, sun-kissed breezes, nurturing rainfall and star-lit nights, we are living fully with the elements, learning from each other and laughing a lot. Until the next post, we hope you’ll continue to enjoy your own summer adventures. We’ll be back in touch soon!
Warmest Wishes,
Sheila
