So said a camper to me this morning. We’re all beginning to feel the approaching last day and we still have 6 go to.
Since I last wrote:
Candidates for the Director position came to spend time on the property, along with members of the Transition Committee. I apologize if you’re wondering what this means. Paul and I are retiring after 21 years as Co-Directors and for Paul, over 30 years working for Camp Nor’wester. Our Board and the Transition Committee have been preparing for this change in leadership since it became a critical part of our Strategic Plan back in 2008. Three finalist have been selected (out of 17 original applicants) and they were invited to come see the camp in operation this past week.
In addition to seeing a wide variety of daily activities, candidates presented a training session to a group of our staff, met with 20 campers and various Advisory and Board members. The camper sessions were very impressive. Two campers were selected from each unit and the campers took the opportunity very seriously; they met with each candidate for about 40 minutes, with cookie and juice breaks in between. They summarized their impressions on feedback forms provided that evening. The next morning they met with Committee members to share their impressions with the group.
Their questions:
Have you directed other camps or worked with children before?
Why you? What do you feel makes you a good candidate and why do you want to direct Nor’wester? What do you bring to Camp?
What does CNW mean to you personally/what impression do you have of the Camp/what do you like best?
How many years are you willing to commit to Camp? Until you retire?
How will you prepare so that you know the procedures whether it is for receiving a food barge or acting in an emergency situation?
What changes would you make and how important is change to this or a community? How important are CNW traditions?
If you had a million dollars, what would you focus on to improve the quality of Camp.
What impression would you want campers to have when they leave?
Will you bring any pets to Camp?
How important is music to you and this program?
What are you passionate about?
Visitor’s Weekend – Over 200 people visited during the two days, bringing with them incredible weather that was perfect for picnics and family chill time. It was business as usual on Saturday, with regular programming filling the schedule and families taking the opportunity to visit the various departments to see what their campers have been doing during their time here. The Sunday schedule was also typical: late-start breakfast, clean-up time in the units, Chapel at 11:30am and the mid-day meal at 1pm. The Vagabonds hosted Chapel this week, with the theme of ‘The Pressure to be Perfect’. Through a series of skits and group discussions, the Vagabonds guided the community through an investigation of the idea of maintaining clarity in one’s personal path. Our Sunday open mic was held after dinner. ‘Musicale’ is always entertaining but this week it was truly exceptional; it was a wonderful combination of experienced performers and courageous ‘first timers’ to the stage. All received the classic Nor’wester reception of respectful attention and thunderous applause.
Monday morning the Foresters and Voyageurs left on their Little Big Trips. Groups will hike in the Cascades, bicycle around Lopez Island and sail through the San Juans Islands, returning to camp on Thursday afternoon. Monday evening the Mountaineers hosted Coffee House, with the theme of “USA”. Coffee House is our evening open mic for the 4 oldest units and staff. Performances included singing, poetry reading, acoustic guitar and other instrumentals. Original work was also performed. Staff and campers look forward to this event every session.
While the older units attend Coffee House, the younger units participated in Monday Night Specials. These are unique activities not generally offered in the camp program and they vary with the experience and interests of the staff that host them. This session we had Making Ice Cream and Cookies (then ‘sandwiches’); Kick Ball; Needle Felting; Weapons, Strings and Stories (Atlatl Throwing) and Protraits in the Garden. Great fun!
Unit Highlights:
Rangers – An evening canoe paddle
Pioneers – Working as a team and challenging themselves on the Ropes Course
Foresters – Preparing for Little Big Trips which left on Monday
Islanders – Big Trips – 2 Islanders summited Mount Baker; sailing, Hunt canoe and kayaks ‘rocked the waters’; Alpine and Biking covered ‘tons of miles’
Moutaineers – Big Trips and putting the finishing touches on stairs to South Beach
Mariners – Humming to hermit crabs on their overnight
Vagabonds – Making awesome cheese, pepperoni, onion, tomato and basil pizza in the Adobe Oven
Voyageurs – preparing for Little Big Trips and getting everyone up on the Trapeze Jump at the Ropes course.
Wayfarers – Big Trips! Big Trips! Big Trips!
Troubadors – Being back together after some awesome Big Trips
A week from now you will have your campers home with you and hear the stories first hand. I will do my best to give you an update before then, but I make no promises. This is my last summer as director and I want to be truly present each day until the boats leave the dock.