We have just left the lodge after enjoying a wonderful Sunday mid-day meal, followed by the first Musicale of the summer. As our Music Director said, “Musicale is like a talent show that everybody wins.” After every Sunday dinner, campers and staff perform in front of the camp community. Today we were entertained by a solo guitarist and pianists, tap dancers, and small group ensembles. While the performances were amazing, even more impressive is the support shown by the audience for the performers. Those with the courage to get up before the camp community are always rewarded with respectful attention while they perform and enthusiastic applause when they finish.
Looking back at our first week, we have had only marginally good weather; cool and cloudy days, a bit of rain, some windy nights. But spirits remained high as we got moved in and started getting to know people. It looks like we are at the start of a sunny streak, just in time for our July 4th festivities.
This past week –
After a full day of department orientation we had an all camp campfire so each Unit could introduce itself to the rest of camp. We have campers from as far away as Belguim and some as close as Friday Harbor.
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All the Units had full schedules this week. Wednesday through Saturday campers participated in the following day time activities:
Explorers – Outdoor Living Skills, Adobe Oven, Archery, Nature, Trader Horn, Overnight near the Unit, Showers, Dance Orientation, Native Cultural Activities, Low Ropes Course, Crafts, Garden.
Rangers – Drama, Trader Horn, Nature, Sailing, Outdoor Living Skills, Archery, Showers, Overnight on Eagle Rock, Ropes Course, Crafts, Showers, Native Cultural Activities, Music, Crafts.
Pioneers – Drama, Soccer, Archery, Music, Trader Horn, Crafts, Overnight to Cottonwood Cover, Canoeing, Showers, Sailing, Outdoor Living Skills, Native Cultural Activities, Crafts, Nature
Foresters – Archery, Drama, Garden, Camp Improvement Project, Canoeing, Music, Outfoot Living Skills, Overnight to Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island, Crafts, Trader Horn, Showers, Nature, Drama, Crafts
Islanders – Kayaking, Crafts, Soccer, Adobe Oven, Overnight (originally kayaking to San Juan; redirected to Big House due to poor water conditions), Nature, Crafts, Drama, Sailing, Hosted Saturday Night Campfire
Mountaineers – Ropes Course, Garden, Native Cultural Activities, Crafts, 2-Day Overnight to Lopez for service project, kayaking, Showers, Trader Horn
Archers – Crafts, Sailing, Ropes Course, Archery, Drama, Garden, Overnight near Unit, Showers, Dance Orientation, Native Cultural Activities, Trader Horn, Nature, Adobe Oven, Outdoor Living Skills
Mariners – Nature, Sailing, Drama, Music, Crafts, Overnight to Rocky Top, Ropes Course, Trader Horn, Showers, Outdoor Living Skills, Unit Improvement Project, Native Cultural Activities
Vagabonds – Archery, Garden, Crafts, Ropes Course, Trader Horn, Outdoor Living Skills, Tide Pooling, Overnight to , Crafts, Showers, Canoeing, Music, Native Cultural Activities
Voyaguers – Canoeing, Outdoor Living Skills, Crafts, Unit Improvement Project, Ropes Course, Overnight to Reed’s Point, Showers, Trader Horn, Music, Nature, Garden, Drama, Sailing, Hosted Chapel
Wayfarers – Outdoor Living Skils, Crafts, Unit Improvement Project, Showers, Overnight to Helsell Farm on Orcas, Trader Horn, Drama, Crafts, Music, Garden,
Troubadors – Unit Improvement Project, Hunt Canoes, Showers, Overnight (originally Hunt Canoes to Stuart Island, redirected to Big Tipi due to poor water conditions), Trader Horn, Drama, Archery, Nature, Garden, Music, Ropes Course, Crafts
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Codes of Conduct were also drafted this week.
The Codes serve as the moral compass of the Unit. It documents how they envision their behavior, to each other and in the greater camp community. At the time of this writing I have received copies of many of the Codes. Some excerpts:
Explorers: Respect each other’s tents by not banging on them or peeking through the windows.
Rangers: Be a good sport.
Pioneers: We will be the very model of a modern, mature Pioneer Unit.
Islanders: Give people a chance.
Mountaineers: Don’t give up, but leave room for compromise.
Archers: Be trustworthy
Mariners: Spend 20 minutes every morning cleaning tipi
Vagabonds: Try to look for the positive
Voyageur: Be empathanding
Wayfarer: Strive for clear communication
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All units went on overnights Thursday night. The Mountaineer unit took a two day trip to Lopez Island to establish a permanent campsite on the property of a camp alumnus, overlooking Rosario Straight. A pod of Orcas cruised by as they arrived on the first day. They cleared brush, limbed trees, established a trail and dug a pit latrine. This site will serve campers for decades and hopefully generations. We are thankful for their hard work and they seemed to have fun doing it.
Happy Independence Day!