It was a busy weekend at camp! Campers were thrilled to welcome visitors to the island on both Saturday and Sunday. Dozens of families traveled to Johns Island to spend time with their campers during our Second Session Visitors’ Weekend. Visitors and campers spread across the property, sharing picnics and treats, visiting camper units, and enjoying a beautiful afternoon together. Our campers loved seeing their family and friends, and we were honored to host so many visitors over the weekend.
Families and friends joined us at camp on Saturday and Sunday for Visitors’ Weekend.
Saturday was a very special day because not only were our visitors here, but an event six years in the making took place along the shore that afternoon. Camp alumnus and carver Steve Brown, who has been carving a new Haida-style canoe for camp since 2012, deemed the canoe ready for its maiden voyage.
Carver Steve Brown with the new canoe just before its launch.
A shoreside blessing ceremony, led by members of the Kwakwaka’wakw community, prepared the canoe for its launch. Staff and campers then carried the 14-person craft down to the water’s edge. Staff members who had helped carve, paint, and prep the canoe were invited to paddle it into Johns Pass and over to Haida Canoe Cove. Since the 2011 injury to Kwigwatsi, the Northern-style canoe carved by Bill Holm in 1968, the new canoe’s launch has been envisioned by many in the camp community as a continuation of Kwigwatsi’s legacy. On Saturday, everyone present at camp for the new canoe’s blessing ceremony and maiden voyage was privileged to witness this important moment.
Camp leaders and friends gathered to bless the canoe before its launch.
Campers from the Kwakwaka’wakw community performed the canoe blessing ceremony.
Staff members paddled the canoe through Johns Pass to Haida Canoe Cove on its maiden voyage.
After the canoe launch and once our visitors had departed on Saturday evening, it was time for Opry House! Opry House is an end-of-session showcase of the theatrical talents of our campers and staff. Our drama instructor and young dramatists have worked diligently for the past three weeks preparing skits and monologues for the event. All of our performers drew wild applause from the audience for their comedic and dramatic stylings, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the show!
Opry House celebrated the talents of campers and staff who worked on monologues and scenes for this special event all session long.
Monday morning brought a special event of a different kind. Groups of campers from the Forester and Voyageur units departed the island on their own Little Big Trip adventures. (Similar to our Big Trip program, Little Big Trips build on the camping, outdoor living, and technical skills foundations that our overnight and activity programs impart to campers via an intentionally graduated curriculum.) After four wonderful days of biking, sailing, and backpacking, the Little Big Trips returned to camp this evening, and we’re all eager to hear stories and highlights from their outcamp travels.
Although the end of Second Session is drawing near, another full weekend of special events is approaching. Over the next few days, we will be welcoming guests to the island for our Potlatch celebration, and campers will be participating in Potlatch Games competitions. There’s lots in store for the next few days, and we’re excited to celebrate together!