The final weekend of Second Session was one to remember! Cascade Games pitted the Bear and Raven teams against each other in good-natured competitions, and special events filled our evenings. We were also honored to welcome friends from Vancouver Island, as well as some of our Johns Island neighbors and Nor’wester alumni to camp for Potlatch weekend.
On Friday afternoon, the celebrations began with a canoe welcome ceremony, in which several campers and staff approached the shore of South Beach in canoes and received a formal invitation to come ashore and join in the festivities.
The canoe welcome on Friday evening kicked off a wonderful weekend at camp.
Then it was time for the salmon bake! Everyone delighted in sharing a delicious meal of cedar plank salmon, tartar sauce, potato salad, baked beans, tomato slices, and garlic bread. Campers and staff ate from their cook kits or found driftwood slabs from the beach that they used for plates. Once everyone had eaten their fill, we gathered together on Mission Point to for a singalong and song exchange with our guests.
The Bear team put incredible energy into the tug o’war competition!
Saturday marked the beginning of Cascade Games, in which campers divided into teams – the Bears and the Ravens – and competed in team challenges all weekend long. Silly staff-led skits punctuated the progress of the Games, and after lively competitions of team cheers, activities, a relay race, and a tug o’war, the Ravens emerged as the weekend’s victors.
The Ravens soared off with the win at this year’s Cascade Games!
Along with the Cascade Games competitions, there were also some very special events taking place. Saturday evening was the night of dances in the Bighouse, where our North Coast campers and elders shared their songs, dances, and stories. It was a magical evening in which many treasures were shared, and we were incredibly privileged to witness and – for some campers and staff members – participate in the special music and dances of our North Vancouver Island friends.
The Troubadours and Mountaineers learned a special entrance song which the Mountaineers sang as the Troubadours danced in the Bighouse.
On Sunday, the Cascade Games activities continued, culminating with Banquet, team captain speeches, and the all-camp gift exchange. At the exchange, campers and staff presented the gifts they spent the session making for their selected recipients. Many incredible creations were shared, as well as heartfelt appreciations and good wishes, and all of us felt lucky to take part in such a beautiful closing ritual together.
Today is packing day, and all the campers are making their preparations to leave camp tomorrow morning. We’re sad to see them go, but we still have a few important touchstones ahead of us tonight: the final Musicale of the session, the all-camp dance, and the closing campfire. We’re doing our best to savor every last minute with our Second Session campers!