It’s hard to believe the campers arrived just a week ago. Today units are going on their second overnight, all department areas are in full swing, olders campers have submitted their top choices for Big Trips and our youngest campers are talking about which activities they want to do more of before they leave.
Highlights reported from Units since camper arrival:
Archers – making cream cheese brownies at the Adobe Oven
Weavers – tide pooling; they found a purple star fish and an eel!
Mariners – creating Music Mad Libs with the Music Staff
Vagabonds – having everyone in the unit complete the Wobbly Log at the Ropes Course
Voyaguers – Padding to Stuart Island for the overnight and hiking to the Lighthouse
Wayfarers – “Speed Dating” skit for the opening campfire
Troubadors – Two day overnight to Lopez; they established a permanent camp site on the property of an alumni family
Explorers – Bulls Eyes at Archery! Capture the Flag with the Mariners and Rangers
Rangers – Awesome tarp shelter building on the overnight
Pioneers – practicing their skits for the campfire
Foresters – hanging with ‘lesVoyaguers’
Islanders – Wet exits from kayaks before the overnight – very exhilarating
Mountaineers – developing and hosting the first Chapel – theme: The Ripple Effect
Units drafted their Codes of Conduct this week. These documents guide the unit in their behavior with each other and with other units. Some excerpts: Listening is awesome; Have a lot of “P” which stands for Positive Attitude; Eat Pies!; No hunting deer; Follow knife safety; Treat each other with compassion, be sympathetic; Stop means Stop (just stop).
The theme of Chapel came out of the Mountaineers discussion as they worked on their code during overnight to Satellite Island. They talked for a long time, about many things, including how their individual and group behavior affects the unit and camp. They Code serves as a reminder of that discussion – Ripple. Mountaineer Code of Conduct
Many of the units come together at the end of the day and share ‘Highs, Lows, Angels’. It is a time when everyone gets a chance to reflect on the day. Highs and Lows are self-explanatory. Angels are people who made your day. Many units listed their overnight as a highlight, others felt their time getting to know each other was great. Lows were the rain we had Sunday night (they should have been here last session!!) and homesickness. Angels including several staff and campers, all exhibiting the quality of caring.
A load of freshly laundered clothes arrived by barge this afternoon, so we’re good to go for another week. The Foresters will be hosting this weeks campfire, dedicated to the soon to depart Archers, Weavers and Explorers, and the Rangers will be hosting our Sunday Chapel.
A word about Chapel. This is an all-camp gathering, hosted by a unit, where we explore a theme or topic. Last Sunday it was “The Ripple Effect”. Past Chapels have been about Laughter, Respect, Music, Home and Awkwardness. The hosting unit may use songs, skits and/or small group discussions to guide the community through some reflection and sharing. A great way to start any week.
The forecast is for continued sun, at least for the next few days. I’ll get back to you in a week to let you know if the forecasters were right.