The Mailgabber features writing by members of the Camp Family. This month, we present a look in on the past week of Pre-Camp by trip staff member Jonah Domsky. Interested in submitting for Mailgabber? Send submissions to Louis.
Pre-camp is undoubtedly one of the most special parts of any summer camp. It may be filled with hard and exhausting work, but also amazing moments of connection and reconnection with the people and place around you. This is particularly true this year as the pandemic derailed the summer routine of coming to camp that so many of us cherish. But after spending just six days at camp I am happy to say that while there are of course some things that are different this year, all of the important stuff is the same.
Ordinarily, during pre-camp, we have our meals gathered closely around the Big House table, while this summer we have had our meals spread out in small, socially distanced groups. Despite the physical separation, our pre-camp crew is getting as close as ever taking turns warming up by the fireplace in the mornings after several sub-freezing nights, recounting stories of past summers, and of course, sharing a lot of laughs.
Usually, the first days of pre-camp are spent transforming the waterfront from mounds of docks and boats scattered across the beach into the completed H-dock and rigged sailboats ready for a summer of project periods and G-swims. All of that (except for a new canoeing dock) had to be delayed due to the aforementioned sub-freezing temperatures. Instead of setting up the waterfront, the pre-camp crew got to work sanding and sealing countless new picnic tables ready for outdoor meals. We have also filled our days cleaning cabins and push shacks, hanging whirly-gigs on the hill, and preparing the Council Fire Ring.
Also, while pre-camp is often filled with people who have spent countless summers at camp (this is my thirteenth!) many of our crew this year are here for their first summer at Nebagamon. That includes several new staff from Mexico who, as you can probably imagine, have been less than thrilled about the weather but have happily partaken in watching the sunset on Lorber point and enjoying their first s’mores around the fire. Those of us who are returning to camp have enjoyed showing the new staff around and teaching them many of our camp traditions.
And of course, that includes walking into town for Dairy Queen on opening night. The many blizzards and minimal shivering were a clear success and a satisfying reward after a long day of hard work.
The million little tasks in every corner of camp that fill this short time of pre-camp often distract from how truly special it is to be here. After several years of traveling back and forth between college in Los Angeles and home in Chicago, plus a year of pandemic-induced uncertainty, it is hard to beat being back at camp for the summer. In just a few short weeks campers will arrive, trips will head out, and camp will be in full swing. I think I speak for all of us here at pre-camp when I say that I can’t wait.