The Mailgabber features writing by members of the Camp Family. This month, we present a look in on the Pre-Camp crew’s preparations by former camper and staff member, and guest pre-camp staffer, Sam Prince (2002-’07, ’12, ’15). Interested in writing for the Mailgabber? Send submissions to Louis.
To the campers of 2022:
My name is Sam and you probably have no idea who I am, which is totally alright. The last summer I spent amongst the pines as a staff member was well over a half decade ago, and my time as a camper was long before that (the best way to frame my era is that I came to camp before the climbing wall was built, before Louis Levin was a Swamper, and before the Hanson-Kaplans were directors). When Louis asked me to write a pre-camp reflection, I’ll be honest that I was as surprised as I was honored, since I hadn’t been at camp in more than a few years. But, we share a love for Camp Nebagamon, and that’s what matters.
One of my favorite memories of camp is Adam Kaplan’s Sunday Service at the end of each summer in the Northwoods. During his Sunday Service, Kaplan talks about the notion of the metaphorical book that each member of our community writes about their summer. He discusses that some chapters are full of joy and excitement and others full of contemplation and courage. He reviews the things each of us have learned, and the lifelong friends we’ve made along the way. And Adam talks about how each day we write the story together.
In keeping with Adam’s metaphor, I’ve come to think of pre-camp as the prologue to the summer. It is a time when you may get to meet an important character or two, a time when all the scenery is set up, a time when a world is built. A lot of the things you would recognize about camp are taking shape, but none of it is quite in place just yet. Docks have to be built in the lake. Cabins have to get cleaned from the winter. Buildings need their paint touched up. Even the beloved bell is wrapped in a trash bag to protect it from the winter’s elements. No story is incomplete for having skipped the prologue, but those of us who are here for it are sure glad we have had the chance to get the place physically ready for the stories that are about to be written.
When I think of camp, I think of it as a place of joy. Of course, there are quiet moments, sure, but camp is a place you can be loud. During pre-camp, the grounds feel quiet, because they are designed to be occupied by the over 300 people who live here during the summer. In addition to the work of physically setting up camp, the pre-camp team begins to fill each nook and cranny with the laughs of budding friendships. Just like campers at projects, we are learning new things as well – how to build the H-Dock, for instance, but also, how to work together and accomplish things as a team. And we are sharing stories, stories from last summer, or in my case, the last summers I got to spend in this wonderful place. We are warming camp up from a long winter of stillness.
The story of the summer of 2022 won’t be written this week because you’re not here. But because of the hard work of a number of your future counselors, trip staffers, and the amazing caretaking team, the space is ready for you. Soon counselors will come for training, and then before you can blink, you’ll be striding off that bus and hugging friends you’ve missed during a long off-season. Camp is waiting for you to come. Whether it’s your first or your final summer, camp is so excited that you are about be here.
A story is about to be written, your story is about to be written, and it is going to be a fantastic one. Enjoy every second of that story!