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 current Logger Push, Ric Best (2001-’07, ’09-’11, ’14, ’23). Interested in writing for the Mailgabber? Send submissions to Louis.
This is how Ric arrives at camp every summer, no matter how many years it has been
My parents recently retired to the Blue Ridge Mountains. This past December, when I visited them, I found myself with my father in Asheville, NC, learning about its famous son, author Thomas Wolfe, who is best known for his novel “You Can’t Go Home Again”. Upon returning this summer to camp for the first time in nearly a decade, I know one thing for certain: Thomas Wolfe clearly had never been to Nebagamon.
When I arrived, the sun had just begun to set, blanketing camp in soft light and long shadows, which made the idea of taking a stroll around these venerated grounds irresistible. For all the new additions – a renovated cabin, a new game by the Lower Diamond, countless new plaques hanging in the Rec Hall – I was more captivated by how many small, familiar things I had forgotten. This influx of nostalgia was comforting and emotional and told me, in a loud and unambiguous voice, that I had truly come home again.
There’s a distinct smell, that of the clean Northwoods air whistling over the lake and through the pines, that greets you upon arrival. The same birds chirp their familiar songs, and when the sun sets, the same brilliant stars illuminate the waterfront. One of the neatest things about pre-camp, when much of the camp is still hibernating from winter and before the boundless energy of summer sets in, is how much the relative tranquility allows camp’s natural beauty to shine. It’s calm, serene, and absolutely lovely.
My reflection on Nebagamon’s changes hasn’t been limited to its physical elements. The pre-camp crew is a wonderful mix of familiar faces and new friends. I’ve been working alongside Jason Yale, my counselor from when I was twelve, and Noah Stein, a ninth-grade camper when I was a JC in Voyageur. Yet, the majority of the pre-camp crew are folks I met just a few days ago.
Every night, after a hard day’s work, we gather, exhausted but satisfied, in the Rec Hall for a family-style dinner. We exchange smiles, crack jokes, and savor the moment of relaxation after completing our daily tasks. Despite meeting some of my fellow crew only days ago, it feels like we’ve known each other for years. That’s one of the beauties of camp: we’re all united by our love for this place and our shared mission of creating an exceptional summer experience. I’m already gratified by the new friends I’ve made and look forward to the many more I will meet this summer.
Nebagamon has always been a lively mix of familiar customs and new traditions. I’ve delighted in learning new words, songs, and rituals. In the years since I was last here, I’ve acquired my own repertoire of new games, songs, and jokes, which I’ve enjoyed sharing with my new and old friends in the pre-camp crew. The living tapestry of traditions that continues to grow and evolve as the camp Family expands is a treasure whose worth is most readily apparent after a short time away. I find myself appreciating that aspect these days more than ever before.
As we continue to prepare the camp for the burst of summer activity, it’s gratifying to reflect on the value of our work. I relish in creating for returning members the same kind of thrilling homecoming I experienced and for newcomers, a breathtaking first impression. Just yesterday, as I refreshed the rocks next to the Big House with a new coat of white paint, I found myself daydreaming of buses full of campers arriving and seeing these rocks, glistening and rejuvenated. While they might not consciously notice the fresh paint, maybe, subliminally, it’ll make that precious first moment just a bit better. That thought alone was more than enough for me the delight in the task at hand.
I’m happy to report that while camp has changed in many ways, in so many others it remains the same. For all of us who call Nebagamon home, it is still exactly that. I’m excited to be here, and we’re all eagerly awaiting the rest of the Camp Family. There’s no doubt about it: 2023 is going to be an amazing summer.
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