As the temperature has warmed up here in the Northwoods, so too have our campers. Yesterday was our first Sunday of the season; a day for reflection on camp so far, the values we care about at Nebagamon, and the week that lies ahead of us. It also happened to be the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and we enjoyed a full day of sunshine brightening up our first Sunday.
Daylight broke long before the wakeup bell – on Sundays, we start our day with a half-an-hour sleep-in. Campers enjoyed delicious cinnamon rolls for breakfast and poured out of the Rec Hall ready for an amazing day of camp. By that point, the sun was already high overhead, with a few clouds here and there dotting the crystalline blue sky we get here in Wisconsin. The morning program was our weekly Sunday Service, in which a seasoned staffer shares about one of camp’s values. This week, I had the pleasure of presenting on the topic of caring for camp and the land. (It’s a little odd to write about my own topic for Sunday Service, but I haven’t written an update yet because I’d been crafting the service since camp began!) Campers envisioned their favorite spot in camp, and reflected on all that it takes for this place to look exactly right. Unsurprisingly, no one volunteered that their vision of Nebagamon includes trash on the ground, lost and found strewn about, or graffiti on the walls. This led into a discussion of the collective responsibility campers have in caring for camp, a space we all share, and how our Leave No Trace principles here in camp and out on wilderness trips help preserve these precious places for future generations of campers. It was well received, if I do say so myself.
After the Service, campers enjoyed an hour and a half of free time to choose whatever it is they want to do. With the sun nearing its apex, Swampers played beside LJs in our weekly all-ages soccer game, Axemen shot hoops on the 10-foots, and Loggers and Swampers played card games atop the Hill. While our campers of course have opportunities for free time every single day, for some reason, this Sunday block is a little different, and a little more special. An air of true, unmitigated summer wafted through camp – kids being kids, making their own choices, enjoying time with their friends across age groups.
After lunch, with the sun cresting high in the sky, we enjoyed two project periods for campers to try new things, or visit the projects they love. Our full fleet of boats adventured out onto Lake Nebagamon, campers sped around our trails on mountain bikes, and the tennis project began try-outs for our tennis tournament against our neighbor camps later this week (about which I’m sure an update is coming down the pike). Plenty of campers took to CNOC and Canoeing to work on their skills before they head out soon on wilderness trips. It just felt so… comfortable, for lack of a better word. Normal. Summer-y.
This level of comfort was on full display during dinner, our first pizza night. It was a perfect early summer evening, with the pines casting long shadows across camp. Campers decked out in costumes and scarfed down pizza with their cabinmates to the tune of Tainted Love and Video Killed the Radio Star (the former Camp Director who originated the playlist is unmistakably Gen-X). The seated portion of dinner gave way to our pizza night dance party and campers stood up to do the Macarena, the Hustle, and of course sing along to their favorite Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry tracks. Pizza night culminates with an overwhelming chorus of Frozen’s hit, Let It Go, where campers belt the lyrics as loud as they can, and do so with a comfort I can imagine only works here at Nebagamon.
As the sun waned in the sky, our voices a little shot from singing and our limbs a little tired from a full day of camp, we headed out to the Council Fire Ring for our first Council Fire of the summer. Serendipitously, the topic this week was “Express Yourself.” Two members of our Senior Cabin Staff presented skits and monologues that made us laugh and reflect on why camp is such an important place to practice being yourself without judgement. They highlighted that not only does it take personal courage to share yourself with peers, it also requires a supportive and encouraging community – something our campers and staff pride themselves in supplying. The message was incredibly sharp, and was delivered to a bunch of campers who were already, well, comfortable. We’d seen it all day. Campers who a few days ago were feeling homesick are now out of their shells and bonding with cabinmates. Campers who came to camp knowing no-one have already made friends in their cabin, village, and around camp. And campers who were reluctant to raise their voices and share themselves with our community spent Sunday night singing along with their cabinmates. The presentation hit the nail on the head. It was a perfect summation of how our campers are feeling after the first week.
The Council Fire was wrapping up, the sun was setting, and the sky started to turn a delightful shade of pink. Just before our closing songs, Noah picked up an old camp tradition that Muggs Lorber, one of camp’s founders, started years and years ago. He stood on one side of the bonfire, and prompted the campers to imagine their summer stretched out around the campfire as if it were laid out around a clock with the campfire in the center. “Here we are, right at the beginning.” He gestured to the other side of the ring. “Right there is the end.” Noah encouraged everyone to stare into the fire and imagine what the rest of their camp season might hold. The sky began to darken to a deep, twilight blue, and the few remaining flames from the Council Fire sent shadows flickering across the faces surrounding the ring. Campers pictured themselves out on trail, achieving ranks, on stage at the talent show, running into the lake on the last day of summer… “We’ve got a whole lot of camp ahead of us.” Noah reassured our campers. “it won’t end soon. But, it’ll pass quickly if you don’t take advantage of every single day.” Stars just began to peak out above us as each village gathered around the dwindling Council Fire before heading to bed. Soon, the ring sat empty, the coals smouldered, and the campers fell fast asleep. The longest day of summer was over, and I know our campers squeezed every last ray of sunshine out of each and every minute.
As the days have lengthened through the first week of camp, it’s as if the sun has been giving our campers as much daylight as possible to get comfortable here at Nebagamon. Now, with the first few days of summer behind us, the sun will set earlier each and every day. They’re comfortable, and looking forward to weeks and weeks of camp remaining. As the sun sets tonight, a little bit earlier than last night, it will remind us that while the season ahead of us has lots in store, it’s up to our campers to seize it.
All is well in the Northwoods.