This morning we gathered for our final Sunday Service of the summer… Yes, I know it’s Friday but sometimes we just have to roll with it! The final Service is always a bit different. Rather than hearing from an administrator sharing about a value or a trait that’s important to them, this one is a collaboration on the part of our whole camp family to tell the Story of our Summer.
Using a big flip book as a visual aid we reminisced on the summer chapter by chapter. Each chapter was a prompt and we solicited about a dozen responses for each one:
My favorite meal this summer was…
“Everything I ate on a trip!”
“Ribs on Paul Bunyan Day”
“The new ramen dinner”
My favorite camp song this summer was…
“Drop a Nickel”
“Thanks for the Pines”
“Mountain Dew”
The coolest thing I saw in nature was…
“A moose on Isle Royale”
“The Milky Way from the Upper Diamond”
“A bald eagle flying overhead”
Along the way we stopped to talk a bit about each chapter’s importance. As we shared stories about our experiences in nature this summer, for example, we talked about how for many of us, we come from places where we are far less immersed in the outdoors than we are at camp. We highlighted the importance of stopping to notice all of the amazing things that happen in nature each summer, rather than allowing them to fly by unnoticed.
The final chapter of our story was, “People I need to say thank you to.” Immediately countless hands shot up and for five minutes we bounced around the crowd for some public gratitude. Here at camp, we have a wealth of people to be thankful for, counselors and friends and mentors and cabin mates who made this summer different than every other. We also talked about the importance of personal thanks. We emphasized the value of finding the people who made a difference this summer and saying “thank you” directly, and not letting the opportunity to express gratitude slip by.
That final chapter of our Sunday Service shouldn’t be overlooked. This summer at camp, we successfully built a community where people feel comfortable saying, “thank you” in front of a group. I know our campers and staff will bring that culture of gratitude with them as they re-emerge into their offseason lives.
As we wrapped up our discussion, a Logger sitting in the front row pointed to the sky. Then others followed suit. Soon, everyone was looking up. A bald eagle soared overhead… or at least everyone thought it was a bald eagle until it became clear it was a vulture… but still! As a community we all stopped what we were doing and spent a moment together appreciating our surroundings. Yet another moment that you really can’t make up in a summer full of them.
These last few days of camp are a whirlwind, and that will only continue as the end approaches. Yesterday was our final four-project period day. In the evening we were visited by A.K. Agikamik– the Great Agikiamik of the Yo-Yo Islands– who they say has been visiting since 1929 when his friends Muggs and Janet Lorber founded camp. A.K. always wants to hear the funniest stories that happened during the summer so we gathered at the council fire ring and laughed at some truly amusing stories together.
This afternoon we enjoyed the final two project periods of the summer. Campers wrapped up final ranks and, even at this late hour, tried new things. Tonight we’ll meet in the Rec Hall to sing a round of songs together and watch the summer’s slideshow.
Tomorrow we’ll spend our morning packing before gathering for our Awards Ceremony in the afternoon. We’ll celebrate each other for the goals we’ve all achieved during the summer. Then, tomorrow night we’ll meet for our final Council Fire and a Keylog ceremony.
Packing day can often be a tough day, but as a counselor told me when I was having a hard time as a kid: “A tough day at camp is better than a good day anywhere else.” While we’ll all be feeling our feelings, we’ll make the most of every second we have together.
It’s hard to believe in just 48 hours, all our campers will be safe and sound at home with the summer of 2026 in the rear view mirror. As a Village Director just described to me, “The end just snuck up on us.” But that’s what happens at camp. Disconnecting from our screens we’ve spent the summer totally immersed in what’s been going on around us. We’ve enjoyed a rare level of presence together. We’ve created a space where we can spend unfettered time focused on the place we’re in and the people we’re with.
What a gift.
All is well in the Northwoods