Last night, we ended the first week of second session with our Sunday night Council Fire. Every week we gather as a Camp Family at the Council Fire Ring to light a large bonfire and watch a presentation on one of our camp values. This week, a Senior Counselor shared about the value of smiling – how positivity not only helps us make the most of a situation, but how smiling is contagious, and maintaining a positive mental attitude impacts the friends around us. The message was heartwarming and reflective of the sentiment around camp right now. The community’s positivity is palpable, and visible on the faces of smiling campers enjoying a lovely day of normal projects yesterday afternoon.
But the real testament to the feeling around camp was our Keylog Ceremony. This time-honored tradition takes place each week following our Council Fire presentation. Campers have an opportunity to place a log on the fire to thank someone who made a difference in their lives at camp that week. Giving a keylog is a special moment. It takes some courage for a camper to stand up in front of our whole camp family and speak publicly. It takes some trus, too, for a camper to share with everyone their thoughts, feelings, and gratitude. And it also takes kindness, compassion, and support from the rest of our community, to make that keylog possible.
As our Council Fire presentation came to a close last night, our once-roaring fire had burnt down to only a handful of coals and a few spurting flames. When we called for folks to give keylogs, the aisles of our fire ring quickly filled up with campers and staff quietly waiting their turn to speak. We looked around the Council Fire Ring and noticed how many people were up from their benches and standing in line – it seemed many campers and staff wanted to partake in this beloved tradition.
The first camper in line to speak was brand new to camp, and from the youngest village. He’d learned about the ceremony from his counselors and village director, but he had never once witnessed a single person give a keylog before. As he got up in front of the crowd, he hesitated a little bit. It looked like he might not know what he was doing. But he cleared his voice, summoned some courage, and quietly said,
“Thanks to my counselors for being amazing this week.”
He placed his log on the fire and went to his seat. One log alone would not build our fire back. The next camper walked to the middle of the ring to address camp.
“I want to give this keylog to my cabin. This first week of camp has been so much fun and I am thankful for you guys welcoming me into the cabin. And I’m thankful for the cabin I was with last year, it is so good to see you guys.” This camper had switched cabin groups and felt both welcomed by the new group, and appreciated by his previous cabin, so much so that he wanted to thank both.
The next camper, a returning 8th grader, was focused on the support from his cabin group as well, “Thank you to my cabin for encouraging me to go on a wilderness trip for the first time. You guys are so helpful.”
As more and more campers stood in front of camp to talk, the fire began to slowly grow, one keylog at a time.
A group of campers who just got off trail went next, “Thanks to our trip staff, you both made our trip to the Porcupine Mountains so fun and we are grateful you were with us.”
“Thanks to my two friends from home who decided to try camp this year, I am so happy that you are here with me and am glad you are enjoying camp.”
A personal favorite from a young camper who was so overflowing with appreciation, he had a hard time describing why he was thankful, “Thanks to my cabinmates for being great cabinmates, and my counselors for being great at counseling.”
The fire grew steadily – flames began to flicker across the faces of campers. The sun set and the sky darkened. The Council Fire became our main source of light, as a sliver of moon began to peek out between the pines.
“Thank you for my counselors who helped me when I was feeling homesick this week… you guys are the greatest.”
“Thanks to my cabinmate who I’ve gotten closer with this year, you taught me how to throw a frisbee the right way this week and I really appreciate it.”
“This keylog is for the counselor in charge of my favorite project. Your activity is really busy, but you still make time to work with me to help me personally achieve higher ranks.”
“Thanks to my parents. I am so happy here at camp, and I am so happy that they sent me here.” [And if you think this was your son… I promise it was! 😉]
Not one single member of our community stood up and mentioned the smoky conditions we had for part of last week. As our campers told the story of this first week of second session through their keylogs, it became clear that this was not a week we made the most of. This week of camp was a week as good as any other, in their favorite place in the world, with their supportive counselors, steadfast friends, and memories that will last a lifetime.
As the last few campers said their piece and headed back to their seats, the keylogs crackled in the renewed flames. We sat in silence for a few moments as a Camp Family, appreciating the campfire – a fire built entirely from the kindness of our own community. One by one, each village gathered arm-in-arm around the Council Fire for a final gaze into its magical flames. By the light of the fire, we dismissed each village to bed. Our campers headed back to their cabins with the warmth of the fire lingering on their cheeks. And they rested their heads on their pillows last night with the warmth of the keylog ceremony lingering in their hearts.