Last night at our Camp talent show, we wrapped up our evening together as we always do–by singing songs! The final three are ones that tie us back to generations of campers and counselors at Nebagamon. They are songs about this place and the things we care about here. They are songs we all sing thoughtfully.
Looking out at the crowd of campers with arms wrapped around their friends’ shoulders, one of those final three songs stood out to me: “We Shall Keep the Friends.” The first two verses go:
We shall keep the friends we’ve found here
We shall cherish every one
And the joys we’ve known together here at Camp Nebagamon
There’s a destiny which guides us
None goes their way alone
Here we share the lives of others and enrich our own
As those words hung in the air, I started thinking about the networks of friendships I was looking out at–each with its own character and meaning. Today I set out to learn more. I asked campers, counselors and administrators to tell me about a close friendship they’ve at Camp and what it means to them. Here’s what I found:
A Brand-New Swamper’s First Camp Friend
“I met [my friend] the first day of projects,” a new Swamper told me. He and another camper -not in his cabin – both chose to attend athletics that day and quickly bonded over their shared love of soccer. Their friendship has taken off in the past three weeks. “He’s really kind,” the Swamper said. “I feel like I’ve always known him even though we just met.” As a first year camper, it made a big difference to have someone else to share the experience of being new to camp with.
A Logger’s Durable Friendship
I spoke to a Logger in his fourth year at Camp. He shared about a friend he made in the Swamper Village three whole summers ago. Bonding over four square and ping pong together, they quickly became “best friends.” When I asked what the friendship meant to him the logger quickly exclaimed: “It makes me feel happy.”
Friendship in the Axeman Village
An Axeman described a friendship which has remained consistent through his years at Camp. They met as Swampers and became close while living in the same cabin. While their cabin groups have shifted over the years and the two no longer live together, “nothing has changed.” “I always have someone I can talk to and be open to.” This past year they even got to see each other a couple times outside of camp, despite living in different cities!
Lumberjack Reflections
In the Lumberjack Village another camper told me about a friendship that began years ago at Camp when he and his friend shared a Swamper cabin together. “[My friend] is funny, and tries to help people with whatever they are doing.” When asked what makes Camp friendships different from home friendships this Lumberjack wisely explained that when you live with people you really get to know them. You observe their habits, you watch their mood change, and, “you can be nice to them when you know they haven’t gotten enough sleep!” He told me that he’s looking forward to seeing his friendship continue to grow in their final summer as campers next year, and then on staff and beyond.
A New-to-Camp Counselor
A first time counselor from England talked about how a friendship with a veteran staff member has made him feel at home. He explained that this counselor went out of his way to include him in time off plans. He said that, while the other counselor already had a core group of friends, he still made the effort to include him and it made him feel welcomed here at Camp. This counselor shared that his new friend is one who is always focused on making him feel heard and supported in this new community.
A Lifetime of Friendship
One of our senior administrators shared about a friendship which began when he was a first year camper in 1978. They remained close throughout their camper years and both returned on staff together. The administrator shared that during their staff years they would do whatever they could to spend time with one another and even made some time to see one another in the offseason. They met up for holidays, traveled to Alaska one summer for some exploring, and were even in each other’s weddings. Their last summer working together here at Camp was in 1988 when they were both on Trip Staff… until this summer when they both found their way home to Nebagamon.
Before I go on, I just need to express how much fun I had walking around Camp conducting these interviews this morning. When I’d approach a camper or staff member and tell them I wanted to talk about a friendship they have, their eyes all lit up. I saw an eagerness to talk about their friends that I don’t think I expected. They seemed proud of their friendships they’ve crafted here, and I can relate. I could talk for hours about my Camp friends. I so enjoyed listening to everyone showing off these important relationships with such enthusiasm.
As I spoke with people across camp, I found that our friendships here grow up as we do. At first they built on activities they enjoy doing. They are focused on fun. Over time these friendships gain depth. Baked into our friendships here are the values we live by every day. They are held together by trust in one another and openness to one another’s individuality. When we say “we shall keep the friends we’ve found here,” we mean it. Friendships at Camp Nebagamon are durable because our Camp friends are cornerstones of who we are: “here we share the lives of others and enrich our own.”
Tonight we’ll gather around the Council Fire Ring, and as we sing, “Round Thy Blazing,” we’ll make a promise that will echo through the pines.
And so before we close our eyes in sleep
Let us pledge each other that we’ll keep
Camping friendships strong and deep
‘Til we meet again
Looking forward to one more week of friendship at Camp Nebagamon.
All is well in the Northwoods