Arriving back at camp safe and sound from long trips this Saturday, campers were abuzz with news from their time in the wilderness. Campers shared their experiences that night at cabin skits, regaling us with tales of their exploits as well as descriptions of their climbing trip in the Adirondacks and the beauty of the White Mountains on a trip to Mount Zealand. Afterwards, the campers shared more about their moments on the trail as they sipped tea and marveled about the beauty of the outdoors.
And it’s not over yet for our campers, even though there are only a few days left of camp in the July Session. Early in the week, the campers helped to host a chicken wedding in honor of the recent Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage! The two chickens, named “Winona Flyer” and “Meat Birda”, were honored by the attendance, and we all shared in deviled eggs, dancing and rainbow-colored cookies. The fun continued Tuesday, as we had our group of 14-year-olds lead their Wilderness Adventures program. This consists of a “Get Lost” hike, and they left that afternoon with nothing but a compass, appropriate apparel, several cabin counselors. They returned in time for our dinner circle, and we all welcomed their return and achievements.
We also hosted our contra dance, and we had a great time with our friends from Flying Cloud and Barn Day Camp who showed up for dinner, music, and some old-fashioned fun on the dance floor. Sam Arfer cooked up a feast of chili and cornbread, and we thanked the weather for holding off on the rain until after everyone went home!
The next few days will go by in a hurry, but we can’t wait to share every last wonderful moment we have with these campers, and send them off with a big Banquet this Thursday. Each camper has been busily working on making an appreciation gift for another camper, and the night will be a time for saying our goodbyes, and reflecting on what the summer meant to them.
It’s been a magical first session with these campers, and we’re so blessed to be spending time with them!
— Josie Nickum, SAM Staffer
