From Saturday 7/7 to Tuesday 7/10 was our “all camp reset” when we had our Big and First Lodge campers all back from trips and for a few days everyone was in camp together.
What’s the first part of the “reset”? Tidying up the cabins! Our program director motivated all cabins by offering the a prize to the cleanest cabin – the chance to shave anything they like into his head. The Bears cabin won, with Sycamore coming a close second. Jarod now has a large, but not unattractive bear paw on his head and “Bears” written on his nape, and we have clean cabins.
We celebrated our first evening with a Council Fire and watching trip skits from all the different hikes. This was also the final evening for J1 campers so we feasted on pulled pork in their honor.
While regular program happened in the morning, we also had camper-led activities and open waterfront. We also held our first ever all-camp town meeting. All campers wrote down their “Rose/Bud/Thorn” about camp and then anyone who wanted to stay for an open forum with the directors could. I was pleased the positive notes included:
• The kindness of community
• Staff
• Counselor respect
• Freedom to express what we want to do
The biggest complaint was no sugary “Red Drink” with meals, which I’ll take that as a sign we are doing well.
Fourteen people stayed behind and we talked all afternoon until it was time for supper. I was impressed by the level of maturity shown and the willingness to dialogue to make camp better for everyone. Our teenage campers wanted more freedom to choose their activity. They were also willing to hear how adult guidance helped them realize how their bigger projects, such as getting the new cabin started, creating the brilliant float for Interdependence Day and others, are projects they can look back and be proud of in years to come. It’s a balance. The biggest message from the feedback session was that campers at Timberlake appreciate having more creative camper input on program and not having every day structured for them. We responded with “Camper-Led Afternoon” where they come up with an idea and find a counselor to lead it.
Our “Guy Night” was an evening that helps make Timberlake a more safe and enjoyable place for everyone. Although we had just played an all-camp game (“Sticks”),had a dip at the waterfront and were very much in “summertime” mode, the campers were able to shift gears to discuss how imposing stereotypes and homophobic language doesn’t help the group and how we can be part of the solution.
As this was a time to celebrate community, we had a all-camp evening in our Arts Mahal and TL Garden. Stories were read to diligent weeders and camper plots really took off. Zach, our potter help,ed throw and pinch pots to fire in a primitive kiln.
Another arts project that is very exciting is the pedal-powered lathe that Piet Vermeer has set up. Both the work this allows us to do and the understanding of how to create this type of tool are equally exciting. Campers are also making benches that are very solid and beautiful and have no nails or screws.
Finally, we ended this four-day cycle with our “Dream Big” Night. We ask campers to think about what their great goals are and what is holding them back. In First Lodge, once they had their goal, the whole group brainstormed words associated with that goal. The most powerful of those words was then chosen to be stenciled onto a T-shirt that they will take home with them. Big Lodgers collected their concerns and worries and created a flotilla of boat to hold them, then lit and launched in the Timberlake cove at twilight as way of letting go of those concerns. Finally, Senior Lodgers wrote their goals and barriers onto a board and then, with the encouragement of their peers, proceeded to break those boards.
Peace,
Tulio