It has been a magical first five days of camp! Our soggy surroundings haven’t been a deterrent to the fantastic energy and our preparations for our first trips. First night cabin discussions gave campers an initial platform for shaping the kind of community they wish to create at SAM Camp this summer. On Day Two, we jumped right into packing out for our cabin trips. Campers were reacquainted or given their first introductions to how to plan and pack food, gear and personal clothing. We are very lucky to have strong camper knowledge at SAM this year. We are working to have campers leading many of the skills workshops and hold many of the basic responsibilities.
Friday morning signaled SAM campers and Questers parting their ways and moving toward the lessons and challenges they anticipated at camp this year. We celebrated this separation with a send-off where SAMmers gave words of support and encouragement for the 18-day and 35 –day Questers trips.
The Questers also shared their sentiments about their first trips, as well as the many nuggets they have picked up from other journeys, before taking on this amazing adventure. Here’s some advice they received from campers and staff: “take lots of pictures” and “spend time with each person and learn their story” and “tell your group how you’re feeling and what you need” and “take time to appreciate each challenge” and “we came to camp on our own, and now we have so many others to help us along the way.”
Once packs were packed and canoes were loaded, we were off! Campers hiked and canoed with their cabins into five different directions. So many questions ran though their excitement, but still they journeyed on!
Where am I going? What am I going to see? How am I going to fit in? Who will watch out for me?
Our weather was warm and there was just enough rain to let them know how effective their skills were in tarp rigging and fire building. Campers returned with huge grins and lots of hugs and stories having found amazing answers to the questions that had lingered upon departure. After each trip, we take time to do skits and appreciate all of the crazy things that happened. We also reflect on many of the things that we loved about the experience and the answers to the questions we had as we departed camp. Here are some of their answers:
How am I going to fit in?: “ I can’t believe how close I feel to my cabin already” and, “everyone so was so patient and forgiving, it felt more like a family than a group of friends.”
What will I see: “Double rainbows” and “a bear!” and “I watched a bug, I have no idea what kind, but it was so amazing” “Everyone in my cabin was laughing together and smiling… it was so beautiful!” and “I had pancake batter all over me, and we were making such a mess but everyone was so happy.”
Who will watch for me? “The whole group was so supportive and willing to help” and “I loved how the counselors asked what we wanted to do, but helped us when we needed it”
We ended out evening with a discussion about how we are now ready to transition from just getting to know our cabin groups and are now creating a larger SAM community. The campers were able to pull from their experiences on the trip make some goals for the larger group.
Certainly an amazing and lofty list… but we have amazing campers! We’re well on our way!