What a week!
Yesterday, in a rush of backpacks, paddles and squeals of joy, campers returned from long trips with a few more dirty fingernails, and tons of enchantment from the trail. During our “shining moment” sharing circle later that night, one camper described climbing Mount Success, exclaiming that “with each step, the view became even more majestic, until finally we didn’t have words, and just began screaming at the mountain with our joy.”
These words gracefully capture the deep wisdom that nature has to offer our campers. Indeed, another camper expressed his amazement at the “most beautiful thing he had ever seen,” having been fortunate enough to witness a meteor shower in the Adirondacks.
That night, our counselors and campers went to bed freshly showered, pleasantly full, and happy with the camaraderie that only a week on the trail can give you.
This morning, campers got to enjoy their first schmooze time of the session! This meant they got to sleep in, eat breakfast at their leisure, and enjoy the sunny day before asanas and morning activities began. Tonight, we had the pleasure of being brought into the special naming ceremony at Flying Cloud, our sister Farm & Wilderness camp on Lake Ninevah. Campers looked excited and honored as they were allowed sit around the Naming Circle fire and watch another solemn and joyous camp tradition.
Moving forward, we have a busy week ahead of us, with lots of prep for closing our SAM community with grace. Some of us can’t help but already feel a little nostalgic, and can’t believe how quickly camp has passed. As we close our own community, we are also looking forward to enjoying the all-camps F&W Fair! We’re eager to share our camp skit and have fun with our other F&W friends.
It’s been a wonderful summer here at camp.
Much gratitude from all of us here for the wonderful campers who have lit our hearts, and given us faith in the next generation.
Here’s to Summer 2015 at SAM camp!
Signing off,
— Josie Nickum, SAM Staff
