Farm & Wilderness Road is still, with no boisterous singing wafting through the woods from Timberlake, or from Barn Day Campers hiking on Adventure Day. Instead, the laughter and merriment has been replaced with quiet.
This, my second summer, flew. The last weeks were filled with events such as TL’s dinosaur-themed Banquet and Indian Brook’s Someday. These provided little time to reflect or imagine the approaching end of camp.
My summer highlights were, at Tamarack Farm, making a corn-hole game with several campers and staff; the Camper Council dinner at Saltash Mountain Camp, followed by two representatives speaking to the Board of Trustees; talented performances by campers at Indian Brook’s Wilderness Program and Long Trail Questers; relaxing with the welcoming and peaceful Flying Cloud community; tales of spirited intrigue at the coordinated Spy Night run by Indian Brook and Timberlake camps; and getting lost with a colleague during a hike to the remote Indian Brook Wilderness site.
This summer was a season of getting lost in the magic of camp, while keeping an aerial view of F&W’s strengths and opportunities. In doing so, I found a lot to appreciate; passionate staff fully present for campers and each other; camp directors engaging at all levels, modeling what they teach; alumni and trustees asking good questions, seeking the best of the organization, not resting on past successes nor striving for change unless warranted; and especially to you parents whose faith and trust in F&W’s camps enables your children to grow and find themselves, in the woods, on the water, through challenges and friendships.
We ended the summer with a bang! (No, not the thunder at Fair!) Fair was picturesque (albeit hot), with everyone busy finding their own type of fun. We tried something new in response to enrollment filling earlier and invited parents to meet camp directors for information sessions as they consider the next camp for their children. In addition, President Pieter Bohen and I hosted an open conversation on environmental sustainability, land stewardship and conservation with about 20 participants. The discussion will continue throughout the year as our curricular review will include these topics, plus trips and waterfront programming.
As we look ahead, please join us at Harvest Work Weekend on Oct. 9-12 to hear more, and enjoy the rained out Fair bonfire, which we will burn over that weekend (we will invite campers and staff who spent hours preparing the structure). For Indian Brook alumnae, consider helping construct the new Cozy Lodge.
I spent a day at each of the camps this summer (along with frequent shorter visits), yet still feel I wish I’d had more time, especially now in the calm of approaching fall. The memories of your children’s joy and energy will sustain me until we meet again, in a park, at a dinner, or during another encounter.
In peace,
Rebecca Geary, Executive Director
