From Claire Kotarski, Big Lodge Director
Last night, I experienced my very first Indian Brook “Cocoa House.” While the night was absent of sweet hot drinks (and not welcome in this heat!), it was full of entertainment and belly laughs from campers and counselors alike. First and Big Lodge had just gotten back from their trips that afternoon. They were in a frenzy planning trip skits throughout dinner, while some groups had already started their planning the second they hit the trail! Each trip skit was full of inside jokes from each hiking, canoeing, or climbing journey, yet the humor was still accessible to the wider camp. The kids took to the stage with little hesitation and utilized the costume closet to play characters ranging from pesky flies on the trail to parodies of 
their counselors. I was struck by the amount of support campers gave to their peers. At one point during a camper’s song, I witnessed the majority of Senior Lodge swaying in the back. Senior Lodgers proudly screamed, “That’s my First Lodge buddy!” when First Lodgers bravely took the stage (often with a friend nearby for extra comfort). There was certainly some magic happening on the makeshift wooden stage at IB last night!