Younger campers and their trip leaders returned delighted from their trips. They saw wildlife, had warm sunny days and comfortable nights and got to connect with a whole different group of people out in nature. Lots of the appreciation beads given out at council fire were related to bonding that happened on trips. It was a reminder that the reluctance to hike we experienced from some of the older campers was likely connected to finishing school just a few days earlier, being teenagers, and the high temperatures we had.
Other recent activities include:
- Grand Circuit Swims around the lake
- Frontier Skills such as using a draw knife properly.
- Fiber Arts like spinning and needle felting with wool from our F&W flock.
- Work Projects including siding the more complicated parts of the new Kitchen), water bars, and trail construction.
- Jon Schoder (TL alum) led a trip and a revival of our TL Frisbee Golf course as well as Underwater Soccer at the waterfront.
- Lot of running around games such as “Battle Cattle” involving farmers, cows, aliens and Men In Black.
- Equality vs equity, colorblindness and racial justice skits, discussions and games depending on the camper’s age. Older campers have done a great job of engaging with these important topics as camper facilitators, practicing that important skill in an authentic learning environment. I really appreciate the older campers being role models.
- Sitting in Silent Meeting
- Just this morning, one of our youngest campers snuggling up to one of our upper senior lodge campers – who not only gave him support and affection but also an appropriate corrective glance when he was being fidgety and distracting others. That’s a future counselor right there.
- A TL alum from ’80-’81 came and shared that Silent Meeting seemed weird when he was a camper. As he got older he found himself returning again and again to the meeting circle and never forgot three things shared at meeting. One of these things was when some old guy stood up and said how Silent Meeting seemed weird as a kid, but as he was older he realized how it helped shape him.
Campers that have struggled with homesickness are realizing how resilient they have become and can look forward to the few remaining days for completion of our bigger camper projects. Three big events are coming up this week: Society of 39 (an all-camp game), Banquet with a fully transformed dining hall, and all the closing ceremonies to put another incredible first half to rest.