Challenge Day

Today is Challenge Day, a wonderful tradition that ALWAYS happens ten days into camp. Ten days happens to be the “fulcrum point” of the camp experience: that time when a camper fully adjusts to camp life and settles into the real “meat” of the camp experience.

Till this point we have been emotionally adjusting to life at camp. As directors, we have found that it takes about ten days to fully settle into camp life (a fact my Great Grandfather noted from the very first year). After ten days, camp is experienced in a deeper, more relaxed fashion. For this reason, Main Camp is special.

The longer time frame of this session allows us to naturally adjust to camp and then enjoy two solid weeks of “normal camp life” before the closing week madness. These middle weeks are the best weeks of the summer: marked by deep growth and character development. There is LOTS going on and all of the activity leads to growth in the four fold way . The jokes are funnier, the conversations deeper, and the lessons of camp much more poignant. This is when emotions well up (Saturday’s 5 year celebration will have a lot of them) and love abounds. We appreciate the good things of life and are thankful. The very definition of a “Sweet Spirit”.

The weather continues to be VERY comfortable (highs in the low 80’s) and sunny (at least in the mornings). A normal 50% percent chance of rain will exist every afternoon (leading to rest hour showers most days). The girls will be worn out by lunch (this is a very active morning coming after a late night) and everyone will take a good nap at rest hour (don’t expect many letters to be written today!).

Tonight’s EP is Council Fire. We will gather around the old fire pit and speak of “important things”, tap members of the temporary honor council, and give award patches to those who have passed levels in their classes. It is a nice quiet end to a nice busy day.

Carnival last night featured a clear sky and bright moon (perfect viewing weather for the fireworks). Breakfast today was remarkable… breakfast skillets (hash browns covered with diced onions and sliced tomatoes and a sunny side up egg with the yoke still runny). Lunch is smoked turkey sandwiches (homemade bread and turkey smoked yesterday with a wonderful spicy dry rub of our own invention). Dinner is Pizza (home made, of course).

Thanks for checking in!