Campouts and Camp

One of the images that always arises in the imagination of a camper anticipating her time at summer camp center around the campout. You know exactly what I mean: a blazing fire, s’mores, and friends enjoying a lazy summer night under the stars. It is a glorious thought, but one that can easily fall short of the expectation. We love campouts at Greystone, but we also hear from the campers very clearly when it doesn’t work well. Often the reality of an entire night outside is not easy for a young camper (not much sleep, bug bites, occasional storms, always bleary eyed the next day). We just have to figure out a way to deliver the dream without tiring the girls out as we go into the very busy final push of the session.

Our solution intended to deliver the dream without a healthy dose of disappointment is in the “Extravaganza”, a BIG EP that we enjoyed last night. It is a relaxed evening spent with the cabin by the lake. We build fires all around camp and cabin groups gather by the fire to enjoy the moment. They always want to roast marshmallows first (obviously). We limit them to one s’more (they would like to have eating contests but we have found that s’mores in quantity do not deliver a good camping experience!). Then the games begin as the girls run around playing with their friends as the sun sets, the fire flies rise, and the stars come out. We then go back to our cabins where some choose to sleep on the floor in their sleeping bags (remember when that was fun?). Most migrate back to their bunk before the night is over and we all awake excited about the memory. It is a fun night!

Today is another picture perfect day in the mountains. The ciccadas are loud this time of the summer. Their chirping sound is so relentless we don’t even notice; it is simply a part of the symphony of camp sounds: laughing, talking, squealing, singing, and playing fill the air with joy. The birds, frogs, and insects of camp just join in the party. It is delightful.

We will enjoy a great Production Night EP tonight. All the program areas that want to perform an act in front of the camp will do so tonight. We will see not only dance, drama, guitar, and music but also such things as juggling and jumprope. At Main Camp we even saw a performance by Lacrosse and Field Hockey! The classes work hard to put these acts together and they are very good. By meeting every day for classes we accomplish a lot in a short period of time.

Thank you for sharing your girls. It is such a pleasure.