July 10 2025

Last night’s EP was intended to be a blowout, over-the-top Main Camp tradition (we have done it for almost 50 years) that surprised and delighted every camper and counselor. Such a program requires a lot of effort and expense, as you know (you have thrown parties before, and that is essentially the definition of a big evening program). Food, entertainment, decorations, guest list, transportation, emergency plans… some or all of these are involved.

Sarah is our point person for special events, and her behind-the-scenes preparations and organization are exceptional (she is the mastermind of Opening and Closing Day… nuff said). Everything is thought through; custom artwork is generated, and the evening’s flow is adapted to meet expectations, surprise, and delight. The menu, extra treats, and “exclamation point” features all combine magically, resulting in a moment intended to be remembered and talked about afterwards. It is a significant amount of work that requires a capable team.

Maddie (her right-hand woman), the Group Leaders (tested and proven camp leaders), the maintenance crew, the housekeeping crew, the men’s staff, and the program staff all join the effort… and at the last minute, it comes together. When it works, it is so very satisfying. When it doesn’t, it is a predictable letdown (weather almost always). That is what happened last night.

It was a beautiful day. Blue skies, scattered clouds, light breeze, warm temperatures, high humidity. Perfect camp weather in July. Scattered thunderstorms were predicted (as always), but it looked like they would not be in our area. We worked all day preparing everything. At 5:00, the light breeze turned into a stiff, gusty breeze, and we checked the radar, which showed a massive bank of red clouds marching our way. Obviously, we changed the plan… moving everything from outside to inside the FORT. Tables, supplies, decorations, and hundreds of cupcakes were scooped up by the dozens of staff and directors who were standing by for just that reason. As we were finishing up, the cell passed over us with unusually heavy rain and wind. Rather than a picnic, the girls enjoyed their dinner in a dining hall buffet, giving time for the storm to pass. We enjoyed the “janky carnival” vibe of the Corn Roast minus the pontoon boat and hay rides, ending early so we could be back in our cabins when the next cell hit. No golden evening spent with friends doing fun, surprising activities, no cow milking demonstration, no petting zoo, no fireworks… we still loved it. A first-year Main Camper came up to me this morning and said it was her favorite EP of the summer. Better than Carnival! High praise, coming from an 11-year-old. I think she enjoyed getting ready just as much as participating in the program.

Preparation is always part of the fun. The girls love dressing up. They spent a lot of time doing so last night, and the storm gave them more time to do so. I entered into the spirit wearing cowboy boots, a western shirt, a big belt buckle, and assumed a Texas-sized swagger. The delight in the girls’ eyes when they see each other is evident. It’s the same with preparing our facility for such a moment. It’s fun, even if it turns out to be different from what we planned.

We plan to squeeze in fireworks tonight (if it rains it we will likely cancel due to scheduling difficulties with the company). No matter what, last night was fun… and we got a good night’s rest!

All this work on “extras” is noticed by everyone; old-time campers and parents comment on these details and thank us for continuing to surprise and delight year after year. It is our pleasure. If you think it is fun to think of such things, read a book that inspired us greatly: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara (Eleven Madison Park). It resonates with our mission and is a lot of fun too. You might even find ways to enhance your family routines!

The Skip Year girls were my favorite part of the Festival. Their arrival was that of a bunch of movie stars. Each one dressed up, with makeup, hair, pitch-perfect outfits, and million-dollar smiles. They were so happy to see each other. I teared up when I saw them arrive, so proud.

Some of these girls will return next year as staff, while others will not return for decades. All of them love each other profoundly and already cherish their childhood memories of this place. They came to breakfast, laughed at the joke, danced and prayed at the morning assembly, spent a morning changing classes, then left. Blink of an eye experience but good in every sense of the word.

You can tell from my long, rambling style this morning that I got an early start on the blog. These are some of my favorite posts for they allow time for reflection before publication.

Breakfast: French Toast, Sausage Links

Breakfast Club: Physical Growth… Live in the moment

Joke: Thanks Daddy

Weather: 82 degrees, UV 4, Partly Cloudy, chance of rain

Lunch: BLT, Pimento Cheese, sandwiches

Dinner: Chicken Enchiladas

EP: Group Night Fun with late night fireworks (Lord Willing)