July 19 2025
Today is Watersports Day (our last big team competition of the year). It is sunny, it is hot, and we are in the water. What could be better than that? Morning activities are canceled as we rotate competitions to win points for our team. The morning ends with a war canoe race (in our 28-foot-long, Old Town wooden canoes…beautifully restored by a Greystone legend, Perry White, several years ago). The winning team will receive the coveted “bear” for the rest of camp. After ALL this buildup, we will end the day with our world-famous Water Show. I say world-famous because it is unique. Not many places celebrate synchronized swimming, but at Greystone, it is HUGE. Three hundred campers will participate in ten choreographed performances. It is a challenging skill, requiring grace and stamina. Once mastered, it is quite lovely, particularly in this setting. It is an extravagance that seems crazy to other camps… but is worthy of this moment. Even in the rain, it will be a memorable program and a springboard to the Senior Play on Monday.
Production Night was shockingly good, as expected. Each dance and every musical performance outstanding in every detail. The costumes, the timing (during and between acts), the choreography… every detail combined seamlessly and made the performance shine. I know that I wear “camp glasses” during the summer (never going to “real” performances, watching outside media, or seeing anyone other than campers and counselors doing their thing with no inhibitions about being silly or making a mistake). They probably aren’t perfect performances, but they feel like perfect performances. They are authentic reflections of genuine talent… by friends.
A quick moment from the show that is particularly sweet in my memory occurred during a “Broadway Music” act with two girls. They were singing a duet dressed in fancy “royalty” costumes. One was older than the other (13 and 11 I think). The older camper held character with professional pride… the younger one, not so much. She was singing beautifully (she has an amazing voice) but began to giggle at her co-actor’s performance. Then she saw her friends clustered close to the stage at the corner of the pit and lost all desire to hold it in. She continued the performance and hit her marks with confidence as she danced and sang without missing a beat, giggling throughout. At the end of the song the duet took their bows to thunderous applause… exiting stage left clasping hands and beaming. It was a wonderful performance, a wonderful evening, and represents the feeling as we bask in the golden light of the ending moments of a wonderful camp session.
These big productions build on each other as we enter the last week of Main Camp. First comes the Junior Play, then Performance night, then the Watershow, then Senior Play (Monday’s big finale for camper performances). We will have the big Art Show, Riflery Tournament, Archery Tournament, Great Day 5K, and Council Fire tomorrow. Each one of these events are culminating moments for the girls who have worked all summer to present their art/skill/genius and are keenly anticipated by the entire camp.
Greystone is amazing. You might thoughtlessly dismiss that statement because you are used to being sold; your defenses go up; it sounds like a sales pitch, and you are skeptical. I hesitate to even use this adjective because of this fact. Words like “amazing” somehow cheapen the authentic reality of Main Camp, but they are true (inadequate but true). They touch on the deep feelings many feel when reuniting with families next week. They might not have words to answer that first “real” question: “So what did you think about camp?”. Tough question. They often just tear up and look out the window when you ask. We are not equipped to process such emotions. We don’t have the words, just poignant feelings in our hearts.
One last thing… last night we made an iphone recording of the rap that Caroline and Molly did for their Senior Talent act. The girls dropped off the lyrics and I asked if they would mind… They were delighted to accommodate! It was SO FUNNY, but you might not understand all the inside humor. In my opinion, perfection! They can compose verses on the fly and demonstrated it while chatting in the office last night. Caroline: Give us a subject, we’ll do a verse now. Me: The Koi Pond. Them: The Koi fish pond opened again/ Izzie & Audrey call that a win. WOWZERS
Thank you for your continued support. We’re having a great time as we savor our last weekend at camp.
- Breakfast Cheesy Scrambled Eggs and sausage
- Joke Ike Pike Mustard go out with Zoe, Cloe, and Cupcake
- Lunch Ham and Cheese Croissants
- Dinner Steak and Potatoes
- Weather 85 degrees, Sun, UV 11, Afternoon Showers.
- EP Water Show