A Post from Our Daily Updates...
Friday, July 08, 2005
A posting from our daily summer updates. Parents are able to access a protected area of the site and read daily updates by the director and view over 100 photos posted each night.
Katie Adams is our birthday queen today! Tomorrow, we say farewell to a great group of sixty-three Mini 1 session campers. It is so hard to believe that we are already at the end of this two-week session. These girls had a big day today, with final night activities a perfect finale to an exciting last day of activities. The transition between Mini 1 and Mini 2 has evolved in to what I think is an art form...the perfect blend of completion and celebration for the two-week girls, and all of it low-key enough that the four-weekers hardly even realize that these younger girls are leaving!I was saddened by the news from London today and continue to be puzzled by the hatred that some harbor in their hearts. I couldn't help but notice the contrast when I walked in to breakfast after a quick look at the news on the internet. Camp is such a loving and supportive family. This event will go largely unnoticed by the majority in our community...some will find out when they return home, I imagine. Laurie shared an email with me from one of you who was on Wall Street during 9/11. It was eloquent in its message, and I think it's one that most of us share on some level, conscious or not. You want your daughter to grow up in a world unafraid, confident in herself and her fellow man. It is harder today than it was five years ago. And it is hard for us to let go as parents...
We are one of the few camps in our area, and I suspect in the nation, that is full with waiting lists this summer. I think most of this drop in enrollment for others is tied less to the economy and more to that primal desire that we have to hang on to our children. It's a scary world out there, but one that our children will eventually be leaders in. I know I am "singing to the choir" when I say that experiences like camp are crucial for our kids. It is important for them to navigate the waters of risk in a safe harbor like Illahee. It's about more than self-esteem and success...it's about getting away from the noise and the distractions, and enjoying the simple pleasures of a balanced lifestyle...playing hard and coming to meals hungry, eating well and sleeping well. It's about having time to sit around and talk to friends, some of whom are older, and women like they want to be some day. There's no media and no Playstation...no instant messaging, and no overscheduling (we do it too :-)I'm glad that you chose camp for your child...I am excited for you to see the changes when she returns.
We "dodged the bullet" with the rain! We did get some, and we knew it was coming, but any of you who took a look at the radar this morning, saw that we got the leading edge of a horseshoe-shaped band of rain, but the northwest and southeast of us got a lot more! Luckily, we only had a few activities that needed to shuffle locations. We did reschedule Sliding Rock due to high water levels, and the 4 week girls had a talent show. There were some awesome acts and some that should keep their day jobs :-)...Susan and Mia played piano, and Stephanie, Dana and Becky entertained us with African drumming. There was singing and dance to cap off a night of fun. While all of this was going on, the Mini 1 girls painted plaques for the cabins, and then were treated to gutter sundaes, the world's longest ice cream sundae! Afterwards, they went to final campfire in the Woodland Chapel, after which they floated wish boats out on the canoe lake. It was a great evening to end a terrific session. I am writing too long tonight and know that you are anxious to pore over the pictures, so I'll sign off! Sleep well. Gordon.
