Blooms for home- Final Night Three Week Session

The final day always feels surreal.

How did we get here? Where did the time go? Somehow, all the magic, the sliding rock trips, the campfires, the meals, the dance parties, the hikes, paddles, climbs, and more… everything went by like the blink of a firefly.

The morning began with all the performances from our gymnasts and dancers. They impressed us with their flips, twists, moves, and grooves. It was a great way to start the morning. After the shows, we had a choice period. Understandably, everyone wanted to come to the lake. Needing extra Lifeguards, I eagerly jumped at the chance to be outside and guard the Tarzan. The lake is a special place. It’s no wonder that the original camp and cabins were built with the lake at its center. The afternoon was spent packing up. For three weeks, these cabins truly become home, and getting all that stuff back into a container takes skill, organization, and time.

The evening kicked off with a beautiful banquet planned and executed by the Sparks. Their theme was the movie “Trolls.” Having never seen the film, I enjoyed the decorations, festivities, and enthusiasm. If anything, Final Night demonstrates the power of a group of people coming together to make something happen. It was a ton of fun. The bright pink dirt cake was the icing on the cake.

Then came the time for the beautiful old ritual of lining up, walking through the pasture, and making our way to Dohivi Noche, our final campfire. Underneath the shade of a two-hundred-foot pine, we sit on the ground and gather to sing songs, hear stories, and share wishes just one more time. We recognized our 10-year Illahee girls, our CITs, and Junior Counselors. Judy Anne, a JC, wrote a song about her time at Illahee entitled “Far Away Home.”

I always compare the “wishes” at Illahee to an old-fashioned “Charge and Benediction” at church. They are the final words, the pump-up speech, the good news to send us out into a world that desperately needs the kind of love we know at Illahee.

Meeken gave the wish for Hillbrook, emphasizing the importance of friendships and celebrating the friends she has made this summer. Lawson spoke for Heigh Ho, challenging us to resist the temptation to “fit in” and reminding us that we don’t need to cover ourselves up, either literally or metaphorically, so we can be our most authentic selves when we return home. Annabel got up from Pineview, speaking about her cabin as a family, and what joy she experienced by reading them nightly devotions, encouraging us all to “cherish every moment.”

Kate Watkins, the CIT, spoke about her first summer at Illahee and how it was a complete chance that led her to be here. She spoke about the importance of slowing down to look around, even quoting her (and her dad’s) favorite movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Ellis Applegate stood for the Junior Counselors, elaborating on her experience, trying to give everyone a “generous assumption” and encouraging us all to “expand our circle of care” here and at home.

Finally, Meg Sabo, a first-year counselor new to Illahee, was voted to represent the counselors. She spoke about finding joy in the silly moments, even when they are frustrating, and asked that we might attempt to look at all things from different perspectives, looking for ways to be compassionate and kind.

These were all wise words, from wise women. We concluded the night walking from Dohivi Noche to the Canoe Lake. There, we floated wishboats and sang that Pine Tree song just one more time.

Walking home after the campfire, headlight shining, I noticed the plethora of bright purple hostas, so close to blooming fully. Darn, I thought. Selfishly wanting camp to look its absolute prettiest. It would have been great if they could be blooming for closing day!

But they will bloom. In time, they will.

Just like your camper. Leaving this place, she will continue to bloom into her truest, most confident, loving, curious, and silly self.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Camp is too great an investment for it to only make a one-,two-,three- or four-week impact. Although this place might feel to our campers as the place where they are their most alive. It is, however, the remaining time of the year when the fruits of a session at Illahee come to bloom. It is when your daughter feels confident swimming in the pool or speaking in front of strangers. It’s where they feel capable of solving problems with a bunkmate, classmate, or even that dreaded younger brother (that was me!). It’s where they continue their passions, such as making friendship bracelets, kayaking down rivers, performing in a play, or even cooking a meal from something they learned at camp.

We thank you for your trust, your support, and your willingness to share your daughter with us for a time.

May she continue to bloom all year long.

Lucas