Greetings from Hilltop. Second Session is over, and it was one for the books. As I write this, some campers are already with their parents, and some are on their way. So far, our travel logistics are all going smoothly. In Camp, there’s an eerie quiet now that there are only around 75 summer staff where there was just recently just under 300 people. The counselors are cleaning, getting organized for an evening off and Junior Session, and processing their own really big experiences.
Last night at Evening Fire, there were more than a few tears. I told the campers to allow themselves to feel those feelings deeply, but also to be aware that the only reason to be sad is that something extraordinary happened here this month. Genuine friendships were forged and deepened. Obstacles and hardships were overcome. Campers became a bit more sure of themselves. Art, song, the wind at just the right angle to the sail, the rider in unison with her horse – all of those things will edify these campers throughout their lives.
Be aware that campers’ re-entry into what we affectionately call “the real world” at Camp may take a few days. They’ve had a big experience, and there is often a decompression period. Some will come out with the camp stories right away. Others make take a little time. Some may want to spend an inordinate amount of time on devices communicating with camp friends. Others will just want a nap. Give it a few days, and the decompression period will end.
I hope your camper is already talking about next summer, and you may be interested to know that registration for summer 2018 is already available. We reserve spots for returning campers until November 30, so there’s no real rush, but many families like to take care of it when Camp is at the front of mind. We will send out reminders and so forth, but we do encourage you to mind that November 30 deadline. For the last several years, all three of our sessions filled on December 1, and we have no reason to believe it will be different next year. You can find that registration form by logging into your parent account at fourwindscamp.org/login, clicking on “Registration Form,” selecting the 2018 season, and filling out the form.
Thank you for sharing your children with us. I know that it is a sacrifice, in both time and money, to choose Four Winds for your child. I hope you see the rewards in their faces when they return home, and I hope to see as many of them as possible back next summer.