Greetings from Hilltop. It is good to write those words on this blog once again, because it means that summer has begun. As I write this, the campers are heading towards bed, with many of them already there. They’ve met their cabinmates and counselors, had a nice meal, and are nested in their new homes. It’s been a long day, and it’s time for some rest.
The campers all arrived safely this afternoon. As soon as a whole cabin group was together, they headed back to their cabin or tent, played some games, and many created cabin or tent constitutions, rules they’ll all agree to live by as they share this space for the next month. Just after six, we had our first lowering of the flags on Greenie Hill. We sang some songs, each cabin and tent introduced themselves with a little skit, and we lowered the flags. We had a great dinner of spaghetti, garlic bread, and salad (with appropriate substitutions made for those with dietary restrictions). After dinner, we gathered on the stairs, sang some more songs, and then Danielle, our Assistant Director, and I spoke to the whole camp. We told them that we were excited they were here, that they are in a long line of Four Winds campers that have come to this place for great summers for over 90 years, and to ask their counselors or other staff for help if they need anything at all. We then celebrated the fact that we have campers and staff here from their first year up to their fourteenth, and that we come from 26 states and 14 countries, by standing up and cheering for each number of year and place. After all of that, campers headed back to their cabins and tents to settle in for the night.
Tomorrow is Rotation Day, where we’ll get the campers oriented to Camp and take care of business to make sure the session is all it can be. The campers will fill out their activity schedules (the first half being sorted out by the forms you filled out in the spring), take the swim test, see the nurse, exchange uniforms that don’t fit, have cabin photos made, get a tour of the property, and play lots of games. In the evening, we’ll play a elaborate game of tag, called Biffer Medic, on the sports field. Starting Monday, we’ll begin with activities, and we’ll be off to the races.
It’s early days, but the campers are about to have an experience of a lifetime. They’ll get to experience our wonderful activities, make the best kind of friends, and be a part of something bigger than themselves. Along the way, they’ll solve problems without the supports that they’re used to. They’ll gain independence, grit, and confidence.
Some of you might well be worried about homesickness. While of course it’s normal to worry that your child is having bad feelings, we don’t view homesickness as a bad thing. I honestly wish they would come up with a different word for it. It’s not a virus, after all, it’s a completely normal human feeling. For children away from home for the first time, of course those feelings are new, and often more intense than we experience them as adults. Still, though it’s sometimes hard, it’s an age appropriate challenge that these kids are ready to take on. Our staff train on helping campers that are missing home. If we notice homesickness that’s lasting past the first couple of days of camp, we’ll call to check in. Occasionally, a camper will write a letter home expressing homesickness, but not express those feelings to staff. So, if you do get a homesick letter, please call us. Almost all the time, we’re already working with the camper, and often the feelings have passed by the time you get a letter. But, every once in a while, a parent is able to alert us to a camper we didn’t know was struggling, so we always encourage you to call.
I’m sure you’re wondering about how you can keep in contact with your camper while they’re here. There are several ways. The first, and best, is the good old fashioned letter. That dying art is alive and well at Four Winds in the summer, and we encourage you to take advantage of it. Receiving a letter at camp is a wonderful, tactile experience. The letters campers write their parents often become cherished family keepsakes. The delay in delivery, in this age of immediacy, can actually make communication better. Please join us in this tradition, and help it thrive. Secondly, I will blog here once a week on Sundays, and tweet every day at twitter.com/fourwindscamp. You don’t need to join Twitter to get the updates, you can just go to the website. In the US, you can text the phrase “follow fourwindscamp” to 40404, and you will receive the updates by text message. Third, if you need to, please feel free to call our office. The staff here will be happy to check in your camper, and give you a call back.
I’m so happy this session has begun. The campers are full of positive energy, ready to have this rich experience. It’ll be an amazing month. Thank you for sharing your children with us.