Greetings from Hilltop. It’s another lovely Sunday on Orcas Island. It’s a bit gray today, and while we’ll be happy to see the sun when it comes back in due course, the overcast comes with a welcome dip in the temperature. As I’ve said before on this blog, Sundays are some of my favorite days at Camp. The time to slow down, change up the schedule, and have the space to pause, reflect, and serve are rejuvenating.
Today at Sunday Assembly, Drifter led us and chose the topic of forgiveness (along with its corollary, apologizing). It was an appropriate topic for the Sunday leading into our final week. It’s going to take a second, but I’d like to try to explain why that is.
I’m often in the position of explaining the difference between a four-week camp experience and a shorter, one or two-week experience. Of course it’s longer, but it’s not just longer. What I’m often trying to explain is the nature of that difference, beyond simple length. I’m often saying things like, “In camp, the difference between a one-week and four-week experience is a lot more than four times one,” which makes sense to me, but probably doesn’t convey the point. The best I’ve come up with is that in a four-week camp experience, there’s time to make a friend, have a fight, and make up again.
That’s why forgiveness and apology were such a great topic today. If that last step is going to happen, then forgiveness and apology need to happen. That’s usually not easy. Good apologies require vulnerability, and a willingness to let go of all the reasons you might think you’re justified. Forgiveness involves trust that one might not quite feel yet. For campers to be practicing those things, thinking about them, and talking about them here at camp is a truly extraordinary thing. And, if there’s something that these campers should apologize for or forgive, now is the time. There’s only a week left.
The last week has been remarkable. On Monday night, we had Craftapalooza, a night of creativity on the Craft Courts. Tuesday brought Gypsy Sisters and Swamp Chomp lunches and Capture the Chicken in the evening. Wednesday was a big day, with much preparation all day for the Seniors leaving on trips, and a Folk Dance in the evening. The Seniors departed on their trips on Thursday. That adventure is a fantastic opportunity for them, where some of the best camp memories are made. It also leaves a different vibe back here in camp for the Juniors and Intermediates, and we’ve taken advantage of it. We had Sports Night on Thursday. On Friday, we had Moonraker, followed by a sleepout on the sports field. Yesterday, we had Burger Bar, always a favorite for the Juniors and Intermediates during Senior Trips. The Heads team gave the kitchen staff the night off, dressed themselves and the lodge up in a theme (High School Musical, complete with choreography), and cooked burgers, fries and shakes for the camp. Each cabin and tent dressed up in their own theme, which they presented at flags. For evening activity, we have our one bit of technology for the session, a movie projected onto a sail in the Boat Barn. In this case, it was Moana, and very well received.
As we go into this last week, there is much in store. The Seniors will return, bringing renewed energy back into our community. We will all start to collectively realize that our time together is short, and so will all start to value that time a little more dearly. There will be adventures, gypsy jewelry ceremonies, celebrations, and long talks looking out over the water. All of that together adds up to why people say this place is magical. I can’t wait to be a part of it. Thank you, as always, for sharing your children with us.