Greetings from Hilltop. Junior Session has begun, and it’s off to a fine start.
The Junior Session campers benefited from our two sessions of practice with our COVID-testing procedures. Things went smoothly at both Anacortes High School and Seatac Airport, and everyone tested negative. From the High School and Airport, everyone moved to Skyline Marina, and we loaded up boats to head to camp. Fortunately, the numbers worked out so we could transport all the campers in one trip (families with a four-week camper will remember that in those sessions, we had to do two trips on the boats, which made the day significantly longer).
Everyone was at camp by 6:30, we had flags and dinner, and all-camp meeting to convey a little information and celebrate the beginning of the session, and then headed back to cabins and tents to unpack and settle in. As I write this, campers are moving towards bed after a long day.
It’s so exciting to have these campers here for this week. They’re young and eager to have a fantastic experience. They’re here to play, and they see adventure around every corner. We’re looking forward to a great week.
Tomorrow, we’ll take care of some beginning of session tasks like visiting the nurse, taking the swim test, taking cabin photos, and exchanging uniforms that don’t fit. In the afternoon, we’ll jump straight into activities.
The idea for Junior Session is to give these campers a fun and positive first (or second) experience away from home. If the first afternoon and evening are any indication, they’re up for it. We get a little bit used to the energy of older kids here at Four Winds, so it’s so much fun to see kids say, “WHAT? Camp has tons of costumes that anyone can use anytime? I’m going to put on an American Flag shirt and a hat shaped like a bear right now.” It’s a ball.
Of course, I’m sure parents are wondering how they can follow the fun. We’ll blog here tonight, on Wednesday, and when the campers are headed home on Saturday. We’ll post on Twitter every day during the session (you don’t have to join Twitter if you don’t want to get the updates, you can just go to the website). We’ll give every camper a pre-addressed, stamped postcard tomorrow morning at breakfast that we’ll get in tomorrow’s mail, so you’ll hear from your camper directly at least once. Finally, feel free to call the office if you need an update. Our team will check in on your camper and get back to you.
Thank you for sharing your children with us this week. We’ll have so much fun with them, and welcome them into the tradition of Four Winds with the spirit that has run through this place for generations. We can’t wait.