Vacation

This summer, our session at Two Sentinels camp was made even better by the fact that all four of us participated.  In the middle of our 11 days, our girl backpacked for a couple days in the Sierras and was thrilled that she and her group were hailed upon (marble size!).  The boy was a "tagalong" - part of a group of boys aged 5-14 and girls aged 5-8 (too young to be campers) whose parents are part of the staff.  David enjoyed doing odd jobs (fixing a screen door, rowing the boat to haul groceries, gear and people, fixing a couple chainsaws - you know - run of the mill stuff that every camp needs.  ;-)  ).  I had mixed feelings about being a director, but it did mean that I was in camp for the whole session and got to see or experience all of the activities designed for the whole camp (such as whistle-stop dinner).  As a backpacking counselor, I invariably missed some of these fun activities while on the trail. Granted, we made our own fun.  I certainly learned a lot as director and feel like I grew into the role.  It was fun to pitch in wherever needed and I especially enjoyed driving backpackers to their destination and picking them up.  The girls excitedly chatter about all they've seen and crack silly jokes.  One group of girls was so grateful for our early pickup that they sounded like people who had just crossed the desert and needed water.  They learned that in a lightning storm, you get off whatever huge grate expanse you're on and head for the trees.  

Early in the session, I enjoyed introducing a counselor to swimming across the lake at 6:15am.  The water was just warmer than the air (high-50's) and after one gets over the initial shock, its refreshing.  As we turned back, and swam towards the west, we saw the rock formation for which the camp was named crowned by a half-moon. Quite awe-inspiring as the Sentinels rise 1000' above the lake.  Later in the session, I appreciated stargazing twice with new staff friends while the moon was less than half full and waning.  The Milky Way was spectacular and we saw satellites and shooting stars, too.   It had been a long time since I sighted the Milky Way or even saw some of the lower elevation summer constellations like Sagittarius (the teapot).  Seeing those old friends was delightful, too.  My other favorite camp activity is serenading: singing quiet songs after all the campers are in bed.  We tour about camp starting in the unit with the youngest girls.  We sing a couple songs and move on to the next age group until we sing to the "ad staff": those staff - such as the Nature lead or cooks -  who are not in a unit. The songs run the gamut from Eidelweiss to Where Have all the Flowers Gone, Circle Game, One Tin Soldier, Puff the Magic Dragon, Dona Nobis Pacem and  Music Alone Shall Live.  A little of something for everyone. We harmonize and sing in rounds and just enjoy singing together.  At the end of the session, our newly-minted counselors-in-training joined us, which made it all the better. 

*Sigh*.  We've only been back since Sunday night and I can't wait for the next time - perhaps next year.  Dave even talked about flying back from wherever we'll be so we can go to camp.  One might think we're obsessed.  But we feel so welcome there and enjoy ourselves, in spite of or because of the hard work.  We don't have to worry about where we are to sleep or what we are to eat - we just have to be and do and that is enough.  Its entirely possible we like going more than the kids do, but they certainly have a lot of fun and really, camp is for kids.