I saw this sign outside a local house of worship on a recent dog walk and it struck me enough to cross the street, remove my gloves, hold the dog carefully with one hand and take a picture with my phone. After several blurred attempts that I blame the dog for, I managed to get this picture.
The message on the sign made me think about summer camp. It made me think about the fact that in this age of distraction, typically as a result of modern technology and busy schedules, time away at summer camp truly can offer a departure from distraction. Instead; children focus on friendships, nature, fun activities, positive role models, traditions, even boredom and conflicts sometimes!
And talk about the luxury of paying attention! Campers pay attention to each other. They learn about different homes, different cultures and backgrounds, languages too. Campers pay attention to the young adults that become the most important part of their daily cabin lives. These camp counselors become powerful and positive role models.
Campers also pay attention to the fact that they can accomplish this feat of being away from the comforts of home for 2 weeks, away from the loved ones that they usually rely on for all matters large and small.
Our camp directors and leadership team also pay attention to the children in our care, to the growth we see in them and the development of fine young adults that takes place in front of our very eyes as campers return summer after summer. On a daily and practical basis, we pay attention to ensure each child is safe, happy, clean, hydrated, protected from the sun and enjoying themselves to the fullest!
Everybody here at Camp truly believes in this departure from distraction and we hope that you get to sample it at some point soon too, either at camp or at another destination of your choosing!
Footnote; Siddharth Pico Raghavan Iyer, known as Pico Iyer, is a British-born essayist and novelist of Indian origin, best known for his travel writing.
At the time of writing it’s March 9th and a very exciting and busy time in the summer camp world! Clocks soon spring forward, daylight returns to our after-work lives and we enter the final third of the school year. What does this mean for us here in the Camp Twin Creeks office?
These events, along with personal in-home visits throughout the winter months, allow us to build and nurture our camp community. Our intention is to be more than just a summer camp experience for 1 year or 2 and to generate a true feeling of belonging. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these events. Call or email me anytime! Our regular newsletters and emails will contain more information on a regular basis.
Iain
It was a great dream, Opening Day of Camp 2017! Returning campers, excited to see returning counselors! Campers being directed to their cabin and getting help with their lugagge. A counselor (I remember who but will keep that name to myself) not happy with the size of the cookies this summer. I remember it all, so vividly. Dreams are truly amazing in that respect aren’t they?
And then Blake, our 3-year old daughter, woke me up at 4:05am with small cries from her bedroom. An accident. Dream over.
After consulting my fictional dream diary I came to the conclusion that the opening day of camp this summer cannot come soon enough!! Who has the countdown going already? I think we do actually, on the homepage of our website.
It goes without saying that what I am truly dreaming about is another unforgettable summer at Camp Twin Creeks. Familiar faces surround us as we immerse ourselves once again into the stunningly beautiful Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia.
I look forward to seeing you there and hope the next few months fly by for us all!
Each summer we aim for the camp experience to be slightly different for our returning campers. Better? Perhaps, hopefully!
Ultimately a summer at camp is an opportunity for each child to grow from year to year and appreciate the time they spend here and the personal growth they benefit from. Here are a few of the highlights from our perspective that a camper can experience each summer as they move from cabin to cabin and from our main village up to the senior village…
Did you see the article last week about the pronunciation of ‘IKEA’ – we might have been saying it wrong for so long; placing the wrong emphasis on the wrong syllable. Bonus point for those that pick up on that movie reference.
I was at Ikea yesterday collecting a few supplies for the summer and as I drove away a strong feeling of a fresh start came over me; a new summer and the unbelievable power of potential that each pre-summer season brings.
New shower curtains, bright orange! Great! They will make the shower houses ‘pop’ a little with a splash of color. What other small, new steps can we take this summer to make this 2016 summer the best yet for campers and counselors alike??!! Let me count to the ways…
Counselors will get an even warmer welcome when they arrive, an incoming survey, staff rec games, formal and fun family support and so much more. Campers will see new cabins, new food, new signs, new clothing designs, new traditions, more bathroom options and much more too!
Families will see more social media presence, more updates on multiple platforms and more pictures!
After 16 great summers it staggers and amazes me that we can still do so much more to improve, to reflect and to build upon our past experiences. What an exciting time early June is!! Stay tuned for more…