Tonight kicked off North Star Games with cheers from all four teams: Pegasus, Lynx, Orion and Taurus. Each team is named after a different constellation, and just like UN Days, the teams compete against one another in unique activities and games. Although the main competitions don’t start until Saturday, the energy is already in the air.
When cabin J-1 returns tomorrow from their camping trip on the Mighty Namekagon River, we will have concluded all of our cabin camping trips from this summer. Each cabin has gone on a cabin camping trip, from our youngest boys doing their overnight river trip to our oldest boys spending 9-days in the Boundary Waters. Many of the boys love the trips, and some of the boys are nervous and scared, but all of the boys grow a great deal from them. The trips are opportunities to not only teach environmental and adventure education, but they also serve as a tremendous bonding opportunity for the cabins. The trip program is set up to push the boys outside of their comfort zone. Each trip is designed to be something that the campers doubt that they can handle, but we know that they can, and we support them in doing so. And in doing so, we are working to raise resilient young men who have the confidence to take on new challenges.
And we continue to talk openly and honestly with the boys about the new challenges that life will bring as they leave our bubble at the end of the summer. Last night we spent some time as a camp talking about the things that will be different when they get home. We talked about our responsibilities, having been lucky enough to have this camp experience, to go out into our communities and be leaders in setting up new routines. We talked about remembering to “mask up” wherever you go and reminding others to do the same, even when it’s uncomfortable. The boys asked amazing questions about trends, testing, medical treatments, vaccines, school plans, and what the future brings. From the Junior Village campers to our college aged staff, they asked detailed, thoughtful questions to make sure that they feel equipped to make good decisions and take action as they return to the world outside. It has been an important motivation for us all along to get this right so that every kid has a chance at a camp experience next summer. And we remain motivated to give our kids the skills and experience to go back to their own communities and lead them through whatever may come their way.
Yesterday’s Grace:
“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
Theodore Roosevelt
Today’s Grace:
“Good morning, Mister Zip-Zip-Zip,
With your hair cut just as short as mine,
Good morning, Mister Zip-Zip-Zip,
You're surely looking fine!
Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust,
If the Bell doesn’t wake us,
Then the Counselors must,
Good morning, Mister Zip-Zip-Zip,
With your hair cut just as short as,
your hair cut just as short as,
your hair cut just as short as mine.”
Be Seated.
