Getting into our day…

Posted: June 21 2017

‘Have you ever thought what the world would be like if we took pleasure in each day, just as we find it, doing what we can, where we can, for others a little less fortunate than ourselves.’

Our first full day of the first session, and what a day it has been. The weather was kind to us – even if it was a little cool – but by the time the evening got here, and the start of Twilight League, there was not a cloud in the sky. Indeed, I’m sitting here in the back office, the one with the lake view, looking at a still and glass-like lake that is bathed in moonlight. You just don’t get this in the city.
The Menominee Book of Legends set about its work today. From this year on into the future, the fastest, the longest, the furthest, the biggest, and all other records of achievement will be kept for those who come after us to beat. The new Meisters were handed the task at a ceremony in Wasserman Hall last night, as the old Meister relinquished his duties as chief record keeper, citing old age as the reason for his retirement. The boys have jumped on board with this very quickly. It was the Broad Jump that dominated this morning’s General. We now have three new age-group records that will remain in the book until at least next year, when the those that come to camp in 2018 will be invited to compete against, and maybe beat those measurements that were set today. What a challenge for the next generation of CM campers!
Most of this morning was taken up with pictures and portraits. You should be able to see those on the website now. Once those were done the cabins set about finding a campsite for their Sunday night hot-dog cookout. This was something I always enjoyed doing; getting into the woods and making a campsite out of natural materials; sitting at the sand-slide looking out over the lake and just getting back to nature.
After lunch, and a generous rest period, we got into the first round of our instructional programme, The Big Ten. The boys have signed up for their activities – they are not forced to take something they don’t want to do – and they will hopefully improve on their basic skills by following the informed and experienced instruction they receive. A coach should never get all the credit, and a coach should never take all the blame, so we hope to develop a partnership between the coaches and the boys in which they understand that a little bit of hard work and application on their part, coupled with some good instruction, will help them improve their game.
Talking of which; we got into Twilight League tonight. This is our evening softball programme, the one time that the boys are put on a team and are expected to play. But this is one of those activities that the boys love, so they really don’t need any persuading to get out onto the ball fields. With the sun going down and casting long shadows across the Bob Bender Senior Diamond, this is one of those sights that those who have been to camp before can really relate to. What an evening!!
We also started Canteen tonight. This is a long-time camp institution where we try and fill the boys up with as much sugar as they can handle, an hour before they go to bed. I’m just kidding folks!! A ‘cold one or a sweet one’ is the one treat of the day, if the boys so choose. They work and play hard so they deserve it.
And so ends our first full day of camp. If every day is going to be as good as this then we are going to have a lot of fun this summer.
Needless to say, all is well, so safely rest.
Goodnight everybody.
As ever…WOODY!

Woody's Word,