‘Don’t cry that it’s all over, rejoice in the fact that it happened at all.’
But it is over folks, at least for this summer. And what a summer it was! Record numbers in regular camp AND Fantasy Camp AND Father and Son Camp. I guess we must be doing something right. And we are doing all the things we always do, because that is what makes camp what it is. Just like generations before us, we sang, we ran the Relay, we played Kawaga, we played Twilight League, we ran Doc’s Run, we swam the lake, we ‘slipped and slid’, we cooked in the woods, we acted on stage, we zipped down from the tower: we did so much in what seemed like such a short space of time. A Northwoods summer is a brief affair, so we have to make the most of it, and we certainly did just that.
We are already looking forward to the summer of ’26, and so should you be if you want to be a part of it. Summer camp really is the place to be when school gets out. You – we – can all grow and learn from this experience. That’s right; school, college and university are not the only places of learning in the world. We can all learn life-long skills here, skills that they simply don’t teach in a more formal setting. Sometimes, we don’t even know we’re learning stuff, but we are, and this is stuff that can last a lifetime, stuff that you can take with you wherever you might end up in the world. How to cook a hot dog over an open fire in the woods: you never know when that skill might come in handy. How to make your bed: your parents will love that. How to live and work with other human beings in close quarters: your future family and/or flat mates will certainly appreciate that. And so on and so forth.
I have learnt that no-one should take anything for granted, and that life is a precious thing. After what happened down in Texas earlier this summer, and in particular at Camp Mystic, we all know that we must treasure all the moments we get together, for who knows how many moments there might be. Sitting with a good friend of mine this evening (Glenn Klein in the ‘Senior Cabin’) we touched on many such moments as we recalled our time at camp, a time that has seen many changes, and some things that have not changed at all. For example, Green and White has been there for years, decades in fact. It is still our colour war and it is still very competitive. The Green team – now that you ask – won for the first time in 10 years this year!! So that changed! haha.
One thing that doesn’t change is the trust you parents put in us. We fully appreciate and never underestimate that fact. To send us your boy(s) for the summer is a huge commitment in so many ways, so I’d like to think that they all had a good time, and that they’d like to do it again next year. We want to thank you for sending us your boys, to this camp, when there are so many other options available to you for the summer.
As the days get shorter, hopefully our memories will grow longer as we put our own distinctive spin on what just happened here this summer. If there are tears because it is all over, let’s all be thankful and grateful that it happened at all, while knowing that we can do it all again in 2026.
Until then, and wherever this Word might find you, please know that all is well, so safely rest.
Goodnight everybody
As ever…WOODY!
