Dance Night

I’m baa-aaack! Hey there, Skyline world! I am glad to be back with you to give you a glimpse into Encourager life at camp. In case you got behind on your reading, this is Friday, almost smack dab in the middle of the session. Things are definitely in full swing. Most home “feelings” from drop off are long over, and bunk mates are becoming family. We started off this morning like all the others with morning watch. In the mornings, I walk over the bridge to Hut Row and Lodge morning watch, but I can hear the grumbling of the Summerplace and Riverside campers who have their devotion on their respective porches. Riverside gets to eat in their own dining room, and Summerplace makes the trek across the river for flag raising, then breakfast. At this point all the grumbles are out as they are finally awake and now super hungry. I mentioned that one of the tasks we have as encouragers is to inspect the cabins. Today we FINALLY made it to all the cabins before the end of 1st period. This is a big deal because Beli Deli time is after first period, and lots of campers change clothes and are in a big hurry to get to their line and their Frios pops and Cherry Cokes! (Fair warning, Mini parents… lots of first time Cherry Coke-drinkers this session!) When they change, their clothes usually stay right where they took them off and not as neat as they left it after cabin cleanup. So, we did it today! And we had a TIE for cleanest cabin, which literally NEVER happens. Way to go, Joywood and Dewey’s Den!

Another role we have as encouragers is supporting or subbing if there are counselors who need to have a substitute for whatever reason. Today I got to “sub” in two places—Arts and Crafts and a cabin for rest hour! I LOVE getting to be with the campers. However, I will say… there is a reason they hire YOUNG people for counselors. I forget how exhausting taking care of those precious campers can be! I got to be in Arts and Crafts for mini’s final day. Arts and Crafts has changed significantly in the past few years decades. When I was here, we painted premade wooden projects or put together kits of premade crafts. Let me tell you, that is NOT what is happening down there now! This is crafting at its finest! Campers are being creative and encouraged to think up new ways to use different materials. They are recycling, using leftover supplies and foraging in nature for the materials they will use. I even got to bring home a bouquet of dried lavender that was left over. The creativity with the wood rounds was my favorite project I saw today. One camper made the Hut Row campfire, complete with cabins (not exactly sure what they used- some kind of fuzzy, spur things) surrounding it and flames (flower petals) in the middle. Another made a canoe scene with hickory nut shells. It was so much fun to work with them and see their creations.

My next sub experience was rest hour in the Lodge. Not sure if anyone despises puddy, slime, etc. like I do, but ugh!!! Well, this hot weather has made for hot cabins and steamy hands. In case you don’t know what happens to puddy in hot hands, IT MELTS! We had a puddy catastrophe to say the least. “Don’t worry,” says a bunkmate, “we’ll just wash it like in old times.” They worked together to wash the shorts in the sink, and I think actually got most of the slimy stuff out of the shorts. Now, I’m sure their counselors will never invite me back because there was a lot of excitement after that. Oops! The rest of the classes went off without a hitch! It was the minis’ last day of activities, so they had a water day. I got to see some fun slip-n-slide action by the pool and heard tennis had water balloons. We sure will miss those cuties! Encouraging hour (this is where part of the counselors is hanging with us during the Camper choice time) was super laid back with some needle point, letter writing, snacks, and some game where you have to ask “niche” questions to guess which counselor they were thinking about. Some of the questions were as follows: What would be their order from Starbucks? Would they wear tinsel in their hair? What color prom dress would they choose? Although I don’t know the staff as well as they do, it was hilarious to hear the questions and who they were describing. We love this time we get to spend with the counselors.

And finally, tonight was THE LANEY DANCE!! Tonight was fun because I got to ACIT—these are the girls who typically help set and wait tables. They get dance night off, but that means counselors step up to fill those roles. We had so much fun setting the table to 90’s country (in honor of the rodeo themed dance), and I’m pretty sure we cleaned up in record time. The dance unfolded pretty much how you would expect: the boys came in under an awning of counselors’ arms and immediately started running around, taking other boys’ hats, and politely pushing each other into the girls… very romantic. There were lots of siblings this session, so that is always amusing to see their interactions. It really is fun to see all the campers having such a good time. And we’re glad that tomorrow we get to have our normal girls back with no makeup and wearing athletic clothes! Whew! So, another day in the books. It was a great one with good weather and lots of fun. I feel so blessed to be part of Camp Skyline this summer. There is just nowhere else that comes close!