It was a bittersweet day at camp – so many people being celebrated….. and the end is nigh. There were quite a few speeches for campers getting high class awards. At one speech, I was watching the camper on the podium. As the speech was beginning the entire camp was cheering wildly for her (a not uncommon occurrence on the sunny shores of Teepee Lake). She looked left at girls camp and then she looked right at boys camp. She was listening intently and looking equally intently. I could see her taking in all the cheering. I imagined that she was thinking: “They’re all cheering for me.” And I thought how powerful and important it is for a child to be celebrated that way, for doing something they chose – independently – to commit heart and soul to.

Tonight was the annual Staff Talent Show. After that the whole camp went to the front of the Main Lodge where we watched a magical torch paddle – fire reflecting on water from torches fore and aft on canoes doing ballet. .. After the torch paddle there was a ceremony to celebrate  Tess Bardikoff’s 15th summer at camp. She made a moving speech and was presented with a canoe bookshelf. And then I read a goodnight story to everyone. Here it is:

When the candles are floating on the lake tomorrow  night and the singing is over, we’ll know it went by too fast.

There’s no such thing as too many grilled cheese sandwiches. Or hugs.

Being in a canoe at night under a million stars never gets old.

You can be a different person at camp from in the city. At camp you get to pick.

There is no such thing as a stranger on the path – there is only the person you just smile at cause you forgot their name but you know they could be a friend.

Caring is a muscle. It strengthens with use….. Same for paddling arms.

The top of the 24 foot tower late at night is very close to heaven.

It doesn’t matter if you can carry a tune or not.

When what you’re doing matters, it’s fun….. Everything at camp matters.

When you run into someone in January, and they’re still wearing their bracelets from the summer, it’s a sign about what really matters to them.

This is probably because we are all our best selves at camp, and sometimes in the winter we need a reminder of who that self is.

My Arowhon A is framed on my wall, because it’s the hardest thing I ever did. Those are things that tell you who you have become, how far you can stretch.

At camp we become that person – the person who tries that hard.

It turns out that it’s not about how good-looking you are, or how well you dress or flirt. It’s about who you are on the inside that shows at camp.

Which gives pretty much everybody a chance to shine.

I’m not too sure who won the war of 1812, but I can sing my Colour War song from 1961. What does that tell you about school versus camp?

If you practice Arowhon A dock dives, or buoy roundings, or flying lead changes, or tennis serves, or no-paddle landings, for two or three summers, you become that person who can do anything.

You can feel blue at home and be alone. That pretty much can’t happen at camp – which generally chases the blues away in fairly short order.

Arowhon campers can generally eat about 27 chicken wings before they puke.

The view from the treasure chest makes it the prettiest bathroom in the world. And possibly the smelliest.

You may be walking the worst portage of your life and you’re knee deep in mud with an 80-pound pack on your back, but afterwards it’s gonna be a fun story and a great memory for the next 50 years.

The people you walked that portage with are going to be your friends for life.

Losing your voice, not showering for days and having your shoes held together with duct tape – None of these are bad things. They are badges of honour.

Rock, paper, scissors is the most power tool of diplomatic resolution.

The ten months of the school year are just a waiting period – for camp.