I’m not sure what it is about this year that is making camp feel so special, but the last 2 days really proved the energy, spirit, skills, and camaraderie of the wonderful community at Arowhon this summer.
I’ve never seen teams so united, so many kids engaged in friendly competition, or such positive leadership from the seniors.
Today was full of memory-making moments. This morning’s Land and Sea game was a sight to see, with dozens of sailboats, windsurfers, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards out on the lake. Runners on the land had to find blocks hidden around camp and deliver them to watercraft at their team’s dock to transport to the viking ship (dressed up voyager canoe) across the lake, without getting caught by dragon-thieving villains.
The afternoon brought the famous full camp marathon, starting with each team lined up between the lake and a garbage can, passing jugs of water from the lake to fill the bin. From there, everyone on the team had a relay challenge to complete, from 3 legged races to tacking up horses and rigging sailboats, to solving puzzles and sorting skittles, to pitching tents and portaging canoes. The final element was the captains building fires to burn suspended ropes, and it was thrilling to watch. Red and Yellow teams were easy winners in the fires, due to having captains who had lots of practice 24 day canoe trip first session. But just as impressive as the fires were the way all teams stayed until the end cheering themselves hoarse until the last rope fell.
The evening was the culminating event of Colour War – the presentation of the alma maters – songs written by the Curves and Smalls last night and memorized by the teams today. Blue and Green took the cake in the song writing and singing, making the overall winners a close call. But in the end it didn’t matter who won because everyone put their all into it and had a great time and are celebrating together tonight.
As I write this I’m hosting the captains in my cabin for rainbow cake, listening to them talk about their favourite memories from the last 2 days and thinking back to my own experiences as a Colour War captain decades ago. How cool that the memories and friendships they created these past 2 days will stay with them forever!
