It was the windiest day of the summer so far and sail and surf were the place to be, with staff and campers seizing every minute to be on the water. Head dips, butt dips, and flare jibes abounded and the skills dazzled the instructors (and me!).
And speaking of skills, today was the day we were all waiting for… the first 1st class award of the summer! I oversaw the test and it was baffling – a 5 foot tall girl shooting the bullseye over and over from increasing distance. This one was particularly sweet because this same girl (now a Bear) had worked and attempted the test last year and didn’t quite make it. She came back and worked so hard all month and what a difference it made! Her confidence and resulting accuracy was beautiful to watch. And reminded me that there is often more growth in trying and failing and trying again than in succeeding right away.
The entire Bears section ran down to the dock to celebrate as she was pushed into the water (a camp tradition for how we tell people they got the award).
Another highlight of the day was our annual Green Leech anything-but-a-canoe race where camper/staff teams work to build creative crafts to paddle around Green Leech Island (rumoured to actually be a huge leech asleep in the middle of our lake). Of note this year were the winning boat (courtesy of yours truly and a group of Loons): a pontoon vessel made of two rolled up Lily Pads lashed together with a raft of paddles on top), the entire Point paddling the entire Point dock in close second, followed by an array of inflatable animals and lifejacket rafts. A great time was had by all, and it was a perfect example of kids working together, exercising creativity, and getting totally silly.
We enjoyed a cookout dinner and a full camp campfire for evening activity, and were greeted with a surprise when we went to the Main Lodge for snacks… it had been transformed into the Krusty Krab and was full of staff in fish hats enjoying Krabby Patties. Turns out it was the introductory skit for our July special day tomorrow, in which campers will be divided into teams to recover the stolen recipe so SpongeBob can get his favourite fast food back on the menu.
Now off to bed to rest up for the friendly competition that awaits us tomorrow!
