Yesterday the Ministry of Health released the wonderful news that after 14 days of Covid-free cohorts being established we can now open up without masking between cohorts indoors, which means that camp is finally back to normal! If feels strange and liberating… and really makes camp feel like a community now that we can see each other’s expressions and actually develop a roster of familiar faces.

Other than the masks, the most noticeable difference is the singing (which we could not do inside previously) – it was like not realizing how noisy a place is until it falls silent… but the opposite! The excitement and engagement in singing in the Main Lodge almost makes the time we weren’t able to do it worth it. I spent a lot of time this summer focussing on the physical and emotional fragility of campers (and staff) after nearly 2 years of isolation, but it’s equally as important to reflect on the resilience and gratitude generated by the hardship.

In other news, the end-of-camp energy is ramping up, with campers working on high class awards in all their spare moments, rumours flying about what the Colour War theme will be, practicing their acts for our annual talent night (Arowhon-a-Palooza), and making summer bucket lists.

We’ve come so far since the beginning of the pandemic and the beginning of the summer, it’s time to reap the rewards of our hard work and sing our hearts out to the finish line!