“Change awaits us. What is decisive is our deciding.” – Father G, Tattoos on the Heart

One of my teachers this week talked about epiphanies. We all have them from time to time. They are a moment of clarity when things ‘click.’ I find most of my moments of clarity involve being re-introduced to something I’ve long known but from which my attention had wandered. Father G’s quote represented an epiphany for me.

Thoughts are easy. Living out a new decision, though… that is challenging. Not eating those foods. Getting up off the couch and running. Writing those ‘thank you’ notes each week. Reaching out to a new friend. Going to camp for the first time.

These changes are hard. But, until we are challenged, we cannot change.

Staying where you are – emotionally, physically, mentally – that’s easy. You are already ‘there’ – wherever there is. And, you are as happy as you are going to be ‘there.’

Camp is set up to challenge and, thus, create change. Going away from home, from what and who you know is challenging. Especially if it’s the first time you’ve done so.

That’s why all of our new campers live with and connect with other new campers. They need to know there is someone around them going through the same challenge. We draw strength from shared experience. Its incredible the number of lasting friendships born out of that first summer together.

Second Summer

You know what else is challenging? Coming back to camp for a second summer.

Everything should be the same, right? You loved it last summer. Your counselors were amazing, the friends fantastic, and activities incredible. Sure, you missed home but everyone does there first summer, right?

Here’s the thing: while so much of camp remains the same, things change each summer. We have to! If we don’t change, we can’t get better at our unchanging goal: creating an amazing experience for everyone we meet.

Another thing that changes? YOU DO! Yes, you may feel the same but every year you get older, you can’t help but change. You’ve experienced more. Your eyes have been opened to a larger world. In lots of ways – some big and a lot small – you are a different human being each time you return to CW.

Let’s embrace that change. Let’s celebrate it – together! And, are the challenges worth it? Without a doubt! Whether it’s your first, second, or 22nd (you rock, Camp Mom Judy!), we are excited to have a blast alongside you this summer!

I’ve shared a lot of poems at Campfire over the past decade for good reason: they share a message much better than my meager abilities! We’ve listened to a lot from Dr. Seuss – Oh, the Places You’ll Go and Yertle the Turtle come quickly to mind. I’ve read Invictus by William Henley, If by Rudyard Kipling, among others.

In reading through a new book recently, I came upon this one:
With the Moon Language by Hafez

Admit something:
Everyone you see, you say to them, “Love me.”
Of course, you do not do this out loud, otherwise
Someone would call the cops.
Still, though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect.
Why not become the one who lives with a
Full moon in each eye that is always saying,
With that sweet moon language, what every other eye in
This world is dying to hear?

Hafez lived in the 14th century in Persia. But he just as well may have been writing specifically for us. Every child who walks into camp is yearning to connect. It doesn’t matter if they’ve been at Weequahic for 9 summers or getting off the bus for the first time.

All have this great pull in them to connect. Want to know a secret?

I feel the same way.

At Camp

At Weequahic, we get to drastically decrease the ‘noise’ of our lives. The cell phone and internet are left at home. Video games are not at the finger tips. Homework? Well… only if you really, really want some. Too competitive? Raise your hand if you want to play and let’s just have a blast. The afterschool run around? Non-existent.

This decrease in the noise only helps to foster connections between the campers and their old friends, new-found friends and mentors. It’s a complete blessing… if we do it right! That’s why we spend 10 months planning for the experience.

So, in this new year, I highly recommend adding a little poetry to your life. It may remind you about what’s important. Have a great week!

I’ve spent the last several days thinking on the past twelve months. They’ve been among the most exciting and interesting I’ve enjoyed. It’s been a year marked with a lot of positive experiences, moments, and memories.

It’s also been a year marked with failures from which, I sincerely hope, I’ll learn.

The Positives

Lots of great new camp families joined along with a couple of amazing full-time staff – Scrappy and Maintenance Director Alex.

We created a brand-new program (and huge new building) for our Senior Campers. Based on the comments and the returning campers, it’s been very well received.

It looks like our our campers and staff enjoyed an amazing summer. This thought comes from enjoying the highest return rate on record for both campers and staff members. Wow – that’s pretty awesome! Thank you to all!

We also hit on a few new ideas at Weequahic that look to last:

• What will be your September Story?
• We either win or we learn.
• Don’t let the small rope hold you back.

Areas for Improvement

We want to be better at communicating with our camp families and our staff and will continue to work on ways to improve. Better systems and technology to support the fantastic people we have with us will make a positive difference.

We’ll continue to update the bunks. Inter and Senior Girls – you all get brand new bathrooms, siding and windows for Summer ’18. Gentlemen, you’ll be next. (Ladies first, after all!)

New ideas for activities, special events, and evening activities for our campers are high on the list as well. Thankfully, we have an amazing group of people thinking on this very subject. We can’t wait to watch everyone enjoy this coming summer!

Finally, we want to be better at staying in the moment and enjoying every aspect of the camp experience. The more we model this for our campers, the more they’ll do it themselves.

Welcome 2018

I enter 2018 with a full and grateful heart. Thank you to all who were a part of our community in 2017. We’ve learned so much from so many, it would take too long to list everyone. But, we certainly appreciate everything you’ve done to be alongside us.

It’s going to be an amazing year. Why? Because we’ll make it so… together!

As far as resolutions, I have two that I’ll share:

First, I want to know the people’s names who I see all the time at the grocery store, our UPS person at home, our dry cleaner, etc. Why? Because we interact often enough to know each other’s names.

It’s something we pride ourselves on at camp. I want to make it a bigger part of my home life, too. So, that’s one.

The second? Lay off the Canteen!

I hope you and your family has a wonderful end to 2017 and a safe start to the New Year. See you in 2018!

Can’t wait for camp,

Cole