Ch 24

A camp story

All week long a TV crew had been walking around camp filming activities and interviewing staff. They were making a series of short segments about YMCA summer camps across the country and Tecumseh was lucky to be included. The crew had never been officially introduced and was in the background most of the time.

Before the Pathfinder Unit swim tonight, all of the girls' cabins were joining together for a River Village invasion. We told everyone to dress in all black, wear tennis shoes, and meet on the road in front of Paiute cabin. When my group of ninja girls arrived we joined the growing pack. There was a cabin with war stripes on their cheeks and another with neon bandanna headbands. I huddled with the other counselors to make a plan.

Creative counseling keeps our activities new and exciting week after week. All of the campers were ready for an adventure, hence the black outfits, and we couldn't let them down. After figuring out a plan we put our hands in the middle and shouted "INVASION" on three.

Sarah Scott is the best at keeping a straight face so she got the attention of all the campers. Sarah motioned for the girls to come closer and she leaned in and whispered, "Girls, this is top secret. Lean in close. You know the camera guys that have been around all week?" The campers nod. "They're actually spies from our rival camp." The girls steal a glance at their counselor to gauge if this is true. We stand in a stone wall, our arms crossed for effect. We give them a look to show we affirm the message. They look back at Sarah, not wanting to miss a hushed word.

"Their enrollment was down this summer. They're trying to figure out our secrets. They've been spying on us all week. There are cameras in the cabins, the lodges, and on the roads. But we're sick of them spying," Sarah Scott tells the girls, "We're not going to give into them anymore. We need to get to River Village for the unit swim but we don't want the cameras to detect us along the way. We have to stay off the roads and cut through the oak forest. Blend in. Hide behind trees and make sure we're not being followed. We'll reconvene below Irving the Indian." Sarah Scott scans the group of girls, sizing them up, "Are you up the challenge?" All of the girls nod and whisper yell, "Yes!"

"Let's do this," Sarah yells. "Follow me," and she takes off into the woods beside the road. The group of 14 and 15-year-old girls runs after her. They are a herd of whipping pony-tails and pink tennis shoes. I'm in the middle of the pack jumping over puddles, vaulting off of logs, and running like Tarzan. Maddy, a camper screams "Come on you guys!" to her friends, urging them on. We pass Kelsey who is kneeling by a tree, she waves us on like a traffic director, "Go, Go, Go."

Between the trees we sprint, now deep into the forest. We can hear branches and leaves crunching and snapping all around us as this swarm of teenage girls moves along. It's like the Pamplona Running of the Bulls or the wildebeest stampede in the Lion King--you've got to keep up with everyone else. I keep track of my campers as I run; their faces are covered with excitement, laughter, and urgency. We've got to get to Irving.

The path is getting brighter as we get close to the edge of the woods. The after-dinner sun is breaking through the trees in streaks of light. Then we're through the forest and in River Village. Everyone takes a giant leap across the road and a few steps up the hill to Irving. Sarah Scott high-5s each girl, congratulating them on avoiding the spies and cameras, we've accomplished our mission.

One of the things I love most about Tecumseh is that we can make anything fun. On our cabin goals list each week, we always write Rule #4 Take Opportunities. Most campers only have one week at camp and I think we should make the most of it every chance we get. Let's run through the woods to get past spies. Eat lunch standing on your chair. Sleep outside under the stars, even if it starts to rain in the middle of the night. Ask your friends questions on the way to the lake. Make "sassy and classy" frenchbraids a weekly tradition.

Maybe when we go home we can keep taking opportunities.  Maybe these adventures can happen all year round. Build a giant snowman family in your front yard. Go fly a kite with your friend in park. Make friendship bracelets for your soccer team. Take your brother out for ice-cream for no reason at all. Maybe we can see each day as a chance to do something great.