Rest

Today I purposely made no plans. In the words of Brad Hough, "It's been a busy, busy, fun, fun week," and I know the same is in store for my weekend. Today needed to be a day of rest. I got home from school and then worked on finishing the reorganization that comes after camp and started rotating the pictures on my walls to better represent summer 2012. While some people dread cleaning and organizing, it has always been one of my favorite things.

My roommates, Emel and Colleen, wanted to go out for pizza and of course I couldn't pass up an offer like that. We went to Some Guys and got some unique toppings. I just love how fun this pair is--they tell hilarious stories and make strange comments. When I say, "Guess what!" they actually guess until they figure it out. I got to hear about Emel's new Smash Book and Colleen was the best at finishing everything on her plate even thought Cameron warned her not to.

We were overwhelmingly full but Emel insisted that we go to Orange Leaf because Colleen had still never been there. I was thrilled that Snickerdoodle is back and had to get a bit even though I thought I might explode.

I watched the movie "Blue Like Jazz" today as well. I'm such a fan of the book but now feel very indifferent about the film.

Highs of the Day

1. Wearing my "dream teacher" dress for No Pants Wednesday that Emel picked out

2. T-shirt show and tell in every period (there was a Warrior shirt and a sunglasses tank!)

3. The first eager girls to sign up for Friendship Bracelet Club

4. Getting to talk to Sarah Mooney, Mags, my dad and Alli Kenney on the phone today
5. Writing and thinking about camp
6. Hanging out with Abby, Maddy and Katy who are all so precious and ridiculously funny

7. Talking to fun people at Parent Night and making connections about their kids and camp and Young Life
8. Seeing Kathy Craig for .5 seconds in the hallway--she's upstairs on the opposite side so we rarely see each other
9. Our apartment got a new door! Colleen is especially excited
10. I get to go to bed a little bit early tonight

Camp sticks to you

Some people say that Camp T is the closest thing they know to heaven on Earth. I know what they mean. It's here that we're excited to jump out of bed every morning because we know it's going to be a great day before it even begins. Whether we've known them for a summer or for over a decade, the counselors we work and sweat and play and worship and teach and dance alongside become like our family. 

 

The kids that stay in our cabins for a week make us laugh, make us want to wait in the blob line for 30 minutes just because they love it so much, make us really get why it's better to live your life for someone else, and sometimes they even make us cry when they leave in their parent's car on Saturday morning. It's at camp that so many people have found what they're most passionate about and found a joy that transforms their life. Over and over again I witness people connecting with God during chapel and devotions on a deeper level than they have anywhere else.

This place isn't perfect by any means--there are still people that frustrate you, days when nothing seems to go right, you can only eat so many corn dogs, and you never feel completely clean. But we take the challenges in stride because we wouldn't trade this camp life for anything.

I was reading Haley George's recent blog post about a road trip she took across the US with one of her friends. Her words reminded me of what we feel and experience at camp, "It was truly a week of adventure and intention and spontaneity and whimsical living. It was reinforced as many times as we blasted the song "Wide Open Spaces" that i don't ever want to bore myself by living a life of doing things that don't matter. I always want to be dependent and obedient. I want to choose something adventurous every morning that I wake up, and I can. I never want to settle for anything less than the full life to which Jesus has called me."

That decision to live life to the full has been one of the most significant things for me. It makes it easier to say yes to the things and people that will fill up my life and to say no to the activities or people that won't help me. If God has called us to live life to the full then we've got to believe that he has great plans in store for us, that he has made us for a purpose and he's going to be right there with us every step of the adventure. These lyrics remind me of that truth, "Your love never fails and never gives up, it never runs out on me." I wish I could get that song to run on repeat all day long around me.

It's been 11 days since we moved out of our cabins and back into the real world. If we were still there now it would be the middle of week 11, the River would have just finished a game of Gold Rush and everyone would now probably be practicing their back flips from the high dive at the pool. I'm actually sitting at my desk in my classroom, waiting to go to dinner and then come back for parent night. I'm miles and hours away from Brookston, IN but my mind keeps going back to that place.

Camp has an affect on you that sticks--you can't stop thinking about it after you leave. Alumni come back for decades, campers proudly wear their unit shirts to school, CILTs get on Facebook multiple times a day just to reread their Session's group wall and counselors put photos of their cabins all over their dorm rooms. We all miss the faces of the people who made our summer so memorable.

I know I'm not alone in this sentiment when I see posts from friends like Alex Defreeuw, "It's a little past due, but this summer has been one of the most amazing summers of my life. When it was all said and done I have met some of the most amazing people that I now consider best friends, I have learned so much about myself as a person, and have had the privilege of working at one of the best YMCA camps in the entire nation. Nothing better than the feeling you get while you're there with the staff and with campers each week. I truly have been blessed to work at Camp Tecumseh, and wouldn't change any of it for the world.
Until next time Camp T - It's been real!"

Last week Jack McGee vlogged in Team CILT about the similarities between a small island in Maine and Camp T. At the end he said, "For some of us it's only been a week or two since we were at camp, for others it's been over a year, but that doesn't change the fact that we all went through the same awesome and life-changing experience of being a camper and a CILT. We all laughed at our inside CILT jokes, we all cried at that last closing campfire and we all wanted to scream at each other during RFAJWD. My hope and prayer is that no matter where life takes you, you will always take a piece of camp with you and share it with others. After all, the greatest treasure of all is the glow that you feel when a child reflects our love in his face. So make friendship bracelets, talk in foreign accents just because you can, and most importantly don't forget to be third and have a great day."



We may not get to see the faces of the camp people we have grown to love everyday, and it might not be socially acceptable to walk around in just your swimsuit anymore, but camp will continue to stick with you. I love that. Even after the Torchbearers cry in their candlelit line, after the CILTs graduate, after counselors get their Green Jacket, camp just sticks to you and continues to impact the person you are all year round if you let it.

LIFE (x4)

FBC LIFE- Shelby, Courtney, Saba and Nat, four of the charter members of the FBC, came over to help make posters after school today. We've known each other for three years now and have such a history together that afternoons like this are so comfortable together.

We play music, eat snacks, tell stories, color some more, run around the school to tape up signs and talk about how the first meeting is going to be so big.

I love that even though they're sophomores in High School now they still want to come back and be a part of all of this. They'll be there teaching the new recruits how to finger weave potholder headbands and make 4-knots for the hardcore in just a few weeks.

YOUNG LIFE- It's a shift for me to think of HSE as the place where I'm now a Young Life leader. Today I sat in the stands of the Freshmen girls soccer game cheering on Haley, from my cabin this summer, Rachel, one of my FBC girls, and the rest of the team. It was cool for me to watch them running around on the field when I've heard all about club teams and try-outs and practices. They all rock too-- they won 4-0.

CAMP LIFE- It is phenomenal that there are so many CILT girls in Indy and convenient that a handful of them only live a few blocks away from me. I got to eat dinner with Katherine and Emma tonight, two of the camp-obsessed girls of Session 1. I love that we get to live real life together and that when we talk about missing camp the other people know exactly what we're talking about.

FRIEND LIFE- My roommates and Cameron were all hanging out when I got home so I joined the party. Coming back to this apartment has been such an easy transition, it's the first year I haven't had to move since college and I'm so thankful these are the people I get to live with. Colleen and Emel are two of the happiest and easy-going people I've ever met and they can find any situation funny. I love that I once again get to enjoy watching them eat vegetables, stories of the factory, waking up to their perkiness, chick flick Sundays, no pants Wednesdays, Fern, curfew, stories from work and about their dreams and all sorts of interesting facts they tend to collect through out the day.

We got a visit from Rachel and Emily when they popped in because they heard about the party going on in the kitchen. I love that I get to see them again on a regular basis now that I'm back in Indy, I really missed them this summer.

Want to know something cool?

My students were really funny today and I liked being a teacher a lot. It's different than camp for sure but I'm remembering how much I love talking to kids during passing period, getting to have real conversations with kids, commentary about CNN student news and all the funny things my kids say.

Today I got letters from Sarah Scott and Hannah Blachly--two brand-new pen pals. I'm stoked.

When I went to pick up Olivia and Libby from Cathedral I passed the entire girls XC army on the hill and spotted a Camp T sunglasses tank. I yelled "Hey Kelsey Whiting" out the window but kept on driving. When I parked I was attacked by both Kelsey and Maddie Mahoney who ran away from their team hill runs to come see me. 

Then we were on the look out for more camp girls and spotted Monica Wright and Anna Gibbons. They are so precious and funny and I haven't seen them since they left CILTs early in the summer.

Olivia, Libby and I had a hard time deciding where to eat dinner but ended up at Bazbeaux for pizza. I was so excited when they became friends during summer soccer practices--Libby is one of my HSE YL girls and Olivia is a Camp T super fan. I loved getting to be with both of them at once.

Libby just started at Cathedral and I'm so excited for her to fall in love with this school like so many people I know have. There are so many cool traditions that I wish I could have been a part of when I was in High School. Olivia is just a gem and I loved getting to have a heart to heart with her tonight and am glad that I'll get to see her so much more this year.

Now Emel is sitting beside me showing me a video of the Smash book she is going to get, looking up the symptoms of my gigantic bug bite and using a random team name generator for her work team. Pink Geckos or  Scorpion Monsters?

The Wright Way

Mary Ellen dropped me off at Camp T on our way back from Chicago. This was the day of my dad's retirement party. He has served as Tecumseh's Executive Director for the past 40 years and we were going to celebrate.

After seeing my family every single day all summer, a week apart felt like way too long. I love that Katie and I got to hang out so much, especially during meals when my campers would attack baby Lincoln. And that Lincster was stoked to be back at camp as well.

Before his nap we took Linc all over camp and he got pictures in some of his favorite spots--by the mini-farm, in the tepee...

on the stage of closing campfire...

on the Pioneer cabin and with his friend Irving.

It was quickly time for all the festivities to begin. We spent over two hours in the front of the LV lodges just greeting and mingling with all of the guests. I was so excited to have little Katie and so many other campers show up that I hadn't expected. We had the Bien family, the Friend family, Floyd and Mark Cramer, Squirt and Paula, Aunts and Uncles from both sides of my family, friends from church and people that had been campers of my parents, ladies from Quilt Camp and all of the current camp staff, counselors from every decade since the 70's and camp kids running all over the place. There were so many people, all thrilled to be back at camp.

The program began with Bo the Hobo, JR and John Sollo--they gave some background about Dave, his red beret and their history with them. So many different people got to share and Chris put together a video with interviews done by our family and a few people from the camp staff. All of this to recognize and honor Dave for all of the contributions he has given to Tecumseh in his years here. It was awesome.

Paula was one of the songwriters of Tecumseh and she and Vince led everyone in that traditional song and Welcome to the Family. Those songs are definitely the themes of our summers, and our lives in this place.

Lindsey, the director of the Board, was the one to present my parents with several gifts. They gave them a rocking chair just like the ones all over Lake Village so they'll continue having porch time in Michigan.

They were presented with this painting an artist created of them in several places in camp. A family portrait will also be hung in Heritage Hall (aka the Party Room) side by the side the ones of past directors. Katie and I were thrilled they choose the one  that features the rainbow skirts our group of friends all wore for check-in one summer.

Now you may have heard of the RICHARD G. MARSH Lake, the KETTLEHUT Chapel, the DOROTHY MCALLISTER Heritage Hall, or the SHIRK and BRADSHAW pool. Seeing as how dad was retiring after 40 years, it was a huge decision as to what part of camp should be named after him. They are going to build an archway on the road through the Oregon Territory that all of camp will walk under as they make their way to closing campfire each week. It will be called The WRIGHT Way. (This is a photoshop rendering of what it will look like.)

The plaque on The Wright Way will read,

"Hundreds of campers and staff walk this footpath each week. Named to honor Dave and Beth Wright, it has come to symbolize their countless contributions to Camp Tecumseh. Dave retired in 2012 as Executive Director after 40 years of dedicated service. Beth organized and led Quilt Camps year-round and they both have a shared history with the Outdoor Education, Day Camp and Adventure Trip programs.

Our hope is that generations of campers and staff will continue to walk the paths of Camp Tecumseh and choose "The Wright Way" because of Dave and Beth's examples of walking out their faith, serving others and being "third."

Everyone ate dinner together but Mom and Dad spent the rest of the night talking with the hundreds of people that came to the event. I loved getting to see the Bien sisters and Shannon, the Langs and Arielle, Emily and Eric, Katherine and Chris and more counselor friends.

It will be strange to not have my parents living at camp anymore, it's the only house I've ever lived in. But I'm excited for this next adventure that will have me taking a lot more trips up to Michigan. I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to grow up at camp and have learned so much from both of my parents--easily two of the very best people I know.