Living Up to Our Name

Camp ended a week ago. In the sudden quiet there is a question, “In our first summer, did we live up to our name? Did we create a place where every child and adult was “seen” and had the opportunity to contribute to the whole? Did we as a community create (“weave”) JOY?

There is much evidence to offer up a bold “YES!” Over 100 people joined us for our first family night, representing nearly 80% of our campers. The sense of community was incredible, moving some of us near tears. In our last week, we watched campers manage difficult situations with skills and confidence we did not see in early July. There were still challenges, but they did not last as long, happen as often, or feel quite as intense. The strength of campers’ friendships and the sense of teamwork among our staff were on full display. The feedback from campers, families and staff suggest that there was a shared JOY. That is something to celebrate!

In the coming months, we have more work to do. Language barriers and access to technology still impact our communication. We have to build structures that allow our counselors consistent breaks to honor the extraordinary energy they bring to their work. We need more ways for families to hear more about the session while it is happening. We have to begin to extend our supports and programming into the school year and nurture the community we have built. This moment is filled with gratitude and the knowledge that there are such great things ahead.