Winter has started to creep its way into Camp Runoia. The first layer of snow is covering the ground and the edges of the lake are beginning to freeze. Buildings are closed up tight against the weather and all is still and quiet. There is still great beauty in the familiar views it just has a different lens. It is a treat to see places that are not so visible in the summer that now offer us a different perspective of a familiar scene. Particularly down by the lake it is such a dramatic transformation from the bustling days of summer. Trying to describe the differences about camp to a winter visitor is almost impossible and requires a great deal of imagination. How do you explain not just the dramatic change in scenery but also that the atmosphere is entirely different?
As we rapidly head towards the winter solstice and shortest day of the year the daylight hours in Maine seem so few. It is hard not to think of a day in terms of the camp schedule. A frequent lament at this time of year is the fact that it feels like time to be getting into PJ’s when at camp we would just be starting EP!
The long days of summer provide such an opportunity to be engaged and outdoors doing all of the activities that are so much more restricted during the winter months. Residential summer camp is so unique in its ability to allow children and youth a myriad of experiences that are not as readily available in the other times of their lives.
One of the great benefits of a Runoia summer is that campers get so much choice in how they spend their long summer days. They can try new things, focus in on classes they really want to build skills in, take something just as a one off for fun and enjoy such a diversity of experiences that they are never bored. Ending with evening program as the sky starts getting dusky and in the early part of the summer heading to bed before the stars are out make it a full day.
Until summer rolls around again we’ll trade our rackets for skates and our water skis for downhill.
We will be so ready for another season of Camp Runoia summer fun on Great Pond.