Up here in Maine, the sun sets now at 4:20pm. On the shores of Great Pond at Camp Runoia it feels like we are hurtling towards the shortest day of the year. The time change sets us into darker days and longer nights. Relishing that extra hour in bed reminds us that we need to get up earlier in order to make the most of the light. Fall has lasted longer than is typical here in the northern corner. The days have been warm and while early morning frost is seen on the pumpkins it has been balanced by bright, blue skies and trees still clinging to their color and leaves. Camp is already shuttered up tightly against the winter weather and only the animals walk the paths.
There is no argument that winter in Maine is long. Once the leaves fall we won’t see them again until May and life will slow to a crawl as we bundle up against the cold. It’s an awesome time for camp planning, for dreaming of those long summer days, connecting with camp friends and wishing away time until we are all back on Great Pond.
The camp community doesn’t take much rest time and days are filled with professional development, camper recruitment and staff hiring. Program planning meetings, site maintenance and building projects fill in the practical tasks. Connecting with peers in the industry and catching up on common themes and challenges is engaging and revitalizing.
We don’t stagnate in the dark cold months, we energize and look forward with great excitement to the next season.
Here is some fall poetry from one of our younger campers to brighten your day – we love getting log entries from the Runoia community.
By Ari aged 8
Yellow trees
There are a bunch of fellow, yellow trees
I feel the nice fall breeze and join these yellow, fellow trees.
There is so much joyful glee!
So I plee to be these yellow, fellow trees of glee.
The leaves have fallen all the glee is gone
Something I see to be joyful, glee gone to be.
Sunlight
The sun is bright, what a beautiful sight.
It is a wonderful light of that beautiful sight,
Of the bright light.