Hard to believe that we just had another 6” of snow this past weekend but we are hopeful that there is a touch of spring in the air. We are getting very excited to start our 112th season on the shores of Great Pond. At this time of year we have a lot of Camp Runoia ’to do’ lists and just lists in general. The cabin list already looks very full, the hired staff list is coming along nicely, Glenn is checking things off the maintenance list and the alumnae organization has checked off their winter reunions. We have lists that keep us on track for what needs to get done at this time of year and also lists that evolve as we discuss and plan for the upcoming summer.
Monday mornings often find me rewriting my to do list. Last week’s looks like a disaster with crossings out, added notes, scribbles, doodles, phone numbers and a myriad of incomprehensible ramblings. It is evidence of a productive work week but not a very useful tool for the new week. I like to start the week with a fresh sheet of paper and a pencil (yeah I’m old school).
Making a new list creates a sense of accomplishment (and occasionally disappointment), the things that were completed are left on last week’s list and a fresh list brings hope for the new week. Sometimes it is lengthy and as camp time draws near it can be a little overwhelming but often it is short as new items will get added as the week goes on. Our Directors meeting on Tuesdays always drum’s up some new additions and each day can be unexpected as the business of camp is often unpredictable. Lists are apparently good for us and there are many great articles and blogs about the why’s and how’s.
We are pretty excited that the camp database can now produce lists of the blue and white team! If you’re an alum make sure we know your team. Legacy campers follow their Mother onto a team so the accuracy of the list is very important.
If signing your daughter up for overnight camp is on your list we recommend doing it soon at spaces at Camp Runoia are now very limited.
Happy to be checking this week’s blog post off of my list!
We have the amazing opportunity to share Runoia with others after the camp season. Although the nights get chilly, the days of late August, early September are bold and filled with strong sunshine. Sunsets come a bit earlier and darkness follows dusk rapidly.
Their campers are performing art students who brought loads of guitars and keyboards, saxophones and microphones and filled Runoia nooks and crannies with practice bands and choral music all week. They also had acting classes and creative writing “Flow” classes, dance classes and acapella singing practice. Our Runoia counselor staff helped run archery, tennis, swimming, ropes, canoe and kayaking activities and the campers loved every minute of camp. Their cabin counselors were graduates from the YAA program plus the youth coordinator from Christ Church (their sponsoring organization) in Bronxville, NY and parent chaperones. The founder and director, Sharyn Pirtle also managed to hire amazing musicians and concert organizers to run the program. The church minister was also at camp, as were his two children. At the end of their week, guess what? They created an incredible performance as their grand finale which was also a testament to their hard work at camp. The confidence and pride you could see in each camper was palpable.
To experience a different group than the Runoia camper group at Runoia felt unique and natural. To witness the growth and warmth from the YAA campers was indeed energizing and similar to our Runoia experience. An August moon and headlamps helped people navigate the unfamiliar camp paths and trails after dark and you could see the smiles lit up in the moonlight. New experiences for many of these campers will make them stronger and more worldly from being in a safe place in nature and learning to love even the random spider that crawled by or the thunderstorm that arrived one evening. Opportunities to share Camp Runoia with others was a great feeling!
An unusual Runoia tradition is the ‘Name Story.’ It has been included in the Log for as many years as we can remember. Although we are not sure of it’s origins and it perhaps comes from a time when campers stayed all summer long it is a fun and sometimes entertaining wrap up of the season. Written to include all of the last names (italics and underlined) of everyone; staff and campers who stayed all season it is a reflection on the summer often with a touch of humor. You have to read it creatively as it makes much more sense when read aloud tonight at Log Night.
