Trying New Things: Sailing at Lake Summit
Picture a sunny blue sky, the wind whipping through your hair, and a boat gliding across the shimmering water. On a summer day, there’s not many places more idyllic than a sailboat on Lake Summit.
Every day boys have the chance to sign up for sailing as a morning or afternoon block, but on Tuesday the entire group of boys from Cabin 36 decided they wanted to try something new and go sailing together!
Falling Creek’s sailing docks are located nearby on scenic Lake Summit, a relaxing lake nestled in the heart of Tuxedo. Tuxedo is about the farthest thing from a bustling city, which provides the perfect backdrop for a calm day on the water. Whether boys want to take a break from their regular activities, enjoy the lake views, or work on their progressions and become a more adept sailor, there are plenty of opportunities. Lake Summit is much larger than either of the lakes on camp property, so we make the short trip twice daily for boys to have the chance to sail on a body of water big enough for a quality sailing experience.
When Cabin 36 decided to try sailing, there were varying degrees of excitement. “At first, JJ didn’t really want to go,” said Laura, their cabin sister and one of the photographers at camp. “At the end of the day though, he was one of the boys who had the most fun!” she said. Laura got to join the cabin and take some great photos, capturing the boys trying something new, enjoying a beautiful day together, and learning a new set of skills.
The boys were taught the basics of sailing, starting with sailboat nomenclature. We have three different kinds of sailboats at our docks: Sunfish, Aquafin, and Laser Pico. Ford, the head of sailing, told them about wind direction and points of sail. Next, they rigged their boats and learned the basics of steering, catching the wind in the sails, and turning. Counselors Henry and Riley also taught them what to do if they capsize, or flip the boat over, by demonstrating themselves! Finally, the boys were ready to set sail and enjoy practicing their new skills!
Many of our campers have been to Falling Creek for multiple years, but many others are here for only their first or second time. This means that nearly everything they try at camp will be a “first time” experience. Instead of seeing that as a daunting or scary idea, our staff encourages campers to frame the new experiences with excitement. What better place to try something new than at camp?
Not only is camp a place where boys can try new things, but more importantly it is a setting where boys are also encouraged and praised in their endeavors, even if they don’t succeed. Many of the activities that boys try this summer will be for the first time, or will be pushing boundaries and challenging comfort zones. No matter the outcome of the first attempt, we hope that campers are comforted by the fact that the camp community is a supportive and encouraging environment, with counselors ensuring they have all the tools they need for eventual success.
Campers have been moving through activities with gusto during this session so far, and we’re looking forward to a final day to enjoy camp today. It’s a whirlwind day with a lot of final fun stuff packed in, and we can’t wait to fill you in on all the details in tomorrow’s blog. There’s a lot of new things to try here at camp, and today brings yet another opportunity!
