Excitement Is Just The Beginning
“What are you most excited about?”
It’s a simple question, but one that would probably result in hundreds of different answers from each of the campers this summer.
The start of a three week session is exciting in itself. It means three weeks of hanging out with friends, meeting new ones, trying new activities, and returning to old favorites. Three weeks at camp allows boys to do more than just participate in fun activities. They can actually set goals, persevere, and make progress.
John-Hayden S. is one of our DASH team members, and though it’s his 8th year at camp, he’s still making new goals. “I want to get really good at working in the kitchen,” he said.
DASH is a 5-week staff employment opportunity for rising college freshmen. DASH stands for “Developing A Servant’s Heart,” and is the “dash” between the camper and counselor years. They take a shift in the kitchen each day as part of their work, and John-Hayden is excited to see a different side of camp than the one he’s used to from his camper experience.
“I’m most excited about kayaking on some new rivers this summer,” said Hudson Y., another DASH member who earned his “yaklet” last summer. Yaklets are bracelets you get in the paddling progression system, signifying your prowess in a canoe and your readiness to progress to a kayak. Hudson didn’t get into paddling until his later years as a camper, but it’s never too late to try something new at camp.
Each camp activity has a 5-level progression system: Scout, Explorer, Challenger, Ranger, and Warrior. Boys can work through the series of progressions to show mastery in that activity, and you can read more about the progression program here.
Campers can also choose to set personal goals, or ones that aren’t necessarily part of the progression program. For Jack K., he was most excited about getting better in fly fishing, but not because of the progressions.
“I want to do fly fishing so I can fish with my grandparents who live in Vermont,” he said.
The theme for this week is “perseverance.”
Boys have many different goals at camp, but often the process of persevering towards something is more important than actually accomplishing that goal.
Whether these are small goals like getting a “10” in cabin inspection for the day, or large goals like achieving the Keeper of the Flame level after multiple years, the challenge is part of the appeal. Persevering towards goals can help us work on our Warrior Spirit and Servants Heart, continuing to develop into better versions of ourselves.
Camp Director, Marisa Pharr, says that working toward goals is an important part of the camp experience:
Progressions give something to work towards, and completing them gives a sense of accomplishment and pride. Boys learn that they have what it takes, and they are capable of more than they might have initially thought.
What boys are excited about is just the beginning. Camp is more than just a fun way to spend your time in the summer.
Boys can find their passions, their people, or even their purpose here.
We’re just a few days into this session, and are excited to continue laying the foundation, persevering in our goals, and introducing boys to skills that they can progress in long after camp has ended.
A note about homesickness:
If you receive a letter around this time that sounds homesick, please know that’s completely normal — especially this first week when camp is still new to them.
If you do get a homesick letter in the mail over these next few days, don’t panic. These feelings are common for all campers at some point throughout the session, and we are prepared to work with each boy, as no situation is the same.
Please be assured that if your son shows any continuing signs of homesickness, we will be in touch with you. A good rule of thumb typically is that no news from us is good news, and the homesickness usually passes quickly.
The boys are learning to be independent and resilient, and you are giving them a great opportunity to do that by allowing them to be at camp.
We’re looking forward to a wonderful Wednesday today!