Y'arrrrr its a Campfire!

 Our first night at camp was an absolute delight We sang, and laugh, saw a skit about beans, and had a visit from some pirates with a song about eating, dancing and reading. I had no idea that pirates were so enthusiastic about dancing and reading!

 We also had our first "for the good of the group", at which campers and staff can award each other for something that a person did which effected the whole group positively. Returning campers were recognized for their welcoming of our new teens to camp, and new teens already were contributing to camp by taking care of wiping down tables and pushing in chairs.

As always, we ended our day here at camp with "Rose, Thorn, Bud". A rose is something that you are happy about for that day, the thorn is something that you didn't like, or wish could have gone differently, and the bud is what you are looking forward to tomorrow.

I was so happy to be with our oldest male campers last night to hear some of their "Rose, Thorn, Bud" contributions. Usually, when you think of teen boys, you don't think of sharing feelings, or concerns, or emotional support. However, last night in the cabin one of our boys shared that his thorn was that he was scared he wouldn't make any friends at camp. Two of his cabin mates piped in immediately "too late, you're already my friend," said one boy. "Ya, we are going to be friends. I wouldn't worry about that." Our camper who was scared he wouldn't make friends then smiled in his bunk quietly, and moved on to his bud for tomorrow.

This morning, I saw the boys dancing around the dining hall and laughing together as I walked into breakfast.

I know I say this a lot, but camp is really a great place, and I am happy I get to share it with all of you.

Well off to social skills, and "Leave No Trace" (http://www.leavenotrace.ca) for me!

All the best from camp,

Kathleen "Quack Quack" Gurski