Sunday evening was our annual Fourth of July bonfire. Junior campers paraded to the Lake Hill in whimsical homemade hats, where Senior Camp welcomed them with gusto. After tossing the hats onto the unlit bonfire, everyone gathered in anticipation of the annual Super skit. A Treetops tradition, this mini-play reflects the creativity and teamwork of our eldest campers, and, along with the roaring bonfire, is a pinnacle of the evening.
By this point in the summer campers have settled into daily routines. The lake and shops are busy, and more and more campers are heading out on trips. Junior campers ventured to leantos on the property for tent overnights, giving many their first night in the woods and others an opportunity to use their experience and lead by example. This year our Super overnights include an exciting challenge—to create a campsite near John’s Brook, at the base of the High Peaks, that both Treetops and North Country School can use going forward. They cleared trees and created tent sites, both establishing a working campsite and generally improving the aesthetics and utility of the land. Before climbing into their sleeping bags, the Supers opened a “time capsule” and read letters with sage advice from the Supers of 2010.
This week also marked the beginning of Community Mornings at Treetops. For one hour each week the entire camp comes together to complete a work task for the community—many hands make light work. This week Senior Camp weeded and mulched the flower garden and Junior Camp pulled the buttercups out of the pasture because they are poisonous to our horses. We also had our first Fund Lunches. Every Monday we save money by eating a simple lunch of crackers and soup made of leftovers from the kitchen and fresh garden vegetables. At the end of the summer the savings are donated to a handful of non-profit organizations researched by campers and chosen by the community.
This Friday and Saturday campers and counselors alike will don their “dressy” clothes for the first square dance of the summer. For many children, this is their first organized dance—anticipation abounds. For others it is a chance to revisit a favorite activity at camp. And for everyone it is a chance to celebrate summer with live string music and swinging skirts, pounding their bare feet to “Birdie In the Cage” and “The Virginia Reel,” among other favorites.
NEW! View these photos on the cool new Camp Treetops Flickr page.