Re-Energized

It is Olympic Week at camp this week and we're having such a blast. The past two weeks, the staff and I have been trying really hard, but our exhaustion is apparent to me. I think all of our campers had a good time, and probably didn't notice, but compared to some of the first weeks, we definitely weren't as energetic. With just two weeks left, I have worried that they would be rough, and this week we have the second biggest group of campers of the summer, so I've been feeling anxious about this week.

On Sunday, I assigned each group a team color. Last night, they were each given big pieces of white fabric and asked to paint a flag, and also to come up with a team name and a team cheer. They were also given long white strips of fabric to make into headbands or arm bands with their team color on them.

Once the flags were painted, we lined all of the groups up, each kid carrying part of the flag, and processed from the dining hall, down the hill, around the field, in a circle, each group chanting and cheering, while the Olympic theme song BLARED from the speakers we'd set up. I explained the rules of the week, and the way they could earn points towards willing the prestigious Olympic spirit award, and then SHOUTED, "LET THE GAMES BEGIN!" The kids and counselors cheered and jumped around and then we went to the fire circle where each group presented their cheer.

I was SO excited to watch the kids so full of enthusiasm. You could literally feel the energy and it was powerful enough to make my heart beat harder and freeze a smile on my face. The cheers were creative and fun and everyone, kids and counselors, were completely lost in the moment. I was so happy to see counselors focused on kids and throwing themselves into camp.

Today, everywhere I go, I can hear kids SHOUTING their cheers. Everywhere they walk they sing and all of the kids are dressed in their team colors. The entire camp has an energized buzz to it. Kids are proud to be part of their teams, and they are completely lost in the magic of camp.

I am so proud of my staff for their ability to create such excitement. I know that when camp ends, I will ache to have just one more moment of pure, incomparable joy like so many days I have experienced this summer. For now, I am soaking it in and enjoying every second.