Fight It or Just Flow With It

We spent yesterday fighting the rain. We rearranged the schedule, attempting to keep as many activities normal as was possible. In between programming, we rushed from building to building, covering our heads and complaining about wet feet. Our rain coats were no match for the downpour and everyone was damp, miserable and going stir crazy from being inside all day.

Activity period 2 was ending and I was listening to several kids complain about being stuck inside while attempting to rearrange period 3. Except that period 3 activities were swimming, archery, sports, fishing and drama. Which meant that approximately 70 of the 80 kids were supposed to be outside and pretty much everyone at camp was going to need to be re-programmed.

I felt a moment of utter desperation, defeat and briefly considered running and hiding. And then I felt something give in. At first I thought maybe the storm had pushed me over the edge and broke my spirit. But then I felt peaceful and realized that I wasn't going to fight anymore because it was a losing battle.

I put a few staff in charge of killing 10 minutes with songs, grabbed S & A and ran to the Welcome Center to make some high speed plans. 7 minutes later, S and I rushed back in to make the announcement, while A headed up to the dining hall to work on part 2.

"Are you bummed about the rain?!?" I asked.

Moans and groans from the crowd (campers AND staff)

I look at S with excitement (I am an amazing actress) and say, "we were too until we realized what the rain means! I've been at camp ans S has been here even longer and this has only happened a few times". I'm practically whispering, kids and staff are captivated, totally unsure of where I'm going with this, literally leaning in to hear what I'm saying.

"It is one of the oldest and most exciting traditions of this camp, but it only happens every few years." I'm totally making this up on the spot as I go...

"The Camp rain dance is one of the best and most privileged opportunities campers have. And when we realized it was rainy enough to do today, well, you can understand why we are so excited..." S looks ready to burst with excitement (she's also awesome at acting) and takes over the directions.

"I've been here a LONG time, but I've never been allowed to lead this, so today is extra special for me. So here's what you are going to do..."

At this point, she tells the kids that we are going out in the rain and to take off their shoes. If they didn't want to get wet, they could stay inside. But everyone else was going to get soaking wet, as wet as possible (otherwise it wouldn't be the correct way of doing it) and go through the ceremony.

77 campers and 18 staff crammed into a tiny room in the main lodge began tearing off shoes and talking wildly. In the 7 minutes of planning S and I had put into this "tradition" when we'd gotten to the part where we take them all outside, we couldn't think of anything, so we agreed we'd just improvise.

And so S ran to the field with a line of campers and staff following her. She threw her hands in the air, jumped, skilled, clapped, leaped, twirled and the whole line of people followed her lead. The rain was gushing, even my shower doesn't pour out that much water pressure. Everyone was instantly soaked, but it was a warm rain and no one seemed to mind. After a few laps around the field, we made a big circle and danced, cheered, bounced around and opened our mouths to drink as much rain as we could.

I talk about the magic of camp all the time. Every day is fun- kids are hilarious, staff creative, there's always something spontaneous and surprising. But there are moments when the power of that magic nearly knocks me over. I looked around at 100 people, kids and staff all blended into one group, every single person wrapped into the moment, soaking wet, arms up as they danced and screamed and bounced and laughed, their faces glowing with joy and the happiness just bursting out of them.

I was sick of planning activities and too tired to come up with anything else so in 7 minutes, concocted a story that, by the end, even the oldest campers were agreeing that they'd heard of the tradition and knew what we were talking about. From that we created an energy that took over in just a few seconds. It enveloped every single one of us and in that moment, we had an experience that was powerful and memorable.

Once everyone was completely drenched, but before anyone could get cold, whinny or struck by the lightening that was beginning, we led everyone inside where A was waiting with hot chocolate. We put on a staff show, complete with comedy improv, skits and stories that lasted until dinner. By the time dinner rolled around, I knew we'd made it. Everything else for the night was organized and planned (and indoors). Another successful day of camp.......