It's Not Just S'Mores and Sun...

I've spent the summer soaking in the sun while floating in a kayak, surrounded by laughing kids enjoying their adventure on the lake.

I've spent the summer leading silly songs as loud as I can until my voice gave out (and then I bought a megaphone so I could keep singing).

I've spent the summer surrounded by campers and staff cheering at the top of their lungs, watching them perform skits, dance, create art projects, hit bulls eyes for the first time- both kids and staff with wide eyes of excitement and discovery.

I've spent the summer being hugged by kids and parents, told that this is the best camp ever, receiving beautiful, moving emails of thanks from parents, hearing stories about how camp has profoundly impacted their lives.

Every moment of every day has been pure joy. This is my job, but being here is such an honor. It feels to good to be true.

And unfortunately, it is.

This is a great camp. But all of the challenges that I outlined as reasons for why I wanted to leave, and that the board used as reasons for why we should close down- those are all still there. We still don't have the enrollment or the fundraising support that we need to be financially viable. We still have 60 year old buildings that maintenance has been severely put off for too long.

I've changed my mind about giving up, but I am not sure if the board will change their minds back too. I got an email from the board president today. He hired a company to come in to appraise the land and the buildings. $3000. I could think of 3000 better ways to spend $3000 but if I am going to fight for camp, I think knowing the actual value of what we have will help us making the decisions we need to make. I know that beyond the fun and goodness of camp, we need to be realistic and business minded as we move forward. I'd like to stay here and sing songs forever, but that's just a tiny part of my job.

I'm hopeful. We've been "the little camp that could" since we started and I'm hoping that if we can make it for 66 years, that we can hang in there for a few more.