Same But Different
Welcome to the Camp Winnarainbow Blog! This blog is your go-to spot for whimsical updates on daily camp life. Here you’ll enjoy photos and quotations from your campers as well as some information about programming and Camp history. DISCLAIMER: all official questions of a serious or important nature should be routed to the Camp office. Besides that, feel free to send me any frivolous comments or suggestions. Happy reading!
—J. Payseno, Editor
Monday, June 23rd, 2025
PUPPET GROVE circa 8:30pm—The scent of bug spray compliments the periwinkle aura of early evening. A few yellow splotches of sun can still be seen in the trees covering the plateau hillside. It was three-hundred and forty-two days ago that I wrote the previous blog entry right here in this same Puppet Grove. I’ve settled here to commandeer a power source normally used for hot glue guns, which has put me in the crossfire of a puppetry orientation presentation.
“Who are we? The PPC! The Puppet People Community!” chants Puppetry Instructor Milla Blackwelder from atop a worktable to a gaggle of bewildered campers. Brandishing a blue garbage grabber like a conductor’s wand, Milla leads the group in repeating the chant. They join in with gusto.
This is just one stop along the orientation tour which aims to familiarize campers with Camp’s facility, its boundaries and its activities. A conch shell is sounded in the distance, calling the campers away to the next site. “Thank you, Milla!” chime the counselors as the group departs. Soon a new group of campers will appear, but for now I have a few quiet minutes to review my notes.
Earlier this afternoon I spent some time gathering first impressions of Camp from a variety of kids and grown-ups. Here’s what they had to say about the state of Camp as we begin the first session of the 2025 season.
“Things seem like the same as last year but different,” observed Omar, 8, Gold Tipi. “I want to make a puppet, possibly better than the one I made last year. It’ll be a dog with a red nose, two eyes and I’ll name it Rupert.”
“I was so happy to get here; it’s my first time!” beamed Quincy, 9, Gold Tipi. “Omar’s been telling me about Camp. This whole place is so cool! Are there other Camp Winnarainbows or is this the only one?”
“It’s one of a kind!” responded Omar.
“Camp is medium good,” assessed Durai, 7, Green Tipi, calmly administering a handheld, fan-powered mister to her head. “The Rainbow staircase looks cool, and so do the stilts. I’m gonna go play with Cory and Omar now.”
“I’m excited to do stilts, lake, unicycling and clowning,” said Darrion, 9, Gold Tipi. “I’m not sure which one I’m gonna start with, but I’m gonna do them all eventually. I’ve got three friends and my little sister here so we’re gonna hang out and do classes together.”
“Camp is vibrating with magic from our 50th anniversary!” said Director Ginger Jackson-Gleich. “We are ready to welcome families, and we are looking forward to filling kids with joy in these challenging times. How many rainbows are too many rainbows? No one knows! We’re still adding!”
“Camp is amazing so far,” said Caris, 8, Green Tipi. “I liked sitting with my group at dinner and songs were awesome. I want to learn how to walk on stilts. I think I’ll be able to because I’m athletic and a hard worker!”
“The silliest craziest thing so far was the toilet skit,” reported Laila, 12, Maroon Tipi. At the beginning of every session there is a brief theatrical explainer for how the toilets at Camp function. “Lucas and Rachel were so energetic they made it super hilarious. It was edu-tainment at its highest. Now I finally know how to use a toilet!”
“Tonight for dinner is pizza,” said Kitchen Manager Mary Jane. “Here we’ve got half cheese, half pep. We also have salad with a house-made vinaigrette. And for dessert, the pièce de resistance, brownies made from scratch—Andrea’s recipe.”
“You can say I’m ‘Kitchen Manager’, but I prefer ‘Auntie’,” continued Mary Jane. “Organizer of Chaos, Defender of Allergies, Maker of Ranch. I hope the kids try new things and enjoy the old favorites while their here. It’s nice to have a happy, healthy crew here at Camp. It makes for happy, healthy kids.”
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor
LINKS:
Session A 2025 Photo Album
Blog Archive 2025
PS
Thanks to the intrepid efforts of three blog interns, the blog will now feature a special daily report where each tipi group will offer one sentence to sum up their collective Camp experience. Please enjoy the first installment of ‘Rainbow Roundup’!
RAINBOW ROUND-UP
Rainbow: “Even though it’s summer it’s a good time to start stowing your grain for winter.”
Maroon: “The best hat is a jester hat.”
Scarlet: “If I could wear one costume everyday it would be a big, poofy skirt.”
Red: “Imagine a baseball cap with an embroidered picture of a horse and below the picture of the horse it says the word ‘horse’.”
Flame: “We’re on fire!”
Orange: “The funniest thing that has happened so far is goats screaming ear gritty.”
Gold: “We are feeling excited and silly!”
Yellow: “Yoooooooo!”
Lime: “We’re sour.”
Green: “I don’t know why we’re ‘Green Tea’ Tipi because kids don’t even drink tea.”
Turquoise: “It was fun!”
Blue: “We’re feeling welcoming, energetic and ready for anything!”
Indigo: “It’s the best tipi!”
Purple: “We’re ready to roar!”
Ultraviolet: “Nothing has been funny, but it seems to be very enjoyable and fun.”
Special thanks to contributing reporters Tucket, Djuna, and Lilah.