Bittersweet Feeling

Saturday, August 2^nd, 2025

TIPI CIRCLE circa 5:30pm—The sun hovers just behind the top of the canopy, treating our closing staff meeting to a pleasant arrangement of shade. The sounds of reveling children has given away to the spooky post-session quietness, allowing the woosh of cars traveling the 101 to carry over Ten Mile Creek into our sequestered facility. Among the 80-odd counselors gathered at the Tipi Circle benches, there is a distinct feeling of relief, having safely returned all the campers to their grown-ups. There is also a certain emotional whiplash that comes with releasing such precious cargo.

“Session D and Summer 2025 are in the bag, folks,” says Director Ginger Jackson-Gleich to a strong burst of applause. “I want to start this circle with some appreciations, starting with people who stepped into new roles this year.”

She methodically reads through a prepared list of honorees, pausing for applause that the staff give each other generously. Coordinators, nurses, department heads, bloggers—the list goes on.

“I’d like to also give a special shout-out to the all-summer management team,” she concludes. “The metaphor is sleeping with your walkie-talkie on twenty-four seven. You all have such complimentary strengths; there isn’t any group I would rather have to help run this ship. Y’all rock.”

Ginger turns the show over to Super Duper [see: head supervisor] Jack Crawford who begins explaining the various logistics of the rest of the day. As she speaks, I can’t help but marvel at the circle of faces gathered here, people who have been here twenty years or more, people who just joined our team this summer, and everyone in between. This project has always been about people coming together to create a more peaceful and joyous way of life. Looking around the circle, I see a dedicated crew of people who made that true once again for our 51^st summer, and I feel an immense sense of pride to be counted in their number.

Earlier today I spent some time loitering around the merch table to hear some parents’ opinions about today’s ‘Little Big Show’, and a few closing remarks from staff.

“It feels good to be back at Camp,” said Paula from Willits, who worked several summers around the turn of the century. “That’s actually how I met Logan.”

“Yep I was here in the nineties, doing unicycling tricks and riding on the plateau,” said Logan from Willits. “The songs are totally different from when I was here. There’s like a full band now. Very rockin’!”

“Just the clown-tabulousness of it all,” said Rita from the East Bay. “I give it ten-hundred stars out of ten!”

“I actually read the blog every day,” said Francie from American Canyon. “A little bit of humor and a lot of whimsy—that should be your new tag-line. Seeing my two boys do a juggling act together, that made my heart go, ‘Weeeeeeee!’”

“That song by the young songwriter was so beautiful,” said Jamedra from Oakland. “It was somber yet joyful, a real bittersweet feeling. It made me happy to see a young person bravely expressing themselves.”

“Check-out has been flowing smoothly,” said Operations Manager Angel Herrera. “We got a little doodle competition going on, and I think we all won. It’s interesting putting parent faces to these kids; It’s not always what you expect. I hope everyone has a safe journey home!”

“It was a heck of a summer,” said Office Assistant Ellena Soloner. “The kids came, magic happened, and we’re already looking forward to next year! I would say I read one thousand emails this summer, easy.”

“Dusty, crusty, musty, and toward the fun!” said Teen Staff Jojo. “My advice for Camp is baby wipes, project your voice, and have no fear.”

“The Paul Simon tune really hit it out of the park,” said Camp Founder Jahanara Romney.

“It was rocking our socks,” added her husband and Camp Founder Wavy Gravy.

“See you next summer, knuckleheads!” said Director Ginger Jackson Gleich. “I stole that one from Wavy. He won’t mind, right?”

Thank you everyone for reading along this session! Have a safe journey home and, as always,

Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor

LINKS:

Session D 2025 Photo Album
Blog Archive 2025

A Day for True Lake Lovers

Friday, August 1^st, 2025

PARKING LOT circa 2:00pm—I amble down the gravel ramp from Camp’s access bridge into the arid expanse of the parking lot, slowing my pace as the increase in temperature dawns on me. Vultures circle ominously above in the cloudless sky. The joyful sounds of free time can faintly be heard from the greenery that encompasses downtown Camp, but it all seems like a distant memory as I trudge along this dusty patch of desert. Finally, I spy the object of my pursuit: a 2000-something Kia Sedona. I start her up and roll down into the office area where a smattering of lifeguards nonchalantly await my arrival.

Lake Shuttle duty is a unique job in the Winnarainbow economy. It allows one to be in proximity to a CD player and air conditioning for a whole afternoon. For the first shuttle-load, I’m only transporting lake staff. The lifeguards load in and with a clunky three-point turn we cruise onto the main easement of the Black Oak Ranch.

LAKE VERONICA circa 2:15pm—“I made a drink out of the watermelon mint salad that we had at lunch,” says Waterfront Director Annika Crowley, proudly displaying her concoction. “I added Yerba Mate, La Croix, and Tajín.”

Lifeguards lazily bob around on various floaties as they await the arrival of the first camper shuttle. Sunlight sparkles wherever the water has been disturbed. A cool breeze nudges the cattails.

“Today is the last day of the lake for the whole summer,” says Annika, somberly. “Today is a day for true lake lovers. Veronica is going to miss having campers swimming around in her. It’s been a good run. The cooler days we had this summer were good, because its less traffic and more chill. But the hot days are excellent too because the water is so refreshing. I’m going to miss it. All of it.”

DOWNTOWN CAMP circa 2:30pm—“Lake Shuttle!” exclaims Flowersticks Instructor Bodhi Cedar, holding a clipboard. He tries to make sense of a dynamic swarm of campers who impatiently wait in a constant state of movement. After repeating a list of names two or three or four times, the Kia is loaded up. I shift into drive and head back toward the easement, a cacophony of childish banter filling the enclosed space. This routine will continue for the remainder of lake hours.

LAKE VERONICA AGAIN circa 3:30pm— A pair of volunteer campers help me carry a large bowl of plums and a bag graham crackers. We scramble from the turnout down a small slope to the lakefront. “Lake close for snack time!” announces Annika. The swimmers slowly emerge from the murky water, arms held out as they drip and dry in the sun. A line forms at the snack table. Now that there is a brief pause in shuttle service, it’s time to fish for a few quotations.

“I love being Beach Mop because I get to swim,” says Stilts Instructor Maya Blackshaw Nichols, meting out servings of plums and graham crackers. “Beach Mop is a job about organizational attendance. We make a note of every camper who comes to the lake, and we double-check their swim rating to make sure they are they are swimming in the right areas. There’s been some sun-bathing today, and a little bit of rehearsal stress. I’m really glad I’m here today. I hope we can give the lake the send-off it deserves.”

“Now that the summer is over, the lifeguards will drink up all the lake water and eat all the cattails,” claims Lifeguard River Szeto Zenk.

“I jumped off the platform,” says Andie, 10, Gold Tipi. “If you do a pencil dive, you can sometimes feel the bottom. It’s all gravelly and muddy. The lifeguards are nice, at least most of them. There’s a legend that there’s a kraken that lives at the bottom of the lake in a school bus. Someone forgot to put it in park, and it rolled in.”

“The water was really cold, but that’s nice in comparison to all the hot,” says Teen Staff Django. “I just floated around on a pool noodle today. I think when the campers leave, the lake gets used to breed crocodiles to raise money for the scholarship fund.”

“The lake is very chill and pretty neat,” says Kaliope “The Great”, 10, Ultraviolet Tipi. “Did you put ‘The Great’ in there? Good. The lifeguards are super cool. They’ll talk to you and crack jokes. My advice is to change into your swimsuit at Camp before coming to the lake. I had to change in the porta-potty today and it was horrible. My favorite thing is jumping off the platform. The lifeguard calls out an animal and you have to make the noise of it before you hit the water. I got stumped by ‘mosquito’ and ‘lemur’.”

“I tried to pass my rafter test, but I failed,” laments Matilda, 10, Gold Tipi. “You start in the shallow end and then swim to the raft and back. You’re not allowed to do backstroke the whole time, which is kind of rude because that’s my best stroke. A lifeguard goes with you in case you get tired. This year I made it twice as far as last year, so I think I will definitely pass next year. After my test I just went between hanging out in the shoreline and reading in the sun. I say, don’t exert yourself too much. There’s plenty of fun to be had just chilling.”

Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor

LINKS:

Session D 2025 Photo Album
Blog Archive 2025

Rizz Department

Thursday, July 31^st, 2025

COSTUME BARN circa 7:30pm—The Costume Barn is one of those places that feels crowded even when there’s only a couple people in it. Ahead of tonight’s Costume Dance Party, dozens of campers have descended in a ravenous swarm to scour the many racks of festive attire. Costume pieces are flung in every direction, piling up on every surface, including the walkways. A few of us counselors attempt to tidy amidst the fray, but the garments are discarded faster than we can find hangers, let alone hang pieces on the correct racks. A contingent of face painters attend to a growing line of partygoers. As we near the 8pm start time, the golden hour lighting gives way to a desaturated pale blue.

“I can’t find a costume in this huge mess!” laments Rye, 10, Rainbow Tipi, kneeling in the swamp of discarded garments. “I wanted to be an animal, maybe a big cat, but at this rate I won’t even be able to be a common domesticated housecat! When will the campers ever learn?”

“I’m an Oompa-Loompa gone wrong!” declares Porter, 9, Purple Tipi, wearing a blue wig with a top hat. “I have no idea how I came up with this idea, I just grabbed some stuff and this is what happened. It’s unleashing my silly side. It represents a trouble-maker in the real world. I say, ‘Just go for it!’”

“I’m either a grumpy old man or a billionaire,” says Mikio, 11, Maroon Tipi, sporting a blue king’s robe. “This robe just really spoke to me. I’m gonna do some old man dance moves like the boogie-woogie. Hey, stop slouching!” he snaps at a passing camper in his best old man voice.

“This is Mr. Wonkawot,” says Sophia, 10, Blue Tipi, holding up a cow hand puppet, and otherwise dressed in mismatch rainbow attire. “This outfit is just a bunch of stuff I like thrown together. I’m not trying to go to prom or be all bling-bling. I wanna be ugly. I wanna be silly. I wanna be goofy. I wanna be me!”

“I was finna wear my regular clothes, but then I though, ‘Hey, I should go to the costume barn!’” says Tristan, 11, Maroon Tipi, wearing a red jumpsuit and matching face paint. “Red isn’t my favorite color, but it’s definitely in the top-four. I just asked the face painters, ‘Can you do a clown?’ I’m ten-out-of-ten excited!”

“You can call me Dino Danny!” says Sandro, 11, Rainbow Tipi, wearing a green reptilian onesie and holding a red cheerleader’s megaphone. “I really like dinosaurs. The fact that they were on the planet so long before us until that asteroid wiped them out. I’m gonna do a dance called ‘Num-Nums’. It’s what a T-rex does before eating a biologist.”

“I’m a water-phoenix-leopard,” says Eilie, 9, Yellow Tipi, draped in silk butterfly wings and a blue dress and wearing a headband with fuzzy cat ears. “At first I saw the wings, and then I got caught up in this whole leopard thing. I’ll be doing lots of wing movements and cartwheels.”

A conch is blown, followed by blaring dance music which emanates from the Big Top. The campers flock to the source of the noise. I follow behind, toting my notebook and a camping chair.

“I did my own face paint,” says Umberto, 11, Maroon Tipi, grimacing a skull-like visage. “I did the white first, and then the nose, eyes, and cheekbones. My skeleton lips got a little smeared, but I fixed it, and it even looks cooler now. I’m not gonna dance, I’m just gonna juggle.”

“I made this crown at the Art Grove over the past two days,” says Talys, aka Queen of Camp Winnarainbow, 12, Indigo Tipi, wearing a gown and a cardboard crown. “The Queen endorses this party.”

“We’re not in costume; I don’t know what you’re talking about,” says Kahli, aka José, 12, Orange Tipi, dressed in masculine-coded casual wear and a painted moustache. “We’re just some bros, bro-ing around. We’re cool like that. We’re loaded in the rizz department. Sigma Chad, all that cool stuff.”

Suddenly the music switches from the beloved pop swill to John Williams’ “Duel of the Fates”. A voice on the PA instructs campers to gather in the Stilt Field. Two adult stilters lumber into view, one dressed as Darth Vader and the other as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan wields a blue pool noodle while Darth Vader totes a bright red lifeguard buoy. The two spar with each other as the throng of campers cheer on the playful battle. With a deft parry of the noodle, Obi-Wan disarms Vader, bringing the spectacle to a close. The music resumes and the campers surge back into the Big Top to dance the night away.

Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor

LINKS:

Session D 2025 Photo Album
Blog Archive 2025