Weird in a Good Way
Wednesday, July 17th, 2024
DOWNTOWN CAMP circa 5:30pm—The rich azure makes the sky look closer to earth than normal, like a solid barrier holding back the oaks from releasing acorns into orbit. A pleasantly warm sun accommodates shorts and pants alike. Breezes gently prod the row of makeshift 5-gallon bucket theater houselights, causing them to swing in alternate phase, a sort of can-light can-can. Birdsong is just audible beneath the human commotion of afternoon free time.
I move from the Theater, down a small slope into the carpeted Big Top where acrobatics typically takes place. At this late hour the only acrobats present are the agile fingers of two crocheters who recline among an assortment of yarn. Stilters in the stilt field can be seen stilting along, holding large vertical poles topped with umbrellas. Unicyclers too are hard at work, honing their balance with the help of a horizontal pole at the triangular Uni Track.
The conch is blown, calling campers to their tipis for a fifteen-minute check-in. I return to the Theater to prepare for song circle. As I tune my guitar and rifle through my harmonica bag other musicians arrive with their respective instruments: bass, drums, tambourine, and even a melodica. Tonight we will continue teaching “Gates of Steel” by DEVO.
Last night was Teacher Talent Night, where teachers display the many skills we offer in an earnest attempt to ignite the performative aspirations of campers. Today I met with several such campers to see how well this ploy played out.
“Every year I look forward to Teacher Talent, and this year it really delivered,” said Kirby, 14, of the Purple Tipi. “It’s when kids get to see their full potential. It’s amazing how you can be amazed by so many things. The juggling act was really great. It inspired me to go to juggling class today. I got up to three balls for five seconds, which is more than I’ve done before. Very motivating.”
“It was interesting; I haven’t seen anything like that,” said Ara, 13, of the Ultraviolet Tipi. “Nothing stood out; they were all equally fun. It was a bunch of humans expressing themselves in weird ways—weird in a good way. The unicycle-puppet collaboration was chaotic, but interesting.”
“The stilts ‘high fashion’ show was so funny I fell off of my bench,” confessed Yael, 12, of the Rainbow Tipi. “Riley was doing really funny commentary. And the costumes were amazing. Someday I hope to be a stilt supermodel myself. Overall, lots of skill, lots of fun.”
“The improv was funny,” said Hazel, 12, also from Rainbow. “It was impressive that they just came up with stuff. The aerials were impressive too.”
“It went on too late, but I’m on Michigan time,” said Lena, 11, of the Red Tipi. “My favorite was the ‘Moodswings’ dance act. Bunny was really good in it.”
“The clown act was so funny,” said Zahara, 11, also from Red. “They were singing off-key opera and then they used balloons to make this crazy noise while they pretended to sing.”
“Ten out of ten,” said Tristan, 10, of the Maroon Tipi. “Vashaun doing a handspring backflip was amazing and ridiculous. And I liked Johnny Ali’s song; it was pretty.”
“I was shocked by the sheer amount of talents,” said Anaya, 12, of the Ultraviolet Tipi. “I had two favorites: Vashaun doing a backflip and Val singing ‘All of Me’. Probably my favorite show so far this session.”
“My favorite was juggling—I don’t know why—I just liked it,” said Sam, 12, of the Blue Tipi. “I can kinda juggle, but the teachers, they can really juggle. I went to juggling today and worked on my three-ball pattern. I practiced a lot during free time. Overall the show was spectacular.”
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor
