Plenty of Both
Friday, July 25th, 2025
TIPI CIRCLE circa 7:30pm—Tonight’s ice cream and chocolate sauce dessert initially manifested in a frantic milieu of free-time activities, though the phenomenon seems to have waned as we collectively sugar-crash into the golden hour. Like last night, many campers are preparing for dress rehearsal, while the rest of the children gently buzz about or languish in circles of teenage banter.
We have officially entered the final twenty-four hours of Session C. Though many are ready to go home, many more of us would happily keep it going for another two weeks. Better yet, let’s just lay down our roots and settle in for the rest of the warm weather. We’ll inform the school districts we plan to return to society in mid-October. But, just in case this extended stay doesn’t work out, I’m here in downtown Camp to collect some reflections so we can keep some small part of this session in perpetuity.
I find my first subjects chillaxing on a bench near the Fire Circle.
“Adventure Night was a highlight,” says Marcel, 10, Indigo Tipi, dressed in full rainbow clown garb. “I had a lot of fun tricking the Grim Reaper. Don’t fear the Reaper, that’s what I say. I almost made him fall over just by juking him. Getting letters from my parents was really nice. Whenever I got lonely, I would read my letters.”
“Teen Staff Day-Off was really fun,” says Teen Staff Gator. “We got to stay up late and look at the stars, that’s my favorite thing. The way they light up the sky, it’s fascinating that they even exist. I’ve never been to another summer camp, but there’s no way they have the same magic we have here. When you come here, the magic takes away all the worries of the outside world.”
“The real highlight was the friends we made along the way, such as Gator and others” says Lilith, 13, Scarlet Tipi. “We’re kind of the punks here at Camp. I really liked breakfast and dinner circles, when we would all sing together. I feel like it brings us together and brings up our confidence, it surely did mine. There is something else here that nowhere else has.”
The conch is blown, signaling the start of tonight’s show. Campers stream to the Grassy Knoll overlooking the Stilt Field. I linger in the Tipi Circle to catch a few stragglers.
“I saw two deers, a gopher, and lots of the blue bird with mohawks,” says Clara, 15, Rainbow Tipi. “Lots of yellow jackets… For some reason, mosquitos don’t like me. I saw a butterfly the other day at the creek. The creek! That’s the main highlight, alongside the gopher. I live-laugh-love the creek! I also may have seen a skunk.”
“The most funny thing that happened was when Dinklefritz let Gage have one bite of his ice cream but then Gage somehow got the whole thing, but then Dinklefritz caught him,” says Dax, 9, Indigo Tipi. “I like seeing the deer around. Sometimes right after lunch you can see them by the Big Top or the Uni Track. Cocoa was a big highlight. Then there’s these tall things you can put on your legs called stilts. I also think that there’s a lot of funny things that people do and say around here.”
“My favorite night was definitely the Tornado of Talent,” says Wren, 13, Maroon Tipi. “It’s all over the place. You never know what is coming up next. I love it! I kind of like when things are in order, but things being chaotic is so exciting. Luckily, Camp has plenty of both.”
“Singers in the Peace Choir, please report backstage,” announce tonight’s emcees. The ping-pong championship game is about to be played on stage, which means that my singing class is up next. I grab my guitar and circle up with my dozen students and two co-teachers in the Tipi Circle backstage area. We quietly sing through the song in the Tipi Circle as the ping-pong game’s scores creep up toward twenty-one.
After our singing act has concluded, I drift over to the Aerials Site for one last account.
“Aerials was a highlight, literally because you go up high and there’s lights,” quipped Vivi, 11, Turquoise Tipi. “Another highlight was the lake, specifically the platform. I just love climbing up on tall things and jumping! Camp is so safe, I know I won’t die, so it’s all just fun. Our aerials act is Tarot-themed, and my costume is the Sun. On the actual card it’s a naked baby, but we decided to go with a yellow dress and a sunhat—more Camp-appropriate.”
“A naked baby riding bareback on a horse in the sky over mountains,” clarifies Aerials Instructor Djuna Barricklow.
“Also, at the end of my routine I do this pose, which looks like the sun,” adds Vivi, stretching her arms and legs out in an ‘X’. “Tonight I get to do a flip. I can’t wait!”
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor
