Cauldron of Silliness
Monday, July 15th, 2024
TIPI CIRCLE circa 7:00pm—Speckled, soft-edged shadows creep up from the ground onto tree trunks and tipi walls as the sun dips behind the sprawling oak boughs while long, crisp shadows race across the wood chips to keep up with strolling counselors. The faint smell of bay leaves waxes sweet in the evening coolness. The faint clacking of juggling equipment mingles with a hundred ambient conversations as campers stand in groups or dart around benches. Feet are rinsed; the stage is swept; a stilt walker strides by.
A conch is sounded from the back of the Rainbow Stage, signaling tipi groups to gather. The matter at hand is for each tipi group to create a pithy skit to perform, and one in which every camper can introduce themselves to everyone else. With only fifteen minutes allotted to craft these dramatic displays, they tend to lack in plot arcs and character development, but are never the less highly entertaining. It’s an opening ritual that plunges everyone into a cauldron of silliness, cleansing us of dour, city-slicking sensibilities.
I take advantage of the liminal moment to garner some first impressions from our new slate of campers. I encounter a squadron of Yellow Tipi residents while passing by the Lost & Found.
“I’m gonna have some circus fun!” boasts Leila, 10. “My favorite night is the Tornado of Talent. I’m gonna make a skit with my friends, something about Camp or a gameshow. It’s a really great opportunity to be funny.”
“Camp is my home-away-from-home,” says Maya, 10. “Actually, Camp is my real home, so that means my home-home is actually my home-away-from-home. It’s confusing. All of the counselors and most of the kids are really nice.”
“I like to goof around and make jokes,” says Eva, 10. “I can’t make one up right now, but it just happens naturally walking around here. There’s so many funny people!”
“I have zero quotations, I’m just happy to be here,” says Dalila, 10.
Returning to the Tipi Circle I pass Green Tipi engaged in some sort of submarine pantomime while the neighboring Lime Tipi is chanting, “Espresso!” over and over.
“Two thumbs up,” reports Dominic, 7, of the Lime Tipi. “I liked the pizza for dinner. I had pepperoni and cheese but I liked the pepperoni best. I’m planning on doing acrobats tomorrow.”
“I don’t care what kind, as long as it’s pizza” raves Henry, 10, of the Orange Tipi. “Except for veggie, don’t give me veggie pizza. I’m gonna try all the classes.”
I continue west to the Juggling Cart, a small wagon filled with juggling implements, currently guarded by Juggling Instructor Deirdre Baker.
“They were gobbling up pizza faster than my eyeballs could work,” says Deirdre. “More kids ate salad than I expected. It was so hot when I first got here two days ago; I’m so glad it cooled off. I’m really excited for the return of Dino Mail!”
I drop by the Aerials Site where I find three instructors waiting for the next orientation group to arrive.
“We’re hitting the ground running,” says Aerials Instructor Djuna Barricklow. “Wait, no, we’re hitting the air gliding,” she corrects. “I’m a fan of the pre-dressed salad because you can just throw it right down the gullet no problem, no messing around.”
“We got the trap,” says Aerials Instructor Shakon, hanging from a trapeze. “If the trapeze had a zodiac sign I want to say it might be a water sign, like a Pisces.”
I loop back toward the Stilt Field where an orientation presentation is taking place. Budding Stilt Instructor Tommy Goyette is standing confidently on a pair stilts while calmly explaining rules of the Stilt Field to a group of campers. American Sign Language Instructor Phaedra Kossow-Quinn interprets as Tommy speaks. Veteran stilter Nova Platt looks on from her perch on the technicolor stilt bench.
“I’m letting Tommy take the helm,” says Nova. “He’s doing great. He’s very skilled.”
“Did I cover everything?” shoots Tommy over to Nova.
“Gum and running,” she responds, glancing at a clipboard.
“Ah, yes,” he says, launching into the final two talking points.
Satisfied that Session C is off to a good start, I slink away to the office to digitize my findings. Once darkness settles in, Camp will gather for the aforementioned tipi skits—but more on that tomorrow.
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor
