Election Coverage 2024

Tuesday, July 9th, 2024

CAMP OFFICE circa 9:00pm—The Dead Bug Collection is one of the greatest experiments ever undertaken in the world of Winnarainbow. From its humble beginnings in the early 2010’s as a open cardboard box with bug carcasses sloshing around in it, to it being transferred to a nice plastic box with a lid, to its first democratically held elections in 2016 where the two major parties were established—Slug and Wasp—the Dead Bug Collection has been a beacon for amateur entomologists and pessimistic absurdists everywhere. As explained in the Day 6 blog, both human candidates indefinitely suspended their campaigns for the Dead Bug Presidency on Saturday, and it was reported that two actual dead bugs would be nominated in their place.

Yesterday, Monday, we learned the identities of the two replacement nominees:

CRANE FLY (Wasp, behind the bathrooms)

UNKNOWN SCAVENGER (Slug, dish pit)

It is my pleasure to report that today, Election Day 2024, the first actual dead bug Dead Bug President was elected by popular vote.

Voting began promptly after lunch in the Tipi Circle near the Camp mailbox.

“There’s been lots of turnout,” said Drama Instructor Patrick Belton. “Unknown Scavenger is killing it in the exit polls. I think it’s the name un-recognition. There’s a lot of mystery and that’s intriguing. I think Crane Fly gets bad rep for looking like a giant mosquito. I don’t understand why our only options are two dead guys, though I guess it’s apropos for something called the ‘Dead Bug Collection’.”

“I’d like to know more about Unknown Scavenger, and if it’s unwilling, I find that suspicious,” said Ollie, 14, of the Red Tipi. “I’m not gonna lie, I do like the size of Crane Fly, I think that’s an advantage. I feel like it will get down to business and make the tough decisions.”

“I am of the stance that the Unknown Scavenger has good qualities, but people don’t give Crane Fly enough credit,” said Teen Staff Max.

“I’m voting for the little guy,” said Maintenance Man Angel Herrera. “The little guy always wins.”

“I voted for Unknown Scavenger because big bugs are scary,” said Teen Staff Suleimon. “Little bugs are less imposing, more compassionate and approachable. Little bugs deserve a seat at the table.”

One camper who wished to remain anonymous found an unrelated dead bug near the polling location. Foul play is not suspected at this time.

“Think I don’t care much about any of it,” said Phoebe, 14 of the Blue Tipi. “I don’t like propoganda and I think the Dead Bug Collection will stay the same whoever wins.”

“I’m voting against Crane Fly,” said Cyrus, 11, of the Flame Tipi. “I don’t know much about the Unknown Scavenger but it’s gotta be better than Crane Fly. I honestly haven’t heard much about the election even though the polls are right next to my tipi.”

I cruised up to the chess grove to beat some campers in chess, one of our many outreach strategies to get out the vote.

“I think the dead bugs should be able to live and die without human intervention,” said Sadie, 14, of the Blue Tipi. “Furthermore, we shouldn’t string up bug corpses for our own amusement. The whole election is illogical.”

“What about sea shells?” questioned Unicycle Instructor Arek Rein Jungwirth. “I think those necklaces with ants cast in resin are okay.”

“It’s the biggest election since George Washington was elected,” said Solomon, 13, of the Purple Tipi. “I’m voting for Unknown Scavenger because of Crane Fly’s corruption. On the question of bug jewelry, I think it’s weird but morally neutral.”

“I think we need to ban DEET,” said Juggling Instructor Memo Gosnell. “But we should definitely have term limits.”

I made my way back to the Tipi Circle, passing a small group of stilt walkers.

“I think the bugs were here first, so I don’t see a reason to have an election about them,” observed Mae, 12, of the Rainbow Tipi. “If you hurt bugs, they’ll hurt you. Just like a mosquito needs blood from a human or animal, without bugs we wouldn’t live and neither would plants. I don’t know exactly how it works but I looked it up once.”

“We have a lot of crane flies at home, so I know that even though they look scary, they’re harmless,” continued Mae. “I like Camp. Some spiders and mosquitos have bitten me, but that’s the circle of life.”

“I think the election is too competitive,” critiqued Soleil, 9, of the Gold Tipi. “Since this is a hippy camp, we should just hang out with the dead bugs. Hippies are chill, but I don’t want to be a hippy when I grow up. I wanna be a hip-hop dancer.”

“The Dead Bug Collection Election is great; I like the democracy of it all,” said Sivan, 13, of the Scarlet Tipi. “I like how campers can vote and have a voice. I don’t see much difference in the candidates, but I voted for the underdog just to be contrarian.”

“I’m glad we found actual dead bugs for candidates,” said Izzy, 11, of the Maroon Tipi. “I liked the voter outreach, such as shouting at people as they walk by.”

“All bugs are fighting to prove their purpose in a world of selfish humans,” preached Dance Instructor Karma Engel. “I think all politicians should have mustaches. Why think for yourself when you can have someone tell you what to think? Ignorance is bliss. Justice for bugs!”

The polls remained open until the conch was blown for evening program. I met with other election officials to tally the scores. Here are the final results:

UKNOWN SCAVENGER wins with a landslide 61.4% of the electoral college.

CRANE FLY came in a distant second with 33.3%.

LADYBUG, and unexpected write-in candidate, came in third with 5.3%.

The results were revealed during the so-called Weirdo Talent Night to a resounding mixture of cheers and boos. Inaugural proceedings will take place tomorrow at Dinner Circle.

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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A Day in Triptych

Monday, July 8th, 2024

KITCHEN circa 7:30am—Early mornings at the Camp Kitchen are a hotspot for boardgames, and all the high-pitched yelling required to enjoy them. Now fully awake, but still in my tent, I meditate on the will to rise and join the fray. After a quick pep talk to myself I’m finally up and about, toothbrush in hand. Campers dart this way and that, spurred on by gallons of cocoa like an industrial mischief machine. I, for one, have a different simulating imbibement on my mind: black coffee. My wish is fulfilled by Office Assistant Ginny Zeppa who has already brewed a pot and pours me a quick cup.

The coffee station is at the back of the dining area up a small slope, giving us a broad view of the busy kitchen scene. Suddenly, three campers approach and compliment my Kermit T-shirt. I thank them and quickly take advantage of the organic exchange to suggest a brief blog interview. The topic is anything in particular.

“Stilts and unicycle have been really fun,” says Darwin, 10, of the Gold Tipi. “I’m excited for the Big Show. I’m gonna do puppets and silks (see: Aerials). We saw this one dude with a cup suctioned to his face and that was funny. I don’t know what his deal was, he was just staring into the abyss. Both our counselors are great, nice, fun, helpful—all the things. As we like to say, ‘Snice: smart and nice.'”

“Smart and nice,” repeat the other two campers in eerie unison.

“I didn’t sleep well the first two nights; I think I just missed my bed,” continues Darwin. “But once I got used to it I slept really well.”

“I looked across the tipi at my friend and there was a huge, fuzzy caterpillar on the wall above her,” says Sloane, 10, also from Gold. “I tried to tell her but she just went back to sleep. I love all our counselors. It’s my first sleep-away camp so I got pretty homesick but the counselors helped me out. I also love bugs but some of them are kind of freaky. There’s like an infinite amount of bugs here.”

“They’re always reproducing!” adds Darwin.

“The cloud swing was really fun,” says Isaline, 10, of the Gold Tipi. “The creek is honestly better than the lake. It’s so chill. The biscuits and gravy was my favorite meal so far. Our counselors are really comforting, like if you get homesick. I got it really bad one night and they helped me through it. This is a camp that hippies started, so it’s fun and joyful.”

…

SOMEWHERE IN CAMP circa 1:30pm—Lunch has come and gone in all of its chicken tender glory, and now begins the vast four-hour stretch of free time. The staggering heat seems to bamboozle my very senses of direction and purpose. I find myself meandering circuitous routes and thinking half-formed thoughts, full of chicken and sweating like a pig.

Some undetermined amount of time passes in this manner until a chance encounter with the Fire Circle hose. Instinctively I blast myself with water directly in my face like a Looney Toon before offering a mist to nearby campers. A few scamper over and brace for chilliness by shutting their eyes, balling their fists and raising their shoulders. After the initial shock they relax and begin to twirl around in the artificial rain. Stashing the hose I continue on the the ping pong zone where I relieve the supervisor in hopes of garnering some goofy camper testimonials. One would-be ping ponger decides an interview will be more entertaining than standing in line.

“I’m having fun with all the classes and free time,” says Caleb, 10, of Scarlet Tipi. “Adora always reads us this book about clowns in the tipi and Mattias started teaching me how to juggle. Both are really nice and helpful. My favorite thing is learning to do new stuff. For the heat I’ve been drinking a lot of water and staying in the shade. I really liked our visit to the labyrinth last week. It helped our tipi bond. At first we were all strangers and now we’re friends.”

“It was funner than I thought it would be,” says Asher, 10, of the Lime Tipi. “When I don’t know what to do, I go to the ping pong table; that’s where the action is. Or I’ll go to the Uni Track if I want a break from all the competition. This is probably the second-best camp I’ve ever been to, after soccer camp.”

Last week during the Tornado of Talent I had the pleasure of playing rhythm on a jazz standard, “Juju” led by camper pianist Judy, who has now appeared on the Grassy Knoll to practice her juggling. I ask her what drew her to a song that vamps on a B natural augmented chord.

“It evokes a very specific disorienting and mystical sensation,” she explains. “And it’s fun to solo over. I basically use a different scale for each of the changes. For example, on the B augmented I play with the whole tone scale starting on B. Then when we move down chromatically I start my whole tone scale from B flat. Then I switch to Lydian Dominant, which if you’re unfamiliar is just Mixolydian with a sharp 4.”

“I really like this Camp, it’s the highlight of my summer,” adds Judy. “But in regards to music theory, I’ve really been trying to break away from complicated chord symbols and get more into a linear understanding of music, such as voice leading and counter point.”

…

BIG TOP circa 8:30pm—Long 2×10 rafters uphold the sheet metal roof of the Big Top. Two large tents, one at either end, extend the footprint by nearly double. All around the perimeter of the the roof is rolled up a thick tarp wall, ready to be deployed with the loosing of a few slip knots. Broad swaths of carpet duct-taped together create a continuous soft surface for daily acrobatics lessons. Tonight, however, this temple of tumbling is dedicated to the sacred art of boogie-ing down. All afternoon campers have been preparing outfits for the Costume Dance Party, and now they gather in clumps in the Big Top and adjoining Stilt Field to dance, show-off, and commiserate.

“The Macarena,” of all songs, is suddenly playing through the large suspended speaker system. Before I know it, the whole dancing public has arranged itself into a large semi-circle to perform the arm movements in unison. Moments later a conga line has consumed the throng. In to the Big Top they parade, and back out again.”

I wade through the crowd for a minute and snap some costume pictures, but the prospect of gathering any quotations in the middle of the party is completely unfeasible. Away with the pen, I say, and on with the dance!

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

BACK TO ARCHIVE

Mid-Term Madness

Sunday, July 7th, 2024

RAINBOW THEATER circa 7:00pm—The menacing sun has finally unfurrowed its brow as it dips toward the western tree line. What would be a temperature high for any normal day feels relatively cool compared to a few hours prior. Golden beams cut across the stilt field and across the Tipi Circle, illuminating Indigo, Blue and Sky Blue tipis in particular. Roughly two dozen campers race back and forth across the Stilt Field in an indecipherable variation of tag, shouting and laughing like cartoon villains. The sloppy joe dinner energy boost is in full effect.

Around 8pm the conch will blow and Camp will gather for Movie Night, but until then free time reigns. At the water fountain ‘safe zone’ one camper douses their head and shirt with a running mister. On the so-called Grassy Knoll overlooking the Stilt Field two campers leisurely volley at the ping-pong table while a third juggles three bean bags. Behind my vantage of the back row benches several unicyclers quietly circumnavigate the baseball diamond-shaped Uni Track, gripping the bar for balance. Five colorful stilt umbrellas and myself bear silent witness to the cheerful chaos.

Last night Camp enjoyed a second Fire Circle, featuring a fire juggling finale complete with a West African drumming ensemble. This morning was the long-anticipated Sleep-In Sunday, followed by the dreaded Mid-Term Tipi Clean-Up. I spent some time this afternoon gathering feedback on the various happenings.

“Hear ye, hear ye, come one, come all,” said Avi, 13, of the Scarlet Tipi, quoting his own speech which opened last night’s Fire Circle. “The Fire Circle is now open. Thank you to Albert Einstein for inventing trees.”

“That was the whole speech,” he explained. “I was inspired by comedy; it’s sort of my thing. I was wearing a blue George Washington/marching band jacket. The fire juggling was really cool. Having sticks on fire and throwing them is cool; it’s just a simple fact of life. Phaedra was a good emcee. She added little anecdotes but kept the show moving. The whole thing was silly and fun.”

“I always get scared when the fire performers juggle fire,” admitted Emi, 10, of the Yellow Tipi. “But honestly I’m more worried at Burning Man where anybody might be doing it; here there are rules. Burning Man is dustier than Camp—if you can believe it—but they’re both places you can express yourself. The main difference is that Burning Man is more about adults and Camp Winnarainbow is all about kids. Overall the Fire Circle was really fun.”

“My tipi went to the Labyrinth last night,” said Kip, 10, of the Sky Blue Tipi. “We could see the totem pole in the sunset; it was beautiful. I like how they have all the crystals in the center of the labyrinth. It was fun but like a different kind of fun because there was no talking. It was calm and meaningful.”

“It’s not gonna be a raving review, I’ll warn ya,” said Puppeteering Instructor Milla Blackwelder of today’s Mid-Term Tipi Clean-Up, sighing deeply. “My co-staff Lastarla held it down while I was doing a little conflict resolution. But we eventually got things swept up. Our tipi definitely should have won the competition, but apparently the judges found a little piece of trash in our pie slice (see: section of Tipi Circle from a tipi’s perimeter to the central fire pit). The main thing is that we made the space more happy and healthy, but the prize was literal candy! The incentive was undeniable.”

“It was inspiring to see everyone struggling so gracefully,” said Lake Shuttle Driver Jasper Skelton. “Thirteen tipis passed outright and two had to do some extra cleaning after inspection. At first it looks like total chaos as tipis are emptied into the Tipi Circle. But as the time comes to an end it settles into a tranquil state of cleanliness and order.”

“One thumb up, one thumb medium,” said Gage, 11, of the Flame Tipi. “It’s kind of a relief. We cleaned a lot of trash and we took all our stuff out so we could sweep up the floor. At the stage we got triple called out for cleaning better. That was unfair. It was hard because it was so hot. I had some gatorade. It was good, medium good. I was glad we did it but it was hard.”

“I almost lost my notebook with my character sheet!” said Abbey, 13, of the Orange Tipi. “My character is Reginald Von Tracey, who is a half-ling bard in the world of D&D. He can use ‘Vicious Mockery’ where you roast someone so bad it causes physical damage. I don’t do that in real life—I’m a nice person—but it’s in my back pocket. Overall it was calming to see the tipi nice and clean. I took breaks to dance to the chorus of ‘Thriller’.”

Stay hydrated,

J. Payseno, Editor

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Teenagers and Dead Bugs

Saturday, July 6th, 2024

KITCHEN DINING AREA circa 6:30pm—Counselors on small stools at the end of each picnic table wait for the campers to arrive, each table freshly set with plates and utensils. The heat is thicker than tomato sauce today and a faint breeze seems to tease the possibility of relief without ever delivering. The outdoor dining space is shaded by large bay trees whose sweeping diagonal trunks divide the space in irregular portions. As a whole the kitchen is a sort of an accidental rainbow: the red Cholula bottles, the orange and yellow water coolers, the green and blue waste bins. As campers begin to stream in, Aerials Instructor Jack Crawford takes the stage (see: a small deck in front of the dish house).

“Welcome to the Camp Winnarainbow Dining Room,” says Jack. “Everybody please find a seat.”

Children swarm for a frenzied 30 seconds, deciding which table to sit at and with whom, some with laser-like focus, and others with blissful apathy. The last campers left standing are ushered into the remaining empty seats.

“Now let’s hear from the kitchen!” says Jack.

Camp Chef Sauce Man Steve emerges from the kitchen with his unmistakeable psychedelic rainbow t-shirt and black apron combo.

“Tonight is Lasagna Night!” he announces triumphantly. A collective “woo-hoo” simultaneously signals both excitement and weariness from the heat. Jack solicits a volunteer to say grace. Camilla, 10, of the Maroon Tipi approaches and takes the mic. Jack then strikes two small meditation chime bells together, creating a piercing high tone that signals the need for respectful attention. The crowd goes quiet.

“Be grateful for everything you have in life and be grateful for your friends and family.”

“Aho!” responds the crowd, and the noise of chatter resumes. Counselors and teen staff circle their tables in concert, dolling out lasagna, salad and water. Dinner has begun!

Earlier today I made my rounds to hear about last night’s Teen Staff Talent Night as well as this morning’s special event, People’s Day.

“I feel like I was just messing around, but I wanted kids to laugh, and they did,” said Teen Staff Max. “I did the ‘Tech Act,’ where set up mics, summoned three audience plants who stood silently in front of the mics for a few seconds, and then we struck the mics. I was also in the ‘Backstreet’s Back’ act, a callback to the teen staff from 2019. We had six Backstreet Boys, three back-up dancers, and eight people on the rainbow to pop out during the chorus and sing ‘yeah-eah.'”

“It was fun working with my fellow teens,” said Teen Staff Jojo. “I performed ‘II Most Wanted’ by Beyoncé featuring Miley Cyrus. I didn’t really know the words and I was playing a ukulele with only two strings on it.”

“It started out with me singing this one lyric over and over again,” added Teen Staff Charlie. “At first it annoyed Jojo but then she started saying it all the time. We dressed up as cowboys. The point was to show the kids that they can get on stage and just be goofy.”

“I had my emcee debut during the tightrope act,” said Teen Staff Clay. “I was really focused on having big reactions and well-placed interjections. I had a script and I really tried to live into it. I think Teen Talent Night is a really great opportunity. Obviously at Camp there’s a lot of opportunity for campers to perform, and for the adults too, so it’s good for the teens to get our own chance to get on stage and do our thing.”

…

On the middle Saturday of every two-week session, Camp holds a special event called ‘People’s Day’. It’s a program that is reserved to be designed on-site by counselors who inspiration around a certain theme. This session we had a ‘Winnarainbow County Fair,’ which was a mixture of a Water Carnival (see: counselors spraying children with hoses and sprinklers while playing games) and a fierce political debate between two fictional candidates for the presidency of Camp’s Dead Bug Collection. The event began with a pre-breakfast speech from the Mayor of Winnarainbow County.

“Hear ye hear ye! I am the mayor of Winnarainbow County. I am very pleased to announce today starting at 10:30am is the Winnarainbow County Faire! I am the Mayor of the Faire! As you all know, this is an election year, for the Dead Bug Collection. Later this session, we will hold a Dead Bug Collection Election, of which I am the Election Chair. I’m the mayor of the Fair and the Election Chair. Today, at the Winnarainbow County Faire, you will all get a chance to meet the candidates and witness the first Dead Bug Presidential Debate. Bee there or bee square! Sincerely, Mayor of the Faire, Dead Bug Collection Election Chair.”

“The kids were really into it,” said Drumming Instructor and Mayor portrayer Jeff Brown. “It was the perfect combination of fun activities and a story line acted out from our characters that really made things interesting. The whole morning kids were running around in the creek and the sprinklers and yelling at the antagonstic characters.”

“There was the Mayor, the two candidates, a general and a judge,” explained Stage Technician Zoë Takaki who organized the event. “The general was going around armed with bug spray and issuing citations to any campers who were respecting nature. The judge made sure that order was kept, and swore in the candidates on Wavy’s memoire prior to the debate.”

“The morning culminated in a camper-led protest march around downtown Camp,” continued Zoë. “Everyone spontaneously started singing ‘All we are saying, is give bugs a chance,’ (see: John Lennon) and I think it brought Milla to tears. In the end, the incumbent candidate, Barbara Schmorbus (Slug party, Improv Grove) was so moved that she resigned and the big twist was that the challenger, J. Robert Booth (Wasp party, Propane Tank), was actually a butterfly all along.”

Special Blog Correspondant Harmony Methgen submitted the following quotations from the event.

“Voting for me is hazardous to your health.”
—J. Robert Booth

“This is a government conspiracy to distract from the fact that mosquitos are government-controlled.”
—Anonymous

“I’m Canadian.”
—Muffin, Ultraviolet

“I believe in love and peace.”
—Lilah, Blue

“According to all current evidence, bugs were here first.”
—Dr. Phil

…

The Dead Bug Collection Election will reportedly proceed on Tuesday with two candidates that are actually dead bugs.

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

BACK TO ARCHIVE

The Tornado of Talent

Friday, July 5th, 2024

CAMP OFFICE circa 12:30pm—Ringing phones, squawking walkie talkies and the frantic bantering of logistical issues fill the small camp office like a sonic clown car, whose engine might be the hypnotic hum of the swamp cooler. My desk is a menagerie of random papers, with bits of scheduling ephemera taped all around the adjoining walls. A repurposed red straw stuck in a random hole serves as a makeshift hat rack. Piles of supposedly important boxes loom in every corner. I take a deep breath and try to focus my caffein-addled brain on the task at hand: blogging.

Today at breakfast I made my rounds to gather reviews of last night’s Tornado of Talent. Wavy Gravy first began putting on Tornado’s in the 1980’s to pass the time while waiting around in makeshift jails with fellow protestors. Here at Camp, it’s our first big stage show of the session where a camper can show off the skill that made them famous in their own living room. Last night’s Tornado was emceed by Wavy himself, ably assisted by Robot Riley.

“The Tornado was kind of a whirlwind,” said lead Techie Momo Calfé-Smith. “The finale was a ballet dance from the Nutcracker, ‘Trepak’, and it was really sweet. I was impressed by the two unicyclers who did a pinwheel, one was on the giraffe uni and the other was riding the tiniest unicycle at camp. They got those levels! Speaking of unicycles, someone solved a Rubik’s Cube while riding one.”

“The tech-ing was kind of wild,” admitted Momo. “There’s a wasp nest that appeared in the ground under the mixing board, right where my feet usually go, so it’s been kind of a battle. Luckily no one has been stung, they’re just menacing. By the time the show started all the wasps were asleep, but they were flying around all afternoon while we were trying to take sign ups. But that’s life in the great outdoors!”

“It was amazing, even glorious!” exclaimed Performance Coordinator José Garcia. “I didn’t have to go looking for performers, everyone was on-time, on-cue, and right where they needed to be. My favorite act was the clowns and their invisible bench, a total classic. When I see these kids perform I know the world is in good hands.”

“It was fun watching different talents because everyone is talented,” said Boon, 12 of the Rainbow Tipi. “I liked all the acts, even the one’s that weren’t technically circus skills.”

“It was funny and people laughed at it,” said Frinkie, 12, also from Rainbow. “My favorite was this girl who sang ‘Stick Season’ by Noah Kahan. I love that song. So cute.”

“I liked the little kid things,” said Mae, 11, also from Rainbow. “They’re so cute and brave, especially this one little girl named Rae did a unicorn skit.”

“My favorite was the girl who was dancing to hiphop music in a leopard shirt,” said Jojo, 12, also from Rainbow. “I think the song was ‘Eye of the Tiger’ or something like that. It was so good. She kept doing the same move over and over but she made it look cool, and she even jumped in the air.”

“The Celebrity Fashion Show was fascinating,” said Ophelia, 11, also from Rainbow. “The would announce like, ‘Here comes Ariana Grande,’ and then a kid dressed as Ariana Grande would come out. A lot of the costumes were really good, but some of them were way too big on the kids. Wavy Gravy would make ridiculous comments and Robot Riley was hilarious. All the acts were put together well, like they had been practicing.”

“The diablo acts are always my favorite,” said Song Leader Natalie Garms. “The art of diablo seems to attract a certain demographic: knuckle-headed, prepubescent boys. The have so much heart and so much belief in themselves. They performed one at a time, each one getting their diablo up to speed and then launching it into the air. I think they had like a 12% catch rate. The problem is that when you don’t catch a diablo, it’s spinning so fast that it will launch itself off the ground and start rolling in a random direction at a high speed. It’s totally ridiculous. The juxtaposition of the unbridled confidence and ineptitude brings a smile to my face.”

“I was stressed out at the beginning but it ended up being super easy and fun,” said Micah, 10, of the Flame Tipi. “I just went up to the microphone and asked for a prompt. Wavy gave me one, he said “shredded wheat and melted butter.” So I used the prompt and told a completely improvised story. People clapped a lot I guess. The whole thing was wonderful.”

“The dancing was the coolest part for me,” said Quinn, 13, of the Purple Tipi. “And when Ollie played a solo on the drum kit, that was radical. I was absolutely losing my mind. 7 out 10 stars.”

“The clowns were my favorite,” said Rose, 10, of the Maroon Tipi. “They were really funny and I liked their noses. They started dancing and got everybody in the audience to dance too. Wavy Gravy and Robot Riley were really funny. I’m gonna make Wavy Gravy a bracelet that says ‘Camp Winnarainbow.'”

“Copy cat!” said Rose’s identical sister Eva, incensed. “Look at my bracelet! What does it say? ‘Camp Winnarainbow.'”

“I sang a song called ‘Stick Season’,” continued Eva. “My sister Mary played guitar for me but they accidentally called her ‘Marty.’ It was good that I couldn’t see the audience; it was too dark and the stage lights were really bright. It was good and silly.”

“Many awesome campers got sucked up into the Tornado of Talent!” exclaimed Wavy Gravy. “The ballet was brilliant, and working with Robot Riley was excellent. I like his company and he is über awesome and amazing!”

“I thought it was spectacular,” said Director Emeritus Jahanara Romney.

“And she’s seen a lot of them!” interjected Wavy. When asked how he and Jah were dealing with the heat, he said, “I’m embarrassed to say we live in air-conditioned splendor. But heck, I’m 88! It’s all gravy to me.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

BACK TO ARCHIVE

Fire Works

Thursday, July 4th, 2024

RAINBOW THEATER circa 10:00am—Campers full of breakfast sit in lethargic posture on the orange theater benches, fiddling with rocks, kicking dangling feet, or staring motionlessly. The heat bears down like an extra layer of gravity, even in this mid-morning hour. Our reader today, filling in for Wavy, is Administrative Manager Mayahuel Montoya. She sits in a director’s chair on the stage which is framed by a large metal rainbow (with a staircase inside) and two massive oaks. Counselors meander through the audience, blobbing sunscreen into campers’ hands.

“July 4th is a day that is meant to celebrate freedom,” begins Mayahuel, reading a statement from the Indigenous Foundation. “While the United States and its settlers claimed its independence from Great Britain, this came at a cost of others’ freedom.”

She reads on, outlining the struggle of Native American and African American people in the context of today’s holiday. She concludes the statement with a simple call to action.

“The Fourth of July can be used as a day to reflect on the United States’ history and acknowledge the irreversible harm that has been done to many groups of people,” she reads. “It can also be used as an opportunity to address the whitewashed retelling of the American Revolution.”

Next Mayahuel reads a poem by Martín Espada, a Camp favorite, “Imagine the Angels of Bread.” Heads bob in the audience in response to the powerful imagery. Random birds titter and chirp along in the background. The poem concludes,

“So may every humiliated mouth,
teeth like desecrated headstones,
fill with the angels of bread.”

“Martín Espada!” exclaims Mayahuel, holding the poem aloft as the audience claps. “For our final piece, I will be reading on of my personal favorites, The Story of Ferdinand.“

This is the material the kids have been waiting for. Several people familiar with the book react with whoops or whistles. The younger campers squirm closer to the stage to see the pictures as she reads, crowding into the front row. She finishes the book and exits stage with a brief curtsy.

“Give it up for Maya!” says Stilt Instructor Alan Knox, taking the stage to transition Camp from morning reading to warm-ups. He wears a ball cap and a backpack, a sure sign that he is a supervisor at Camp, or a “duper” as we call it. As “Duper of the Day”, Alan will spearhead all timekeeping and job-checking at Camp until he is relieved by the next duper at 4:30pm. He calmly disperses the crowd to the three warm-up options, which will serve to limber campers’ bodies before the rigors of circus training. I retreat to my blog lair to transcribe the reviews I gathered at breakfast of last night’s Fire Circle.

…

“Fire Circle’s chill,” said Karina, 14, of the Blue Tipi. “It’s just like being around the fire with a bunch of friends. It’s nostalgic, it’s campy. The acts were silly, serious—all of the above. The host, José Joaquin Garcia, made sure everyone could hear and be heard. It was fun.”

“We signed up to sing ‘The Wizard’ by Black Sabbath,” said Zane, 13, of the Red Tipi. “Tristan was wearing a long elf hat and I had on a sort of colorful witch hat. But then all of a sudden there was another group singing the same song, like six people and someone in a platypus costume. We decided to jump into the circle during their song and start running around. It was very silly, very fun.”

“The mouth harp act was funny,” said Lilah, 10, of the Gold Tipi. “There were two people making up silly songs about Neptune.”

“The labyrinth holds a special place in my heart,” continued Lilah. “I like taking my time, walking slow, and looking at the Bart Simpson action figure.”

During Fire Circle, tipi groups are taken one at a time to visit Camp’s labyrinth, a sacred walking design traced with stones and decorated with flowers, crystals, and various figurines.

“Sending tipis to the labyrinth is tricky,” said Alan. “The process is coordinating tipis so that Wavy doesn’t have to wait long times between tipis and stay up late. When to gather, when to send, that’s the game. I was just tracking down counselors and making announcements in between acts. Sometimes if we send a tipi but there’s a little extra time, they can stop in the creek and pick out a special pebble to add to the labyrinth.”

“Wavy and his wife were there and they told us about the rocks and stuff,” said Jojo, 8, of the Gold Tipi. “They said, ‘Enjoy the beautiful sight.’ The labyrinth is like a maze made out of stones, but the stones are on the ground and there’s no walls. There’s a track made out of soft sand and you can walk it barefoot if you want to. There’s an entrance that is also the exit. There’s like crystals, gnomes, and lots of cool rocks. I think it’s cool and interesting at the same time.”

Stay hyrdrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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Chilling at le Creek

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024

TROLL PATROL circa 4:00pm—The trickling waters of Streeter Creek have drawn a sizable crowd of loungers, splashers and mud artists. Creekside trees whose bases are concealed by blackberry brambles reach up and over, suggesting a sort of tunnel. Through the canopy a squiggly slice of sky is visible. A natural island serves as a supervision vantage point for several folding chair equipped counselors. A modest bridge made of 2×6 beams connects the opposing banks for single-minded land lubbers who trudge by periodically. The water itself is a marbled confusion of ripples reflecting the bright blues and greens of our surroundings. Various campers mill about, discussing all the inanities of summertime childhood.

“It’s really cool down here, literally and figuratively,” says Teen Staff Suleimon. “Campers are always playing in the dirt and splashing each other. There’s games of tag, mud dress-up, and people going mermaid style. The staff here like to read and bump music; that’s my jam.”

“The creek is mid because I’m not allowed to throw rocks,” says Cosmos, 9, of the Lime Tipi. “But besides that it’s pretty cool. There’s a lot of water.”

“I’m an experienced splasher,” says Rowan, 10, of the Sky Blue Tipi. “I go for big boomer splashers. I like to kick and chop like this,” he demonstrates. “Both techniques work best on the deeper part.”

“We made a gold-finding machine out of rocks and rocky sand,” continues Rowan. “So far it has found absolutely no gold, and I don’t think it will ever work, but you gotta try.”

“The stupidest thing is the thorns on the trees or bushes or whatever they are,” says Arthur, 15, of the Red Tipi. “Earlier today I was wandering around backwards and I poked myself on the shoulder. I’ve been playing here all free time. I did some intensive classes like aerials and art so I had to come here to cool down.”

“There’s so many things here to play with, like rocks, pieces of branches, and little bits of clay,” continues Arthur. “Mainly I’ve been pretending to be an alligator by cruising around on my stomach with only the top half of my head poking out of the water. I surprised a few people but I haven’t bitten anyone or eaten any wildlife. I had chicken tenders for lunch and they were delicious.”

“I love the creek because it’s a calming place,” says Solae, 8, of the Green Tipi, sitting on the muddy bank with a sketchbook on her lap and her feet in the water. “I’m drawing a picture of the creek. I’m starting with the bridge and then I’ll fill in all the watery and rocky parts. Two years ago I went on my first Camp creek walk and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

“We had seven kids, myself and another counselor,” reports Creek Walk Facilitator Èské Addams. “We found a rock that looked like Phaedra’s hair: it was red, orange, yellow and brown! We also found a frog, a tadpole, and a huge fish, maybe a salmon. There were a bunch of minor slips on algae-covered rocks and a couple of stubbed toes but no casualties. Everyone had fun.”

…

Earlier today I met with several breakfast-goers to hear their reviews of last night’s Teacher Talent Night, an event where each skill taught at Camp is performed by its respective teachers.

“I thought the teachers were somewhere between medium and highly talented,” said Z, 10, of the Yellow Tipi. “Let’s just say there were no ‘worst’ acts; I liked them all.”

“I think unicycles are funny,” continued Z. “It’s like you have tricycles with three wheel, bicycles with two wheels, and unicycles with one wheel, but where does it stop? Is there a ‘hover-cycle’ with zero wheels?”

“It went amazing!” gushed Stage Technician Zoë Takaki. “Songwriting did four songs, Jeff Brown from the ‘Blue Man Company’ as Wavy called it—the campers were correcting him, ‘Group! Group!—did an incredible drum solo. And the stilt fashion show was out of this world: Alan Knox became a beautiful butterfly—his truest form”

“The dance routine was really spectacular,” said Teen Staff Beatrix. “Everyone was really locked in this session. I got to be in the unicycle act (even though I’m kind of a beginner). This session is less tiring so far. I’m excited for People’s Night and Game Night and all the stuff.”

“I was in four acts last night,” boasted Clowning Instructor Riley Soloner. “It’s exciting to look at the set list and figure out how to make all the quick costume and character changes.”

“There’s two main vibes to Teacher Talent Night,” explained Riley. “Firstly, it comes at the end of the longest day at Camp where we have to do all this orientation and fire drills, and the staff is stretched thin. But once the show starts, that’s when the second vibe comes into play. All the teachers start buzzing around getting their acts together, laser-focused on putting on a good show, and suddenly you get a boost of energy from a hidden reserve.”

“Aerials was the most impressive, just like always,” continued Riley. “Ever since I tried for the first time last summer, I have infinite respect for those who make it look easy. Kira has a silks routine that was perfectly in sync with this song I think it was called ‘Dancing In the Dark’—not the Bruce Springsteen song, although I do like that song. Maybe I’ll do an aerials act to that one next year.”

Riley then launched into a boisterous a cappella rendition.

“CAN’T START A FIRE…”

I made my speedy escape.

Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor

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Captain’s Log

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024

BLACK OAK RANCH circa 3:30pm—Piercing sun rays ricochet off the shuttle’s hood in a staccato pattern, sweeping from right to left as I change heading, following the lumpy access road. Three weeks of ranch driving has accumulated on the windshield a fractal lattice of dust. The 10 mile-per-hour speed limit gives me ample opportunity to regard trees like old friends—the soaring guardsman at the parking lot turn, the one-armed ogre near the footpath crossing. The pale tones of grass, gravel and sky unite in a pounding brightness. Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues” contributes to the hypnotic eeriness of the scene. Vultures circle overhead.

High temperatures this afternoon have triggered the “Double Shuttle” contingency plan to get more kids to visit Lake Veronica, which is why I find myself once again driving my Chevy to the levy. Even with the full AC blasting, the heat clings to the skin like an unwanted parka. The drive from Downtown Camp to Lake Veronica is only about 7 minutes, but a typical shuttle shift includes about eight round-trips. I come to a stop at the road bend overlooking our lake access point, marking the halfway point of my sixth lap.

“LAAAAAKE SHUTTLE!” I shout.

A group of campers break away from the nectarine and Goldfish snack bowls to jog up the hill toward the road, towels over shoulders and hands outstretched to maintain balance on the uneven slope. They identify themselves as members of the Orange Tipi.

“Seatbelts on!,” I declare before making a careful u-turn. The first leg takes us on several ‘S’ curves between the blackberries and cattails.

“The lake was pretty slay,” said Jolie, 13. “There was a lot of lily pads which was gross, so you might not want to go if you can’t handle squishy underwater things.”

Arriving at Downtown Hogville (see: Hog Farm Commune), we turn left down the hill, right at the geodesic dome, and onward under the aforementioned trees.

“The counselors giving the swim ratings were really nice,” says Eva, 12.

We roll over large speed bumps while passing Irene’s organic vegetable garden. A cartoon image of a triumphant pig in a jumpsuit demarcates the corner gate.

“The AC is really good; it’s like 100 degrees out there,” says Liz, 13, of the shuttle. “I like the lake shuttle because it’s a good way to reconnect to the city.”

“It’s a chill way to cool off before going to the lake,” adds Zoe, 13.

“Beats walking!” quips Aurora, 13.

“It’s a great way to meet new people or talk to someone you wouldn’t otherwise,” says Skye 13.

We cross the large green metal bridge and descend into Camp proper, where people mill about in search of afternoon intrigue. The shuttle lumbers through, uncomfortably large in the pedestrian pathways, finally arriving at the Downtown Crossroads, where all my passengers disembark.

“LAAAAAKE SHUTTLE!” I shout. And the beat goes on.

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno

…

PS: Yesterday my colleague Song Leader Natalie Garms collected some opening day quotations to add to the blog feed. Enjoy:

Djuna, 23, gave her interview while hanging upside-down.

“Registration went great. We were in the shade and it was fun to see the faces of everyone we will be spending the next two weeks with”

When asked how she felt about giving her interview while inverted on the aerial silks she responded, “That’s just how we do it at the Aerials Site.”

Brook, 13, Indigo: learned Mill’s Mess (see: advanced juggling trick) during session break.

Oscar, 12, Indigo, on the bus: “Nice to experience talking to people, you know, socializing.” He was disappointed that there was no live band on the bus, or even just a guy with a guitar. On orientation: “Educational indeed. I’ve been here before of course.” Favorite part of Camp so far was song circle. “Finally!”

Rose Moylan, Art Instructor: “The bird prophecy is being realized. It’s the year of the bird, Session B—ird. I’ve seen lots of avian activity.”

Lilah, 10, Gold said, “The pizza was good. You gotta get a corner piece; it’s all about a corner piece.”

Rose, Camila, and Eva, triplets in Maroon Tipi, from Ireland, first time in the US: “So far American camp has been hot and exciting.” They plan to study stilts and juggling tomorrow.

Lime Tipi pizza report: Phoenix, 9, ate five slices. Cosmos, 9, ate five slices. Willow, 7, ate nine slices. Wesley, 8, ate nine slices.

It’s Wesley’s first time at Camp but is family and/or friends of the “Gravy Gravy.” The most surprising thing so far was a metallic bug. “It was landing and eating bacteria and moss on a tree. It was about dime-sized.”

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Silliness Abounds!

Monday, July 1st, 2024

STILT FIELD circa 9:30pm—The atmosphere has finally cooled to a temperature ideal for humans and mosquitos alike. Though most of the sky has darkened to a rich navy, the western horizon beams with the pale cerulean, cutting a jagged silhouette of the neighboring ridge. Crickets and frogs hum their respective mantras with an unwavering persistence, unbothered by the boom of the Rainbow Stage’s PA system. Here from the Stilt Field I have a cross-section view of the outdoor venue where sit some 200-odd campers and staff. Even at this late hour the children bob and fidget with excitement for the new surroundings.

“Lime Tipi to the stage!” announces Clowning Instructor Riley Soloner from his emcee’s seat far stage left.

All at once a dozen campers leap from their seats, presumably those from the Lime Tipi. They quickly confer backstage before emerging to perform their tipi skit, where each member of the group introduces themselves to all of camp. It’s an opening activity we employ to become familiar with everyone’s names and faces, and for kids to experience the gravity of standing in the spotlight. The counselors are charged with the task of creating some sort of narrative play to thread the introductions together, and the results range from absurd to ridiculous.

Over here in the stilt field I’m joined by three campers who seem to have grown weary of sitting in the theater. It’s been a long day of registration and orientation, and we try to accommodate kids who need a break from the continuous barrage of circus stimulation. I also realize their escapism will dovetail nicely with my quest for opening day blog content.

“The silliest thing that happened today was I ran out of bug spray,” begins Shy’a, 11, of the Yellow Tipi, idly rocking side to side. “There was a bug on my face so I borrowed some bug spray from a friend. The bug left at first but then it came back, the same bug, and bit me on the same spot. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, but I killed it so I guess it’s even Steven.”

“I wanted to bring a bottle of Cholula hot sauce for the Cholula song!” exclaims Raven, referencing a parody song we sing at Breakfast Circle where the solitary lyric of the song “Tequila” is replaced by “Cholula”. “My mom wouldn’t let me because my dad loves it so much! I think I’m gonna take poetry tomorrow.”

“Because it’s my pajamas!” protests Scarlet, 10, of the Yellow Tipi in response to me asking why she is dressed like a spotted cheetah. “I’m excited to go to the creek and try on outfits from the clothes barn.”

Having satisfactorily gleaned silly information from the trio, I encourage them to return to the Theater. I, myself retreat to my internet-infused desk area. This will be my radio tower to the world of parents for the next two weeks. I hope you all enjoy reading along, and please feel free to write me with any frivolous questions or comments.

Stay hydrated!

—J. Payseno, Editor

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Fare Thee Well!

Saturday, June 29th, 2024

COSTUME BARN circa 3:00pm—An unseasonably temperate pick-up Saturday has been provided by some unexpected cloud cover. The muted pink madrone trunks trickle upward into the canopy, splaying their bright green and yellow leaves against the verdigris pines. Dry orange leaves cover the white tarp floor of the Costume Barn which is otherwise thoroughly tidy. Rows and rows of hanging racks, each packed full of colorful costumes, constitute a sort of technicolor hedge maze. From here campers can be seen in the Tipi Circle leading their grown-ups around. One such camper skips sideways, pointing and beckoning with their respective hands.

The first family arrives at the Costume Barn, led by their camper who presents the costumes to his visiting twin brother like a proud shopkeep.

“You can try on anything,” says Marcel, 9, of the Red Tipi to his brother Demian, who quickly busies himself with selecting the perfect outfit. A false start with red crab outfit gives way to a Matrix-worthy black leather duster and samurai sword combo. Mom agrees to don the eschewed crab garments and the family poses for a quick photo.

I sit down with Marcel for a quick interview.

“Don’t mind him,” he says of his brother who is fiercely holding the plastic sword blade to his neck in an unrequited dramatic display. “Improv was my favorite because you got to play silly acting games. We played this game where we had to jump in the middle and make up a song. It feels really exciting to show my family around, but also sad because we have to go.”

A group of Marcel’s friend arrive and they all disappear into the corridors of costumes.

“I love the tipis, very spacious,” says Marcel’s mom, Susannah. “I think it’s cool how you can see the stars out of the roof. And this costume barn is amazing!”

As more families stream in, I refer to my journal. Earlier today I spent some time gathering final thoughts from various campers and staff.

“I was unicycling like a hundred times,” said Lyric, 8, of the Green Tipi. “I went to the arts and crafts station three times! I made a puppet out of a black sock and a white mouth. I made it into a vampire key maker with fangs, a cape and a key on a necklace. I call him the Key Master.”

“There was a lot of little kids but it was low-key kinda good,” said Danica, 14 of the Rainbow Tipi. “As for counselors, Natalie is the best. Emma M. slays at art; she’s also the best. After a while camp becomes a home away from home, so be careful, you might get stuck in this place. I love it here. 4 out of 5 stars.”

“My tipi was really chill and vibey,” said Lyndin, 14, of the Flame Tipi. “Like everyone is really chill, nice and respectable.”

“My favorite things were dance and songwriting,” said Laila, 11, of the Gold Tipi. “One time when we were learning the choreography we all just stopped for no reason and we were all quiet for a second and then we all started laughing. It’s so different from other camps because it’s not about doing things ‘right’ but doing things your own way.”

“I like evening program because it’s always something different,” said Coral, 9, of the Yellow Tipi. “My favorite was either the teacher thing or the fire circle. Everybody is just super nice and it’s awesome that so many kids can experience this.”

“Probably the best session I’ve ever had, for reasons inexplicable, mysterious and magical,” said Puppeteering Instructor Milla Blackwelder. “The vulnerability we share—there’s a strength there. It’s undeniable.”

“Whether they’re watching, waiting back stage, or performing, everyone’s participating,” said Teen Staff Charlie of last night’s talent show, the Cabar-Nado. “When the clowns came shuffling onstage I was LOL-ing non-stop. Tornado is always a win.”

“The four farters did a beautiful rendition of “Happy Birthday” which made the crowd go wild,” said Stage Technician Zoë Takaki. “Backstage was crazy. There was lots of unicyclists and dancers preparing. Shout-out to the Teen Leaders Beatrix and Max and camper Danica for helping hold down the tech scene.”

“We trained a lot of beginners this session,” said Unicycle Instructor Arek Rein Jungwirth. “Some of them even learned to do partner pinwheels!”

“I enjoyed counseling in a gender inclusive tipi,” added Arek. “I’ve noticed the kids are more respectful and aware because they have to get along with different types of people.”

I asked Arek for an update on the Union, for which he serves as co-president.

“People noticed a difference in staffing levels,” he said. “The tipis were well staffed which meant less issues fell through the cracks. We worked with management during Set-Up to improve safety issues. There is a lot of optimism about the new director and the potential for Camp to grow.”

Thanks for reading along with me this session! Have a beautiful rest of your summer and as always,

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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