Absolutely Gravy
Saturday, August 3rd, 2024
PUPPET GROVE circa 7:00pm—The afternoon heat has dissipated to the pleasant level of a freshly-dried garment. Setting sunbeams cast golden patches on the forested hillside overlooking the Camp kitchen. A hundred-odd staff members and ranch residents shuffle in a long line that snakes among several buffet tables, loading up precious plates of extra fancy dinner fare. “The Feast”, as we call it, is an important end-of-season tradition that celebrates all the hard work we put in to make this summer possible. Tomorrow we will begin the arduous process of take-down, but tonight is for relaxing and sharing in our community, which many of us would claim as our chosen family.
Here in the Puppet Grove, I sit at Facility Manager Sindi Petti’s old desk, an austere mid-century piece that wouldn’t look out of place any time after the Protestant Reformation. This year, as Sindi prepares for retirement, she gifted her desk to Puppetry Instructor Milla Blackwelder who has put it to good use in their outdoor workshop, as evidenced by the matted web of hot glue residue that holds my clipboard quite still as I write. For me, this desk serves as a reminder that Camp is a sharing community, one with history and legacy, and one in which all that is old may be made new again. As we contemplate packing away all our equipment of merriment, this thought comforts me.
Camp Winnarainbow is a place where we strive to bring joy to children, but pick-up day is special because we get the opportunity to rekindle childish joy in all the visiting grown-ups. Today I camped out at the merch table to gather thoughts from anyone who looked like they were alive during the World Series Earthquake (and a few kids, just for good measure).
“I tried to ride a unicycle but my kid said, ‘Thats not for adults!'” said Greg from Martinez. “I liked when the kids came together and sang. It was my first time here; I’ll definitely be back.”
“The emcees were great; they really shepherded us parents along nicely,” said Erin from Fairfax. “I got goosebumps even in 90° weather.”
“The show was rockin’,” said Matt, also from Fairfax. “The first song, ‘We Are the Children of Camp Winnarainbow’ was really touching.”
“I like Camp Winnarainbow,” said Porter, 8, of the Lime Tipi. “I liked doing puppets. I already knew about them before but I got to get more into it at Camp. I love it.”
“As an amateur juggler myself, I really liked the juggling act,” said Sam from Santa Rosa. “I loved the ending with the band and the kids pounding on the metal rainbow.”
“The show was so good I want to come back next year,” said Michael from Berkeley. “You take 69-year-olds right?”
Camp does in fact have a session for adults, Adult Camp as we call it. It typically occurs in the third or fourth week of June.
“The show was definitely vibey, certainly wavy, and absolutely gravy!” said Mac from Oakland. “My favorite part was the ‘Old Town Road’ remix. The kids were vibing it. I was impressed.”
“It was super special to be able to read the blog on our roadtrip,” said Sarah from Asheville, North Carolina. “Our kid is a total misfit and this is the perfect place for it. I love Camp’s approach to childhood; you all know how to harness the craziness and keep kids busy. Clearly no one is afraid of kids here.”
“My favorite part of the show was all of it,” said Liz from San Francisco. “‘Camp Town Road’ was great. You can’t go wrong with Lil Naz X.”
“I love clowning for the makeup and the miming,” said Sidney, 12, of the Blue Tipi. “I’m definitely coming back.”
“You could tell there was a lot of joy and happiness,” said Nancy, from Oakland.
“The show was a nice capstone,” added Shimon, also from Oakland.”
“My time at Camp was incredibly crazy and all-over-the-place, but totally fun,” said Teen Staff Gabby. “It’s the people that make Camp. Everyone is so warm and welcoming. You can walk up to anyone and have a life-changing conversation. I’ll you next year!”
“The kids in the group singing really brought the heat and the energy,” said James from Sebastopol. “And the Foo Fighters? Come on! So good.”
“The blog was a nice lifeline,” said Dor from Santa Cruz. “The show was eclectic and hilarious, especially the puppets and clowning. I loved the short experimental piece in the river. The theme was ‘home’ and it really communicated a lot about Camp and the feeling of going home.”
“Camp was good,” said Tashi, 11, of the Ultraviolet Tipi. “It’s really fun and the people are nice. Ok, here’s my quote: ‘The same hot water that makes an egg hard makes a potato soft, so don’t let your environment dictate you.'”
“The show was awesome, especially the stilts,” said Chanelle from McKinleyville. “It was a beautiful experience for the kids. They seemed so happy.”
“The tunnel the stilters made for the unicyclers was really impressive,” added Bonnie, also from McKinleyville. “The collective singing brought tears to my eyes.”
Thanks everyone for reading along this session! Have a safe journey home, and, as always…
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor
