Cheer-O-Meter
Thursday, August 1st, 2024
STILT FIELD circa 8:30pm—A veritable mosh pit has erupted in the auspices of Carly Rae Jepsen’s 2011 single “Call Me Maybe” which blasts out of the Big Top PA at a volume likely fatal to anything smaller than a breadbox. Campers and counselors alike dance about in all manner of bizarre costumes in the spinning patterned lights that are at once green, then pink, then blue. The fading sunlight has painted the surrounding woods into a continuous black silhouette that hugs our little electric oasis of revelry. Session D’s Costume Party is in full swing.
Much too chaotic to garner any sensible quotations, I snap a few costume pictures and retreat to my notes. Last night’s evening program was our final Fire Circle of the summer where campers and staff performed for each other poems, songs, prayers and jokes. For the grand finale, a team of professional fire jugglers dazzled the audience with their daring craft, accompanied by a West African drumming ensemble. Earlier this afternoon I spent a few hours at the creek to gather feedback on the event, and on Camp in general.
“The ending was really cool where they were juggling fire,” said Kaliah, 11, of the Rainbow Tipi. “They were juggling torches that looked like marshmallows on the end. I was mildly scared, but it looked like they knew what they were doing.”
“Today in songwriting I was writing a song about California,” continued Kaliah. “Summer movie nights, stars in the sky, things like that. California is very chill—except in terms of forcing kids to learn cursive—but otherwise very chill. That’s probably why Camp is so chill.”
“Fire Circle was fun and scary,” said Aiyana, 9, of the Gold Tipi. “I thought they were gonna catch all the campers on fire! The drums during the juggling had a really cool beat; I felt like was hypnotized. The whole thing was entertaining, and I’m hard to entertain. This one time, at my cousin’s house, they put Mulan on the TV and I didn’t even watch it.”
“‘If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands’ really slapped,” said August, 12, of the Scarlet Tipi. “I was inspired by the fire, especially the fire poi. And the low beat and high beats of the drumming, it was ceremonial.”
“I learned a new clown trick,” said Oscar, 9, of the Yellow Tipi. “You pull a balloon out of your pocket, tie a string around it so it doesn’t deflate, and then you move it around and pretend like it’s lifting you up. It’s good for a laugh, but it’s not just about being silly. Clowning is about showing emotion and being vulnerable. People relate to that. And then you hit them with the silly face and they’ll probably laugh medium to normal hard.”
“I made up this thing called the ‘Cheer-O-Meter’,” continued Oscar. “The more people laugh and cheer, the more excited and stupider I get! Camp is a good place to be stupid.”
“Fire Circle was chill,” said Johnny, 14, of the Red Tipi. “The flowersticks were lit, literally and figuratively. It was cool enough that I almost paid attention to most of it. I really liked Dinklefritz’s song. The solo was sick.”
“The best part of Camp is the free time,” said Haydn, 11, of the Ultraviolet Tipi. “Classes are rigid, but free time is so fluid. I love walking around with no plan. Today I got my nails painted completely spontaneously. I do have a plan for the Costume Party, but I’m not telling you.”
“I love Camp a lot,” said Issa, 10, of the Maroon Tipi. “There’s a lot of things you can do here, the classes, the creek, meeting new people. I feel free to be myself. It’s like a home away from home.”
“Fire Circle was amazing and impressive,” said Aria, 10, of the Turquoise Tipi. “It was cool that staff performed too, not just the kids. The fire juggling was my favorite, and I liked that they sang us a lullaby to calm us down afterword. Every day at Camp is the best day. It’s really nice to be in nature and the staff are really nice.”
“I like the creek,” said Sarafina, 7, of the Lime Tipi. “I like how one end is deeper and one end is shallow. And I like creek walks. We saw lots of deers, clay and blackberries. I sculpted the clay into a little doll named Lily. She lives in my tipi now. I ate blackberries, a green one, a red one, and a black one. We saw a whole family of deer, including the baby. I named the baby horse Lilyon.”
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor
