Highlight Reel
Friday, July 26th, 2024
TIPI CIRCLE circa 4:00pm—Cool breezes temper the heat of the afternoon sunbeams which cast a crisp Dalmatian shade pattern on the dusty earth. Sounds of a small live band broadcast over the Rainbow Theater’s PA as the songwriting class pupils practice their creations. Today is the last full day of Camp, and tonight is the final rehearsal before our Big Show. I’ve positioned myself here in this high foot traffic zone to ask passersby the simple question, “What was your highlight of Session ‘C’ 2024?”
“The teen creek walks were super fun,” said Teen Staff Carmelo. “It was nice to have some ‘teen time’. We picked blackberries and Zappo pulled a gopher snake out of a bush. Being in the creek you’re surrounded by beautiful scenery and big trees. It’s a time for bonding and experiencing the beauty of nature. As teen staff we do a lot of jobs, so it’s good to have strong bonds with your fellow teens.”
“It was low-key goated when I was giving people hair tinsel,” said Teen Staff Aya.
“I think my highlight was just making new friends,” said Vince, 12, of the Sky Blue Tipi. “I made friends with everyone in my tipi so now have somewhere between nine and twelve new friends!”
“Having my daughter Sala get up on silks was magical,” said Medical Director Yakira Teitel. “She’s so small and strong and she always wants to fly. I loved doing aerials when I was a kid at Camp. Sahara Moon was my teacher. It’s been so long but I still remember the feeling of flying. Taking aerials as a kid, I learned how to be graceful in movement, how to value the experience of exhilaration, and the importance of timing. Seeing Sala do it all these years later is totally a vicarious thrill. Camp is still magic after all these years.”
“My highlight was learning how to do silks,” said Charlie, 9, of the Gold Tipi. “You can basically hang upside-down and do amazingly cool flips. Some tricks: Man on the Moon, Cleopatra, and Faux Rebecca. You can do drops or build up momentum by swinging on your stomach and then it feels like I’m a sparrow on the wind. The silks are nice and soft but you can get a silk burn if you slide down too fast.”
“Definitely, the labyrinth was my highlight,” said Lincoln, 14, of the Scarlet Tipi. “I got to relax for one time in my life. There was no technology, worry-free, and talking about hippy spiritual stuff. Riley said something about how laughter is important. The sage smells pretty cool. The experience was very enlightening and calm. If you don’t like the labyrinth, you’re geekin’. Get with that labyrinth program!”
“I have to say the first Fire Circle night was great,” said Tilly, 14, of the Ultraviolet Tipi. “I was chilling with my friends and we were all laughing. I remember José told these stories about someone stealing his baseball cards, and then the kid’s dad said, ‘Don’t ever take advantage of someone younger than you!’ I think Fire Circle brings people together. On stage, there’s a separation. Around the fire it feels more like a community. This is my third year and I’ve realized it’s not just Camp you look forward to, it’s the people that make it up.”
“Getting better at unicycling was my highlight,” said Simon, 12, of the Maroon Tipi. “I can ride off the bar now! It feels like I’m a swan gliding on a glassy lake. When I crash or fall off, it’s a moment to reflect on how to improve. I mostly taught myself during free time. The more hours I put in, the more I improved. The community at Camp is really supportive; when you fall down—physically or metaphorically—they pick you back up.”
“Puppets was my highlight; I worked very hard on it,” said Calvin, 10, of the Orange Tipi. “Mine is a white sock with a rainbow star jacket and very long, pink, purple and blue hair. Also it has a red guitar. The guitar broke today, but I’ll fix it tomorrow. That’s the lesson of puppets. Even if things break, you gotta try again.”
“I have two highlights,” admitted Sunny, 12, of the Red Tipi. “First, when I was at the platform at the lake I was so scared to jump off. It was so high up that my brain just wouldn’t let me. But my friends kept telling me I could do it until finally I believed them. I just closed my eyes and ran off. That moment after jumping, before hitting the water, I felt so happy, triumphant to have overcome my fears.”
“My second highlight was my tipi winning Adventure Night,” continued Sunny. “When they were announcing they said Gold and Lime in 4th, Maroon in 3rd, and Flame in 2nd—we figured that we must have gotten 5th or lower. We thought for sure Scarlet Tipi would be number one. But then they said ‘Red Tipi’ and I couldn’t believe it! Nylah and I just looked at each other and screamed. For our prize we got a box of 12 cans of root beer and we finally got to drink it tonight at dinner. Victory never tasted so sweet! A lot of crazy stuff happened this session, but we all came together and got through it, and we had a lot of fun along the way.”
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor
