The Real World Again
Saturday, July 12th, 2025
GREEN ROOM circa 4:30pm—The weather often seems to get slightly hotter for Big Show, as if the sun moves in a little closer for a better look at our performances. Today’s show is also running quite long, compounding the situation. I like to think of these times of discomfort as opportunities to be extra professional with our showmanship, and the campers are doing exactly that, poised backstage for their entrances or making final costume adjustments in the Costume Barn. Here in the Green Room, several dozen children are participating in the age-old performer tradition of staring dead-eyed at a television screen.
“Clowning on stage, Experimento on deck, and Monster Cycle in the hole!” announces Camper Advocate Lexi Takaki, briefly pausing the television. In response to this announcement, a smattering of campers stand up and jog away toward the Tipi Circle, aka backstage, to prepare for their acts. Lexi presses play. I make my way around the periphery of the Green Room crowd to garner some final quotations.
“It was a really good oldest-camper year,” says Aydin, 14, Ultraviolet Tipi. “I’m definitely coming back for Teen Staff if I can. Last night we had an oldest camper ceremony at the Labyrinth. It was dark and the stars were out. The vibes were chill but also sad because this was our last year as campers. We held hands in a circle and walked the Labyrinth.”
“This session I learned how to juggle clubs from Eden,” continues Aydin. “It took me like three days, but now I have a pretty solid pattern. Next year I’ll learn how to pass. I had an amazing tipi and the vibes were awesome.”
“The first week was rough, but the second week was good,” says Ophelia, almost 13, Scarlet Tipi. “We had some drama in our tipi, but Joaquin helped us sort it out, and I wrote a ‘Sorry’ note to my friend. The Big Show is my highlight of the session. I like performing for a new audience. It feels more exciting. It’s like you’re in the world of Camp for two weeks, and then the parents come, and it becomes the real world again.”
“All campers backstage for the Camp Songs Finale!” announces Lexi, cutting my interviews short. I grab my guitar and gather with my fellow musicians, in the gravel just beyond downstage right. We are all hot, dehydrated, and covered in dirt, but ultimately excited to put on our three-song set. The first tune, Black Sabbath’s “The Wizard”, is a camper favorite. Nodding at Drummer Jeff Brown, he counts us off, rapping together his sticks.
“ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!”
Thanks for reading along this session! Have a safe journey home and, as always,
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor
PS
A bonus interview with Ginger’s toddler Robbie:
So, Robbie, how was this session for you? Did you get to do everything that you wanted to do, or are there still some dangling loose ends out there for next session?
“This chair broken.”
How old are you?
“Two.”
This session was notable for its bevy of classes and talented teaching staff. Was there any skill in particular that really resonated with you, or do you consider yourself more of a jack-of-all-trades?
“I just played those drums, and they’re cool.”
Now that this is your second year at Camp Winnarainbow, are there any areas of improvement that you’d care to identify?
“This chair’s starting to broke.”
Any final thoughts you’d like to leave our readers with as we close out Session B, 2025?
“I don’t have a tipi; I live in a house.”
