Unicorn Air
Monday, July 28th, 2025
CROSSROADS circa 7:15pm—With the conclusion of pizza night, the children have been set loose upon a brief window of free time. A lingering cloud of dust serves as evidence for the recent stampede from the kitchen to downtown Camp, where from the sounds of revelry now emanate. Only a few of us remain on the roadway, those walking at a normal pace. The Art Grove, the Puppet Grove, the Nurses’ Dome, the Leaf Grove—all these familiar landmarks populate the corridor that connects the two hubs of our campus. The road is something of an outdoor hallway, one with living walls, and whose rooms are defined not by partitions, but by clumps of furniture, tarps and shades.
I encounter a group of children playing at the Tight Rope Site, which sits at the border of the Crossroads and the Tipi Circle.
“I already made a friend pretty quick,” says Adrian, 11, Rainbow Tipi. “I’m not good with names, but it’s that kid in the red shirt. I really like balancing stuff. If I’m walking somewhere, like to the library, I’ll stick a stack of books on my head and try to balance it. Tight rope is a natural extension of that, plus I like being barefoot.”
Suddenly a conch is blown, signaling the end of free time. The campers gather with their respective tipi groups and begin devising their tipi skits, which will each be performed on stage later tonight. I set out to ascertain some of the theatrical themes from a few tipis.
“So basically we are going to introduce ourselves in a very boring way,” explains Sarah, 11, Scarlet Tipi. “But then we’ll run to the tipi and get out our pillows and stuffies, and introduce them as magical creatures!”
“And we can all be witches and share one big broom!” adds Zoë, 10, Scarlet Tipi. “I’m not worried; I think we’ll do awesome.”
“Beans. Zombified beans,” says Ja’ Lin, 7, Purple. “I actually don’t really know what the skit is about. I think the beans come out and attack the farmers or something. I think it’s gonna be mid. I’m just a chill guy.”
“So basically they’re driving a plane, and then we do seat assignments,” says Tab, 10, Rainbow Tipi. “But the seats all have funny names like ‘sprinkles’ and ‘first-class glass’. Then at the end we all say. ‘Thank you for choosing Unicorn Air!’”
The conch is sounded again, signaling the beginning of our orientation tour. The campers gather in the theater. I slink over to the Juggling Cart to pass some time, and some clubs.
“Our tipi skit is about unimportant voyages,” says Juggling Instructor Eden Leeman. “It’s just another way of interpreting ‘U.V.’ Everybody as part of their intro will say some sort of unimportant voyage, such as, ‘Cutting my dogs toenails,’ or something like that.”
“Tonight is orientation tour, so we’re here to orientate!” continues Eden. “We’re here to tell people the possibilities of the Juggling Cart, the inclusivity of the Juggling Department, and how to use the equipment—all with a fun twist. It’s always exciting to have the last group of the summer. It seems like a really good group of kids.”
I return to the Crossroads where I encounter a lone camper who has lost her flock.
“I went to the Nurses’ Dome and now can’t find my group,” says Maddy, 9, Yellow Tipi. After a quick deliberation, we determine the Costume Barn is a good place to check. As we walk, I ask about her tipi skit. “I actually don’t know, I don’t think we talked about it. But if I was going to decide it, it would be something about gymnastics, because I’m really good at gymnastics.”
Finding the Costume Barn empty, we continue to the Rainbow Theater, where we find the Yellow Tipi campers sitting in the front row, enjoying an orientation. I loop back to the Tipi Circle to snap a couple photos of some of the notable tipi signs.
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor
