At this moment when the camp is usually filled with the sounds of dozens of laughing girls there is stillness except for the gentle rustle of chipmunks on the crusty leaves. There is no clanging bell there are no groups of girls walking to the dining hall arms linked bound so closely as if they were one beautiful animal.
After watching your daughters perform in their favorite activities on a flawless 74 away for some allportant family time on the town and a sleepover.
As we await their return soon to be followed by the arrival of our Second Session campers the staff is busy preparing the cabins and our excitement is mounting to see returning campers and welcome our new girls.
Watching your girls run to you yesterday I was swept back decades to my sister and I waiting for our own mother and father to arrive at camp which they did each summer from 1963andatory eightp with no split sessions so when they left camp they left without us. I am remembering that while we were sad as we clutched them upon departure that wistful wave lasted only a few minutes. We would rush back to our cabins to be with our friends to rush into Blue Lake to rush back onto the tennis courts to swarm together into the dining hall.
So much about Agawak has changed with new water toys and a Tango Tower and candle making in what was a library and the Blue Team headquarters in my day. Though what is unchanged is that unbreakable spirit of friendship those relationships that feels like another family borne not of blood but of history and loyalty.
It is this camp family that picks us up when we are down and keeps us in a sustained state of gratitude that we had the good fortune to be sent by our parents to summer camp.
Lessons and friendships formed in these spectacular woods form the backbone for children to turn into adults who are independent inclusive adventurous collaborative – and a whole lot of fun to be around!
While there were some tears when you dropped your girls back at camp Sunday morning please know those tears dry up quickly as they do what my sister and I did long ago. They will rush back to their cabins hug and laugh and quickly change into swim suits or tennis clothes or climbing clothes and get right back into the nonstop glorious action of our full speed ahead Camp Agawak!
I am blessed to be part of this empowering emancipating place for more than half a century a place that makes me feel ageless and whole.
-Iris Krasnow
