What do your children do all day at Camp Agawak? My parents wondered the same thing when I was a camper and counselor here, from 1963-1973. And, they didn’t have great photographs to check daily to find their kids, and make sure they were busy and smiling:
Although you have all sorts of ways now to check up on your girls, from texts to cell phones to emails – I can assure all of you this: Your girls are very busy and smiling, as they travel, arm in arm, from activity to activity to activity.
I am awestruck by how much they actually do all day, because they never stop moving – the energy is constant and intense and infectious. What do they do? Just about everything.
We were blessed with brilliant sun and temperatures hovering around 80 our first week, so it was full speed ahead with all water sports. On any given day, I looked out on Blue Lake and saw paddle-boarders, water skiers, kayakers and girls bouncing, with shrills of excitement, on our Rave. Today, they woke up to a cool morning under a flawless blue sky, with temperatures peaking at 80 this afternoon.
As I walked the grounds, my heart was full of nostalgia and joy and thankfulness. I am so grateful that in my 60 years connected to this camp that Agawak energy is still bursting and alive, spilling out from the lake onto girls slamming serves on the tennis courts – (where we now have pickleball!), to campers beading bracelets in Arts & Crafts, doing flips on the trampolines and writing with me at the picnic tables where we put together Agalog, the camp magazine where I got my literary start as an author – decades ago, at the age of 8. Away from the glare of fluorescent classroom lights, our writers pour out their hearts with pens on lined-paper, relaxed, and reflective, away from the glare of computer screens. Today is Sunday, the day of sign-up sessions, when your daughters have dozens of activities to choose from, as they custom-design their weekly schedule. Some cabins like to sign up as a group, though at many activities, like fishing and skiing and Agalog, activities are filled with campers of all ages.
As a woman now in her 60s, I truly appreciate the inter-generational relationships that inspire us, mold us and teach us in a camp environment. The older campers, the younger campers, the counselors, Mary and the administrative staff and THIS older woman all come together and build mentorship skills and friendships that last a lifetime. I can attest to the fact all my years at Camp Agawak gave me important characteristics that have helped me throughout adulthood – tenacity, courage and a can-do spirit that we learn every day in our activities and adventures on these beautiful grounds. Parents – you made one of your best choices to give your girls the opportunity to grow and glow at this summer camp, where we believe that anything is possible – if you try, try and try again!
Iris
Iris Krasnow is the author of a book on Camp Agawak:
Camp Girls: Fireside Lessons on Friendship, Courage & Loyalty.