Camp Blog

Agawak is "All Good"

by: 
Camp Director

As kids grow into teens, as teens grow into adults and as adults grow older, a funny thing happens: time speeds up and goes faster. In the blink of an eye I can think about my 13th birthday, my first day of high school, college, graduation, having children and someday grandkids.

The circle of life. It never stops. Camp is one such place that mirrors the circle of life with even greater speed. The days and nights at camp go at warp speed but the memories linger and do last forever.

Who can’t remember stepping on Agawak grounds for the first time? Meeting your counselors? Feeling the warmth and the familiarity of a high five, a fist-bump or a hug? Then you meet your cabin mates, Blue and White leaders, evening program coordinators and more friends in your age group. Your camp circle continues to grow, your friends increase, you branch out and try new things, meet new people, eat new foods, sing at campfire. You experiment!

Then there are days like today that are routine (activity days) and we settle into those routines. We become familiar with Lazy breakfast, Blue and White events, what it means to “swim the lake”, and we know that evening programs, no matter what they are, will be filled with fun and packed with energy.

Before you know it, we’re at Blue and White closing. And just like that, in the blink of an eye, camp is over but the memories are never over. Our memories never leave us.

Yesterday, I said a final farewell to my 105 year old grandmother who was an inspiration to me and those that knew her.  She was a special person in my life. Special people are everywhere in our lives but especially at camp. People we go to camp with know us better than we know ourselves. My grandmother had a saying, “It’s all-good”.

I want all of you to know that it is indeed all-good at camp. Despite some normal homesickness your daughters are developing new skills and gaining more confidence in their abilities. They are running around this camp making new friends and learning to live on their own and making decisions for themselves. They are doing their daily chores, navigating through friendships and problem solving for themselves.

The giggles and laughter I hear as I walk around camp warms my heart and plants a smile on my face. They are growing up at camp right before my eyes and in more ways than one they are discovering that there’s a place called Agawak that genuinely cares about them.

Smile on,

Mary