It’s sunny and 87 degrees here at Camp Agawak, but the sun isn’t the only source of warmth on this beautiful day. The campers are radiating their spirited energy. Looking across Blue Lake I can’t help but smile at the sight of skiers, sailboats, kayaks, and canoes as they soar over the waves.

Did you know that Blue Lake is currently ranked number 2 in the state of Wisconsin when it comes to water clarity? The depth of visibility is 29 feet!  At almost any time of day campers can experience the great views beneath the lake during snorkeling as well as from the top. In an article in the Chicago Tribune (dating back to 1946) Blue Lake was rated number 3 in the state even way back then for water clarity. How fortunate we are to have been able to maintain the clearness of our lake water over the past 70 years!

Final Four teams (Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia and Florida) were revealed on Monday afternoon in Happy Camper Hall to the beat of “let’s get ready to rumble”.  Last night an intense Blue and White Spelling Bee lasted much longer than usual with more talking penalties than normal.  It’s a unique spelling bee as the campers are not allowed to talk. Teamwork, mental power and quick thinking are crucial.  The win went to the Blue Team.  After the game, Margie Gordon (an alum) packed up the white camp van and headed to the tepee with counselors and campers from cabin 3. Their overnight was filled with stories and entertainment.  The s'mores were flowing and a favorite of the night for those girls.

The other day, I was walking about camp and stopped to talk with a slight homesick camper.  She was missing home but was actually rather positive, saying how she loved camp so much and didn’t want to leave but was missing her dog, siblings and parents. We talked about her home and the things she missed. I told her every camper at some point during the summer misses their family. Talking more, she told me about how Agawak really was her “home away from home” even though she had moments of missing her parents.  She told me how blessed she felt to have two places to call home.  To me, this is truly something special. These campers have more than just one place where they are supported and cared for.

So…today, I asked a few campers what experiences they have had that they never thought they would have at camp. Some of their responses were: “I never thought…”

“…I would learn to ski on one ski!”

“… I would make friends with someone from across the country!”

“… I would have a counselor from Australia!”

“…I would win a Blue and White game for my team!”

“…I would laugh so many times in my cabin!”

“…I would sleep in a teepee and actually have fun!”

“… I would get to choose from so many activities!”

“…I would make so many new friends!”

“… I would conquer my fear and dance on the stage during Blue and White lip syncs!”

“… I would put a worm on a hook.”

“… I would learn how to sail and even steer the whole sailboat!”

“… I would climb the tango tower ever again after getting bite by a bee.”

“… I would be a campfire girl.”

Too often our lives get so busy that we forget to step back and look at where we are and how far we’ve come. Your daughters have changed from the moment they stepped on camp grounds. They are braver, stronger, and more experienced than before because of their ability to step out of their comfort zone and come to camp. It’s important to remember that every camper moves at their own pace, so it’s completely normal for some to still miss their family from time to time.

Every day as the moments tick by I’m reminded just how precious these summer days are.  This is a reminder to all of you to make every day count. Not just at camp, but in your home lives too. The importance of living every day to the fullest is something that can’t be stressed enough.  As we go into these last two weeks, I hope that campers will continue to step out of their comfort zones and make the most of their time left at camp.

Happy Camping.

Mary :)