There was a heavy cloud hanging over Senior Quad today. With the older boys’ Olympics now in the record books, our Okees woke up with the realization that camp ends on Thursday, and that there are fewer big events in store to distract them from the inevitable end.
It seems that wherever you see one of our oldest boys on campus, he is surrounded by his buddies. There is a desire to soak up these last few days together and experience those last moments of love and reflection with those who can relate the most to this experience.
In the meantime, our Warriors (finished grades one through four) had their Whacked-Up Relay this morning. Our little guys are somewhat oblivious to the emotion being felt by our Okees. And, therefore, they competed with determination and exhilaration as the entire Warrior camp ran from event to event— cheering on teammates— until the final showdown, the pie-eating contest.
Having just witnessed the Okees in their pie-eating competition yesterday, our little guys— many of whom are first-year campers— came ready to cheer on their teammate who would be devouring the pie.
One of our pie eaters received the baton five seconds earlier than his opponent, giving him a head start. He desperately needed those five seconds to come out on top, as the race was close, and he was eventually declared victorious.
This evening, we had our final banquet in our beautiful dining hall overlooking Long Lake. Our chefs prepared a delicious chicken parmesan dinner with pasta to celebrate the accomplishments of the season. We heard speeches from campers and counselors reflecting on their years at camp and the impact this summer home has had on their lives.
After the meal, we all gathered around the big screen in the dining hall to watch a photo slideshow showcasing some of the greatest moments of the summer.
When the boys made their way back to the bunks, they stepped over half-packed duffles. Once-packed cubbies are now down to storing just a day’s worth of clothing. After a wonderful celebration, it was a quiet night. The inevitable is just a day away.
