This morning, our boys had their final phone calls home before Thursday’s departure.
The conversations were filled with excitement as boys eagerly told their parents about Olympic victories and funny bunk stories. Campers know they’ll soon be reunited with their families, but they’re equally aware that they still have a few wonderful days left in their summer home.
After breakfast, every camper went through a final head lice check, and I’m pleased to report that we were completely clear across the board. At rest hour, our nursing staff conducted their final weekly health inspections, carefully checking every boy from head to toe while also continuing with the wellness check conversations they’ve had throughout the summer. These aren’t simply medical evaluations. They are another opportunity for our staff to connect with each camper, make sure everyone is feeling healthy, and ensure every boy finishes the summer just as strong as he began it.
Camp is anything but winding down, and Olympic competition continued throughout the day. Our youngest campers filled the track for the Warrior Track & Field Meet, where every sprint, relay, and field event was met with enthusiastic cheers from teammates wearing green and grey. Across camp, games continued on nearly every field and court as boys competed with the same energy they’ve displayed all week.
This evening brought a great tradition of the summer, our annual Art Show. Walking through the buildings, it was impossible not to be impressed by what our boys have created. Every one of our eleven hobbies was represented. The tables, shelves, and walls of the Art Center were filled with woodworking projects, ceramics, photography, crafts projects, and other creations.
The sports games and waterfront activities certainly define much of the excitement of the summer, but the Art Show serves as a wonderful reminder in the midst of our Olympics that growth comes in many forms. Some boys discovered they enjoy working with their hands. Others found confidence speaking into a microphone in Radio & Electronics or learned that persistence is often more important than natural ability when creating something from scratch.
Every project tells a story. More importantly, every project represents a boy who tried something new. As Thursday draws closer, there is certainly excitement in the air about returning home. But there is also tremendous pride in everything these boys have accomplished over the last six-and-a-half weeks.
We’re sprinting through the finish line.
