From the dictionary, the second definition of MAGICAL:
“beautiful or delightful in such a way as to seem removed from everyday life”
I was asked to speak on the history of summer camps in Transylvania County for the Sherwood Forest Friends in Cedar Mountain, just down the road from Camp High Rocks. After covering my topic, I took questions from the audience. Many were seeking to understand the appeal of the summer camp business, the changes I had seen in my 41 years at the helm of Keystone, and the challenges being faced now. When I spoke about the level of responsibility those of us in the private camping world feel for our campers and our camp families, one person asked me if I loved my job. My reply, “Of course I love it. I have enjoyed a career where I have had the opportunity to change peoples’ lives.” How lucky have I been?
As I drove down the mountain back to Keystone, I began to think about why I love it. What is it about camp that keeps me going? What is it about camp that keeps girls returning year in and year out? Inevitably, the most common phrase we hear consistently from our campers, our counselors, our camp families, and our alumnae is, “It’s MAGICAL.” I agree. Camp is MAGICAL.
A description of the camp experience does not do it justice. Camp is something that has to be experienced with your whole being. For most children, it is a major departure from their daily experiences. Many children are coming from having their own bedrooms and/or bathrooms into a cabin of 8-12 girls sharing space. Just being surrounded by the sounds of nature is a big adjustment for many. We know the many benefits of spending time outside, and we continue to learn more about the importance of our natural world in positive youth development. “How Time in Nature Builds Happier, Healthier and More Social Children” was just published in The Washington Post last week. Camp ticks so many boxes for children. They learn independence and resilience. They experience a larger world. They make friendships with others they might never encounter in their own hometowns. They learn that adults outside their families are also interested in their well-being and their development as a person. They learn new skills. They challenge themselves physically and emotionally to become better individuals. These lessons hold true for our staff as well. So many of our staff reflect in their check-ins on how they have grown while here, what they have learned about themselves. There is never a summer that passes by in which I don’t learn something new about myself… all because of camp!
If the above dictionary definition of magical doesn’t describe camp perfectly, I don’t know what else would. When we are in the throes of camp, it is such a special time. We create this wonderful world away from it all, and each of us has a role in its creation. Camp would not be camp without each and every person here making a contribution of themselves to our camp community. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to stand on the office porch and absorb the sounds of camp: the conversations, the laughter, the music, and the activities. The overwhelming take away for me is pure joy. I cannot begin to describe the satisfaction I have for the creation that is Keystone Camp, for the growth I see in every person here each year. I am grateful for the friendships that have developed over the years, and I love nothing better than to have an alum return for a visit to tell me how much her time at Keystone shaped who she is today. We also take great pride in having so many of our alumnae choose to send their girls to Keystone. Thirty percent of our four-week July session consists of alumnae daughters.
The August session is a particularly joyful session. The campers have waited all summer to get to Keystone, and they seem so very happy to be here. On average, the girls are also younger than our other sessions. As someone who is altitudinally challenged, I love to see this group seated in the dining hall. Unlike the other sessions, I am able to see across the entire space without anyone blocking my view. These girls by and large are in the early year or so of their Keystone careers. It will be a privilege to watch the role Keystone plays in their lives as they grow up with us.
I continue to step back from the day-to-day of camp as our leadership team grows in their positions. I get to enjoy the big picture of Keystone, and I can leave the details to the team. They connect so well with our staff and our campers. I am proud of the job they have done and will continue to do for Keystone.
As we look to end the season tomorrow, I realized how magical this entire operation happens to be. It is our own version of a Pop-Up Shop. We have this large swath of land and so many buildings that sit empty for the majority of the year. It begins to wake up and come to life in May as we gradually add people and programs. In early June on our season opening day, we go from 50 to 225 people in a matter of three hours. Camp is underway for the next nine weeks. Then, in early August, the reverse happens. In less than 24 hours we go from 225 back to the 10 of us here year round. This can be a real shock to your system!
The silence on the Monday after camp closes is deafening! We miss camp. However, the work for the next season begins immediately as registration for 2025 opens and we start looking forward to another summer of magic! We are all grateful for the time we have together with your girls. The magical world will rise again in just 43 weeks! See you then!
