The First Night

The first day and night of camp is always one of the most exciting, stressful, sleep deprived and amazing ones of camp. When the campers climb off the buses fresh faced and ready for a great summer the excitement levels at camp just explode. The energy increases tenfold. It’s an addictive feeling.

With screams and cheers and songs we guide the buses in to camp and help the campers unload. Veteran campers, first years, rookie campers – all of them so happy to be here. We gather by the picnic tables as Mary, the camp director, calls out cabins and counsellors. Photos are taken and then the girls RUN to their new cabins to claim the best bunk.

Now is the big part. Unpacking. Each camper brings two large duffels with everything they will need for the summer. In my three years at camp I still have no idea how it all fits on one small shelf but these kids have got it down to an art form. The cabin transforms. What was once an empty shell is now full of colour and fun and life. Beds are made, bunk junk is hung, towels are loaded onto a shelf and ten toothbrushes line the bathroom sink. This is our summer home.

After dinner we all move to Happy Camper Hall for the much awaited staff show. We perform songs (parodies that explain camp), skits and dances. There is a video with staff introductions and activity explanations and we end the whole thing off with another big song and dance number.

Back to the cabins for our first night talks – cabin rules, camp rules, getting to know you games and catching up on a year apart. Candy is consumed, jokes are told, songs are sung and it’s hard to remember the agreed upon lights out time. But eventually it is in to bed and off to sleep so that we can do it all again tomorrow!