Tonight was a typical example of what I love about Keewaydin. Three or four episodes during the evening really struck me as remarkable, and yet here at camp they're just part of the normal routine. First, several members of the Keewaydin family arrived to visit, with varying degrees of fanfare. Ben Smith arrived with his usual magic and both staff and campers drew near to bask in the glow--yet he hasn't actually been on staff for at least two years. Tom and Amy Vorenberg came by at dinner and a number of the older generation (which I admit I'm part of now) gathered around to shake hands, hug, chat a bit, etc. The Sotirs were here, too, and though they haven't been at camp since Mike left as director five years ago there were plenty of people seeking them out for a hello. You can leave but you always belong...that's how it is here.
Then there were the after dinner songs. Ben S. got up to do a guest appearance at the piano and the whole dining hall joined in enthusiastically as we ran through the majority of songs he's added to the songbook over the last five years. Not just your run-of-the-mill camp songs, but originals with feeling, heart, and catchy melodies. Ten- and fourteen- year old boys singing joyfully alongside twenty-, thirty-, forty-somethings (and up) with not even a hint of self-consciousness. How special is that?
Finally, the Friday Night Frolics, where the skits included a group of boys lip-synching hilariously to whatever that awful song about "Call me maybe" is and another group jamming out a live version of The Band's "The Weight." Kids taking risks they could never take in school and being supported in doing it. Camp is a special idea and Keewaydin is certainly a special camp.
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