Camp is not over yet. I told the campers this morning during announcements to soak up this last full day of activities as a cabin group, but I kept thinking all day about the things I would be missing in three short days. As I made my mental list, I realized there was a continual theme — most of them were sounds.
Sounds trigger powerful memories. They connect directly to the brain’s emotional and memory centers, sparking feelings of joy, sadness, and gratitude. A familiar song, a specific voice, or an everyday noise can instantly bring back the past. As I walked through camp today, I found myself noticing the sounds that bring me joy.
It’s no surprise that summer is my absolute favorite time of year — not because it’s warm and beautiful outside, but because of the beautiful sounds and warm faces that surround me each day. Camp has a soundtrack that I will play all winter long, and it sounds like this…
- A bell chiming in perfect time, as if set by a metronome
- The splash of water after synchronized cannonballs at the pool
- Campers singing in unison in the dining hall to Justin Bieber’s “Baby” (how is that song 16 years old and still so popular?)
- 400 people saying, “Make today better than yesterday, as good as you hope tomorrow will be, with courage, honesty, integrity and faith, as you live the Highlander Creed… and wash your hands,” each morning after Reflect
- The joyful screams of finally conquering the giant swing or being launched off the blob
- “Can I have a hug?” from campers or staff who just need that extra mama love
- Campers on the microphone giving shout-outs to their favorite counselor, their best friend, or the activity staff who made a difference in their day
- Cheers after I say my morning ritual on the microphone: “GOOD MORNING, CAMP HIGHLANDER!”
- “APPLE CART” being yelled all over camp around 4pm each day, as little feet come running for their afternoon treat
- “Thank you songs” sung in unison by cabins after an activity, to show gratitude to the activity counselors
- “Hey, Melissa!” as I walk by a group of campers skipping to their next activity
- Hearing Christina Aguilera’s “Feel This Moment” come on and seeing all the campers do the zumba moves in unison
These are the sounds I live for each and every day of the summer. These are the sounds that bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. These sounds give life, personality, and energy to my day. These are the sounds I will miss.
There is a particular sound a cabin makes when it’s in sync — a specific kind of chatter, overlapping and easy, the genuine laughter, the sound of kids who don’t have to explain themselves to each other but can hardly wait to get their words out. This was the sound at breakfast. Cabins just picked up right where they’d left off, mid-sentence, like family always can. After four days of competition and separation, our cabin units were back together in harmony today, and it was beautiful.
We spent the whole day soaking up the fun, because we all knew that today was the last time this particular group of campers would head off to the lake together, or visit a waterfall, or brave the Crow’s Nest while cheering each other on — just as this cabin, exactly as it is right now.
Tomorrow is our last Camper’s Choice — the day campers get to choose exactly how they spend their day, who they spend it with, and where their feet take them across camp. Tonight at dinner, Cabin 1 approached the cooking mom and said, “Can we all sign up for cooking, second period?” I watched the camp mom pause, unsure what to say to this group of girls. If she said yes, her second period would be full before sign-ups even began; if she said no, she’d be turning down the very core of who we are at Highlander. These girls were keenly aware of the last day approaching, and they were more focused on who they’d be with than what they’d be doing. That is the heart of Highlander. We grow, stretch, change, and improve because of the people around us who challenge us and make us better.
Camper’s Choice is a day I get to spend more time with campers. Years ago, I got certified as a Zumba instructor for camp. Who knew it would be such a hit with the campers and staff? Two or three summers ago, it was so hot that I decided to move Zumba to the pool, and we haven’t looked back since. This session has been a little crazy, and I haven’t taught at Camper’s Choice yet — but tomorrow, we’re on! When I announced pool Zumba at dinner tonight, the dining hall went wild. (That’s another sound I’ll miss.They know how to make a girl feel loved.) I don’t know if they come to Zumba because they love the workout, because they love the pool, or because they just love to laugh at me. Honestly, it doesn’t matter why they come. What matters is that they’re there — and that I’ll have one more sound to fill my heart until we do it all again next summer.
##Favorite Details of the Day
- Weather: We woke up to cloudy skies and lots of humidity. We only had a brief drizzle of rain today, though — no storms, so every activity continued and we all enjoyed a great day!
- Meals: For breakfast we had chocolate croissants, scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, yogurt, and granola. For lunch we had copycat Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches, french fries, a salad bar, and a sandwich bar. For dinner we had BBQ chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and cornbread, with a salad bar and sandwich bar. At the end of Camper’s Choice announcements, campers and staff kicked off the Gus’s chant (another sound I’ll miss), begging for candy and soda after sign-ups — and we said yes!
- Evening Program: Tonight’s EP was so much fun: Chancin’ and Dancin’. It was a Casino Night with a very popular dance floor — card games, video games, a popcorn bar, coke floats, and so much more. Upper girls counselors dressed as Trolls, and Boys Camp staff and campers dressed up as Mac. It was a super fun night, and everyone was enjoying the Highlander nightlife!
About Melissa Fitzgerald
