Opening Day Session 4!
On a beautiful overcast day in East Texas, with a cool breeze blowing, we opened the Huawni Gates for the fourth time this summer to welcome in our newest bunch of two week campers! Session 4 has it’s own unique personality, and campers and staff were overjoyed to get our last two-week overnight camp session underway.
A New Generation
Today was extra special for me because I got to welcome in my nephew Parks, as he’s finally getting to come to camp as a full-time Huawni camper. It’s hard to believe that we are now passing Huawni on to a new generation. This included sons and daughters of my former counselors (Jane G. and Kim S.), first-year campers originally from South Africa, a long-time Family Camp family, and first-year families who had friends who have seen life change in their friend’s kids through their Huawni experience. All of these kids have joined together for two-weeks of over-the-top fun and friendships and tonight they gathered at the dinner table for some of Ms. Ada’s famous, famous, MOST FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN!!!
In Good Hands
It seems like over the last few Opening and Closing Days (including today) a common topic of conversation with our Huawni Parents has been around the quality of our Huawni Counselors. Whether it’s been campers raving about their counselors or mamas and daddies telling me of a specific story from this summer about how their child’s Huawni Counselor impacted their child’s life, the central theme tends to point back to the great care our counselors are giving. They are not perfect, but I know of so many stories of how Huawni Counselors have gone the extra mile to make children feel loved and special. I think that really hit home today when my nephew was dropped off. As my sister was leaving, I told her, “He’s in good hands.” When I said those words, it struck a chord in me….I really am confident that Parks is in really good hands. I really do know that our men’s staff in Band Aid have and will do an outstanding job making these next two weeks special for him. I’ve seen each of his counselor already this summer step up and care for, nurture, and lead their campers, both young and old. On top of that, I have had the privilege of mentoring our Boys Camp Director Billy Martin. Billy has an amazing capacity to oversee and care for our boy campers, and I trust him with the care of my own boys. I could say the exact same for Alex Perez (over Girls Camp) and our Women’s Staff Senior Counselors. So, the young men in Park’s cabin (and all our Huawni staff) are young people I want our boys, and Parks, to truly grow up and be like. As I shared with a parent today, you can have a fantastic staff and have camp on the Skillet (concrete) and have an amazing camp. You could also have the most amazing facilities, activities, and plush luxuries, but if you have a below average staff the experience just isn’t as rich. Life is meaningful relationships, and it starts here at Huawni on day one with our Huawni Counselors. I am so proud of them (and our directors) and am excited to see them thrive and love the kids (LTK) this session.
Opening Night Show (ONS)
ONS is a long-standing Huawni Tradition where our counselors perform various skits for the campers. Our goal is for campers to feel comfortable and at home for their first night of Camp. Be sure and follow our Instagram and Facebook pages and you’ll likely see some of these. ONS is truly a throwback and simple night that kids love.
Cabin Time
Also tonight after campers clean up counselors will host the first cabin time in each cabin. This is an opportunity to go over Camp guidelines, for campers to learn more about each other, and for cabins to create their cabin bucket lists. The bucket list is a fun Huawni tradition where cabins write out things they’d love to do over the next two weeks. Popular bucket list items may include night swimming with their cabin, star tripping, cabin sing song, or movie night. This will be the first opportunity for campers to get out of their comfort zone and meet some friends for the very first time. It’s crazy to think that some life-long friendships will actually begin this very night! I had one mom tell me today that her son came up to her and said, “Mom…I’ve already got two friends!”
Running Deer
This session kicks off our third and final group of Running Deer Campers. The Running Deer Program was started a few years ago— it’s essentially a special summer for our 10th and 11th grade campers where they’ll get unique experiences, more responsibility, and begin to process bigger life questions as they get closer to college. Today they had their green shirts on and were pitching in by helping to carry trunks!! This group really stepped up today helping others!
Homesickness
For many of you, it was your first time to drop your child off at overnight camp. This can understandably be a very nerve racking and emotional event. As hard as it is, we believe that homesickness is great opportunity for growth. Why is this so? I encourage you to read these two blogs I’ve written based upon the book Homesick & Happy by Michael Thompson.
Homesick & Happy Intro
Homesick & Happy Chapter 1 – Off They Go
Also, I’m hoping at some point to share some big success stories from other parents whose children dealt with homesickness this last session. We truly have some inspiring stories of campers who overcame the challenge and ended up thriving at overnight camp!
Staying in touch with your camper and camp pics
We highly encourage you to utilize letter writing as well as sending your camper emails through your CampInTouch login. Also, be sure to log into your CampInTouch account to see the photos we will be posting daily. And finally, be sure and subscribe to our blog page by going here and clicking on the subscribe via email blue button.
Parent Book Club
One of the biggest benefits to camp for your campers is unplugging from the busyness of life and growing in ways they’ve never had the opportunity to grow before. Again this summer for our Huawni Parent Book Club I will be blogging on the the book Unschooling Rules. Although the title of this book hints at being about education, it also gives an insightful look at how our kids learn and grow. It’s very relatable to the Camp experience, and you can check out our first Summer Parent Book Club post here.
We are amped to invest in and have crazy amounts of fun with your kiddos over the next two weeks. It’s pretty wild how two weeks of of life at Huawni is the equivalent of about 6 months in the real world. So sit back and enjoy the ride as we will be keeping you updated along the way. Ultimately, our desire is that your child (and our staff) would leave our gates knowing their true significance and purpose. Our hope is that you will tangibly see this while during the session (through letters, pictures, blogs, etc.) and when you pick them up on Closing Day. Let’s go!!
What was it like dropping off your child today at Opening Day? Comment below!
