Antediluvian

July 30, 2023

 

After the Flood.

 

Rare for me but I posted my photo album “newest to oldest” just now so you could see that we all were amazed to see the weather change so dramatically overnight. We awoke to a very stiff and cold northerly wind plus the sound of the camp tractor mending the beaches and roadways for the umpteenth time of this quite unusual summer.

 

It was the loudest breakfast I can recall, maybe due to the briskness of the morning (adult interpretation) or maybe the selection of donuts and pastries to complement the usual outstanding staples – fruit, cereal, meats, etc.  Regardless, it is a spirited bunch of boys and staff on the grounds this day.

 

It being Sunday, we are in “Deep Clean” mode for the first part of the morning and will feature cabin meetings later and full camp meeting after that.  I will add the directions once I find them on the staff posting site.

 

I did find this note just now from Spanky: “Yo! Counselors with any campers that need new sheets please let me know! I’ll be happy to bring them around. Let me know if you need me to come grab blankets to start washing them.”

 

Back to yesterday:  Sara’s album caught those morning stations that were advertised in the previous blog. The sun was out and it was a warm day!  Her pix conclude with some of the colors of the brilliant sunset that followed the heavy, heavy downpours. According to Mike, the rain gauge guy, we got over one inch of rain in the fifteen minutes 3:50 to 4:05.

 

That was enough to wash out the beaches and roadways and flood the ball fields.  The boys had fun, I’ve got to insist, as there is photographic evidence in the staff photo album (Sara will post these soon) of boys splashing around in the downpours and otherwise enjoying the bolt down the hill into the dining room or main lodge where plenty was going on.

 

In my photo album, starting from the bottom, you can see Mike presenting the afternoon program to the masses who had assembled on “the grassy knoll” to keep out of the sun. I was just minding my own business observing the touch football games and some line frisbee tossing, when suddenly the skies got very dark. No lightning or thunder was forthcoming and that is why the campers all got caught in the cascade that followed.

 

I wanted to see how the unos (bathrooms) were holding up as it has been reported that they have been clean and pleasant-smelling all summer long. (Kudos to Morgan, especially.) How many camp directors in America are posting pix of their bathroom facilities do you suppose?

 

And, just like the boys, I popped out of my cabin as soon as the rains subsided to survey both the storm damage as well as all the racket coming forth from the lodge.

 

After dinner for once was an easy call:  The older boys had a social gathering with the girls from Camp Merriwood and the younger kids got a movie and candy.  I’m not at all confident I know which group had more fun.

 

Campus Clean Up Responsibilities and Sunday
Meeting Topics
Cabin Venue / Area
Bubbler ● Clean up the Bubbler area
● Pick up lost and found and bring it to the shelf
under the dining room steps.
● Search for trash in the Bubbler area
Hilly 1 ● Clean the Main Lodge porch – sweep the floor,
pick up any lost and found (and bring it to
shelf under the dining room steps), and
organize the chairs and benches
Lakeview ● Clean up the Council Fire area
● Pick up lost and found and bring it to the shelf
under the dining room steps.
● Search for trash and smooth out the rocks
Fieldside ● Organize the baseball shed on Mem Field
● Pick up lost and found on Mem Field and
bring it to the shelf under the dining room
steps.
● Search the woods around the field for lost
baseballs
Fireplace ● Clean up the picnic area – hang up lifejackets,
bring Lost and Found to under the Dining Hall
steps, and pick up trash.
Kiln ● Clean Great Room of Main Lodge – sweep
floor and clean up any clutter.
Pines ● Clean up Pines Field, including under the Tent
● Pick up lost and found and bring it to the shelf
under the dining room steps.
● Put gear away (in the boxes or in the war
room)
Hilly 5 ● Clean up the Game Room – sweep the floor,
pick up (and put away) ping pong paddles and
balls
Sports Shed ● Clean up Mem Field, returning gear to its
proper location and making sure Lost and
Found goes under the Dining Hall steps

Hilly 4 ● Clean the Dining Hall porch, sweeping and
making sure any gear is returned to its proper
location.
Roadside ● Pick up lost and found across 25C (Freedom
Field, basketball court, tennis court) and bring
it to the shelf under the dining room steps.
● Organize baseball shed on Freedom Field
CIT 1 ● Clean up the parking area in front of the office
and the areas near the PUNO / shower area
● Pick up lost and found and bring it to the shelf
under the dining room steps.
● Search for trash
CIT 2 ● Organize soccer and lacrosse shed
● Pick up any trash on soccer field
● Search woods for lost soccer and lacrosse
balls
● Pick up all lost and found on or near the
soccer field and bring it to the shelf under the
dining room steps.
Waterfront ● Clean the lifejacket shed, making sure all
lifejackets are hung up correctly
● Organize paddles (kayak, paddleboard, and
canoe)
● Pick up lost and found from the boating beach
and bring it to the shelf under the dining room
steps.
Guides ● Organize Lost and Found – divide into two
sections: L&F with names and L&F without
names. Create a list of all L&F with names to
share at the next meeting / meal; display all
L&F without names.
Sunday Cabin Discussions – 7/30/23
1. What makes someone a good friend or a good cabin mate? Provide examples from the
past week where someone in your cabin was a good friend or a good cabin mate.
2. What does the expression “To make a friend you must be a friend” mean? Provide
examples from the camp setting.
3. What are some challenges of living in a cabin with 6-22 other people? What are some
cabin rules (or personal rules) that can help create a harmonious cabin environment?
4. How is the first week of camp different for veteran campers and new campers? What
have veteran campers / returning campers done to welcome new campers and make
them feel included at camp?

5. What do you think it means to “Live the Kingswood Way”?