Director’s Reports

Respite

August 10, 2026

Respite

August 10, 2026

Thank goodness Bow and Arrow does not go on all day, every day. Both boys and their coaches get excited to the gills over the games, which is both normal and purposeful. Getting to compete in a competition where one does not get hurt (mentally) if he loses is a good experience for youngsters. Learning to win, too, without letting it go to your head is just as valuable a lesson.

I was out there, camera in hand, looking for boys who were taking it easy. However, I was so pleased by the photo of Hampton belting a tennis ball for distance in the B&A track meet, I just had to use that pic for my featured image.

Clever scheduling allowed for each boy to get a long break during the afternoon, and I captured some shots of boys enjoying themselves in Mother Tarleton, where the rigors of the games seemed far remote.

I liked my photo of innertubers in the foreground and smoke from the fire building competition blasting skyward in the distant background. One thing: I am proud of what my photos say about camp and its customers, not the pictures themselves. I have long ago been put in my place by Sara’s superior photographic work.

Her album of yesterday’s action is really good.

That confession allows me to chuckle a tad about the tubing lottery that happens every day at camp. There is no such thing as “first come, first served” at Kingswood. Evidently Jack was feigning disgruntlement while drawing ride #14 while Sawyer and Nick were pleased to be 12^th in line. Good camp.

They were back at B&A action after dinner and I was fascinated with the 3 on 3 senior soccer match held on the junior pitch down by the lake. In a gorgeous setting, the match went down to the wire. And, as is custom here at Kingswood, one would not have known for certain which team had triumphed when the final whistle sounded.

Today, the respite continues with a normal day of clinics taking place right now as I write these words. I see Frisbee golf and soccer golf scrambles on the schedule for rest hour and an art contest involving creating Kingswood post cards some time this evening.

Not exactly a pell-mell charge forward, I would say. Likewise, tomorrow and Wednesday have no B&A whatsoever. “I like the change of pace” one newcomer counselor acknowledged to me regarding Bow and Arrow, a double entendre of sorts as a return back to normal for a couple of days creates a respite that is easy to accept.