GRIN AND BEAR IT
Right now it is pouring; ain’t no big thing.
We have institutional knowledge at Kingswood. I have not done the math yet, but I’d wager that we had over 1000 years of collective staff experience on the job at 8 AM this morning as boys came slowly down the hill for breakfast just as the drops started pitter-pattering their way to earth.
A few days ago I got some chuckles with the staff gathered to celebrate (intentional word) orientation week, a time of heavy lifting about the grounds as well as relevant training sessions in anticipation of this very first, and rainy, camp day. “Don’t Smile ‘Til Christmas” I admonished them with regards to the sternness they will need when running that initial cabin meeting. Boys are notorious testers, to be certain, and it is best to be strict at first, then let up some once you gain their respect.
It was the “don’t smile” phrase that got their giddy attention because smiling is all we do around this joint, including currently as some of our well-groomed sand on the beach is eroding into the lake. “Just grin and bear it, boys.” Indeed, one can smile and laugh all day long and still come down hard on boys who challenge the limits. More on this theme throughout the summer.
I cite the above paragraphs to set the table for explaining today’s program. Rob and Mike Wipfler (Rob Wiff and Mike Wiff henceforth in the these missives) are inveterate weather-watchers and yesterday at dinner had a strong feeling that a washout was forthcoming. So, they postponed those all-important cabin meetings until this morning.
Last evening was gorgeous and each cabin cohort (covid term) got to play its own outside game before we all met at the stage area for some skits, music and announcements. Veteran Oliver Satola took an egg to the head in the skit, sang two songs along with guitar accompaniment by Spanky Roman, and announced that Polar Bear morning dips would commence next day rain or shine. “ Quite a performance, Oliver!
“If you wake up early tomorrow, use the bathroom if you need, but basically stay in bed and don’t disturb those who are still asleep,” Rob Wiff suggested at the close.
After breakfast this morning campers returned to their bunks with plenty of time to both learn the cleanup procedures and then have that crucial meeting to go over the few rules we have as a camp that are ironclad.
The only other mandatory first-day meeting is the Waterfront orientation run by the lifeguards. Easy adaptation there as various age groups will be summoned down the hill to meet in the dining room instead of on the swim area benches. The balance of the morning can be spent indoors with board games, reading and stuff like that. By lunchtime, the rains should be gone.
This afternoon we will run all the morning clinics and by dinner we will declare a “wash,” (pun intended) on the accomplishments of the first 24 hours of camp.
Rob and I are meeting shortly to learn how to post these reports on line for you. I was called, accurately, a dinosaur when it comes to tech-related matters but even some of the younger guys acknowledged that all of this is a tad complicated. So, grin and bear it, remembering all the while that “it ain’t no big thing.” Summer is here and that is a big thing, indeed.