Pouring Down Games

August 7, 2023

 

Yes, it poured yesterday, but not with a drop of rain. There were Bow & Arrow games all day long in an absolutely gorgeous setting.  Sara and I were determined to photographically capture a bit of everything, and, while her shots are as always superior to mine, I went ahead and posted every pic that was a good one by my much lower standards.

 

The photo of Gus holding a green water bottle in my set reveals the staff determination that the firebuilding competition would have some teeth to it. Earlier, the fire had severed the rope in a matter of a couple of minutes.  Gus, you see, is soaking the rope in water and Sara’s set reveals that burning through the rope next time around was much more of a thinking man’s game.

 

You can also see that in games like softball, football and J-ball (baseball with tennis accoutrements) the coaches and referees participate in the events.  Long story short, this is to make them run more smoothly. No one gripes about this as the tradition has a long and successful tenure.

 

I admit to having enjoyed the street hockey, mayhem that was quite well run by the counselors. Lots of photos made my cut list.

 

After dinner, there were many more B&A contests.  I stumbled into the organization of the firebuilding first, then traipsed up the hill to Pines Field where cornhole, newcome, Gweed, and gaga were happening. Sorry, no explanations forthcoming, partly because it would take too long and partly because I don’t really know the rules of these very specialized Kingswood encounters. We call ourselves “The Camp of 100 Games.”  Believe me when I tell you there more than 100 when you count all the variations. I cannot keep up with it.

 

The very next photo sequence reveals “Capture-the-Cone,” which I assume is a play on Capture-the-Flag. See?  I was soon much more at home observing touch football, futsol (soccer on the tennis courts using a much heavier ball that assures more ground passing) and the aforementioned J-Ball, which I invented myself and still think merits Olympic status.

 

Laura and Oliver are the head coaches of the Bows and Arrows respectively and they did not dine together for a “photo op” and even questioned me with a “what for” when I asked if I could take a photo. Everybody leaves the game on the field and returns to normal status during non-competition periods. In my cover photo, the pair are no doubt talking about the games, future ones that is, as the past is immediately stale news the way we work things.

 

The firebuilding production morphed into a larger fire and we ended the day with a very pleasant all-camp gathering about the council fire circle, where boys stared into the embers instead of into each other’s eyes.