“Take Me Out to the Ball Game”
August 3, 2024
That’s an apt metaphor for the five photo albums posted since yesterday at this time. I’ll argue that Sara’s batch of August 2 might be her best album of the summer. When I learned that she had gone out in the lifeguard boat during the Lake Swim before breakfast, I put my camera away and ditto later in the day when she followed the slip and slide action for a full hour or so.
What fabulous photos she has of boys swimming across the lake and back (over a mile, we think) and catapulting down the hill during B-Block. The tarps, by the way, were greased with soap, thus making the event a double win for the camp administrators!
That freed me to just go up and watch an inning or so of the baseball game for the thirteen year olds. When I learned that Jake Parker had struck out nine batters, I went over to the bench to congratulate him on “fanning” the side. He gave me a quizzical look but I did not back off. More of the same when I inquired who was donning the “tools of ignorance,” meaning the catcher’s gear. I cannot help but being a tease!
However I hurled no catcalls at all towards the U 15 basketball squad who handily won the Baker River Valley tournament and went directly from the courts to Moose Scoops ice cream stand in Warren. Huzzahs to them.
Another thing that is pretty certain here at Kingswood is that we catch fish. Lots of them, and big ones, too. I observed a camper hauling in a big whopper off the dock and ran to fetch my camera. Too late, he had tossed it back in the lake. Maybe boys are spoiled or maybe they simply are good anglers but check some of the week’s catches in the Belle Island and counselor photos from the week. Impressive.
Hikes and overnights dotted the schedule as well despite the big storms of mid-week. Those sunset photos in the counselor offerings were taken at Pirates’ Cove, a short paddle across Lake Tarleton. For very little work, kids get not only that beautiful setting but a cooling dip in the lake followed by a campfire with S’mores, stories and sleeping in a tent with their buddies. You cannot beat that.
I have another angle on the ball game blog-title reference. Today marks the first day of color war, which we call Bow & Arrow. For the past week, very much on the sly, the coaches have been scouting the boys, planning skits, and writing fight songs in anticipation of this morning’s reveal.
I will write a lot more about this competition tomorrow and into next week. I am resolute in my opinion that Kingswood does a terrific job of promoting a healthy team spirit in an appropriate fashion—for both the fiercely athletic sorts and the more chilled customers. Yeah, it is complicated, and I will explain more later on. So, take me out to the ball game, where I will get my thoughts together.