As I sit here in the middle of our village after the first day has commenced, it is really crazy to think that after seven days of preparation the campers are actually here. Like you will hear from everyone else, we went through the normal first day progression: From Waterfront orientation, to the nurses’ check up, bunk and village pictures, and the “dreaded” (but actually fun) swim test. However it is what we as the Mohawk staff has seen out of these 36 campers that has really been the biggest joy of the day. From the moment these kids stepped foot on the sacred ground that is Camp Seneca Lake, there was an aura about the village, a distinct and lingering passion that is sure to only get stronger as the days go by.
This spirit is what I want to describe. The staff each year decides a theme that they will dress up as for welcoming the kids. This year we chose “Pirate Hawk.” We put on eye patches and tattoos, hats and skull caps, and drew treasure maps on our backs in paint. And slowly as camper after camper was dropped off, they chose without hesitation to embody the spirit of the costume. They too were painted up and as we met at the flag pole the entire village made staff member after staff member “walk the plank,” (really the top of one of the benches) and when the buses arrived they went nuts.
The next moment that struck me was when we had time in the village, after the staff went over the codes to live by for this summer in Mohawk; the campers spurred on by the oldest ones in the village organized a camper meeting. Never have I seen it done, and I don’t know what was said, but these kids came out of it strong and focused. Our evening activity was our Mohawk National League Softball Tryouts. They came to the tryouts, quieted themselves down and then afterwards did the same. Then, at the camp wide meeting at the fire circle, as their staff (now dressed as Noah and pairs of animals) was introduced for the first time and escaped to an ark and paddled away…the kids were cheering and screaming over the rest of camp.
The last event for today was a Mohawk campfire. After the rest of camp had retired to their quarters, Mohawk met at the fire circle again for a tradition that has been done since way before even my years in the village. Every counselor including myself, Greg, and Program Director and former Mohawk Unit Head, Ari Baum spoke on behalf of the village. Then it was the oldest Mohicans turn. One by one they spoke in an eloquent, mature, and thought out manner about spirit, brotherhood, and not taking a single moment here at camp for granted, that truly impressed us all.
Looking back at a successful day I can definitely say that we are in for a good summer. Mohawk is coming together already and the energy level is high. This looks like it will be the best summer many of us have ever had, which is saying a great deal.
Jesse Manning (M-3 Bunk Counselor/Mohawk AUH)
