Unity. Fun. Originality. These were a few of the words scattered upon the whiteboard in the programming office as Programming Hobby Group brainstormed the necessities of an ACP, or All Camp Program. The ACP was set for Monday the 23rd, and we were to plan it. One older-camper program involving mustaches and quite a few ideas later we stumbled on something that caught our attention. Activate CSL. That was it. Just the shadow of an idea, but it was something. As we discussed and brainstormed, the idea twisted and warped until we found that something solid and good had formed. There were to be 19 groups with just one staff member in each. We got Tusc, the senior campers, involved and urged them to step up and take leadership roles in their groups. By Monday at dinner we were ready. After the post-meal prayer was said, a group of brightly dressed staff members rushed into the dining hall, armed with pool noodles and kidnapped assistant director Aaron Cantor. Cue the spy music. In we, Programming Hobby Group, came, dressed in all gray as to stand out from the rest of camp, which was united in all black. We then broke the program, explaining that we needed camp's help in rescuing Aaron from the terrible villain group "SSM," or Staff Supporting Mayhem. Now for spy training, where all the groups learned the most essential spy moves: duck, ninja roll, intimidate, and smoke screen (when all the groups had to scatter). These commands were to be used throughout the program. Once training was done, groups were instructed to find hidden staff members who would give them part of a message. If groups were captured by SSM agents, they had to complete a challenge. The goal was to find all the pieces and complete the message. The message led groups to the fire circle, where the whole camp played a game of tag of sorts and Aaron Cantor was rescued. The program was widely loved, energy was up, and it was a huge sucess.
Lily Ertischek
Senior Camper
