I sit here in my tent in Tusc, and the village is all too quiet. I am used to the village being filled with campers, their laughs, their voices, and their thoughts. But right now, it sits empty with the summer lying before it. In just over a week the camp will be filled and the excitement will be over the top. Today especially, I have sat in the quiet village thinking about Tusc and the summer that is right at our feet.
Last summer, I had the honor and privilege to work in Tusc. As someone who was never a camper at CSL, Tusc had seemed like a mystery to me. When I arrived to Camp in 2012, I witnessed children who came off the bus in July get back on the bus in August totally different human beings. They were more mature, more patient, more loving, and more confident in their abilities. They came off fifteen year olds just finishing their first year of high school, but after a summer of determining their talents, their skills, and more, they left triathletes, musicians, artists, and a family, among other things. When the opportunity presented itself to work in Tuscarora in 2013, it would be an understatement to say that I jumped at it.
What I found last summer was that everything I witnessed in 2012 was absolutely true. Our campers did change tremendously over the course of the summer, but it did not happen because of the water in Tusc, or because of anything I said or did. The campers changed because they allowed their boundaries to be pushed, and to try something new. They went out and did it. They did the programs that our staff set in front of them, and they did them at full speed. Tuscarora is an operation unlike any other in the world, and I wish that myself and my brother (who is fifteen this summer) could experience it. Not many fifteen year olds can say that have completed a triathlon, but ours can. Not many rising sophomores can say that they rode 100 miles on a bike trip in three days – ours can. Not many kids of any age can say that they planned and executed a banquet for an entire camp, Tuscarorans can. The obstacles that present themselves for Tusc campers over the course of the summer present greatest challenges, and also their greatest rewards.
The Tusc staff has been preparing for camp since January and this past week we were finally in the same place, at the same time, being able to talk face to face. The energy and discussions that we had were incredible – and they yielded some awesome programs, thoughts, and ideas on the summer. We reconvene on Sunday ready to get back to work – and just writing this gets me excited. We are beyond thrilled to give you the opportunity to push yourselves, push each other, and become a part of the great tradition of Tuscarora.
Tusc 2014, the village, and also your summer lie at your feet. The greatest part of this summer is that it is what you make of it. Camp Seneca Lake is about what you do. There is no next summer of being a camper, as sad as that might be. Therefore the summer of 2014 is your chance to come to Camp and make the most of it. Come into this summer with an open mind, and be ready for anything. If you do that, the results will be astounding.
I can’t wait to see all of you very, very soon.
Kevin Snyder- Tuscarora Counselor
