Just wanted to fill you in on how the first day of camp went, I'm sure you're all very curious. We would have checked in yesterday to update you but honestly- we were just way too busy having so much fun!
It's hard to describe the feeling that we get every year when the buses make their way past the office and the campers make their way into our arms (and lives). It's kind of the same feeling we all got as campers when we saw the Camp Road sign. After all of the buses arrived we, the staff, finally realized what we were missing the past two weeks...these campers.
Every year Tusc comes in to camp thinking they know what being a senior camper is all about, you have banquet, triathlon, you cheer loud, and you stay up late. We wanted them to know it's not that simple: the Tusc experience isn't just handed to you, you need to earn it. Which is why we set up a competition between the staff and Tusc 14 to see if they would earn the village. They showed up in all black and we were in all white.
After some crazy competitions (sorting m&ms into color groups using baseball-mitted hands, a 3-legged race, mattress rides, etc.) The staff started off strong with a 3-0 lead but the campers snagged the next three points and we found ourselves in a tie. By the skin of our teeth, we were able to win the last event, the village was not theirs yet. If you don't earn the village, you can't expect to sleep there, right? Right. We all set up our tents and camped out in the M-field. Through out the nights all-camp events the Tusc campers really began to step up as leaders as they lead the younger campers down infirmary hill and towards the fire circle.
After the all-camp opening ceremonies and camp fire were complete Tusc stuck around to hear what Ari Baum had to say about the Tusc program. After starting off with "Tusc wasn't as simple as I thought..." the campers were immediately consumed in what the Tuscarora veteran has to say. From there we went on a silent walk through camp and visited the places that really impacted our campers, which they each wrote a note about for their fellow campers to hear. From there we had our own Tusc camp fire back at the village where we all shared what the village had done for us as campers and what we hope it will do for them. We then went to sleep in the M-field.
The campers have now earned the village by acting like leaders and participating actively in everything we have thrown at them. This group of kids is so special and we can't wait to get to know them even better!
Talk to you all very soon,
Your 2014 Tusc Staff
