If you think about it, the Tusc countoff is pretty cool. Unlike regular countoffs, where the staff inevitably uses a phrase that campers don’t understand like, “we love the Yates County fair,” the Tusc countoff is just numbers. Alone, your number is very insignificant. My number, 28has no meaning outside of Tusc. But when all of Tusc is together, each of us plays a role in the village as a whole and suddenly, 28 becomes a critical number. If one of us is still sleeping or forgot our towel, the village cannot move forward. If each one of us is loud and clear and we are all ready, we can go on as a village to wathever awaits.
For me at least, I dread the moment when we countoffand Isaac Tenenbaum is still asleep at 8:10 because I’m usually tired and hungry. I suppose that is what Tusc is about. We all come together to achieve a common goal and if we’re not all in the moment, every moment we won’t ever achieve that goal.Whether that goal be going to breakfast or “earning the village,” we can’t do it without each number present.
This session, I’ve seen Tusc grow a lot. Bonding with each other has created a more cohesive and productive village and we can work together more easily to achieve. We’ve all become friends and we together, we create the village of Tuscarora.
Ben R.- Tusc Camper
