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| Just a typical day at Chippewa Ranch Camp... |
Around this time each year, a reunion is held by the camp directors to give the campers and staff an opportunity to, for lack of a better word, reunite. This special event was held today. This year, however, was a very different experience for my age group. We no longer just attended the all camp reunion, but we also were given the privilege of attending the staff lunch, as well. For the past few weeks, my age group has anxiously awaited this gathering, and today, when it finally arrived, it was surprisingly...normal. The feel was different and we had made a strange transition from the oldest campers to the youngest staff members.
When I arrived at lunch with one of my cabin buds, several other members of my cabin were thankfully already there and welcomed us with open arms. Not only that, but the rest of the staff was quite friendly. as well. We all just meshed well together. I didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable and even joked around with a few of the older staff members about being co's this summer. All of my fears and agitations for the summer ahead seemed to fade away as I chowed down on appetizers and pizzas galore. After about an hour, we piled into the cars of the older staff and jammed out to the radio as we headed to the location of all Chippewa reunions, big and small: Michael's in Highland Park.
Once we arrived, my cabin dispersed to mingle with other chippies but then came back together about 2 minutes later because we really wanted more food (typical). We took a cabin trip to a new gelato place (Frost-I highly recommend it) and ate not only our ice cream but each other's, too. After returning to Michael's, we actually talked to other campers and friends. Everything seemed a little bit different, but not awkward. We had younger campers running circles around our feet and when it was time to head over to the theatre for the day's main event (the annual screening of the Chippewa movie), our age group was given an actual task. We were the "quieters".
At the moment we arrived at the theatre, campers seemed to be piling in after us. We quickly realized that it was not the younger ones we truly needed to look out for but the rowdy older camper, even girls within my own age group. We laughed about how this was the coolest job ever and eventually headed into the theatre ourselves. Following tradition, before the movie, all of the staff formed a "line" at the front of the theatre to introduce ourselves and inform the campers of whom was returning for the summer ahead. It feels like yesterday that I was a naive camper, watching the staff and cheering for my counselors. As I stood in line with my friends and introduced myself to campers, many of whom I already knew, I was over whelmed with a sense of nostalgia. As great as the day and the idea of being a staff member was, I would still give anything to be sitting back in the audience. Thankfully, my age group and I piled into a row to laugh, cry, and applaud during this summer's film.
Leaving today was the hardest part. Although I hadn't gone all the way back to Chippewa, today was close enough. As my friends and I hugged it out and said our goodbyes, I had to fight back the tears. Of course we all stay in touch and I talk to many at least once a week, I hate when he have to depart. Throughout out the rest of the day, although my body has been here, my mind has been else where, at my home away from home.
For more info on this wonderful place, check out the website: http://chippewaranchcamp.com/
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