Legends

As I sit here, staring out the window at the gray sky and the rain falling around camp, I've been thinking about the legends of camp and the rite of passage storytelling can be. Earlier today, several of us were sitting around talking about various aspects of camp, as we so often do, and we started thinking about our legends and stories, and the way they are passed down. Often camp lore changes a bit from summer to summer, as someone different tells the stories and adds a little bit of their personality to each story or legend. But regardless of the small changes that happen over time, camp legends remain an important part of the culture of camp. We have one particular story, "Old Man Tyson" that is more a rite of passage for our older campers than just another legend. The details of the story aren't what is important... it is the experience of going to Tyson's chimney, hearing the story with your fellow campers, and knowing you have gone through that rite of passage. I think that in some ways, the entire camp experience is very similar to that. It doesn't necessarily matter what the details of your activites are or which cabin you are in; it is about getting that camp experience, alongside your fellow campers, and feeling like you belong here. From summer to summer, the details might change, and different people might add a bit of a different personality, but it all adds up to be a part of that life-changing camp experience.