At camp, it’s a camper’s right to have a ton of fun. Yes, they’ll learn some good things, too. But we find some of the best learning comes when you are having a blast. No phone-induced comparison traps. No worry about judgement from the larger world. Just be yourself and have a blast!
And, with that ‘right of fun’, comes some responsibilities.
Responsibilities at Camp
Just like us adults, campers have responsibilities, too. They are certainly more simple than the tax code, though: no swimming without a lifeguard, boys and girls stay out of the opposite gender’s bunk, follow the ‘banned items’ rule, do your chores and be kind to others.
The first three are pretty easy to delineate. These are ‘if/then’ statements. You either left your cell phone at home or you brought it to camp. Easy decision.
Those last two responsibilities – chores and kindness – those are a little harder to enforce. But camp, just like society at large, does better when all the participants practice what an old English judge called ‘obedience to the unenforceable.’
Chores
The following is by no means and exhaustive list of chores performed at camp but it’s certainly a good start:
- Make your bed every morning.
- Put away your dirty clothes.
- Clear your plate and cutlery and trash in the Dining Hall at every meal… and help clean the table
- Brushing teeth, washing hair (with actual shampoo!)
- Assist with other bunk chores like sweeping or being the clean-up DJ or taking out the (small) trash bin or checking the drying lines, etc.
Why do all this? For a number of reasons. But the main reason is explained beautifully by Michael Korda:
Chores don’t steal childhood. They teach life. They teach gratitude… It’s about love disguised as responsibility. In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility.
Done right, chores build community. They make our place tidy and clean and more enjoyable. They help keep us physically safe and emotionally calm. We become more prepared for a brighter future. Let’s move to the last of the ‘unenforceables.’
Be Kind
It’s a choice – a set of demonstrable behaviors performed towards others… and yourself! Sometimes, being kind is helping someone up. Other times, being kind is passing along a challenging truth.
Now, we can’t make someone be kind. Each of us has to choose how we act towards one another and ourselves. We can set up consequences for certain actions – being mean, bullying, etc., sure. However, we cannot reach into a person’s mind and heart and drive them around like a tank.
What we can do isshow a whole bunch of great examples of kindness and patience (our staff and older campers) and inspire to live and act more kind. We can also have our counselors ‘nominate’ campers they saw doing kind and good things at camp at the Flag each night – a long tradition at Weequahic.
The power of examples is an amazing thing.
Do Your Chores and Be Kind
Can you have a ton of fun at camp without these two responsibilities being achieved with a level of consistency and effort? Sure can! (It just won’t be at Weequahic.)
Like many things in life that provide outsized benefits – eat your fruits and veggies, move your body, be grateful – these are simple ideas. That doesn’t mean they are always easy. But, like anything else, the more we practice….
Have a great week. Can’t wait to get everyone to camp soon!
