Camp News & Blog

Beauty in the Cracks

April 3rd, 2026

Spring has certainly sprung here at the winter office in Georgia. (Our friends at Augusta will be very happy – right on cue for their little party next week.)

The azaleas are blooming. Our dogwoods have announced their presence and the redbuds are singing. It’s the latter flowering tree that has me thinking today about beauty in the cracks.

We have two, big redbud trees in our backyard, planted before we got here in 2005. The top of one of the trees broke nearly off in the winter. I looked at it for weeks, thinking of way to safely remove the large, hanging branch, too high for me to reach with a ladder or climbing.

I got busy and forgot about it. Until last week. As the plants began to pop their Spring colors, I looked up and noticed something incredible:

That big branch that was barely hanging on had flowered up just as beautifully as the rest of the tree.

Kintsugi

There is a tradition of art in Japan called ‘kintsugi.’ It describes a process of rebuilding a broken bowl, cup or pot using gold, silver or some other precious metal to bind the pieces back together. In doing so, the function returns and the vessel itself is even more beautiful than before.

Its beauty comes from the cracks. Broken things can still flower.

There was a push in the ‘90s and early ‘00s to raise children to think they are perfect. As a society, we were so concerned about our young people’s self-esteem, how they held themselves. Turns out, this well-meaning approach to parenting led to those who had a hard time dealing with the cracks which life created in them.

Full disclosure – you aren’t perfect. (Goodness knows I’m not either.) You are going to make a lot of mistakes over the course of your life. All will leave a mark – some more than others. Sometimes, you’ll get nicked. Sometimes, you may feel broken. But….

Beauty comes from the cracks. Broken things can still flower. As long as you have something else. Read on.

Binding with Beauty

I vividly remember the days of braces, acne and my fumbling attempts at relationships. It’s a tough combination that comes seemingly at the worst possible time: late middle school and early high school. The combo and timing just about floored me.

Yet, I had a life-line in Mike Selleck. Mike was our youth leader growing up. From 7th grade onward, he showed our group that it didn’t matter what we looked like, the grades we made, the failures (or successes) on the sports fields or recital halls or budding relationships.

We were loved and accepted, completely and unconditionally. And we enjoyed this incredible mix of fun and actual thinking that he and his team orchestrated every Sunday evening for years.

From this incredible combination, we flowered. We thrived. We had a refuge, a place where we could go each week to get re-filled in the best possible way.

He provided that which we all need – acceptance and love, fun and growth – to give us the space and tools needed to bind up our nicks and our fears and our broken pieces.

Many of us remain connected. I had lunch with Mike a month ago. Certainly, a lot has changed in the group of 23 of us from graduation until now. But all remember the beautiful binding that Mike helped create in us.

Beauty comes from the cracks. Broken things can still flower.

Beauty at Camp

Am I waxing poetic? Maybe… yeah. With Passover and Easter, both of the ‘worlds’ in which I live are experiencing a meaningful week. It’s got me in the mood.

Kiddos – you are going to make mistakes. A lot of them. At home, after school, at camp. All the places. So will your friends. So will your parents. So will I.

What matters is what we learn, how we bind ourselves up and how we move forward.

The good news? You can have help in all three of those next steps. In fact, I would argue that having the help is what creates he beauty.

At Weequahic this summer, the camp counselors can’t wait to help, to demonstrate it themselves and support you (and each other.) We are going to provide a space that is crazy fun and, at the right times, thoughtful and meaningful. And, you are going to have a lot of support at as you move forward.

You are going to do great. I know it. How? Because I know…

Beauty comes from the cracks. Broken things can still flower.

Lake Maintenance

April 1st, 2026

One of the great things about being a camp director is the constant learning. Over the past few years, I’ve become a certified pool operator and a licensed pesticide applicator. (That test was no joke – seriously.)

I’ve learned how to drive all of the little and major equipment around camp and can (mostly) fix fryers, toilets and even washing machines.

The most recent learning centered around lake management. Did you know that lakes need to be drained every 50 years to maintain their health? I certainly didn’t… until I got a very grumpy letter from the PA Department of Agriculture, who oversees summer camps.

This direct, dare I say ‘rude’, letter included the following:

“Mr. Kelly, you are on record as the owner and manager of the property located at 210 Woods Road in Lakewood. You are also listed as the lake ‘warden’ of Sly Lake as your neighbors, Camp Nesher, are owned by a non-profit. Our records state the last draining of Sly Lake was March 31, 1973. You must rectify before the summer or you may not operate this summer as a camp for children.”

Lost and Found

So… drain the lake we have. And let me tell you: the discoveries have been epic.

Here’s what we’ve found so far:

  • Twenty-three walkie talkies. Fourteen had names on them including six from a ‘Luis.’
  • Remains of two sunk motor boats. And here I thought Director Kate started the craze in 2016. Turns out, she wasn’t alone in her affinity to sink boats.
  • A time capsule. This was intriguing. It was from the early ‘80s and had a note: “I hope they never drain this lake.” Well… I hope these people come back to our Alumni WeeqEnd this summer. We’ll have an interesting talk….
  • A hilarious note stuck in a ziplock bag with rocks in it. It read, “Dear Cropsie, would you please return my retainer if you find it? Thanks!”
  • The remains of a massive shark. (SEE CAMPERS! I’ve been telling you there’s a shark in the lake for YEARS! Now, I get to say ‘I told you so.’)
  • Multiple old canoes and ‘funyacks’ – you can see those in the picture.
  • Lots of tie-dye shirts and bell-bottom pants. Hm….
  • The last find was incredible: an underwater city for beavers. I feel pretty bad about destroying an entire ‘city’ built over what must have been 50 years. But, the State required it. So… off they go.*

*Don’t worry.  We relocated all of the beavers to a new lake that borders our friends at Camp Starlight. They’ll be so excited to find out their beaver population has tripled over the winter!

Ready for the Summer

We are now in the process of re-filling the lake. Thankfully, there are a number of springs under the lake and the winter melt has increased the flow of water.

We should be totally fine by the time our staff arrive and the fish – who are all safely in tanks throughout CIT bunks 37 and 38 (and Lakeview) – will be happy to return home.

Well – I’m happy we’ll be in compliance for the State and that things will be ready to go for the summer. Hopefully, I’ll be around for the next draining and that it’ll happen on the same day: April 1st.

Little Moments, Big Life

March 27th, 2026

We all want the Super Bowl, to be an influencer or the best gamer. We set our sights very high –multi-millionaire, straight-A-student, someone who is going to change the world.

It’s natural for us humans to strive, to reach for things higher than our current situation in life. I did when I was your age. Still do… just for (very) different things.

(I don’t believe many middle and high schoolers are praying for a safe summer and for their children to become good men. If you are… well, we should talk.)

Having goals are good. Something to aim at is important. We all should strive to become better versions of ourselves each and every day.

Here are two questions: at what are you striving? And, what are you missing in the process?

The Little Moments…

This morning, I put a new razor blade on my razor. (Again… you’ll get there.) The difference was enormous – no discomfort. Just smooth sailing and a much better shaving experience.

For some reason, I stopped and thought ‘Man – that was great’ and smiled.

Then I thought… why don’t I think that more often about a lot of things? And, for the next hour or two, I did.

A long part of the road from our house to the airport was super smooth. The fact that I could listen to a podcast out of my phone struck me as close to magic. The gentleman driving our parking shuttle at the airport was kind and thoughtful, especially towards Kate. A baby being held in front of me in the TSA line gave me the biggest smile you’ve ever seen….

Now… how many times have I missed these little moments? How many times have I been so busy with other things on my mind or rushing to the next ‘goal completion’ or just not present enough to recognize and enjoy them.

Millions of times. And we all do it. Head phones in. Head in the calendar. Eyes on the screen…. Hm.

But it’s the recognition of these little things that lead to a…

Big Life

My grandmothers grew up with pretty much nothing in a material sense. While they lived within a few hours of the ocean, they didn’t see it until late in life. They raised their own food, sewed their clothing. The Great Depression was on… and they didn’t even realize it.

When I asked Munner what she thought was the greatest invention in her lifetime – refrigeration, vaccines, rockets, tv, etc. – she answered immediately: air-conditioning. Growing up without in the Deep South sets a different perspective.

But yet they had big lives.

Big families. Sunday dinners at which both friends and families sat together. Card games that would go on for hours, punctuated with laughter, jeers and more. They had deep faiths, strong bonds with their neighbors, and were concerned about their community.

They didn’t ‘finish’ rich in terms of money or accolades. But, they were deeply loved and gave that love unselfishly and unreservedly to those around them.

Near the end of their time with us, I got to hold Ginny’s hand during a hard moment at Two Lights. Munner invited me for a glass of sweet tea and a pimento cheese sandwich on a Tuesday.

I’m happy to have those memories. They are more than worth the two hours in the car, missing a round of golf, playing a video game or whatever else I was doing as a young man.

A Mother’s Advice

I was reminded recently of a quote I love:

“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” – Mother Teresa of Calcutta

With all the marvels of today, it’s easy for us to strive for bigger and ‘better’ things. However, it’s actually more important to do and appreciate the little things.

Loving on your (sometimes annoying) little or big sibling. Cleaning up the table for your parents who’ve dealt with today more than you can realize right now. Rubbing your partner’s feet. Caring for the pet. Calling your grand parent out of the blue, just to say ‘hello.’

These things… these little moments are those that will change the world.

How? The same way the oceans were formed…. One drop at a time.

Have a good weekend. Can’t wait to see you at camp.

PS – How does this relate to camp? Well… just about every moment at camp is a little one. And, without the distraction of school, after school activities, your phone, your games, etc… you just get to be where you are.

At camp, we can truly be present. And enjoy that for what it is: A gift!