Life 'on the bench' gives me a birds eye view.

Hi Mom! Hi Dad!

Getting to know the campers in a new session is such fun. They come into Sprucelands with bundles of enthusiasm, ready to tackle their two weeks and invest in a great camp experience. Those who rolled over their session reach out to the new campers and make best friends very quickly.

I love our camper energy. I envy them their energy. Fact is, they recharge all of us on staff so that we can move full steam ahead toward a fantastic closure to a wonderful summer.

The excitement about what lies ahead is priceless. Of course all that excitement builds as the riding program gets started and they connect with our horses. It also intensifies for those who truly immerse themselves in the camp spirit, committed to making this experience memorable.

Look what I found on the bottom of your foot.

Some of the beauty of summer camp is that I cannot predict ahead of time how things will play out. Because the kids are so spontaneous and because they let themselves flourish here, there are always surprises, surprises that become part of Sprucelands history. Practical jokes. Singing. Silly moments where someone makes a crack and everyone erupts into genuine belly laughter. Talent shows. Hit the deck and more.

The kids always gather outside the camp lodge before meals. Hoppers set tables inside while the rest of us wait outside on the bench. Often this is a terrific place to plant myself with the camera. The kids interact, giggling and laughing as they come up with stories about their day. Doesn't matter whether it's the first day or the last day, life 'on the bench' gives me many reasons to smile.

You never know what  you're going to see before meal at Sprucelands.

Observing the kids here also gives me information about how they are relating to other campers. I keep my eyes open for anyone who sits alone or looks sad. I look for friend combinations and am intrigued as one camper reaches out to another, including them in the fun. Through my lens, I get a feel for how every individual is fitting into the group.

I guess I'd say that we like letting the kids 'just be'. They learn the ground rules and function very well within those reasonable expectations. One of the concepts we confront head on are cliques. They are not acceptable here and while that is difficult to enforce, we generally make it happen. Built into our program are a multitude of opportunities to totally mix up.

Now here is a special gal.

At lunchtime, everyone can eat at any table with any campers and staff members. That is a wonderful addition to the day because any possible cliques quickly dissolve. Then of course evening programs provide us with another chance to explore relationships interactively.

So session four moves forward. I'm having the time of my life even as I crashed with some kind of bronchial virus that's going around. Guess it's a summer thing. Certainly slowed me down. Doesn't seem to bother the kids though. They are moving ahead full steam.

Comments welcome always.