It is early Sunday morning, around 1am as I type this. I have just finished printing out the last set of photographs I have taken of the children who attended this year’s Domain Reading Camp, and of the counselors who ate, shared cabins, hiked, swam and generally served as surrogate parents to the campers. Reviewing the photos, I concluded that those campers who were the most quiet and shy were also the most difficult to incidentally photograph, which explains why I am just now finishing this particular project. I believe no child or camper should go home with less photographs in his/her Reading Camp tote bag than any other camper or counselor. But just hours ago, while we had our last campfire, which ended up being inside because of an approaching storm, every camper and counselor alike was actively engaged in story telling, playing music, poetry reading and the like with Paula Larke, I was able to take another 70-something photos.
We have had a wonderful camp this year. We have had our share of bumps and bruises, bee stings and mosquito bites. I am certain there is not a sweat bee left here at the Domain that has not used the backs of my legs and arms as targets. We will be sending home one camper with a cast on a fractured arm (after he was running around and fell on the gravel--just being a boy!) and one now recovered from a sunburn he brought with him when he came to us last Sunday. When I asked the campers what they liked “best”, they seemed to like everything best. They were so proud of their new found talents from identifying microscopic water creatures to learning how to hit a bull’s-eye with an arrow, to finding a new favorite book, to making it to the top of Wolfpen. They solved riddles, made up riddles and discovered the pleasure found in playing with words. Some of them honed their encoding and decoding skills, while others quickly found a love of reading books with another their age or an attentive adult.
On Friday morning, one child gleefully finished reading her first chapter book ever with Elise Johnstone.
On Tuesday morning, she explained to Elise that she was embarrassed because everyone else in her cabin was reading a chapter book, while she had never been able to do so.
Another child has been exuberant because he had written a skit that was going to be performed. Paula Larke encouraged them to develop new skills, manifested last night by the skits, dances, plays, poems and music presented by campers to the other campers and the adults. I am even happy to report that our young streaker found more appropriate ways to release his creative energy, as demonstrated by his musical performance earlier tonight. It has indeed been a wonderfully blessed week.
Very sadly, yesterday we sent my co-director, Margaret Hill, on to hospital in Irvine with acute abdominal pains, which I should add, were not caused by any food or drink ingested at the Domain. She is now being treated at a Lexington hospital. Last night, the campers and counselors made huge get-well cards for Margaret, which I shall deliver to her as soon as I get to see her. I wonder if she knows how strange it is not to have her here because Reading Camp and Margaret go hand- in-hand for me.
Earlier tonight, once the campers were in their cabins for the night, not to return to the rooms we used learning centers again during this camp, support staff and teachers began to dismantle the magical world we had constructed for Reading Camp. We took down our river, took apart the ocean, and finally removed the trees and creepy things that made up the swamp. (The swamp being appropriately located in Abbott.)
When we had packed almost all of it away, we said our good nights for the last time. I walked up the road to stroll past the cabins to make sure all was safe and quiet while a whippoorwill sang a solitary song somewhere in the woods. I was reminded of how I love the time I get to spend at the Domain. I know part of it is because life outside the Domain just stops for me for a while. My cell phone picks up neither calls nor texts. I have absolutely no idea what is going on in the world other than the weather prediction for the next several hours. But I think the things that have made me love it here so much have been the sounds and sights of children having fun and the love of God reflected in the time and energy of the counselors and adults who worked with, played, encouraged and applauded the children. It is not that we necessarily expect these children to leave this mountain hours from now having mastered all the pertinent skills needed to be outstanding readers and writers, but that they leave with a sense knowing they are loved by a group of young and older adults who spent a week with them far from their homes. We expect them to leave with a sense of accomplishment and a heightened sense of self esteem and success. And that, I think, is the true essence of Reading Camp.
It is incredible how a week with the counselors and campers affects me. I know that when they leave this mountain tomorrow morning, I will shed a few tears, give and receive many many hugs, promise to write back to campers who left me with notes and letters. This year, I must say goodbye to several children who attended Reading Camp both this year and last, but who will be too old to attend Reading Camp next year. There are a few for whom I will remain especially concerned about for they live such difficult lives outside of Reading Camp, yet who have such potential to accomplish great things with their lives.
Finally, Margaret and I send our thanks to all the Reading Camp teachers, support staff, and counselors who worked with our young charges. Kudos to the teachers and counselors who volunteered their time and talents to work with our campers. Together, we made one terrific group! We send our heartfelt appreciation to Andy and Cindy Sigmon and all their summer staff, who so graciously fed us, led us on expeditions, watched out for our safety and helped make our camp such a success. We especially thank all of you reading this blog, who provided financing and/or transportation to help make this Reading Camp the wonderful experience it has been. We could have not done it without you!
As I close, I find myself thinking, what theme might we develop for next year’s Reading Camp here at Cathedral Domain?
-Paula Ott is a volunteer camp director from St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Paris
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