Picture this: 100 teens ages 13 to 18 arrive at the Braintree High School parking lot, many of which are toting ornately decorated trunks. More than 50 staff members, clad in their signature red staff shirts, direct families to check in, help carry and load luggage, and cheer as new faces arrive one after the other. Six counselors-in-training arrive ready and excited to learn. Camp has begun!
For the 65th time, our Camp family is coming together for another incredible week spent laughing, singing, dancing, and learning about one another in our favorite place. Goodbyes are said, the buses are loaded, and eager faces turn toward 93 North. A few hours later, campers spill out of the buses and are welcomed to Camp Cody by those same red shirts.
Our first day of Camp is always an exciting one. After arrival, campers receive their cabin assignments, meet their morning groups, and start getting to know the staff.
What’s a morning group, you ask? Each day, a small groups of campers and two staff meet together for group discussions and games. Many of our campers reflect on morning group as being one of the most impactful parts of their week. You get to know the other members of your group well and share your thoughts on topics like family, friends, school, and more.
Morning groups met briefly to introduce themselves to one another and lay the groundwork for what promises to be a wonderful week of getting to know each other. Ice breakers, games, and activities eventually lead to meaningful conversation and long-lasting bonds as the week progresses.
After meeting with our morning groups, we met for our first camp meal. The food at Camp is a treat, and tonight’s menu included chicken, pork roast, masked potatoes (this blogger’s personal favorite), asparagus, and lemon bars for dessert. We eat all together outdoors under a large tent. Once the plates were cleared and the tables cleaned, we moved to Chapel.
Each evening, Reverend Bill leads a different team in putting together a Chapel service. John Fiander pulls out his guitar and gets the teens and counselors singing and dancing. Tonight’s Chapel service was facilitated by members of our staff, and a message from Reverend Bill highlighted the impact we can have on each other by reaching out and offering a helping hand and a kind word to those who need it most.
The evening program was our traditional opening campfire where staff members performed musical numbers, skits, contests, and other fun acts to help introduce our teens to Camp. We ended the evening with Vespers. Steve Flaherty shared why he’s an optimist, and how important it is to find the good in all things.
All in all, our first day was a success! Tune in throughout the week for more updates and the occasional camp-related pun!
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