Chapel and Miss RBC

Sundays are a different kind of day at Rockbrook. It’s also a day that is rich in camp tradition. Everyone slept in an extra hour, and then came to breakfast in their pajamas. In addition to yogurt, bagels, and cereal, there were also donuts! After breakfast, everyone headed back to their cabins to clean and get dressed in their “whities” for flag raising and chapel.

The Hi-Ups, the oldest campers who have special duties, raised the flag and led everyone in the pledge and “Oh, Beautiful.” Then, the CA’s, the girls that have been planning the secret end-of-session banquet, led the way down the Path of Silence to chapel and then stop to guard Cabin 9, where they have all of their Banquet decorations.

Sundays

The chapel theme this week was “sharing.” It was facilitated by the Juniors, who chose the songs, read poems and shared their thoughts on what sharing means to them. Many spoke about “sharing memories.” Another part of chapel is that anyone can bring an item that can be tied to the theme and talk about it. Today, campers brought a friendship bracelet, a crazy creek, a red tie that was passed down from their sister, and a few other things. To finish up, Sarah read “The Giving Tree” by Shel Siverstein and then led a discussion on how it relates to sharing.

After chapel, everyone met for Assembly on the Hill. The broom awards for the cleanest cabins are themed after the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria this year. Each week, Lineheads come up with impressive poems to announce the 3 winners! After the line songs, counselors got campers fired up about their last activity sign-up of the session by performing songs, funny skits, raps, and cheers for their activities.

For lunch we had Chili and cornbread with cheese and fresh guacamole. After lunch, everyone went back to their cabin for rest hour, and to get ready for Miss RBC!

Muppet Remix

Miss RBC is a campy, spoof-ish pageant in which cabins combine their talents in the hopes of winning the title. Cabins often come up with a dance routine, a comedy act, or a funny song. There are lots of costumes, too. Some memorable moments from today’s’ were one campers’ one-legged-crab-like push-ups, an African inspired dance, a Gingerbread Man and Little Mermaid “Fractured Fairytale,” and more. At the end, one representative comes up to the stage to answer wacky questions like, ” What does a Honosarius look like?” “Do you prefer crafting or rafting?’ Then, the CIT’s judged the winner – Penthouse!

The day concluded with Movie Night. The feature was “The Princess and the Frog.” Everyone enjoyed their milk and cookies in the gym and then went to bed.

Bend It Back

There are people in my life who I admire, who I emulate, because they, without hope for award or acknowledgment, joyfully and selflessly give all that they can in service to others. Many of these people are campers and counselors at Rockbrook Camp.

Rockbrook campers are often recognized for their good deeds by being awarded colorful, way-cool Bend-It-Back bracelets. And I mean that. They truly are way-cool.

I watch my co-workers exemplify selfless generosity every day as they put campers first, and I watch campers recognize this generosity and give forth to others on their own as well. From volunteering to do the dishes to making a card for a friend who doesn’t feel well, RBC folks are about helping out.

To give selflessly – to put others before oneself – is a daunting task. But once the joy that is the product of such giving is recognized, it becomes the lifeblood of one’s daily action; it is the lifeblood of this place. This is a joyous place that depends upon gracious giving and gratitude. May the bracelets be a reminder of this joy and the camp that thrives in it.