At any given moment during the day, the main hill at camp is alive with motion. It begins up by the Junior Lodge, a wide grassy slope stretching past the big walnut tree in the center, the occasional boulder, and the maple tree at the bottom near the ‘Curosty’ fiber arts cabin. It’s a space that’s neither loud nor rushed, but there’s a constant current of movement. Like a busy train station, campers come and go. Some are off to activities with water bottles in hand. Others pass by in bathing suits and towels, heading down to the lake or back from a refreshing dip.
The nearby tetherball court is always in motion. A small circle of campers wait nearby, keeping an eye on whose turn is next, while the ball swings wildly in one fast-paced game after another. Just up the hill, the sound of ukulele music drifts down from the porch of the Junior Lodge, where a counselor and a few new players work on their chords. And in the middle of it all, someone is likely calling, “Walk, please!” to remind overly eager campers not to sprint down toward the water!
In between the action, there are campers sprawled out in patches of shade, making friendship bracelets or flipping through books. A few are stretched on beach towels, journaling or sketching while friends chat nearby. Clumps of Juniors are eagerly hunting for Lawrence, the elusive camp gnome. Others are making mudpies at the stream and opening a “restaurant” for business.
The beauty of it all is in the freedom of choice. Campers decide how to spend their free periods and who to spend it with. They move at their own pace. Some come to the hill to sit alone for a moment. Others arrive looking for a group to join or an adventure to start.
Without phones or crowded schedules pressing in, the hill becomes a space of possibility. A camper might be headed somewhere, or she might stop halfway and decide to hang out with new friends. Whatever she chooses, it’s hers. The hill just keeps moving, reflecting the independence and joy that define life at Rockbrook.
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