RFKC 2017

This year at Royal Family, we have a farewell ceremony for many dozens of caterpillars, tally our bug bites, turn the floor into lava a hundred times over, and participate in the sort of Zumba that involves creeping up on imaginary squirrels.

And, then we wonder why camp is hard to describe to people who weren't there.

Camp is making an utter fool out of yourself for kids who still remember who their counselor was last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. It is fancy dinner and birthday party, and a dozen kids leaping onto tree roots by the wobbly bridge because, "The floor is lava!"

Camp is running back to the break room for paper cups, because, somehow, we weren't the only cabin that managed to put the caterpillar collecting before the bug barn building, and holding a dozen bugs while trying to help with woodworking is a whole new level of multitasking.

Camp is CITs who learn which colors of face paint wash off with soap and water and which colors...don't.

Camp is polar bear plunges and shivering girls and hurrying back out of the bathrooms afterwards, because they want to see the CITs do the chicken dance. It is braiding wet hair in the middle of a grassy field and counselors who ignore the rest of the schedule when a little one agrees to take her first shower all week.

Camp is celebrating how far some of these kids have come and strategizing to help the new ones feel successful.

Camp is a room full of adults trying to figure out a solution to a caterpillar problem, because, in this moment, it is, in all seriousness, the most important thing on the agenda. And, camp is those same adults standing on the lakeshore with our campers waving goodbye to the caterpillars, while Coach reads a poem and a carefully selected CIT rows them back to their island home.

Camp is eleven year old boys who go on hikes in ninja costumes, because, why would you not?

Camp is letter writing and loom weaving, side hugs and sharpies on t-shirts before we pile into an overheated bus with thirsty children who manage to share eight ounces of water between six of them but still find an extra bottle to pour down a leader's back.

Camp is face paint and magic wands and a fanny pack full of fidgets and granola bars. It is kids who show up afterwards for middle school ministry and a week of crazy, blueberry colored family.

Camp is messy and exhausting and oh-so-very beautiful.

Camp is worth it.