The Sari Diaries- Friday 6/21/24

Dear Chippies, Parents, Family and Friends,

Happy Friday! Fridays are my very favorite days throughout the summer, and today kicked off summer Fridays in a big way! Friday mornings at breakfast we typically play campfire music in the lodge, and Fridays are typically a day of regular activities, and Friday nights we wear our Chippewa shirts, and best of all, Friday nights we have Friday Night Campfire ending in a Keylog Ceremony & The Chippewa Creed. Fridays at Chippewa are special! As for the details of this Friday at CRC, here’s how it went…

The day was filled with delicious meals- donuts for breakfast, baked potatoes and chili for lunch and brisket dinner! A meal highlight for me was that we had kalamata olives on the salad bar…an amazing surprise addition to my dinner salad!

Today’s weather definitely left something to be desired…it was a bit chilly, and there was some water falling from the sky periodically. That said, it didn’t stop these strong and motivated Chippies…campers all across camp were actively engaged in all sorts of activities. At skiing, Winnie K & Zoe P got up on two skis for ten seconds and Sammi S crossed the wakes on two skis. Additionally, Brooke R became a Chippy Bat!!! At the archery range, Cate Meyer hit 25 golds…yes, I know, it’s crazy! At swimming, campers enjoyed water aerobics- it was very funny to watch the creative aerobics moves the counselors leading the charge chose. And at cooking campers made and enjoyed yummy chocolate chip cookies!

Throughout the day, different groups of Lakeview campers stopped by the office for various meetings. Each summer, Lakeview plans the 4th of July festivities- from meal planning to decorating the lodge, and from organizing Circle Game to running the afternoon carnival, every piece of the day is a Lakeview production. And today their planning was in full force. The food committee came in with a menu proposal, the apparel committee came in to discuss the tank tops they are working on, the Circle Game committee shared a great idea for some Circle Game twists, and the supplies committee had some amazingly creative ideas of how to decorate the lodge. I am very confident in this group’s ability to create a magical day for everybody in just under two weeks.

Tonight was the true highlight. Our very first Friday Night Campfire of #TheRanch2024! The theme was Sisterhood…obviously! The campfire was led by Sophie B- an LV camper who definitely embodies the spirit of Sisterhood. Sydney Goldman wrote and shared an amazing staff sermonette, and Lila G did a fantastic job with the camper sermonette. Izzi M sang “Hey Soul Sister” alongside Cliff playing the guitar, and it was outstanding! Lauren Hill sang and played “Count On Me,” which was very appropriate for tonight. And the CR-Singers led us all in “Lean On Me” and “Stand By Me.” Sadie S, Sloane K, Lexi K, Braelyn S, Scarlett L, Taylor G, Rosie H, Emma A, Emma S, Mila S, Blair S, Hayden W and Reese L read quotes and stories helping us to understand the value of the Chippewa Sisterhood. We concluded the Campfire with a Keylog Ceremony and our very first Chippewa Creed, led by Ten Year Girl, Lila Katz. The evening was absolute perfection.

So that was our unbelievably happy day at CRC. Today was many things, not the least of which was a reminder of how lucky we are to be spending our summer on Dam Lake as a part of this Chippewa community. Chippewa is filled with campers and staff who are strong, who are confident, who are empathetic, who are growing, who are funny, who are curious, who are supportive, who are empowered, who are intelligent, who are determined, who are unique, who are appreciative, who are role models, who are inspired and who are loving. And together this group of campers & staff along with generations of Chippies who sat at the Center Fire Circle before us, and generations of Chippies who will sit at the Center Fire Circle after us, have the privilege of being a part of this Sisterhood that exists within the confines of 8258 County O and beyond. We will build each other up, and we will look out for one another, and we will find the good in our Chippewa sisters…and that is what tonight was all about…and what this summer is all about…and what this camp is all about.

Okay, that’s all for now…thanks for reading!!

Happy Camping,
Sari