The Sari Diaries- Friday 6/20/25

Dear Chippies, Parents, Family and Friends,

Happy Friday to you all! We had a truly wonderful day here at #TheRanch2025 and here are the details…

Meals
-Breakfast: Donuts & Scrambled Eggs
-Lunch: Chili & Potato Bar
-Dinner: Brisket, Kugel, Potato Pancakes and Cupcakes

Lost Teeth
-Harper M from Boots & Saddles
-Ivy U from Copper Stripes
-Eli Flohr from Boots & Saddles

Activity Achievements
-Sadie L got up on two skis on the boom for ten seconds!
-Shay S lifted a ski for ten seconds!
-Parker F crossed the wakes on two skis!
-Alexia C participated in a dribbling relay during her basketball period and she crushed it…she even beat Lainey, the basketball coach!

What Else Happened Today?!
-This morning at 8am, sixteen campers and one counselor from the cabins of Blackfoot and Silverspurs joined me for the very first Polar Plunge of the summer. We met down at the docks at 8:05am sharp, and though it was very cold (some might say frigid), our jump in the lake was refreshing and invigorating! Shoutout to Silverspurs counselor, Maddie B, for waking up even though she had a sleep-in to jump in the lake with her campers. What a fun way to start our days!
-From morning until late afternoon, activities were bumping. At cooking, they made very delicious chocolate chip cookies. At pottery, campers were learning how to use the wheel. And in dance, they began learning a number for the Camper Talent Show. Everybody was busy doing and loving the Chippy life…learning new skills, having fun with friends and working to reach their goals!
-Before lunch we gathered at the Center Fire Circle for a coin ceremony. Twice per week we convene around the CFC to honor campers and staff who exemplify Chippewa Compass traits. It is always a special time to witness the pride on the faces of Chippies who have been recognized for doing good in our community. Today we shared our Annual Coin with the entire camp- the Impact coin. Campers and staff alike were excited to see this year’s coin and to learn it’s significance.
-Today’s main event was the evening program- our first Friday Night Campfire. Naturally, the theme of the campfire was Impact. It was a beautiful kick-off to our most sacred tradition. Laney K led the campfire and had the entire camp engaged. Emily B shared with us about her home country, South Africa, and shared some similarities between her culture and camp. Tessa Brunton and Charlie Kabaker wrote and shared sermonettes describing the impact that camp does and can have on our lives. The CR-Singers led us in “Lean on Me” and “Stand By Me,” which were both awesome. Lexi S, Leila J, Savannah Z, Remy P, Ellie M, Alexia C, Scarlett C, Miley L, Alexa D and Logan K all read quotes, stories and poems sharing the opportunity for impact that we have both in our camp world as well as the “real world.” The campfire ended with a very sweet Keylog Ceremony and the Chippewa Creed.

As you know if you have read The Sari Diaries on any Friday night in the history of this blog’s existence, Fridays are my favorite day of the week during the summer. We listen to campfire music at breakfast in the mornings, we enjoy a day of activities and then we all put on our Chippewa gear for dinner and the campfire. It is a day that really bonds us a community. Friday Night Campfires bring so much meaning and provide actual time for reflection in our way too busy lives. And tonight gave us just what we needed- an hour and a half together as a Chippewa unit to listen to one another and feel the gratitude for all that being a Chippy gives us.

So that’s it from us today…I love it here & I love the people here, and I know that I am surrounded by humans who feel the same…how lucky are we?! Thanks for reading- more to come tomorrow!

Happy Camping and Love,
Sari