The Sari Diaries- Thursday 6/19/25

Dearest Chippies,

Hello from CRC! Soph Aloaf here with an update about the first Thursday of #TheRanch2025. I will start with a disclaimer for those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of reading a Soph Aloaf TSD entry before… Sari’s posts are incredibly informative—and while I will of course provide an update of the day’s festivities, I am a bit more “big picture” and a little less eloquent than Sari is. Think heavy tangents with the occasional detail of the day… but if you stick with me, I promise it will be worth it!

For tonight, though, I will open with specifics—and it should come as a surprise to no one that it was a day for the history books. All day long and all around camp, campers were having the time of their lives. Tyler T passed lifting at Skiing, Oreo balls were made in Cooking, and campers ascended the climbing wall for the first time of the summer. This afternoon brought a brief stint of rain while cabins enthusiastically competed in a Masked Singer competition. I was also lucky enough to spend some time on the playground with Rafter^X (humble brag—I am a top-notch spinner for the “spinny thing” on the playground) where I learned just how high their tolerance for dizziness is. AND I hung out with Robuish and Avery R in the Office to close out the day. Needless to say, it was an incredible day and an indication that the summer will be filled with accomplishments, growth, laughter and FUN!

We ended the day with Big & Little Sister Night—a favorite Chippy program and a longstanding camp tradition. There was no shortage of excitement as campers participated in lots of different activities including shoe toss, donut eating, a handshake competition, and a 3-legged race. Each Big & Little Sister pair moved through camp with enthusiasm, a competitive spirit, and an impressive matching costume (shoutout to Sydney B and Maddy U as the Grinch and Cindy Lou… that was one I haven’t seen before!). Congrats to all big and little sisters, but especially to Kedzie Z and Olivia W who earned themselves a well-deserved win AND a scoop of Cathy’s to celebrate! Special shoutout to the CITs, who planned and ran a flawless program. Their care for the camper experience shined through in every detail—from their thoughtful Big & Little Sister pairs to the organization of the activities to the enthusiasm they displayed while implementing the program itself. Thank you, CITs, for an incredible night. It is because of you that it was such a grand success!!

I can’t in good conscience end this post without following through on my promise for tangents… and so, I will close with a story. During pre-camp, I shared with the staff my term of the summer: des vu. It’s a made-up word from Jonathan Koenig’s Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows that means the awareness that this moment will become a memory. I relayed to the staff my personal goal of appreciating the summer through this lens, and I leveled with them that in less than 8 weeks, all we will have from this summer are memories—memories that will stem from moments that haven’t happened yet. We discussed the privilege and opportunity of being a part of the CRC staff, reminding ourselves how lucky we are that we get to shape someone’s most cherished memories. Over the past few days, I have witnessed counselors leaning into this, working hard to make meaning for the campers they interact with. I am proud to say that they have taken this idea to heart and that the seeds of their impact are beginning to bud. If you are reading this as a parent, I am confident you will see this this effort in your campers’ growth in the days and weeks and years to come!

My personal favorite part of being in the Office each day is listening to the enthusiasm and laughter that floats through the window as campers walk by. Today, that sound was nearly constant. That feeling that makes Chippewa Chippewa is back and better than ever.

Sincerely,
Soph Aloaf