The Sari Diaries- Thursday 7/31/25

Dearest Chippies,

Happy Thursday from CRC! It should come as a surprise to absolutely no one that today was another 10 out of 10 day—in terms of vibes, action and all-around amazingness. It was one of those days that made me think, we are so lucky, an infinite number of times. Why, you may ask?! Well, let me tell you…

Today was KAHUNA DAY (yes, you read that right… we pivoted from Chippy Madness back to Kahuna Day this year)! For those of you are unfamiliar, on the second to last Thursday of second session, we celebrate Kahuna Day—a full-day program where the camp is split into four teams that compete against one another in a variety of games and activities. It is traditionally a very spirited and energetic day—and today was no exception. Bright and early this morning, Chippies readied in colors to represent their Broadway show teams—Six, Wicked, Mamma Mia and Hamilton. After breakfast, the day officially began with an opening ceremony in the theater, with each team’s captains and advisors signing a plaque that will hang in Tom’s Office forever more. I am not exaggerating when I say that the singing to the Broadway tunes shook the walls of the theater. The enthusiasm was unlike anything I have ever witnessed. The absolute best way to start the day!

The morning flew by as campers broomstick canoed, played kickball, and cheered on their teams with unending spirit. At lunch, teams sat together and chatted about their victories from the first and second series, trying to figure out what place everyone was in. And then, this afternoon, Sari and I had the great fortune of refereeing flag football on the South Field. For both games, Wrangler Village campers showed up with athleticism, sportsmanship and a competitive spirit. Shoutout to Charlotte H, Laney K and Hayden R who, among many others, had incredible plays throughout the games. Thanks to the commitment of all players on the field, the final game between Mamma Mia and Wicked came down to a tiebreaker. It was a true nailbiter as both teams had 3 downs to get as far down the field as they could. In the end, by a very slim margin, Wicked was victorious—but it was a lot of fun for all!

And finally, the day ended with a delicious BBQ dinner on the waterfront. There is truly nothing better than enjoying a hotdog with friends while reminiscing about an amazing day and looking out at the lake. As I sat on the beach with a bunch of campers and staff members, I was reminded of the magic that happens when we can stop and just appreciate being together. I watched Kenzie C and Poppy D create dances on the fly, Juliet G and Zoey G share a chair as they ate and laughed together, and a group of campers across age groups circle up as they told stories of the summer. It was a moment of nothing special and so much special all at the same time. That’s the best part of camp, if you ask me. And then, after everyone finished their pineapple upside down cake, Wicked was announced as the winner, and they celebrated with a well-deserved trip to Cathy’s!

Overall, it was an absolutely amazing day, and we owe it all Robuish and Avery Raff. Logistically speaking, it was as flawless of a Kahuna Day as I can personally remember—and thanks to their spirit and dedication, Kahuna Day 2025 will be a day that Chippies remember for years and years to come. A shoutout to all of the captains as well (Colt Village captains Leila J, Harper M, Leah N and Leah S, and Wrangler Village captains Skylar C, Samantha G, Naomi R and Suzy R) whose leadership, enthusiasm, spirit and sportsmanship created a memorable day of fun for campers and staff alike. It is because of all of you that today was a HUGE success!

And now, as I wrap this up, I must admit that the end-of-summer pit in my stomach is beginning to form. It is hard to believe that after this post, I have just one more Sari Diaries at #TheRanch2025. While so much has happened in the past 7 weeks, it feels like just yesterday that I shared with you all my desire to approach the summer through the lens of des vu—the awareness that we are actively living our future memories. As I write now from the midst of those memories, I want to take the opportunity to remind myself and any Chippies reading that there is still plenty of camp left. Yes, the end is (sadly) near—but the week ahead is made up of infinite moments that have the potential to become summer-defining memories. I for one will not be letting that opportunity go to waste.

Thanks for reading. Talk to you next Thursday!

Sincerely,
Soph Aloaf