The Sari Diaries- Monday 8/4/25

Dear Chippies Parents, Family, and Friends,

It was a really great day here at #TheRanch2025, and I’m excited to be writing to you tonight to share some of the magic. As I like to do once each summer, I’ve enlisted a little help from ChatGPT in putting this blog post together—it’s a fun and creative way to reflect on the day and make sure I capture the details just right.

As we enter the final stretch of this summer, it’s hard not to feel the weight of each moment just a little more deeply. Today marked the third-to-last full day of camp, and while that fact alone brings on a swirl of emotions, it also made every interaction, every activity, and every laugh feel even more meaningful. There’s something powerful about this part of the summer—when friendships are fully formed, memories are layered thick, and campers begin to realize just how much this place has become a part of them. With that in mind, this post captures what was truly an impactful day here at Chippewa. From an early morning lake jump to a packed schedule of activities and the buzz of anticipation for Pony Express, the vibe on camp felt equal parts joyful and reflective. Here are the details of our day…

Meals
-Breakfast: French Toast Sticks, Sausage Links and Scrambled Eggs
-Lunch: Turkey Pesto Paninis and Chips!
-Dinner: Chicken Fajitas and Rice Crispy Treats!

Activity Achievements
-Stella G got up and around on one ski!
-Parker R crossed the wakes on one ski!
-Dylan K dropped a ski and got around the lake on one ski!
-Eloise D lifted a ski for ten seconds!

What Else Happened Today?!
This morning started off with an unforgettable burst of energy as 120 campers took part in an early morning jump in the lake! With the sun just rising over Dam Lake, the air was filled with enthusiasm, laughter, and a few joyful shrieks as everyone leapt into the cool water together. It was the perfect way to wake up, connect with one another, and kick off the day with a shared sense of adventure. There’s something so special about starting your morning surrounded by your camp sisters, splashing, smiling, and making memories that will last far beyond the summer.

I had the opportunity to jump in with each of the four groups, and it was so sweet to see the different campers making their way down together—some arm in arm, some holding hands, and all with huge smiles. Cabinmates jumped in together, sisters (Emery & Neve F) enjoyed Dam Lake side by side, and counselors took the plunge with their campers—shoutout to Maddie B, Hope F, Tessa B, Lucy W and Millie & Olivea C for making it extra fun! After each jump, we all floated for a moment, took in the peaceful beauty of the lake, and then turned around to admire camp from the water—it truly felt amazing. A huge thank you goes out to our incredible lifeguards, Sophie, Lizzy, and Marni, and of course our Buddy Board captain, Sara Margolis.

After the lake jump, breakfast and cabin clean-up, we moved right into a regular morning of activities, and first period was buzzing with excitement. At tennis, campers were working hard on their strokes and serves, while at cooking, the smell of fresh donuts filled the air. When I stopped by, the donuts were still baking, and in the meantime, campers were deep into a bedazzling session—bedazzling seems to be the thing this summer! Chloe M, Olivia G, and Morgan K were especially focused, transforming all kinds of items into sparkly masterpieces. In dance, groups were choreographing their own routines, and in pottery, campers were carefully glazing their finished pieces. Arts & Crafts got a little messy (in the best way) with slime-making, and the waterfront was in full swing with swimmers, sailors, and skiers enjoying a beautiful day on the lake.

Over at the climbing wall, I got to see Savannah Z making her way up the obstacle course side with determination while a group of enthusiastic campers cheered her on from below. It was also everyone’s last chance to ride the zip line this summer, and there was such a fun and celebratory feeling in the air as campers took one final flight across the South Field. At archery, many campers were lining up to take their final shots of the session, working hard to hit their targets and meet personal goals. At riding, campers were preparing for this afternoon’s much-anticipated Miss Chippewa Rodeo show. We wrapped up the morning with Pony Express sign-ups—tomorrow is our final Tan & White game of the summer, and this all-camp relay is bound to be an incredible finish to the competition. All in all, it was a really lovely morning. Spirits were high, camp was alive, and we were just vibing here at Chippewa.

Right before lunch, we had one of those truly happy moments that reminds us why camp is so important. Clara D and her counselor, Maya Fern, came into the office to give the directors a handmade book titled Our First Summer at Chippewa, created by the 2025 second session Rafter^X campers. It is absolutely amazing, heartwarming, and something we’ll treasure forever. Each camper has a page where they wrote about their first summer at camp, and the reflections are thoughtful, funny, and deeply meaningful.

Clara D shared that the moral of her summer is to try new things. Penelope said she’s definitely coming back because it’s so fun here every single day. Millie said that everything is the best—she’s made new friends, loves her counselors, and adores swimming, dance, and pottery. In her words, “Camp is the best!” Kenzie had beautiful things to say, and my favorite part of her page was the last line about her cabin: “Now we are all best friends, and I hope we stay friends forever.” Harlow made an epic list of everything she loves—friends, Tan & White, ropes, swimming, cooking, soccer, skiing, canteen, BBQs, her counselors, the wall, the trampoline… basically, everything. Zoey shared how much she loved tubing and making new friends, while Emery opened up about how her first day felt a little scary but now she never wants to leave (music to our ears… or in this case, our eyes). Liv L talked about all the things she loves and ended by saying she had a really great time with friends. Lela described so many exciting “firsts” that made her summer unforgettable. Poppy gave us a play-by-play of her amazing day yesterday—complete with the play, her coin, Cliff going in the lake, and Cathy’s—proving that every day here really is something incredible. Jayanna talked about how much her swimming has improved and how meaningful it’s been to bond with her sister, something Liv M also shared. Liv even spoke on behalf of her stuffed animal, Mrs. Jelly, which might be one of my favorite parts of the whole book.

This collection of camper reflections is something I’ll keep forever—it’s a beautiful snapshot of what camp means to our youngest campers, and it speaks volumes about the impact they’ve had on all of us, too. Thank you to the amazing Rafter^X counselors for helping bring this to life, and to the Rafter campers—you are a uniquely wonderful group, and you’ve made your mark on Chippewa in the very best way. From the sound of it, camp has done the same for you… which is exactly how it should be.

After lunch, we had the privilege of learning who the newest member of the Chippy Bat ski team is—congrats to Grace M! From there, the afternoon took us over to the barn for one of the most anticipated events of the summer: the magnificent Miss Rodeo Horse Show. Mackenzie A, Sydney B, and Cassidy A absolutely wowed us with an outstanding performance. Their riding was impressive—full of precision, control, and style. The hours of practice over the past four and eight weeks were clearly on display.

Sydney’s cabin, both campers and counselors, beamed with pride as they watched her ride. The whole camp was watching in awe, and the jumps had the audience on the edge of their seats. It was such a powerful display of dedication and love for the sport. Congratulations to all three riders and a huge thank you to our incredible riding staff for making this summer such a memorable one in the arena!

During third period, I had the chance to hop on a ski boat with Lucy O, Riley L, India N, and Charlie R—and it was so much fun. It was my first time out this summer watching campers ski up close, and it did not disappoint. We went out to The Nook, which is a highly coveted ski area on Dam Lake and then the skiing began! Each of them was working on something different—dropping a ski, dropping and crossing, crossing the wakes on two, or getting up on two—and they were all so focused and strong out there. Lindsay Adess was our amazing boat driver, and Sydney Lieberman kept a close eye on everyone as our lifeguard. It was such a joyful and energizing part of the afternoon—I’m so glad I got to be part of it!

The remainder of the afternoon was filled with happy Chippies enjoying Dam Lake—kayaking, sailing, and stand-up paddleboarding. On land, that same elation could be found at archery, arts & crafts, pottery, Random House, horseback riding—you name it. All across camp, Chippies were soaking in one of their final days of regular activities. It was a beautiful sight to see, and the sounds of joyful campers could be heard in every corner of Chippewa.

And tonight was the closing staff show—a tradition that never fails to bring laughter, nostalgia, and a few tears. The energy was palpable. Cheers from campers for their counselors were spirited and loud…there was a lot of vigor in that theater! Staff hopped on stage to sing our classic parody of Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister,” originally created in 2010 and reimagined each summer to reflect the unique fun, memories, and impact of that year. Huge shoutout to the Jaksich sisters, who have written and rewritten this song for over a decade. Even though they weren’t at camp this summer—and both had babies in the last four months—they still found a way to make their mark on our evening from afar. Emmie Dubin and Millie Frankel were our emcees this evening, and they played the part well. They dressed as a toothbrush and toothpaste and had gigantic smiles plastered across their faces. We performed the beloved senior counselor dances, including “She’s in Love with the Boy,” “Your Man,” and a couple of other crowd favorites. Age groups took the stage to perform their Lakeview lip syncs, along with new dances they had choreographed together. The international staff created and performed a dance that was just So Chippewa. And of course, Cliff sang Right Field—a performance that hits me in the heart every single time. We even got Sam Graines to sing her famous original, Girl Party, and Lizzy LoGrande relived her iconic Saxobeat days. Toward the end of the show, we shared our traditional Mr. Rogers skit—a lighthearted and loving roast of all the silly, sweet moments campers have brought to life this summer. Then came the tearjerker: “Today Is.” And finally, we gathered in circles and sang some of our most treasured camp songs, including “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”

Overall, it was a deeply nostalgic night. Some dances have lived on that stage for so long- since I was a young counselor. And others brought on that same nostalgic feeling because I could see and feel the love, sisterhood, and camaraderie that I so vividly remember experiencing on that very stage with my own camp friends…Lakeview ‘98, the GOF, the Elders, Cabin Rentals Crew and more…you all know who you are.

The tears have officially begun to fall as the end of the summer of 2025 draws near. But don’t worry—there’s still plenty of camping left ;). That’s all from me for tonight. Thanks for reading, and thank you to ChatGPT for helping turn my words into this polished post—it was a fun one! Talk to you all soon.

Happy Camping and Love,
Sari