The Sari Diaries- Thursday 8/7/25

Dear Chippies, Parents, Family and Friends,

The Summer of Impact at CRC has officially come to an end, and while I am overcome with sadness, I feel a sense of fullness in knowing that this summer lived up to all that we had envisioned and beyond. This most certainly was the Summer of Impact in every way, shape and form. And as I have taken a little bit of time to reflect on it all in this eerily quiet camp that was just yesterday filled with shrills of elation, I have come to the realization that the impact that this summer has brought is full of paradoxes. What is so unique about the Chippewa experience is that two things can always be true, and each of those contradicting things may each have a significant impact on our campers and staff. Here’s what I mean…

As I sat in the Little Theater on Tuesday night watching our campers up on stage for Request Night, I got a sense of devastation that the summer was about to end for these girls. Please know that I am well aware that each of these campers are leaving Chippewa to go to loving and amazing homes- maybe devastation seems like an extreme word in this case but I’m not so sure. At Chippewa, campers so evidently feel free, they feel joy and they feel connected. As they were up on that stage Tuesday night, the uninhibited love and laughs (and dance moves) was unlike anything that can be found out in that real world. This feeling of quite literally dancing like nobody is watching is such a gift. And to do so on stage in front of 300+ people and with friends who you feel a deep connection to only elevates the significance of that gift. Now the paradox here is that while our campers feel this freedom to truly be their authentic, happy and unique selves here, there is also a deep responsibility that comes with being at Chippewa. Campers as young as seven years old are responsible for their schedule, for cleaning their areas, for staying healthy, for advocating for themselves, for looking out for one another and so much more. We hold them accountable to be good people, do the right thing and with the support & guidance of their counselors live independently. All of this responsibility could be seen as the opposite of free in many other contexts that are not Chippewa. But here at Chippewa, these two things can be equally true and equally impactful- a Chippewa camper has a great deal of responsibility, which is so important for her growth…and yet, she has a great deal of freedom to be and feel exactly who she is, which is so important for her confidence.

As camp directors, we are constantly toeing the line between the importance of providing campers with a structured experience and one that values just being. We all know that structure provides comfort, a sense of safety, and allows campers to feel secure. Because of this we thoughtfully curate so much of the camp experience. From wake-up until bedtime, campers have very specific places to be and activities to participate in. We intentionally create situations for Chippewa campers to set and achieve goals, and even to struggle in finding success. We have Friday Night Campfires and Coin Ceremonies to expressly share who we are, what is our culture and how to be a Chippewa Girl. Our day is full of predictability and stability, which is incredibly important in helping our campers grow a sense of self and independence. That said, at Chippewa we understand the significance of those “between the bricks moments.” The experiences that aren’t planned, that just happen…sometimes without us even realizing. From the start of pre-camp, we emphasize the consequential nature of these transformational experiences that just happen because we are present and together. From Boots & Cactus playing Jacks anywhere and everywhere, to Rafter creating & performing a play, and from the Tri-Cabin planning a full wedding with a runaway bride, to Trailriders campers cackling as they called people’s names (including mine) from their window and then ducked…these are those moments when campers find their own fun and create memories out of boredom…these are the memories that will stay with them long after they forget if they won Capture the Flag this summer. And so these two opposing values- structure and spontaneity…each of these happen at CRC on a daily basis and the importance of those carefully designed moments are equally matched by those spur of the moment, remember for the rest of your life moments.

Last night, at the Final Campfire where Lakeview shared their “Lakeview Speeches” with the camp, I was in awe at these eighteen girls. The words that they shared were profoundly meaningful- they had campers captivated by their advice, their stories and their reflections. As I sat at the Center Fire Circle with tears of pride and heartache streaming down my face (I don’t always get so emotional), I had two major takeaways that live on opposite ends of a spectrum. My first thought was that each and every one of these Lakeview campers knows what it means to be a part of a cohesive & tight knit, loving & strong community. They understand that they are a part of something so important and so real here at CRC. And at the same time, while their bonds to one another and to the Chippewa community are so extremely tight, they have each been living a very individual experience through their camper years. What they learned, what they saw, what they heard and how they felt was all unique to their specific experience. How special is it that these eighteen girls who have grown up together on these grounds, and have formed friendships that without question will last their lifetimes, can each express their own meaning of the camper journey…for some it was about courage, and for others it was about growth; for some it was about tradition, and for others it was about new adventures; and for some it was about the activities, skill & achievements, while for others it was about the little moments that they didn’t realize were the big moments. So here we have yet another significant juxtaposition- campers at Chippewa feel a sense of belonging so deep that their Chippewa sisters feel like their family, and at the exact same time they are each living alongside one another valuing completely different aspects of their perceived identical experiences.

I guess what I am trying to say in all of this is that every single little piece of a summer at Chippewa is impactful. From homesickness to cheering your heart out for Tan & White, from the disappointment of getting called last to BBQ to winning Lip Sync, and from spending the night in the Health Center to leveling up in Realm, and from swimming in Dam Lake even when its cold and you don’t feel like it to receiving a Compass Coin at the Center Fire Circe; from the most insignificant seeming moment to achieving your summer long goal, everything matters here…every detail of the Chippewa experience allows us the opportunity to learn, grow, love, and be exactly who we should be.

This summer was absolutely one of the very best that I can remember. There are so many reasons, and while some are tangible, when you dig into the why, it is clear that this was the best summer ever for reasons that are beyond explanation. Maybe it was that we were celebrating 80 years of CRC, maybe it’s because we brought the Authenticity Coin to life this summer, maybe it’s because we decided that this would be the summer of impact, and the entire community rallied to make that a reality. Any of these things might be a piece of the puzzle, but I think what it really comes down to is that this combination of humans that had the privilege to live on these sacred grounds over the course of the last eight weeks just worked. Each and every individual decided to lean into the experience, to give their hearts to one another and feel the genuine impact. This was a space where kids were permitted to be kids and yet they were responsible for their summer destiny, their experience, their relationships. Chippewa was a little microcosm of the world where our campers were provided with role models who demonstrated compassion, provided boundaries, gave advice and made them feel like they matter. So how did this best summer ever happen? I think it all comes down to the people- all of you who chose to be a part of #TheRanch2025 came together to create the very best summer in Chippewa’s 80 year history.

So thank you all- each and every single individual…from the bottom of my heart, I thank you…

To the staff of 2025, there are no words. You are brilliant in every way- you demonstrated compassion, you brought the hype, you were literal kid magnets, and you made this summer feel good and happy for our campers. They say the days are long but the summers fly by and we know this to be true…we as directors know that for each of you there were ups and downs- you spent eight weeks fully giving of yourself and you made an impact. Your legacy at Chippewa is solidified, and while we hope you all return for the summer of 2026, in the meantime you should feel proud of what you accomplished here in 2025, how you worked through your summer, and the significant difference you made in the lives of Chippewa campers…they are obsessed with you, and so are we!

And campers, where to begin…as Lisa stated yesterday, you are the soul of this camp. You are our why and you make each and every second of the summer worthwhile. To see the evolution of a camper throughout a summer is a true privilege- we had the opportunity to be a part of your progression…the way you built bonds, the way you tried new activities, the way you gained confidence in who you are & showed us your truest selves, the way you giggled & the way you cried, the way you took risks in your activities & with friends and the way you allowed camp to encompass your being for these past eight weeks…all of this is the magic. If you were a first year camper, we are proud of you beyond what words can express. Thank you for taking a chance on Chippewa, for choosing to spend your summer with us and to learn & live what it means to be a Chippy. And Lakeview, I have said it time and again this summer- we have an immense amount of gratitude for your leadership and passion this summer. You knew the mission and you accomplished that mission…thank you! And for everybody in between- your spirit, your love for all things Chippewa, your friendships…just being you makes this place, so thank you!

We hope that every single being who was a part of #TheRanch2025 had an opportunity to see and further discover the best versions of themselves. We hope that you will each embrace that you and bring it home with you. We hope you will share that kindest, most confident, and happiest you with your families and with your friends. We hope that you are walking away from this summer feeling a little bit stronger in knowing that you are a part of this place, these people and this thing that is extraordinary. You understand that friendships and bonds have no age limit, are not bound by where you are from or what you look like…that deep, meaningful and true relationships are born out of shared experiences that happen here on such a regular basis that sometimes we don’t even notice…how lucky are we?!

I never want this post to end because in this final TSD entry, I want to perfectly encapsulate the experience we shared at 8258 County O this summer. But I know that’s impossible, and so I will wrap things up with the following…

Thank you Chippewa for being here for all of us. Thank you Chippies for being here for one another. Thank you to CRC 2025 for providing a feeling that is indescribable…for implicitly letting us know the value of being a Chippy…for giving us the responsibility that we must live up to the Chippewa Compass and we must be there to support and love one another. And thank you for providing us with one million magical moments- some that felt big, some that felt small but each that have the possibility of changing us forever.

So until next summer, Chippies- remember and consider and live knowing that Today is yours to shape.

Happy Camping and Love (so very much),
Sari