The Sari Diaries- Tuesday 8/4/26

Dearest Chippies,

How did we get here?! The second to last night of #TheRanch2026. Ugh. You’d think that after 22 summers the sense of disbelief that comes with a summer winding down would fade… but I am here to tell you that that’s not the reality. Well, at least that’s not my reality. If anything, each summer moves more quickly than the last. It feels like just yesterday that campers were gathering at the Center Fire Circle to learn their cabins and counselors; their nerves for the summer ahead fading into excitement as anticipation became actuality. And yet, here we are. In the blink of an eye, we went from looking ahead to looking back. If you’re a Sari Diaries regular, you know that this summer has been as good as it gets. It will unquestionably go down in Chippewa history as one of the very best!

And, as always, I seem to be getting ahead of myself. Let’s take a step back and discuss the details of the day… I’ve got a lot to say tonight, so buckle up!

We started the day with our final activity period of the summer: good ol’ 4A. A little rain couldn’t stop the excitement as campers took advantage of this opportunity. Not surprisingly, there were a LOT of ski achievements to close out the summer. Ellie M (C-C) dropped a ski and crossed the wakes; Harper G (Silverspurs) crossed the wakes on two skis; Amelia E (Copper Stripes) and Sydney B (Trailriders) dropped a ski and got around the lake on one ski; and Lincoln Z (Boots), Daniella B (Copper Stripes) and Nomi G (C-C) got up and around on two skis. Cameron R (Boots) made it into the Gold Club and everyone’s favorite—slime—was made in Arts & Crafts. It was a fantastic day of achievement and fun to close out the activity portion of the summer!

Just before lunch, the entire camp gathered at the Center Fire Circle for a Coin Ceremony. Four very deserving campers were honored with Coins: Alexa D (Lucky-X) with the Leadership Coin, Arielle K (C-C) with the Perseverance Coin, Cora P (Timber Walk) with the Authenticity Coin, and Parker Z (Circle C) with the Compassion Coin. Each of these Coin recipients was nominated by multiple campers and staff, and it is clear that they have made a positive impact on those around them this summer. They are more than worthy of this recognition, and Chippewa is a better place because they are here!

This afternoon, we had the final Tan & White game of the summer—the very exciting and highly anticipated Pony Express. Paige C (Lucky-X) and Hazel N (Lucky-X) started the relay, and from the second they made their way down Waterfront Road, it was a VERY close race. Throughout the game, the Tans maintained a small lead over the Whites, but Remi Y (Circle C) helped to close that gap in the penultimate event with her crazy fast flutter kicking. In the end, the Grand and Chief Sachems of both teams left in their canoes for Watermelon Island within 10 seconds of one another; and after a thorough search of the lush island land, the Tan team returned to CRC soil just seconds before the Whites. It was a competitive race throughout and a perfect way to end a fun, spirited and successful summer of Tan & White programming. A big thanks to this year’s Grand and Chief Sachems: Alexa R, Emma S, Laney K and Summer K. And also, a HUGE thanks to Ella Engelman and Julia Peltz—this summer’s Tan & White Neutrals—who led with confidence, care and integrity. It is thanks to all of your leadership and enthusiasm that this summer’s Tan & White competition was such a grand success! And… congratulations to the Tan team who beat the Whites by 44 points to win this summer of Tan & White!

And then, to cap off the night, we had Request Night—a longstanding Chippy tradition that allows campers and staff to relive their favorite camp moments on Sophie’s Center Stage. Tonight’s show included lots of old Lip Sync dances, Stella G and Evah R’s (Lakeview) performance from Shrek the Musical, and a hilarious comedy act by Cora P (Timber Walk), Gemma F (Timber Walk), and Harriet M (Horseshoe). And then, to close out the show, we had our camper and staff farewells. The camper farewells were given by Lakeview campers Vivien L, Sadie M and Georgia S, who framed the lessons they have learned during each year as a camper with verses from the Chippewa Creed and qualities from the Chippewa Compass. That was followed by staff farewells from 10 Year Girls Mia Barnett, Julia Nathanson, Hope Feldman, Annie Manaster, Sam Rosenberg, Avery Raff, Cayla Boehm and Sophie Barber, each of whom highlighted an Everything Matters Moment that has come to shape who they are what camp means to them. The finale of the night was a video of the summer, set to classic camp music that quickly gets you in your feels. As I sat in the Theater watching highlights from the summer, surrounded by the very people who made those moments meaningful, I was overcome with a sense of gratitude and pride. There is something special about remembering while actively experiencing… it’s hard not to feel appreciative of how lucky we are!

And now, as the summer of 2026 comes to a close, our campers have a choice to make. Camp has done its job; I’ve watched it happen day in and day out over the last two months, you’ve read about it right here every night for the past eight weeks, and you’re about to witness it in real time in just a couple of days when you are reunited with your campers. They are leaving camp with their heads held a little higher, with deeper connections and sense of purpose, having faced challenges and overcome obstacles and achieved goals; they have become more confident and capable and independent and flexible and courageous. Every camper is leaving with an overflowing cup of memories to carry them to the summer of 2027… but they must decide what kind of legacy #TheRanch2026 will leave on them. What will they do with what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown once they are home—surrounded by technology and social pressures and “real life?” My hope is that they remember that everything and everyone matters, and that they have endless potential to make an impact on the world around them by simply being who they are. Their Chippewa selves don’t live at camp, but they may need a little extra coaxing once they are removed from the CRC bubble.

Vivien L opened her Fond Farewell speech this evening with the following: Before my first summer at Chippewa, I grew up watching. Watching campers step off the bus, watching Lip Syncs, Tan & White, cabins being chosen, campers leaving. I knew everything about camp, but I didn’t understand what made it so special to be a camper, so I waited for my turn to be a part of the Chippewa community. I think Vivien so poignantly highlights what makes the Chippewa experience so magical. It’s a bit of a secret club—one that makes sense only when you experience it. Chippies past and present often talk about how they feel their most authentic selves at Chippewa; that they breathe a little lighter and laugh a little easier while they are here. Alumni come back and mention it; families come for tours and point it out immediately—there is quite literally something in the air. And I feel it too. It’s one of my favorite things to experience and observe. I’m so glad that 2026 brought some incredible new Chippies into this club, and I can’t wait to see who we have the privilege of welcoming next summer.

And after all of these many, many words, I will leave you with this: I feel incredibly fortunate and grateful for everything the past eight weeks have given me. For the What am I doing? moments, the I have too much work to do moments, the This is absolutely insane moments and the How lucky are we moments. The moments of laughter and tears and growth and connection and everything in between. It’s a privilege to have been a part of #TheRanch2026 and I will be counting down the days until we are lucky enough to live it again in 2027.

Thank you all for reading and for sharing your Thursday evenings with me this summer. Enjoy hearing about the summer from your campers’ perspectives and know that they left an impact on me, on each other and camp over the past eight weeks.

Sincerely,
Soph Aloaf