Dear GBC Community,
There is no question we are all devastated with the news that overnight camp, as we know it, is not permitted to operate this summer. We really never imagined that we would have to set aside all our thoughts about happily meeting together at camp. We thought about who would be there, what the weather would be like, whether we would be doing some new activity for the first time or, perhaps doing activities that we have been doing every summer but loving every minute of it. Some of us might have been thinking about new songs we would sing, or dances we would make up, or crazy skits we would showcase, or trying to change the way we interacted with others and recognize that we really had to learn to get along with everybody. Not to look at the faults of others but to look at everything about them. What each of us has to contribute to our camp community. These are the great things that happen at camp and our camp memories are very significant and important to us. Indeed, many campers will say they remember all of it. So, there is no question that it is not a happy thought that GBC’s 99th season is not about to begin. It is going to be a big challenge to take this news and move forward in our hopes and dreams.
So, how to deal with it? We can’t really tell each other how to do this. Because, each of us look at these experiences in a different way, our influences of highs and lows of feelings. It is going to take a lot of determination to start thinking about next summer. Perhaps you will do something this summer that you’ve never done before just to help recover from the fact that you can’t do something that you really wanted to do. We must look for the bright side and if we start to get sad, close your eyes and picture yourself at camp doing something that you love. This will keep you on the upward trail.
One of the great things for me, that will keep me going is the tremendous loyalty, of you, our campers, those that were going to be coming for the first time bringing their excitement with them, the wonderful support from your families and the sparkle and joy that GBC staff over all these years have contributed to these memories that will last. The camp has made it through 98 years and is certainly going to be alive with your energy and laughter again next summer.
I wanted to send this note to you today, as we process this news together. There is a song in our camp song book, Lean on Me, written by Bill Withers that has a line that we can all take to heart tonight.
“We all have sorrow. But, if we are wise, we know that there’s always tomorrow”.
Joc