Reflections on Last Year's Session

Reflections
by Trevor

Probably the biggest stand-out of our 2010 FNCA camp© Beki Greenwood 2010 session was the return of our beach after it evidently had been away on vacation the past three summers! Heavy pre-camp rains left our beach underwater for pretty much all of camp 2007-2009. So in 2010, campers flocked to the river in droves each afternoon: frolicking in the water, canoeing © Emily Woofenden 2010to their hearts' content, basking on the beach, hanging out on the raft, adults standing in clusters up to their waists talking quietly and watching the kids playing together and keeping tabs on the teens doing the things that teens do.

Over a dozen people participated in our new Opening Weekend Program "Discovering Elijah: Spiritual Tools to Open Scripture" led by Anna Woofenden. Using a hands-on workshop style, the group explored the story of Elijah as it applies to our lives today. Responses to this new program were overwhelmingly positive. Thanks Anna!

Adult Discussion Group (“great” “wonderful”) had very high attendance both weeks. Our new cook's food got many rave reviews (“delicious” “interesting”), as did our lecture program (“stimulating” “thought-provoking”) with discussions often spilling over into several meals. Plus those perennial favorites: camp community, warms days and cool nights, and seeing old friends again and making new ones.

Many noticed lots of© Jonathan Crowe 2010 impromptu games between scheduled activities. Trivial Pursuit in the Dole Wing, active games in Whitehead Hall, and card games in front of the dining hall fireplace all at the same time was the norm. Jason Woofenden's © Beki Greenwood 2010 unique strategy games with brightly colored homemade pieces were very popular. Scrabble, Hearts, Mao, Slap!, Frisbee, horseshoes and several other games also got played regularly.

People-specific favorites include MaryBeth Bernier song-leading “Hallelu” before meals, watching registrar Nancy Little re-arranging the housing chart, Rev. Gard Perry's daily fires, Rev. Lee Woofenden's book store, Lee Dyer making coffee all day long, someone's imitation of Owen Crowe playing Sparks Games, and enjoying the Senior Flames discovering ways they can help with camp.

But the memory that burns brightest in at least one camper's mind is walking down to the waterfront and seeing a great blue heron sitting in a tree beside the river. “Stunning, simply stunning.”