Camp is all about “stuff” – that’s what makes it so special. It’s the “stuff” we do that makes each of us a part of a richly connected network of friends. And it’s the rituals and traditions that punctuate those feelings.
When our electronic lightning alert system forced us to cancel one of our four Parent Visiting Pow-Wows the other night, and I saw the deep disappointment on the face of the campers as well as the staff and parents, too, I realized just how significant this ritual is for every member of the camp community. Before I go any further, I want to assure readers – both those who saw or will see a ceremony and those who unfortunately could not – that the show still went on! We gathered in the Circle of the Pow-Wow this morning, and although parents couldn’t be there to witness the solemn ceremony, I can report that it was just as touching as all the others.
That’s because we stand shoulder to shoulder in the Circle of the Pow-Wow, where we are all equal and where we are all friends. We pledge to ourselves and to each other that we will be unified in our determination to Stand Up for what is right. It is in the Circle that we find the path to understanding and hope. It is in the symbolism of the unending circle that we build our wall of collective strength, that brick by brick, we cobble together the values that tell the backstory of Coleman Country. It is within the circle that we dance to the same melodies, both literally and figuratively.
Many years ago, I heard Mary Pipher, the author and anthropologist, define the word “community” – community is when people share the same story, she explained. And every time I see a Pow-Wow take shape, or a dance party gather energy, I am reminded of our connectedness. Inside the barn doors at this place we lovingly refer to as The Ranch, we feel capable, we feel belonging, and we feel loved.
It’s contagious. It’s what creates a sense of family, of common purpose; where everyone knows what’s okay and what’s not. It’s where we share our stories…where we know what’s expected of us… and where we feel accountable.
It just doesn’t get any better or any more powerful.
Happy Trails!
Marla
