Scatterstories: Camping weekend ... a little late, but still fresh on my mind.

Hey all

Sorry it has been so long since there has been an update. School days fly by fast when you're having fun (or unbelievably inundated with work!). I cannot believe we are already at the end of block 2 and a quarter of the way through the year! I have never seen or felt a school year accelerate so quickly!

I want to write this entry for one main reason: I want to update you all on our camping weekend that happened at the end of Block One. On Friday, September 24^th, the entire school piled tents, sleeping bags, students and faculty into a myriad of vans and cars and headed toward Kent State Park. Friday was a lovely afternoon/evening! Once we got the home base set up, many of us kicked off the weekend with games of Frisbee, “roof ball”, and foursquare (my personal favourite). After dinner, Friday night continued with indoor games and singing. The love that filled the pavilion that evening was unparalleled.

Sadly, Saturday morning, we awoke in our tents after a night's sleep to the sound of rain … and this rain continued throughout the day and evening. A few light spots throughout the day afforded some outdoor play, like hiking through the nearby woods, but rain did not stop a very wet game of ultimate Frisbee. While some ventured out into the rain to explore the area or partake in sport, others sought the refuge of the pavilion and stayed indoors making friendship bracelets and other crafts or playing (and teaching) card games like Euchre. A few of our students who had nail polish in tow decorated the nails of most of the school that afternoon (girls and guys, students and faculty alike); most people left camping weekend with some sort of decorative varnish on their nails. A lovely cook-out was held that night, with many warming themselves around the grill and then feasting on delicious burgers and potato salad.

That evening, we held a very beautiful Meeting for Worship around the indoor fireplace, to the gentle sound of the rain outside. Many returning students and faculty shared their journey over the past year and the growth that they have encountered since the last Scattergood camping weekend. Newer students shared their thoughts on their first camping weekend, and their initial thoughts about the school year thus far. I think the Meeting left us all very contemplative of ourselves and our school. After Meeting, many students and faculty sat outside in the cold playing guitar and singing. The community was lulled to sleep by the joyous sounds of singing in the rain.

Sunday morning was a community experience like no other – time to gather together, pack up, and head back home. Students cleared the campsites in record time and we had an abundance of helpers to clean the community areas. It was amazing to see this community work together in such a way that we left the campsite better than when we found it. As my first camping weekend, while I wish we had more sunshine, I really enjoyed the opportunity I had to get to know both students and faculty better. Many new games were learned, excellent food was consumed, and our community really grew. Every time I see a friendship bracelet on the wrist of a student, it makes me remember what a fun weekend it truly was. But after all the varnish is gone from our fingers and the bracelets fall off, we will still have amazing memories (and pictures!).