Category: Camp News

Dear Nakanawa Family and Friends,

We are delighted to announce that Karen Rathgeber Hale (TR 80) has agreed to serve as the next Director of Camp Nakanawa. Karen’s long tenure as Head Counselor and deep connection to camp, combined with her business experience, make her an ideal choice. The next years will be ones of transition and change as we retire and camp segues to a non-profit. It is incredibly reassuring to us to know that Karen will be the person to guide camp through these coming summers. She will officially begin her transition to directorship in the fall of 2021, and plans to make camp her permanent residence. 

Karen first came to Junior Camp from Houston in 1974. During her Tent Row summer, she was elected Captain and then selected as Lady of the Cup, an award presented to her by “Mitch.” A graduate of Texas A & M, she returned to Senior Camp as a cabin counselor intermittently from 1982 to 1999, and led many activities including Softball, Climbing Wall, Horseback Riding and Sailing. Since 2000 Karen has served as Head Counselor in either Junior or Senior Camp, making her one of the longest tenured head counselors since “Wally” Hall. During this time she has led both Two-Week and Four-Week sessions. She has provided continuous, strong leadership in Senior now for 14 summers, helping guide us through challenges that include dealing with technology, enrollment, staff, and COVID-19.   

Karen, with her late husband Chris, operated a successful business in Salado, Texas, for over twenty years. Karen also served as property manager of their own 17-acre property and her family’s 500-acre ranch. She has worked on numerous boards and was a civic leader in her community. Her background in marketing, graphic design, social media and photography are yet another asset. She has acquired an intimate working knowledge of every aspect of camp operations, from the location of fuse boxes to the recipe for frozen fruit salad. She knows the history of Nakanawa from A to Z, understands the lineage of our four-generation camp families, and has been a key part of TIES and our great alumni volunteers. A section on leadership in the Centennial History reads: “Karen, valued for her upbeat personality, always takes time to listen. She works to ensure camaraderie between the Junior and Senior staffs. An avid outdoorsman, she encourages a love of nature and adventure. Karen brings a sense of fun and playfulness to Senior Camp to counteract the pressures that fill the lives of today’s teenagers. She values the transformative nature of camp and the role Nakanawa plays in shaping the characters of young women.”

After working so closely with Karen for over 40 years, we know that she will provide that rare combination of warmth, humility and strength. She inspires us and those she leads with her caring attitude, wise counsel and sensitivity to the needs of others. Her dedication to the values of camp and her generous and giving personality shine brightly to all. Rest assured that Karen is committed to the continuation of “Nakanawa being Nakanawa.”  

We would like to send a special “Thank You” to the Search Committee led by Donya Boylston Rose, Shelly Duer Landau and Margaret Hawkins Matens, with Holly Ivey, Kelsie Costello Wagner, Barbara Keith Brown Payne, and Lizzie Mills Murthy, all Nakanawa alumnae. The committee spent countless hours reviewing applications to help find the person who would lead Nakanawa into its second century. We are grateful for the professionalism and inclusiveness of the search process and the high standards that were set. We were awed by the number and strength of the applicants, especially given the short time frame of the search. The common thread among those who applied was their abiding love for this camp and the desire to see Nakanawa transition successfully to new leadership and governance. It is indeed a testament to the impact Nakanawa has had on so many lives that such an impressive group of women were willing to consider undertaking the unique challenges and way of life that come with being camp director.

Nakanawa’s 102nd summer was a wonderful, memorable one. We feel blessed that we were able to complete our sessions safely. We look forward to starting work on our new camp home and to keeping in touch with all of you who have been a beloved part of Nakanawa and of our lives. One of the benefits of Karen Hale’s many years at camp is her multitude of lifelong camp friends. We know that many of you who have come to know and love Karen will be celebrating with us as you receive this news. We trust that Karen will be able to count on the same outpouring of support that we have received over the last four decades.  If you would like to contact Karen, her email address is: karen.campnak@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Ann and Pepe Perron
Directors

Please complete every item on your Counselor Checklist prior to arriving at Camp Nakanawa. We look forward to a wonderful summer together!

REGISTER AND COMPLETE THESE ITEMS:

1. SELECT YOUR COMMITTEES AND ACTIVITIES
2. EMERGENCY INFORMATION FORM
3. ELIGIBILITY FORM AND TAX FORM
4. MEDICAL FORM 2021 – MUST BE SIGNED BY A DOCTOR
5. PLEASE READ YOUR 2021-COUNSELOR-TRAINING-MANUAL

THE MANUAL COVERS A LOT OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION PLEASE BE SURE TO MAKE TIME TO READ THIS BEFORE PRE-CAMP 🙂

Pre-Order your 2021 Staff T-Shirt (Optional!)
Every counselor will receive one free white staff shirt upon arrival at Camp Nakanawa. This is a different t-shirt – designed by our counselors – that is available for you to purchase. Again, this is not mandatory, just a fun option you may want to think about. The shirts will be shipped to camp and given to you there. THANK YOU MARGARET MATENS for the wonderful artwork that you created! Please place order by June 7th.

Click Here to Order a Short Sleeve Staff T-Shirt

Click Here to Order a Long Sleeve Staff T-Shirt

*READ EACH OF THE FOLLOWING TUTORIALS:

1. Meet Ann Perron
2. Pepe says hello!
3. Meet Annette Hall
4. Meet Karen Barlow Parrish
5. Meet Your Head Counselors
6. A brief history of Camp Nakanawa
7. How to be a great role model
8. Child development and Camp
9. Counselors as teachers
10. Our Focus is the campers
11. Devotions and bonding with your cabin
12. Cabin life tips
13. Homesickness
14. What to expect as a brand new counselor
15. Transitioning from Camper to counselor: please watch this 20 minute video prior to camp!
16. Rest Hour Etiquette
17. Extras that you may want to bring to camp…
18. Social Media & Going Unplugged
19. The new “reality” for girls
20. Taking care of YOU!

AND NOW, A FEW MORE COUNSELORS HAVE SOME ADVICE TO SHARE…GET TO KNOW THEM ALL!

Margaret Leatherbury – We wear many hats
Caroline Harris – Life as a Counselor
Mop’s 30 Plus Summers
Casey’s Life of Adventure
Tiny tells about Nakanawa legacies
Val is ever returning

We all think of schools as the place where “bullying” is discussed and addressed.  But what better place to reinforce and deal with this topic, than at camp.  Here at Nakanawa, we always pride ourselves in the ideal “Nakanawa girl.”  Basically, girls are usually on their best behavior at camp.  I said usually….but not always.  And what about outside of camp?   Cyberbullying definately can take place outside of the hallowed shores of Lake Aloaloa.

The Anti-Bullying Policy of camp can be found on the Nakanawa website. Here is an exerpt of the policy:

Our camp philosophy, which dates back to its founding in 1920, is based upon the ideals of friendship, love, honor, and truth.  At Nakanawa, we strive to ensure that all young women gain self-confidence, make new friends, leave with cherished memories and friendships that last a lifetime.  Bullying, in all of its forms is not tolerated, and stands counter to Nakanawa’s fundamental goals.

So how can we as counselors help our campers meet the ideals of Nakanawa, without bullying while at camp or away? This tip sheet, created by the American Camping Association, gives some good advice on how to spot the behavior and deal with it.

And talking with your campers helps to reinforce your views toward this behavior.  (Your campers look up to you and want to follow your lead. So you can set the tone on this.) Cyberbullying (which is not a behavior we will see at camp) is growing because it its easy.  The trend for girls to communicate face-to-face and over the telephone is getting less and less.  This is especially true at Nakanawa since our campers are spread out over the U.S. and the world!  But it is very easy to hurt someone and be indirect through texting.  In this case, you don’t see the reaction to the bullying and the consequences of your action are not immediately visible.  The cyberbully can be bold, brash, and very mean with her insults or conversations. It can also be done anonymously.  This is a recipe for an ugly, growing problem, that even Nakanawa is not immune to. So yes… we will try to address this through our cabin meetings whenever possible.

We will work to create empathy and understanding with our campers.  You will help lead devotions and discussions around these topics. I especially love a program called Bullies2buddies, which is used in the school where I work.  This article about the Golden Rule, is pretty telling. During pre-camp, we will help you come up with some strategies on how to help girls come face-to-face with each other, so that the bully and her buddy can come together.

One of the easiest and most difficult, best and worst aspects of Camp Nakanawa is that it is a place that is all about girls.  It is a place that girls can be themselves, away from the influences that exist in their everyday lives.  It is a place that we can ALL get away from those petty, yet grueling pressures of the real world.

Imagine a place ……where girls can really be themselves.  Nakanawa is that place.  The article (which is summarized at the end of this section) warns us as counselors to be careful about our words and our messages when  it comes to body image.  One of the long-standing traditions at Nakanawa was the “three bite rule” at meals.  (the rule was that every person had to eat at least three bites of every food offered in the dining hall.)  Well, based upon research telling us never to make food an “issue” or battle, we have modified that charge.  Instead, we suggest that every child try the food.  We suggest that three bites is a great way to give it a try.  But we don’t hold the camper to this rule.  Another “tradition: that we no longer do is the weekly (and somewhat public) weigh-ins at the infirmary.  Again, it is placing too much emphasis on the power of food.

So our message to you, our counselors is to be thoughtful in your discussions, and careful in your actions when modeling for young women.  They will pick up on (and place importance on) every word you say.

The following section is a summary of key points from a wonderful article in Camping Magazine.

The most important “job” you will have as a Nakanawa counselor is that of cabin counselor.  You will be responsible for 8 to 10 girls, acting as big sister, friend, confident, and even “surrogate mom” at times.  At Nakanawa, we call the girls in our cabin our “bunkies.”  (They sleep in “bunk”…..get it?)  These girls look up to you, their counselor, in ways you may never know.

• Pay special attention to how campers make mistakes — both in activities and in relationships — because it reveals how they think. Knowing this will help you be a better counselor.

• Provide opportunities for challenge and exploration. Most growth occurs when campers are faced with new, and even somewhat difficult circumstances. (Do you really think I can become an American Archer?)

• Encourage effort without putting a premium on winning or perfection. Help campers understand that the process of learning involves more failing than succeeding. Remember to value the process, not the product. Nakanawa is a perfect environment to practice this.  Though we celebrate the accomplishments, we value sportsmanlike conduct over everything.

• Be sensitive to younger camper’s concrete ways of thinking. It takes years to learn to think hypothetically and abstractly. This is one reason why younger children are impulsive and why they take what counselors say so literally.

• Teach age-appropriate skills. Although it may be trendy to push kids ahead, Piaget cautioned, “Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves, and each time that we try to teach them something too quickly, we keep them from reinventing it themselves.”  At Nakanawa, we try to let young girls stay “young.”

• Allow campers to be self-directed in some activities. Like many animals, children can be trained to perform. A nobler goal is to teach them to think for themselves and act responsibly. Some selfdirected play helps nurture children’s independence. And we have noticed that in today’s world, learning this selfdirected play is difficult for girls whose lives have been so orchestrated by their parents.

• Pair challenge with support. Push campers’ skill limits while exposing them to expert instructors (that’s us!) and peers. This practice promotes proper child and adolescent development.

• Design an environment where campers experience some mastery, not just constant challenge or constant hollow praise. A genuine sense of accomplishment, after some real effort and failure, is the only thing that increases self-esteem. There is no evidence to suggest that simply telling a child she is special will make her feel special.  At Nakanawa, our activities, reinforced by recognitions and clubs help support this genuine sense of accomplishment.

• In terms of the activity you teach at Nakanawa, make sure you explain the goals of your activity to campers in advance. Then, at the end of some activities, discuss whether and how those goals were met. Play is your most powerful teaching tool.

• And finally, Nakanawa is a unique utopia where each girl is celebrated for her own individuality.  Your support, care, and concern for each camper will help her grow and develop more than you will ever know.

•   What the heck is “devotions?”

Devotions are simply activities that you plan for your cabin each night to help them wind down before going to bed. They can be very deep and filled with a lot of meaning, or something fun yet quiet that can get your bunkies’ calm before getting in their bunks!

•   Why do we do devotions?

We do devotions so that each girl can talk about her day and be heard by their counselor and fellow bunkies. Each cabin has a different dynamic, and every camper has a different personality, so it is really easy for certain girls to be overlooked during their classes. If someone has a quiet voice and is easy-going, they might not get the chance to talk about their highs and lows of the day like someone who is outgoing and loud.

•   How do I get the kids to calm down so I can do devotions?

It really depends on the age group, because younger girls are going to be more tired after a long day of activities than older girls, but I always make every girl sit in a circle and we wait for everyone to get quiet. There is always one girl who will notice me waiting for everyone to get quiet while holding paper and markers, a beach ball, or whatever we need for the devotion that night. If they don’t quiet down, I usually tell them that we won’t have enough time before lights out if they don’t listen, and that will usually make them calm down.

•   Where do we gather together, how do we all be a part of it?

I like to have every girl sitting in a circle on the ground because that way you can see everyone and listen to everyone without skipping over anyone. They can bring pillows, blankets, whatever they want as long as it won’t be a distraction! If you go in a circle when having the girls answer, everyone gets a fair chance to speak, instead of the talkative ones taking over.

•   What’s a good routine to set up?

I always love to start with highs and lows. Whether the girls are 10 or 15, I think that everyone should think about their day and what they liked and didn’t like. My rule is that you don’t always have to have a low, but you always have to have a high, even if it’s a favorite meal or something little like that. Once everyone (including yourself) has had a turn, you explain the devotion and start! Also make the rule from the beginning of camp that Devotions will be starting at second “blinks” NO EXCEPTIONS. You have to start at second blinks every night so they know to get back from brushing their teeth or else they will miss out.

•   What are some problems you run into?

The biggest problem is probably getting your bunkies back to the cabin by second blinks because there isn’t a lot of time for them to get ready, but that’s when you have to be the facilitator. As a counselor you can always get ready for bed once lights are out, but it might be better to take a trip to Egypt as a cabin if it means that your girls will get their business done in a timely manner.

Another problem is getting them calmed down with enough time to actually do the devotion. There have been times when I might have to finish a devotion in two nights because the girls didn’t settle down with enough time before Taps came around. It’s a little bit disappointing to both you and your bunkies, but it teaches them that it’s important to make times for devotions and that it’s a special time that won’t be rushed.

Nighttime is bedtime, but it’s also time to get homesick. I had a bunkie who was so homesick every night that it was exhausting to try and get her into the circle, let alone get her to participate in the devotion for the night. That’s when you have to go into true counselor mode and advocate for the rest of your cabin. You have to give every bunkie equal attention, and even if someone is homesick you can’t give her a pass on devotions for a night because it will make devotions seem optional, which they are not.

•   What if I don’t have anything planned? Do I need to plan?

YES you need a plan! It doesn’t take a long time to plan a devotion, but if you have them planned out for each week early in the summer, it will save you a lot of stress over last minute planning and sloppy devotions. ALWAYS ask experienced counselors for ideas because we have a million of them! After a long evening entertainment when everyone is charging Egypt to brush their teeth is already stressful as a counselor, so don’t add to that stress by trying to plan a devotion at the same time.

• What are some good devotion ideas? For younger girls? For older girls?

A lot of devotions work for every age, like the “toilet paper” devotion. You have a roll of TP and have every girl take as many pieces as they want (usually with a maximum of 10). After everyone has the sheets of toilet paper, they have to say a fact about themselves for every sheet they have. You can also change what they have to say, like what they like about their cabin, what goals they have for camp (big or small), or whatever you think will be fun for them!

For younger girls, it’s harder to get them to think deeper because they haven’t had to think that deeply in their lives, so the more surface level devotions are easier and more enjoyable for them. Reading a book of poems will always intrigue and satisfy them while getting them ready for sleep. Older girls also love reading books or poems, but when your bunkies have had a long day, reading to them will make them feel at home.

One of my favorite devotions as an older camper was the “color” devotion. You get different colored pieces of construction paper (one color for each girl in your cabin) and you ask what POSTIVE personality traits go with each color. Every girl gets to answer for each color, and you write the traits on each color. After you’ve matched the traits with the colors, you then look at the traits and match them to each person in your cabin. Not only will this make each bunkie feel unique and appreciated, but you can also use this for bunkie gifts! One of my counselors made us each a clipboard with our color, traits, and name on it and it was an awesome and personalized gift! I did this last year with one cabin and made them a cardboard letter (their first initial) painted their color with all of the traits written on the back.

 There are SO MANY other devotions, so don’t be afraid to ask experienced counselors!
Also, group devotions and devotions with an older counselor are always fun for you and your bunkies!

When it comes to bonding with your cabin, just being in the cabin during downtime goes a long way. If you’re in on their inside jokes, it makes it a lot easier to develop friendships with them. Sometimes it might be easier to go to the CB and clear your head when you have an extra 20 minutes in the day, but your bunkies will definitely miss you if you spend all of your time there. Also it makes a difference to ask each girl individually about what she has been enjoying or not enjoying about camp and then follow up on it. Talk to the other counselors; ask them what they see in their classes, let them know if Susie Camper wants to do well in that class. Make time to talk to each girl as an individual so they can trust you as their counselor and friend.

Rest Hour Etiquette
By Catherine McPhillips
** How to manage your campers during the most important hour of the day. **

It’s true. Rest Hour will become your most indispensable asset at Nakanawa. During this hour, you can read, sleep, catch up on letters, prepare for your activities, and most importantly, recharge your energy and spirit for the rest of the day. Camp is a very communal experience, and Rest Hour is that one sacred time each day that is all your own. No one can expect you to work on anything, discuss or plan, or be anywhere except on your very own bed.

By the end of the first week, you will come to regard Rest Hour as one of the very best features of Camp Nakanawa! This time is just as important for your campers. Whether they believe it or not, they NEED this time to rest and regroup before their afternoon activities. Here are a few simple ways to make sure you and your bunkies enjoy maximum benefit from this hour:

On the first night, when you are laying out the ground rules and goals for the cabin, Rest Hour should be at the top of your list.

MY RECOMMENDED REST HOUR RULES:

1. Rest Hour bell: Everyone has to be in the cabin before the bell. After lunch is not the time for hanging out in other cabins, at Egypt, etc. Stragglers will make it very hard for you and the other girls to start your rest hour properly.
2. All girls MUST go to Egypt (the bath house) before the rest hour bell rings. Tell your bunkies to go straight from the Dining Hall to Egypt, and verify that they have in fact done that. (This is extremely important in Junior Camp, as those little bladders do not hold as much.)
3. Stay on your bed: Even if the girls want to share markers or paper or headphones it is important to stay firm to this. Let them know that they can divide up supplies before the bell rings, or borrow something of your to tide them over. No bed sharing, no walking around the cabin.
4. No talking: If you are not firm on this from the beginning, it will be very easy for Rest Hour to turn into “cabin hang-out.” We have PLENTY of time to bond as a cabin, but Rest Hour has a different purpose. So, keep the girls quiet from the start, and they will quickly respect and appreciate the environment you have created.

These seem like very simple rules, and they are. However, letting one girl sit on another’s bed, or one whispering conversation persist in a corner will soon turn your Rest Hour into an after-lunch circus. It is also unfair to the other cabins to disturb their Rest Hour. Be firm on these rules and reassure the girls’ time and again that this is for their health and well being, as well as yours!

Steve Baskin ACA video Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4rI3olRHxP4

Hi, Counselors!

This is a very important topic that will impact campers AND counselors:  Going Unplugged!  Camp Nakanawa is one of the few (and proud) camps that provide an unplugged environment for all campers.  The feedback from parents has been so supportive and thankful.  Parents want their daughters to have a natural camping experience, free from texting, phones and the internet.  So we plan to offer that pristine, unplugged environment. Please read this training module carefully, as it also impacts the way you as a counselor interact with technology.

1. From the camper’s perspective:  This might be a tough “withdrawal” process for your campers.  So just be sensitive to that.  Because of all of the time spent in texting, Facebooking, surfing, kids are loosing many of the communication and collaboration skills.  That’s where we come in:  We help them re-focus and re-learn how to communicate with each other and work together in a collaborative way.
2. What are the rules for campers?  Pretty straight-forward.  A camper may not have any type of gizmo (phone, laptop, iPad, iPod, etc., etc.) that can access the internet.  Even those that can be turned off:  Not allowed.  Cabin counselors will collect these on the opening day of camp and return them to their campers on the last day of camp.
3. Technology rules for counselors.  This is pretty straightforward, too.  You have the same rules as the campers while in the general camp and cabin area. You may not use any gizmo (phone, laptop, iPad, IPod) in your cabin area or any area for that matter, other than the CB (your counselor bunk).  You may keep your “gizmos” in there.  You may use them during your time off or after your campers are asleep in bed. And you may only use them in the CB.  (There are a few exceptions that we will explain during our orientation together.)
   But back to counselor technology….I would use your time at camp to be a time that you, too, take a break from the crazy world of texting, Facebook, YouTube, Skyping, surfing the web, etc.  You will have access to the Camp Nakanawa wifi, but you will find it has less and less of a draw as the camp days go by.  Try to take as much of a break as you can.  Go out on the lake with a counselor friend after your campers are in bed (instead of sitting alone on your computer inside).  You won’t believe the stars!  Enjoy your time talking with your new-found counselor friends.  You won’t regret it.
4. Counselors’ Social Networking Policy.  Nakanawa’s policy follows the policies of most schools.  Here goes:
   1. 1. Online presence:  As a camp employee, it is your responsibility to deliver our Nakanawa mission. This includes all dealings both inside and outside the workplace; both on and off duty.
      2. Content: You are responsible for the content of all text, audio, or images that are placed or sent over the Internet.  Do not use the name Nakanawa anywhere at any time.  (Use the word “camp” instead.) Use of abusive, profane, harassing or obscene messages will put you at risk for termination of your job. Do not share the names of any campers.  It is our duty to protect them and their identity.
      3. Profiles:  Make all profiles private, please.
      4. “Friending” people: If a camper is under the age of 18 and is not a staff member, Nakanawa prohibits employees from “friending,” “following,” “liking” or have a private association with them.  If you are already a friend of a camper (because you were once a camper, too), please set them as a “limited profile.”  Remember, your Head Counselors and Ann are on Facebook….and see all! Also remember, your employers (including Nakanawa) use Facebook as a screening tool.

One of the comments we hear from brand new counselors is that they wish they had brought some additional items (that are not on the official camp list.)  Luckily, Martha (pictured at left) remembered her handy dandy wild woman bone.  lol!  Just kidding.  (Have we really scared off all of the new counselors now?!)  Martha had the “honor” of being the Wild Woman for the circus.  Who knows what you might have the honor of doing this summer?

So, just to help you know some of the “extra” stuff that we might bring, here’s the start of a list:

Extras that you might want to bring to camp:

1. Construction paper for note cards (to write notes to your bunkies) – one of those multi-color “pads” is perfect.
2. Markers (for the construction paper notes), and/or paint pens (which can be used to decorate anything from a plastic cup to a flip flop.)
3. A book for yourself, and one to read to your cabin at devotion time.
4. Ipod speakers (battery-operated) so you can all listen to music as you clean up.
5. Crazy hats
6. 4th of July colors (shirt, hat, etc.), if you are here during 4-week.
7. A crazy costume if you have one….never know when you might need it!
8. Musical instrument if you play, to sing your bunkies to sleep (no pipe organs, please).
9. Extra non-uniform clothes for running, free day, days off, “after TAPS” (see your counselor notebook), and pre-camp.
10. A pair of sneakers or water shoes that you don’t mind getting totally soaked.
11. A small spiral notebook that you can record info about your campers. This is used in writing letters home to the parents (called “Mama Letters.”)
12. A sweatshirt, as it can get chilly at night, and last but not least,
13. A great sense of humor and fun-loving spirit!

But please know that you don’t HAVE to bring any of these extras, and there will be plenty of all of these around camp.

Start your packing…..Camp will be here before you know it!

Hello There!

Congratulations! You might not know it yet, but you have just changed your life in a great way by becoming a Nakanawa counselor. I should know, because I did the same thing four summers ago. I’d never heard of Nakanawa before, never known anyone who went there, and certainly had no idea how to pronounce it. (I called it ‘Nak awa nana’.)

At first, I was nervous that I would not fit in with the women and girls that have been coming to Nakanawa for generations. I had never worked a summer camp before and had no idea what to expect out of a camp that called their bathhouse ‘Egypt’ and woke us up with a bell. The first time I sensed that Nakanawa might be a wonderful place was when I received a reply from Ann Perron, the owner/director of camp, about an email I had sent a few hours earlier. The email I had sent had a long list of too many questions about things that I felt like I needed to know for camp. I was amazed that she replied so quickly and answered all my questions in detail. She even encouraged me to email or call her if I had more questions. I was impressed with the personal interest she took in helping me feel comfortable coming to a new place for the summer.

The most frightening minutes of my summer were those last few of the drive to camp. What would it be like? Would I make friends? What have I committed myself to for the next 6 weeks? However, as soon as I drove into camp there were people already greeting me and waving hello. As soon as I wandered up to the office porch to get my cabin assignment, a few fellow counselors offered to help me move in. These were women I had never met and yet they were so friendly. After moving in, it was time for lifeguard training. Being from the city, I did not have experience swimming in a lake. When I was told to jump in the lake and start swimming, I froze. The other counselors encouraged me and I took the leap into Lake Aloaloa. From then on, I knew the summer would be great!

Make no mistake, Nakanawa is centered upon the girls, and by that I mean every female from 6-80 on that campus. You’ll find quickly that being at Nakanawa teaches you personally far more than you will ever teach a child about tennis or canoeing. There are so many women that keep coming back to camp summer after summer because they love the place so much, and are eager to teach everyone the things that they have learned. You won’t be alone, I promise.

The one thing I wish that someone would have told me while I was getting ready to come to camp is this: be ready for some intense traditions. The first day in the dining hall is going to be a mind boggling experience, “You expect me to eat my bacon with a fork? Fourth the bread? What does that even mean?” You’re not going to get it all immediately, but it will become second nature soon. Just go with the flow, mouth the words to the songs, and slowly you will understand that these things that seem so foreign at first are part of what makes Nakanawa such a special place.

Surprisingly, it all gets so much easier when the bunkies come. You think you’ll never get through the first day, but then suddenly when all of the cars are gone, when what was previously a clean, empty cabin is now a dusty disaster zone and all the girls are in bed you realize: I can totally do this. Because after that, it’s the easiest job in the world. Sure you’ll work hard and be exhausted, but you will soon understand that it doesn’t matter if you teach them all how to shoot a bullseye from 100 feet. Your job, quite simply, is to love the girls. You love them, you accept them for who they are, you rejoice in their triumphs, and console them in their failures. That’s what being a camp counselor is all about, and why it’s different from being just a teacher. If you’re prepared to do these things, to work hard and to love, everything is going to be just fine. You are not alone. Everyone is working together for the benefit of these little girls, to teach them and help them become the best women they can be. If, in the process, we learn how to be our best self, then the magic of Nakanawa has worked.

I hope you now understand what I said in the introduction to this letter. The magic of Nakanawa will change you and touch your soul; embrace it, and I know you will find, like I did, that a little slice of heaven is located by a lake in Tennessee.

Best of luck! You are going to have a great summer!