Sounds of Sewataro

Forty One Years and Still Counting

2011-05-26T07:52:00.001-07:00

It seems like yesterday that my new bride Stefanie and I first came to Sewataro. It was the summer of 1971 and we were looking for a camp job. We both taught at Hopedale High School and Stefanie suggested that I check the Yellow Pages for a camp in the area. Thus began our love affair with Camp Sewataro.

When we met with Alba, we were amazed with the camp grounds. It was plain to see that Alba really cared about the camp and the people who worked there.

We inquired as to what positions were available. To our delight fishing and tennis had yet to be filled. Stefanie had some tennis experience and Alba made it clear that her prime interest was for the campers to have fun first and skills second.

Fishing was an activity I learned as a child as my dad was an avid fisherman. At camp, Fishing had been taught with a Huck Fin approach, using bamboo poles and string. For some reason the campers never caught a fish. I had a lot of work to do.

Stefanie worked for three summers until our first child Josh was born and three years later our daughter Emily. I had a fabulous opportunity to watch my children evolve into wonderful and giving people thanks to the skills and positive role models that Sewataro instilled in them.

Fishing has become a very popular activity at camp. In the summer, I become “Dan Dan the Fisherman”, a name that I am very proud of. It is difficult to put into words the joy and wonder on a child’s face the first time they catch a fish. You just know that this moment in time will be etched and never forgotten and I feel blessed to be a part of this.

I now have two grandchildren, Jacob and Lindsey. The happiest day in my life will be when they attend Camp Sewataro. A second generation of my family will enter their adult lives with all the skills needed to lead happy and productive lives.

Although Alba is no longer with us, she lives on in the hearts and minds of thousands who will always remember Camp Sewataro as being a special place that they will never forget.

Posted By: Dan Dan the Fisherman

Bio: Dan and Stefanie are retired teachers living in Framingham. Their days are occupied by caring for their grandchildren so that their children can continue their careers, Emily, a child psychologist and Josh, owner of Pioneer Real Estate Appraisers. Dan continues at Sewataro as “Dan Dan the Fisherman”.

Work?

2011-05-11T07:26:00.000-07:00

The whole concept of “camp” is inextricably related with the season of summer for two extremely practical reasons.

1. You need excellent weather in order to play outside all day.

2. You need an extended mandatory vacation from all things “work-related”.

This extended mandatory vacation only exists in the form of summer vacation from school. As a child, I can remember the lure of the outdoors and of uninterrupted play as a constant desire that could only be adequately quenched during those still too short summer months. I may have exaggerated some details in my own mind, but I remember the entire student body at my 1-5 elementary school staging a sit-out protest when we learned the school was going to be eliminating “morning recess” from the schedule. That same innate desire to play made me cherish my own varied experiences at a great range of day camps, overnight camps, and sports camps throughout my childhood.

The first summer I began to work at Sewataro as an 18 year old after my freshman year of college, I came to a rather incredible realization. I was getting up at 6:30 in the morning (no rare feat for a college student), putting all of my energy and focus into my job the entire day through, and yet I didn’t feel like I was “working” at all. Quite literally, I was being paid to have fun and make sure others had fun as well. At first, I felt guilty. What if someone found out? I was young sure, but I knew you weren’t supposed to actually enjoy work, right? But the longer I worked there, the more I realized that this was a place where the entire mandate is to spread joy. From the owners to the staff supervisors to the staff themselves, Sewataro is truly a community of people working together to bring joy to the lives of children in a safe and accepting way. It may sound hokey to say it like that, but that doesn’t make it any less true.

And the longer I worked/played at Sewataro, the more I realized that I didn’t have to settle for slogging my way through a “job” for the rest of my life. The experiences I had at Sewataro (along with the people I met) inspired me to build my career around finding work opportunities that did not feel like work at all. Sewataro is a big part of the reason why I am now a teacher and a coach as well as a counselor. I had no idea as an 18 year old that one summer job would turn into three rewarding careers, but I soon came to find out that a summer at Sewataro can have life-changing effects for both campers and staff.

Posted By: Ben

Bio: I grew up in nearby Wayland, MA before going on to earn degrees from Boston College and Tufts University in English and Secondary Education respectively. I have worked for Camp Sewataro since the summer of 2003 as a General Counselor, Extra, and Section Supervisor. During the school year I teach English and coach the Boys JV Basketball team at Framingham High School.

Letter from a Camper...

2011-04-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Taylors,

I have been coming to this camp since I was a little girl and I truly have loved every second of it. Between running around at activities and making lifelong friends, I have come to learn more about who I am as a person. It has allowed me to gain a stronger confidence in myself. My English teacher asked my class to think back to our best summer experience and all I could think about were the warm days of camp. I have been attending this camp for about eight years and it definitely defined my summers. I probably started Sewataro when I was about five and now I am turning fourteen, so I cannot genuinely remember a summer without this camp. This camp meant so much to me and those years I attended were so precious and memorable.

Entering into this camp family, I wasn't always sure of myself, but now leaving I feel that I have learned a great deal about who I am and this camp has taught me so many lessons that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I am going to miss all the laughs we once shared, the feeling of them all having my back if I fall, and most importantly I'm going to miss the way they made me feel. This camp family will forever be my summer sunshine.

I am currently a student preparing for high school. With the school year almost ending, I cannot imagine that this summer, I will not be a part of Sewataro. I will miss it very much, but an opportunity came up for me to become a Counselor in Training at another well-known day camp. My thoughts are that after completing the Counselor in Training Program I will have the chance to return as a counselor to my beloved Sewataro.

Christina

Staff Selection

2011-04-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

One of the features of camp that always impressed me was the quality of people who worked there. After a few years of working at Sewataro, I was attending Oberlin College. For a Winter Term Project, I thought I’d help out interviewing staff for summer camp. Alba kindly obliged my request.

Over the course of one week or so, many candidates came to camp to interview. Alba interviewed them all, with Bill and the Taylors weighing in. I contributed my two cents worth. It was an interesting experience and I do remember one candidate. She said she had attended Camp Sewataro. I asked her what she remembered about camp. She remembered that it was a lot of fun in general but specifically all she remembered was a goofy guy in a green hat leading songs.

Alba was very perceptive in interviewing people. I was always amazed at how she could remember so many names and faces of staff members. During staff orientation she made a point of saying how good the staff was. This would shore up the confidence of leery newbies who would soon be swallowed up by a sea of campers, many who already “knew the ropes”. She said, “I know you’re all good because I hired you.”

Alba and I had different recollections of my camp interview. My basketball coach had worked at Sewataro and recommended me. Alba said I was very quiet in the interview and didn’t display any enthusiasm. It was late in the hiring process and there weren’t really any openings. My coach assured her I was good with kids and emphasized she’d be missing the boat if she didn’t hire me. So Alba reluctantly hired me as “Campcraft Assistant”. (This position was later known affectionately as “s’more boy” or “s’more girl”)

Part of my job as Campcraft Assistant was to build the fire for the Girls’ Overnight. I didn’t have to stay to work the event, so I built the fire, lit it, and then asked permission to sing one song before I left. I sang “Flea Fly” and the camp went ballistic! The next day I was asked to help lead the singing for Closing Exercises. This songleading continued for 24 more summers. The goofy guy with the green hat who sang songs was off and running.

Posted By: The Rogue

Bio: The Rogue worked 25 summers at Camp Sewataro where he taught Campcraft, Adventure, Imagineering, Magic and Juggling, and led singing. He currently lives in Wisconsin with his wife Karin, a Philosophy Professor, and his son, William. He is a member of the Order of Merlin of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

SURVEYS INSPIRE INNOVATIONS: New Challenge Course, Canoeing on Concord River, Overnight Field Trip, Tree House Play Area, Reduced Bus Fees

2011-04-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

“My boys had an amazing summer—best ever…they loved some of the new activities and the old standby’s they enjoy.”

“I like the way they encourage the kids to go out of their comfort zone, but don’t push them. It’s just the right amount of encouragement.”

“Our son loves the camp. This is his 6^th year. He was very happy that Sewataro has added new activities such as the rock climbing wall and music studio.”

“Sewataro has all of the best qualities that a camp could hope to offer any family. I only wish that they had a camp for the parents.”

We have carefully read and digested the satisfaction surveys you filled out last summer, and—as gratifying as your overwhelmingly enthusiastic comments were to read—we also heard suggestions that will help us make camp even better.

One suggestion was for us to find new adventures to challenge our middle and older campers. A low ropes course was mentioned by more than one survey respondent, and that will happen this summer in a big way. Project Adventure has been engaged to construct a course that has seven different stations, and they will begin putting it together as soon we get a favorable stretch of weather. When we get closer to camp time, they will give a hands-on tutorial to our staff in its maximum use.

Another idea mentioned in the surveys was that of going off grounds for field trips. So, this summer, for the first time since the 1970’s, we are taking middle and upper campers on canoe trips on the Concord River. Henry David Thoreau would be proud. And as a special treat for our two oldest tribes, there will even be an overnight field trip to a north woods destination, yet to be finalized.

And we haven’t forgotten about our youngest campers. A major innovation is the creation of a new play area for them, something that might spur their imaginations as they move about it. Tree houses have always had a certain appeal, so Mark thought he might build it around an old tree. He’s already made sketches of it and will soon begin construction. We’ll keep you updated with pictures on the website.

There were other things we learned from the surveys as well, about transportation costs, about swimming, about the activities, etc., and we have done some tweaking to make all of these better. In the case of the bus transportation, by taking on some of the administrative costs ourselves, we have significantly reduced the price with no change in carrier or service.

The most gratifying thing about the surveys, of course, was your recognition that, in the spirit of our dear Alba Taylor, we are absolutely committed to keeping Sewataro at the very top of the day camp ladder.

Posted By: Rockashaw Bill

Bio: I was born and raised in New Orleans, went to Jesuit High School and Spring Hill College, then got a Ph.D. in English at Brandeis. I taught English for 25 years at Southeastern La. Un. in Hammond, La., until I retired in 2004 to take care of my wife, Alba Taylor, and assist with Camp Sewataro. I've written books about contemporary authors Peter Matthiessen and JamesSalter, and published articles about modern and contemporary fiction.

Nick the Bus Driver

2011-04-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

Each day, after closing exercises, my campers walk as fast as they can to Bus 11 to tell Nick about their day. It is a race to see who will be able to tell Nick first how big the fish was that they caught earlier in the day, or show him their new game board they made in art. At the end of every year, parents and kids ask if Nick will be the bus driver again next year. It’s an important question, since Nick is a very special bus driver.

Nick is the bus driver of bus 11, (formerly bus 16) which is the Wayland and Natick bus. Nick is a magical bus driver, he is almost the equivalent to Mrs. Frizzle in “The Magic School Bus.” He has many talents, and is always entertaining the entire bus with his stories and singing as he drives us to and from camp every day. Having Nick as my bus driver is a blessing. Nick has many special talents, and among them is his song- writing (and singing ability). Each session, Nick has a new song for us to sing, and perform during closing activities. Not only are these songs creative, but they are funny and they all relate to camp. One of my favorites, is the

“Yankee Doodle Camper”:
(to “Yankee Doodle”)

“I’m a Yankee doodle camper, Sewataro is the place.

I can catch a fish and then I throw it back, and then have a three legged race.

All the counselors are the best here, they teach us a lot of things...”

In addition to writing these amazing songs, Nick helps us discover how to perform them, and teaches the kids signals to do during the song to make it even more exciting. For example, the kids actually acted out a three legged race in the song, and then all crashed together, and got up to keep singing the rest of the song. It was fun for the kids to do this, as well as the rest of the camp to see it.

It is special enough that Nick takes time to write out these songs for the kids (which they love every time). But in addition to this, he prints out a version, and makes a CD for each child. On the way to and from camp, he sings with us (time after time). This is a great addition, because while I may be an enthusiastic counselor, singing is definitely NOT my strong suit.

When it comes time for us to perform these magical songs, we always find a time Nick can be there. Nick introduces us, and sings with us. The pride he has of these kids singing is so evident in his smile. Nick treats these campers as he would his own children. He keeps them laughing, smiling, singing and most of all, safe.

Posted by: Hannah

Bio: Hannah is in her fourth year (out of five) at Northeastern University studying psychology, early childhood and elementary education. This will be her fifth year as a Swim Instructor at Sewataro.

A 3rd Generation Camp Sewataro Family

2011-04-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

A long, long time ago my oldest son Patrick made a new friend. He was his classmate at Rose Hawthorne, a Catholic school in Concord. His friend’s name was Mark Taylor, who lived in Sudbury, MA. Patrick loved to be invited to Mark’s home to play. He would tell me all about the woods, the hills, the trees, and the pure beauty of the pond and the sky above it all.

One day, at a camp event, an Indian program was held at the pond area. By now, I had met Alba, who was Mark’s mother. She shocked me by asking me if I would consider becoming the camp nurse that summer. I was an R.N., a graduate of Mass General Hospital School of Nursing, and I always loved children, and I still do. To make a long story shorter, for the next fifteen years I was a camp nurse and loved every minute of my summers at Camp Sewataro.

To make it even more special, my five children were fortunate to attend camp with me. Patrick, Kevin, Monica, Julia, and Kasey were all campers. For me to be able to work at a day camp was so special because I truly believe that God led me to such a special place. It was so perfect for all of us.

My children realized how blessed they were to attend camp and looked forward to camp each summer. I hated to give up the camp position, but my full-time position as an occupational health nurse required I leave camp. By now, my children had grown and were fortunate to become camp counselors.

It wasn’t Kevin’s desire to become a counselor, as he loved working with Papa Secatore. He learned many skills from him. The rest of my children continued to work at camp throughout their college years. Monica came back to camp after many years in the working world. In turn, her three sons have gone through camp as campers. My grandsons now are all in college and continue at camp as counselors.

I deeply admired Alba. She had all the decisions on camp programs made with the intention of creating a happy environment for children. Children’s happiness was always at the forefront of her goals for the camp. Her own children, Mark, Chris, and Rob, all were leaders in camp. They assisted in the development of Camp Sewataro as it became a beloved summer day camp.

I miss Alba for many reasons. Look how she took care of my family by hiring all of us for so many years. Even as it was sad to see her aging. she did it in great style. I will never forget her and my love for her will never diminish. Her husband Bill was there for her and all of us. He took great care of her in her long illness. My children and grandchildren have been blessed by having known Alba. None of us can ever forget her.

Sincerely written with great love for Alba and Camp Sewataro

Bio: Kathleen Dee Horgan was born and raised in Concord, MA. Her father, Major Michael J. Dee, was the superintendent of the Concord Reformatory. She and her husband Bill had six children. Kathleen was a pioneer in the field of Occupational Health Nursing, managing a health clinic for many years at NMI in Concord. For fifteen summers, Kathleen was the camp nurse at Sewataro. Alba Taylor was her best friend and those Sewataro summers hold a special place in her life.

Ever wonder who made the Harmony peacepipe sign?

2011-04-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

I worked 8 years at Sewataro, but it still seems like half my life. My first year I was to teach archery, but somehow I was reassigned one day to teach Indian Lore. With a Navajo chant or two under my belt, I had the kids all beating a community drum (cardboard box) and belting out the chants like pros as Alba happened upon the scene in her silent golf cart. I saw her beam with pleasure. The next day I came to camp and found the yellow sticky note reading: Melinda, See me. Alba. Oh no, had there been a complaint?! Alba asked if I would do “fishing” that day. Then Campcraft, Arts & Crafts, Nature, Canoeing, and on. For me, it was a summer of confidence–building. In the following years I taught Campcraft with Roger (Rogue) - back when he was too young to be the Senior Counselor.

Alba hired me to illustrate the newsletters, to paint the tribe signs, swimming tree numbers, and a sign for every activity at camp. I felt important. The Taylor family treated me like I was (and still am) family. When I took a sign carving class, I designed and carved my first sign for Camp Sewataro. Thirty years later, it is still prominently displayed.

About 30 years ago, I got married, moved to Maryland. I spent two years preparing signs and exhibits for a park system, then 15 years as a naturalist and administrator of a large environmental education facility, and now I am simply working as an artist in every media I choose. I know Sewataro and Alba’s undying confidence in me has made me the person I am today.

Posted By: Melinda

Bio: Melinda Byrd is currently self-employed in her art business, Byrdcall Studio, located just behind her home in Woodbine, Maryland. She is a print-maker, painter, fiber artist, and creative visual problem solver. She lives with her husband and black lab, enjoys hiking, biking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and home brewing.

Say it Loud, Say it Proud

2011-03-28T07:29:00.000-07:00

I am a card-carrying member of Sewataro Nation. This camp has had a very profound impact on my family, and for that I am eternally grateful. In September of 2004, my dear friend Robin Jones called me to say, "Today is the day! You HAVE to get your application up to Sewataro right now -- it's first come, first served, and I heard people are already lined up..." Although I didn't want my then-kindergartner to miss out on a what I (being relatively new to Sudbury) had heard was THE camp to end all camps, I had a bit of a dilemma in that my then-infant son was taking his morning nap. (Don't know about you, but when my kids were babies, nap time meant ME TIME, and nothing short of a natural disaster came between me and Me Time. But I digress...) I told Robin I couldn't make it to camp until later in the day, and that I would just have to take my chances that 8-week spots would still be available. Bless her tenacious heart, she told me to get my application ready, and before I knew it, she had picked it up and dropped it off, (along with her own son's application), on my behalf. To this day, I still thank Robin every June for getting us into Camp Sewataro. It's now almost seven years later, and with the exception of my husband and the two frogs we somehow acquired, the whole family goes to camp...and we love it!

Nowadays there are many terrific programs out there, and families have more options than in previous years. My kids have both had experiences in other programs, some they liked all right, some they didn't. For us, nothing compares to Camp Sewataro. It is in a league of its own. So what is it that makes this place so special? Hmmm...since I have only been allotted 3 paragraphs, I'm not sure I can fully answer that question. I'll do my best...

I only have to pull into the driveway to know that I'm in a special place. (Cue John Fitz singing "Inch by Inch": "...Mother Earth will make you strong if you give her love and care...") The grounds are impeccable, and it is quite obvious that every blade of grass, every rock and every shrub is tended to with love and care, compliments of Mark Taylor himself. Equally as beautiful are the smiles that abound from both campers and counselors as they laugh, sing, cheer and chant their way from activity to activity. Warms my heart every time. These counselors really care, and it shows. Many years have passed since that first summer, and my then-kindergartner has somehow become a soon-to-be 7th grader, right before my eyes. Camp Sewataro has been a mainstay in his life all these years, a place he calls home. I believe it is a combination of the counselors, (who in addition to being downright hilarious and fun, have also been excellent role models), the lifelong friendships he has made, (about which I could write an entire blog entry...which gives me an idea...:)), the exciting, diverse activities this camp has to offer, (year after year I think, "How can they top this summer?", and then year after year, they do...), and of course, the daily shenanigans, (like, "Who's Got the Green Gizmo?!"), that ensue each day. There is no doubt much more I could add to the list, but I would say these are the key ingredients that when combined, have created what is in my humble opinion...Magic.

Posted by: Amy

Amy Podolsky lives in Sudbury with her husband Scott and their two boys, Josh and Danny, both of whom are seasoned Sewataro campers. A self-proclaimed "People Person", Amy's professional background is in Television, where she has worked both as a news producer, and as a Researcher for WGBH's Emmy Award winning children's series, "ZOOM". These days she can most often be found cheering and chatting on the sidelines at her kids' baseball and basketball games, joyfully teaching movement (The Nia Technique) to both kids and adults in West Concord, or during the summer, (her favorite time of year), at Camp Sewataro, where she co-directs the "Sewataro Sprouts" preschool program, and is a Young Tribe Head Counselor during the regular camp season.

Alba Day

2011-03-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

The Sounds of Sewataro blog has been silent for all too long! Sorry about that. Justification abounds, the main part of which was my wife Alba’s decline and then passing on November 10, 2010. I used to think the word “passing” was a euphemism, but I changed my mind after seeing her last days. The word aptly describes the peaceful transition she made to that which lies beyond. I was grateful that she was home, aware, surrounded by family, and that she was Alba to the end.

Even though Alba had not been active in running the camp for some time, she loved the greetings tribes would give her as she toured the camp from her power wheelchair. Prompted usually by their counselors, except for the Chinook who took the initiative themselves, they would chant, “Helloooo Alllbaaa!” And her smile would widen as she waved back a greeting. With her now gone, naturally there’s a big hole in all our hearts here at Sewataro, but we are committed to continuing her work and her high standards on behalf of children. Her spirit remains. Alba taught us to treat every request with sympathy, to always put our campers first, and to leave no detail to chance. That is our mantra. Please keep the afternoon of May 1^st open and plan to attend our gala “Alba Day” from 2-4 pm. More details to follow, but it will be fun!

In the future, we plan to keep this blog fresh with weekly additions. Besides myself, we have a number of guest bloggers who will bring all sorts of interesting tidbits to you. Stay tuned for a new blog every Wednesday.

Posted by: Rockashaw Bill

Bio: I was born and raised in New Orleans, went to Jesuit High School and Spring Hill College, then got a Ph.D. in English at Brandeis. I taught English for 25 years at Southeastern La. Un. in Hammond, La., until I retired in 2004 to take care of my wife, Alba Taylor, and assist with Camp Sewataro. I've written books about contemporary authors Peter Matthiessen and James Salter, and published articles about modern and contemporary fiction.

Climbing Tower

2010-05-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven’t written lately. Alba, my love and camp’s founder, had to be hospitalized again. After two weeks, however, the good news is that she’s on the improve and should be home before long, perhaps even before our first training day for staff on May 22^nd.

I did start to discuss some of our innovations this year, and in this blog I want to tell you about an exciting new addition to Sewataro for 2010, a climbing tower. It all started with our campers and the surveys they fill out at the end of the session about things they would like at camp. The most repeated request was for a climbing wall.

So we started investigating the possibilities in the fall. By the new year we were committed to making it happen, but wanted to check out as many varieties as possible first hand before deciding. Christine told us about a climbing tower on the beach at her favorite vacation getaway, Aruba. In January Mark, Rob, and I went to visit local climbing walls such as those at Lincoln-Sudbury High School and Bosse Sports. We also trekked to Marblehead to inspect a tower built by the same company as the one Chris saw in Aruba. And we ventured out to western Massachusetts to see samples at one company’s manufacturing site. After all this investigation and multiple phone calls to various manufacturers, we decided on a permanent tower instead of a portable wall for both aesthetic reasons and because it more closely resembles the real thing. Our criteria for our final choice were functionality, beauty, and authenticity.

Mark scouted the property for just the right spot to locate it and found the perfect place on the hill above volleyball. It needed some pruning and clearing, so, during their school vacation, our two youngest male Taylors, Cameron and Graham, with one of Graham’s camper friends, Josh, helped in the clearing of the site.

Because the company that we settled on using is located in Colorado, there were logistic problems, such as getting it here and assembling it. It arrived in sections about two weeks ago. After making a concrete platform, Mark tackled the daunting enterprise of putting it together in less than a week with Rob’s skilled and my unskilled assistance. Believe me, a project of this dimension does not go without challenges, but Mark is a genius of the practical, so all challenges were met and conquered. Rob, calling on his vast experience in teaching climbing, has guided us in every step of the way, acquired all of the necessary ancillary equipment, and put together a training manual for the camp climbing staff.

We have an inspection of the tower this Friday, and on Saturday experts from Project Adventure are giving an intensive training course for all those involved with the activity. We are all excited as can be by this new adventure, and we are sure you all can’t wait to check it out. So here are some photos of the process and the result.

New stuff at Sewataro--Two-week campers

2010-04-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

Why Two-Week Camp?

In my last blog, I alluded to all the innovations Sewataro has committed to in 2010, and I promised to reveal some of our behind-the-scenes thinking about each change. Let’s begin with our initiating two-week sessions for the first time in Sewataro’s fifty year history.

For a number of years, we saw other camps go in this direction, but we were reluctant to follow their example because we felt that ideally the fullness of the camp experience required time for each of the groups to bond into a cohesive unit of friendship and cooperation, as well as time for children to discover a side of themselves that might be different from their school/home selves. Another reason we hesitated is that we believed that one of the goals of camp is growth in ability, i.e., a process of developing skills whether they be at tennis, swimming, archery, or any of the activities; and ideally such growth is more likely to occur in four weeks or eight weeks than in two weeks.

Although we still believe that the four and eight week camp experiences are ideal for children, everyone does not live in the ideal world. Increasing demands on our children’s time and competing attractions for our children’s attention during the summer do not always leave time for a longer camp experience. After talking with a number of parents, we came to realize that families’ schedules and commitments call for more flexibility on our part, and we need to support our camper families. Another aspect of less-than-ideal contemporary reality, of course, is economic. For some, the cost of camp has become a strain, and we wanted to find a way to share the benefits of Sewataro with as many as possible. Two-week sessions are a step in that direction.

So our offering of two-week sessions this year is a recognition of the reality of changing times. And yet, while we must be realists, we continue to be idealists, maintaining the same goals in our two-week program as we have always had in our four and eight week programs. It is only the degree of accomplishment that may be diminished. Two-week campers will experience the same degree of fun and be exposed to the same variety of activities as our four and eight week campers. And we are committed to instilling in the them our characteristic spirit of teamwork, cooperation, and unity, just in a more concentrated way. During counselor training this year, we will be addressing this very thing, exploring ways to accomplish our goals within the shorter time span.

Can we do more in eight weeks than in four? Sure. Can we do more in four weeks than in two? Of course. Regardless of how long the session, however, Sewataro will continue to be that special place it always has been: a spectacular place of natural beauty with a unique blend of spirit, variety, care, commardarie, and enthusiasm.

New stuff at Sewataro--Elk saga continues

2010-02-12T06:25:00.000-08:00

I’ve been remiss in blogging lately because we’ve all been busy planning all the changes for next summer that you may have read about in our latest Sewataro Newsletter: the introduction of two-week sessions, the pre-camp two week “Sewataro Sprouts” half-day program for pre-schoolers, the half-day option for our youngest campers during the regular camp sessions, our extended-day option to accommodate working parents, and the box lunches offered to busy parents by Concord Teacakes. All of these are NEW! You have to wonder if we are crazy, don’t you, taking on all this innovation at the same time.

And this doesn’t even include the additions to our regular camp programming that we are planning as well: Rock Climbing, the resurrected Sewataro Garden, the Frog Pond, Fire-Building Instruction, Overnights for older campers, and the Sewataro Music-in-the-Woods Studio. All of this is hard to explain in one gulp, much less accomplish, but we are ambitious and, in the spirit of our dear Alba Taylor’s passion for making Sewataro the best summer camp in the world for kids, we are excited about forging ahead. In my next few blogs, I thought I would tackle these innovations one by one, explaining our behind-the-scenes thinking on each.

Meanwhile, of course, let us continue our saga of the Elves of the Land of Three Ponds.

The Challenge of the Sorcerers

At the conclusion Shallimar’s speech, a stunned silence was broken almost immediately by the pops of scattered clapping, which spread like a growing groundswell into a wave of applause and cheering with even some high pitched whistling. The crowd of elves had clearly spoken their mind, allowing their enthusiasm for the perfomance to spill over into their acceptance of Shallimar’s request. When the “Daily Elf” carried the story the next morning, and Dragoric and Tifallel read in the cold light of day what Shallimar had said and how positive the Elvish reaction was, they almost at once headed in each other’s direction, in their haste and consternation almost bumping into one another on the road. “What should be done?” asked Tifallel. “We must immediately call a meeting of the Council,” answered Dragoric, “This is more serious than I imagined. I thought they would be gone by Monday.”

The Council elected a new President every three years, almost always choosing a leader from a different clan than previously in order to avoid any bias from developing. Currently it was Samiton of the Makers who presided over this emergency meeting. He got quickly to the issue at hand, allowing Dragoric to outline what he considered the serious and immediate threat to their community that this band of Sorcerers presented. “The trick Shallimar performed at the pond,” warned Dragoric, “was more than sleight of hand or an illusion. It certainly derived from the dark arts. Now the ordinary elves think his powers are so great that he should be welcome among us, but I fear this kind of power will corrupt us. It will lead us down paths we have long ago rightfully forsaken.”

Some of the Council were less alarmed, asking what harm indeed had the Sorcerers done. The most vocal in support of the Sorcerers’ request was Familor, the Players’ representative who had arranged the week-long performances and who was secretly conspiring with Shallimar. Most of the representatives, however, were persuaded by Dragoric’s logic and Tifallel’s questions. A vote was taken. Seven voted to refuse Shallimar’s request; four voted in favor.

Shallimar had anticipated this outcome, and frankly he was pleased that the vote was as close as it was, a fact he had learned from Familor in violation of the Council’s policy of secrecy regarding vote count. This closeness boded well, Shallimar thought, for his follow-up plan to call for a public referendum to overrule the Council of Elders.

Only twice in Elf history had this procedure been enacted, for to bring it about required that a written petition be signed by one quarter of the elves of the Land of Three Ponds. The Sorcerers asked each Elf to sign the petition as he or she entered their final performance on Sunday evening. At intermission the petition was passed from row to row. The drive was enormously successful as the crowds were awed by all the Sorcerers could do. Many secretly wondered if, in fact, they would be an even more effective safeguard against internal and external discord than the clan of Protectors.

Frequently families were divided according to age in their reaction to the petition that was being circulated. The younger members seemed to favor welcoming the Sorcerers as more modern and hip than the stodgy leadership of the village. The older family members were more cautious and suspicious, remembering past disruptions in Elf history and concerned about the nature of the Sorcerers’ magic powers.

Despite the disagreement that the petition occasioned in the village, the Sorcerers had little trouble collecting the requisite number of signatures given the popularity of their performances and their support among the young. Some even signed the document simply with the hope of regular Sorcerer performances after they settled in the Land of Three Ponds. Dragoric, Tifallel and the other concerned members of the Council were alarmed, for this nearly unpresidented petition to overthrow their decision meant that the outcome would be determined by a popular vote of the entire village.

What methods would each side use in trying to influence the outcome of this election? And who will win? Find out in the next installment.

Learning at Camp—Changing my name to Rockachaw Bill—Elves of the Land of Three Ponds

2009-12-23T06:52:00.000-08:00

Do campers learn anything at camp? What do they learn? Did you learn anything when you went to camp? When I went to Camp Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, more years ago than I care to number, I learned how to swim, play handball, ride a horse, and box. At least, those were the things I learned, i.e., stuff new to me at camp that I couldn’t do previously. I had already fished, played horseshoes, and shot a rifle; so, although I improved at those things, technically it wasn’t something “new” I learned.

The most important things I learned at camp, however, weren’t “things” at all. The big lessons had to do with learning how to act independently of parents, learning how to stick up for myself or, in one dramatic incident, someone else, learning how to maintain a friendship with an uncoordinated member of our group without appearing uncool to the jocks, learning how important it is to pick yourself up after failure (I was unseated by a horse and took a pretty good beating in a boxing match), ultimately learning how to enjoy the stuff I did well and not be crushed by the rest.

So, campers, did you learn anything at Sewataro last summer? Did you learn how to shoot a painball gun, catch a fish, skim down a water slide, throw a frisbee, hit a backhand, or shoot a bow & arrow? Did you learn some other, more personal, lessons? Tell us about them.

I’m going to part ways with the coyote. Coyote Bill, I discovered, is already too popular a name, used by a pretty well-known musician out west and by other bloggers as well. So I’ll keep the Bill part (since that is my real name) and use the mascot from my old camp, the Stanislaus Rockachaws, as my nickname. I’ll be Rockachaw Bill from now on. Oh, “rockachaw” comes from an old Choctaw Indian word for that little sticky weed that is so common is the sandy soil around the Gulf Coast, commonly known today as Cocklebur or, technically, Xanthium strumarium. It tends to stick to socks with its stiff, hooked spines.

And now, for another chapter in the story we began last week. . . .

The Spell of the Sorcerers

It all started when a travelling troup of Elf entertainers who called themselves “The Sorcerers” visited the Land of Three Ponds to put on a circus for all the resident Elves. For a nominal fee of 10 guilders each (a guilder was the coin the Makers had fashioned as the currency of Elf village in order to facilitate fair trade), a curious Elf could gain admittance to a show promising fire-swallowers, nail-walkers, snake charmers, knife throwers, hypnotists, mind readers, fortune tellers, and magicians able to make one’s head spin by amazing feats of disappearance and levitation.

The Sorcerers were scheduled for one week of performances at the small theatre that was used for community entertainments. The first night’s show was well attended but by no means filled. As word spread, however, of how mind boggling were the Sorcerers’ feats, this small auditorium could not hold the crowds. On the second night, the show played to a “standing room only” audience, and multitudes of unhappy Elves were turned away. On the day before the third scheduled performance--with everyone in Elfdom talking about the spectacle--the clan of Players, who handled entertainments and had booked the show, realized that unless they moved the venue to a larger space, disgruntled Elves who were turned away at the door might cause a disturbance of the peace. Since Elves are normally quite law-abiding citizens, this was deemed serious, so the Players transferred the production to the largest gathering place in the Land of Three Ponds, the open-air amphitheatre called the Bowl that had been built into a hillside overlooking the first pond. This suited the Sorcerers just fine, as they were able to showcase their amazing powers in an even more spectacular way.

The climax of the third night’s show was a trick that no Elf would ever forget. Shallimar, the leader of the Sorcerers and their chief magician, called for five volunteers from the audience who were blindfolded, bound in chains, and placed on a raft that was floated out into the pond. When it reached the middle, Shallimar raised his staff, shouted words in a tongue no Elf present understood, and threw the staff hundreds of feet into the air above the pond. At the apex of its flight, it scattered a flock of migrating black-bellied plovers and suddenly burst into an explosion of light that blinded the audience with its brightness. In the wake of the burst, a thousand glittering sparks in the shape of stars fell from the sky where the staff had been, disappearing before they hit the ground. Shallimar immediately directed the attention of the stunned audience toward the floating raft, which now was empty of passengers. “Have they been shocked by the spectacle and fallen into the water?” shouted Shallimar. “No,” he answered his own question, “they are sitting on the far bank of the pond.” And lo and behold, there they were: all five of them, now completely unbound, relaxed, and sitting on the far shore with their bare feet dangling in the cool waters of the pond. The audience let out a collective gasp at the dazzling instantaneousness of what had happened. This was magic indeed.

Eager elves could not get enough of the Sorcerers’ astounding displays. Tickets for the remaining four performances were sold out at the box office by 9 am the next morning, with some elves wanting to see the show more than once. And each show was more awe inspiring than the last one.

Not all of the elves, however, of the village were as smitten with the performance as was the general public. Dragoric, the ancient elder of the Protectors, had concerns about the sources of the Sorcerers’ powers from the very outset, concerns he had been reluctant to share with others until after the third night’s extravaganza. After the performance that night, he ambled over to the cottage of another elder, Tiffalil, the most revered of the Askers, and spoke about his concerns. Tiffalil did not need convincing, and in response to Dragoric’s suspicions, he uttered, “How indeed could one get such frippery magic without tapping into the dark arts?”

The two recalled the period of great erruptions in Elf history when whole clans clashed with one another for control of land and communities. Some went so far as to sell their Elvish souls for the supernatural powers that would give them control over others. The leader of this band, the carismatic leader, Luximar, nearly succeeded in gaining complete control before a coalition of clan elders managed to unite their members under the ancient principles of simplicity, harmony, honesty, and service. Simplicity implied that life should be lived on its own level. Harmony meant that one cherished the joys of community. Honesty dictated that any Elf with an unusual power be required to disclose the source of that power. And Service required that any such power could only be used for the good of all in the community, never for individual advancement or in frivolous display. Dragoric and Tiffalil were worried that the Sorcerers might be a descendants of Luximar or some of his followers, but they were not yet convinced that they posed a threat to the Land of Three Ponds, hoping that they would move on to other lands after their final performance on Sunday. At least, the two elders did not judge that concerted action should be taken on the basis of their suspicions alone.

That is, until the end of the 6th performance on Saturday night. Once the curtain had dropped to the now customary standing ovation, and the Sorcerers came out for their curtain call, Shallimar addressed the crowds with these words: “Elves of the Land of Three Ponds, you have been wonderful in your reception to us, the travelling nomadic clan of Sorcerers. What you have seen, however, is only the tip of the iceberg of our powers. Powers that we are willing to use for your benefit in exchange for a place in your community. We are tired of travelling and desire homes among other elves. Our proposal to you and your elders is this. Welcome us into your village by building cottages for us, give us a representative in your Council of Elders (one who has the same veto power as the representatives from the Askers and the Protectors), and we will use our powers to improve and safeguard the quality of life in the village. I think you will see that our methods are more effective than anything you have now.”

How will the elves of the Land of Three Ponds respond? What actions will Dragoric and Tiffalil take? And will Shallimar anticipate these actions and use counter measures? We will learn the answers in our next installment, “The Challenge of the Sorcerers.”

Sewataro in Winter—Mr. Coyote—Fall camp activities—This Blog—Land of Three Ponds

2009-12-10T12:56:00.000-08:00

First “real” snow of the season came Saturday evening, December 5th, a couple of inches that painted all the pinetops white and was sticky enough to bend their branches down in reverence for the power of nature. Lately mallards and geese have dropped in for a swim and a brief rest in the midst of their journey south before it gets too cold. Haven’t seen the blue heron in well over a month, but we did have another visitor last week: a large, healthy coyote, who scratched his hairy neck while sunning complacently in the middle of the lacrosse field. Mr. Coyote acted as though he owned the place.

Camp has also had a few human visitors this fall as well. On three successive Wednesdays, Subury Extended Day bussed kindergarten to 5th graders from Haynes, Nixon, Noyes, and Loring schools over for some fun. Emmy, Jen, Chris, Rob, Mark, Jan, Karen, and yours truly refreshed our memories of what it was like to be counselors when we led the troups in various activities like S’mores, paintball, string course, GPS hunt, hayrides, and camouflage. We were aided thankfully by some actual counselors like Michael H. and Alex M.. In each of the school groups, we found a few Sewataro campers to answer our “Hubba, Hubbas” with loud “Ding, Dings.”

This blog will be aired every so often with things of interest to campers, parents, counselors. It will be occasional in frequency and varied in content. News about camp people and camp activities, but not only news. Some facts, commentary, how to’s, and opinion. I even have a few tales to tell. For the most part, it will all come from me, who will draw part of my moniker from the above mentioned camp visitor. So Coyote Bill, aided by inspiration from anywhere and comments from you, will hereby launch Sounds of Sewataro. Your responses are welcome and will be also aired.

Speaking of stories, let’s start one about the ancient hidden people who used to inhabit the places we now live. Their spirit lives on, of course, and there may even be some of their descendants who have carved out homes in a tree or two on the property.

The Elves of the Land of Three Ponds

Many years ago, during the Golden Age of Elves, at least seven distinct elf clans occupied the territory now known as Sewataro, then called “The Land of Three Ponds.” Elf clans tended to be named for the particular talents and abilities of their members. For example, the Askers were famous for asking questions, questions so sharp and pointed that the effort to answer them would bring sheer clarity to the most difficult problems of life. Once an Asker elder framed a question so powerful and so brilliant that anyone who seriously tried to answer it had his life changed forever. The question was, “Where are you going?” By the tone of the question, of course, the listener knew that an answer such as “I’m going to the grocery store” would not suffice, and any attempt to answer the question in this way would only subject one to ridicule. Suddenly elf, dwarf, fairie, or human—whoever was asked this question—had to think about the direction of his or her life. They could no longer go about the ordinary tasks of the day like eating, playing, going to school, shopping or working without thinking about how all of these activities fit into the overall journey of their lives. Needless to say, with this kind of a gift for illuminating the mysteries of life by their questions, the Askers were revered by all the Elf clans and given a special place of prominence, for whenever any of the elves found themselves puzzled about things or weighed down by worries, they would approach the Council of Askers to receive a question that would cause them to see their puzzlement in a fresh, clarifying way.

Some of the other Elf clans--and I won’t reveal all of them just yet--were the Protectors, the Makers, the Poets, the Growers, and the Players. All of these clans lived in harmony during the Golden Age of Elves. The Growers provided food and drink for all. The Makers built cottages for every Elf family and all the buildings needed for meetings, socials, and exchange. The Poets fashioned beauty and insight out of language, song, story, painting, and sculpture. The Players invented games, arranged parties, and found any excuse at all to create holidays and celebrations. The Protectors looked out for the safety of Elfdom, monitoring and arbitrating any disputes that arose within the Land of Three Ponds, and keeping watch on any threats from without.

An example of the former was when Ilsar complained about his neighbor, Saleil, who would play his ukulele every night after eating dinner and drinking more than one large cup of mead. The mead made Saleil very sentimental and nostalgic for his dear wife, Lostra, whose elfish soul had parted from her body three years ago. Saleil’s playing and loud singing of mawkish tunes disturbed the peace and tranquility of the neighborhood, said Ilsar, and prevented Ilsar from sleeping, a sleep he needed in order to rise at 5 am for a decent day’s work. After Ilsar complained to the Protectors, one of their arbitrators came to the neighborhood and talked to both Ilsar and Saleil separately. He then made his decision and informed both of them of what was to be done. On Friday and Saturday nights, Ilsar could play his uke and sing after supper, but only on those nights, and even then he could only play until the clock struck ten. Both elves accepted the ruling with varying degrees of satisfaction, Ilsar happy that the importance of his songs had been affirmed, and Saleil happy that the importance of his sleep had been recognized.

Such internal affairs were simple for the Protectors to address, and usually only one of them was required to handle them. Outside threats were a more serious matter. It was one of these that required an emergency meeting of the entire council of Protectors on a cold and rainy late November evening. This threat, the Spell of the Sorcerers, and its ensuing complications will be the subject of our next installment of The Elves of the Land of Three Ponds.