The chants and table banging have been going on for a week.  “SEVEN MORE DAYS!”.  Then “SIX MORE DAYS!”.  Then five, four, three, two, one…and then “NO MORE DAYS!” because TODAY IS THE DAY!

COLOR WAR ELECTIONS 2026!

For those in the Stars Division, it’s a rollercoaster of a day.  They bounce between excitement and butterflies, thinking about the evening ahead.  This is the night that determines which two Stars campers will lead the teams of Red and Gray.  Many have been waiting all summer for this possibility.  Some have been waiting for years.

There are 21 fifteen-year-olds in the Stars Division.  Truth is, every single one of them would be an outstanding Captain.  But there can only be a total of two, and the election will determine who they are.  Each camper, no matter the age, has an equal vote.  Skylemar’s Election is pure and fair.

The Lobster Lunch switches the vibe.  All of Sky II plus the JC’s have a feast of their own, celebrating friendship by just hanging out together.  There was lobster, corn on the cob, Junior’s famous chicken tenders, and giant chocolate chip cookies.   

Lots of shout-outs at dinner, like about our 10U and 11U Lacrosse teams bringing home big wins in intercamp games. Same with 10U Baseball.   And in the Grand Slam Camp Tennis Championships held on the Sky I and II courts during the past few days, Aidan Q and Billy G won their age group titles, and Oscar once again proved he’s the best player in camp. 

Now we’re ready… bring on Red & Gray!

By 8 PM, the camp filled the Rec Hall, every Bunk sitting on a bench of their own.  On the stage facing the audience sat the Stars, each wearing the jersey of their choice.  Shep welcomed all, and the entire room reverberated with cheers, whistles and claps. 

He explained that Elections are one of our oldest and favorite traditions.  It is the participants, the campers, who will decide who will lead our two teams.  The spirit of Color War gets down to this…fair play and friendship.

It’s a unique situation in sports.  You’re competing hard and wanting to win against those who you care for.  Typically, you might respect the other team, but you haven’t lived with them in brotherhood.

In Skylemar’s Color War, it’s fine to play your very hardest on the fields, courts and lake.  But here’s the rule:  none of this happens inside the Cabin.  The Captains draft the teams, one Division at a time.  So it’s conceivable that in one Bunk there are five boys on Red, and just one or two on Gray.  Inside the Cabin, it’s family life as usual.

Shep introduced the audience to the many alumni in the back of the room who have returned for Elections.  He asked for anyone who was elected Captain to raise their hands.  Only one went up.  Then he asked for all those who were on the Ballot but not elected to raise their hands.  Many hands shot up around the room.  “Gentlemen,” Shep declared.  “This is our honor roll.”

As the Stars casted their own vote and were dismissed to the Garden Cabin, Shep added, “These are the guys that each of you should be like one day.”

Now it’s time for the Secret Ballot.  Each camper would be called to the foot of the stage to write down two names of those on the ballot who they believe would be great leaders.  First candidate to get one more than half (a simple majority) would become Captain… in this case, the magic number was 99.

Once each camper wrote the names of two eligible campers on the slip, he put his slip into the ballot box (the traditional white pickle barrel).  The votes were then read aloud and tallied, one at a time.

When one Star was up to 90, the boys stood and started the countdown.  As they got closer 99, they moved closer to the door…3 , 2, 1 more … and welcomed our first Captain — Jonny “TI” Horowitz!  “TI! TI! TI!”, they chanted as he came running into the room and was clamored with high fives and hugs from the wildly cheering crowd.

But then, we needed a second Captain.  So the votes continued to be read aloud, until…. all votes were counted, and no other candidate had reached the magic number of 99 votes. So we started the process all over again, except this time, since we needed only one more Captain, the boys only had to write down one name on each ballot slip. Once again, after all had voted, the ballots were read aloud and tallied, one by one, until….the countdown from 10 began again. The crowd was recharged and ready when our second Captain — Joaquin Davalos — was mobbed entering the Rec Hall.  “Joaquin! Joaquin!  Joaquin!”, they chanted.  He too was surrounded by love and excitement.

The 19 other Stars returned from the Garden Cabin and were greeted with applause.  They gathered in the back of the Rec Hall, and chained up their arms, shoulder to shoulder in brotherhood.  

The flip of a ceremonial coin determined that TI will lead Red, and Joaquin will lead Gray.  The Captains next chose their Stars Lieutenants, two for each, who will help lead their teams — Spencer B and Oscar for Red, and Archie and Jordan G for Gray.

Although each Star not elected may be disappointed and some get teary, they have each other to lean on.  These are the brothers who share what no one else can understand.  Little do they know, in the days ahead they’ll be learning a most powerful lesson.  More on this tomorrow….