Your camp director’s office is one of a kind. There’s a couple of cozy sofas (slept on many a time), toys, games, a dog crate and an old-fashioned soda machine from our earliest years.  There are tricks of the trade, like “sleeping stones” for those who have bad dreams, little plastic monkeys to go in pockets to remind one to be kind, and a treat drawer with exploding Zotz candies to put a bunk disagreement in perspective (when we get along the candy tastes sweet, when we argue it explodes, and when you apologize it gets sweet again).

Some might call the space cluttered, with such a multitude of this and that in every direction.  Truth is, this Farmhouse office is jam-packed full of the most valuable stuff … treasure, from floor to ceiling. 

Much of the treasure is made by little hands, like a duct tape phone case that’s way too small for what should go inside.  There are trinkets from various countries, old bottles and metal toys found in renovations, awards and plaques and the insides of things that kids wanted to know about (like what’s inside of a golf ball).  In a frame is a letter from Ronald Regan.  Another holds a Spiderman comic book signed by Skylemar friend, Stan Lee. 

There are quotes pinned to the wall of sensible words that were said by a sensible person, right here at home.  To share just a few…

“The greatest power is gentleness.” 

“Life responds to effort.”

“Build people up, don’t tear people down.”

“Make each day a masterpiece.”

Most importantly, there’s an air of gratitude within this space.  For the constant flow of campers and staff who use this office as a thruway, or for those who pull up a chair or curl up on the couch, you are the positive energy that fuels this Blog writer until far past midnight.

The attitude of gratitude extends to so many at Camp Skylemar: To each and every counselor, who does whatever it takes to keep their boys safe.  To the nurses and doctors who tend to the unexpected, the housekeepers who redo every bathroom after the kids try themselves, to Ed and Marc who are the ones we call when boys try flushing a tennis ball.  To the teachers and coaches who give up their summers back home to inspire the campers and staff of Skylemar.  To our loyal volunteers, paid only in smiles, who devote countless hours to help keep the Skylemar machine humming.  To our photographers and videographers who try their best to share Skylemar magic with those on the outside.  To Nate who saves the Blog at 2 AM, to Bunk 29 who set up shelves at the Naples Food Pantry and were happy to do so, to the boys who fill our hearts with pride, making us smile all day long…Thank you.

And thanks to you, our incredible parents, for sharing your amazing son with Camp Skylemar.  We are honored by your loyalty and trust, and will never take that for granted.

As the older boys say when they start out a speech, “I’d like to thank Lee and Herb for starting this place”.  It’s a statement well said, and we truly agree.  Not a day goes by without us thinking the same.

To those named above and the 300 who weren’t mentioned, please know that you are loved and appreciated, from this Farmhouse office and to the beyond.