If there’s one thing we hope that a boy brings home from Skylemar, it’s an attitude of gratitude.
It starts with the little things, like manners in the buffet lines. There are typically 10 stations (main course, two sides, two options, pasta, sauce, wow & jelly, salad bar and dessert). As a boy approaches each server, he says “yes, please” or “no thank you” every single time. Yes, every single time.
Everyone matters most at Skylemar, and we appreciate each person’s contribution to our community. Shep frequently recognizes those behind the scenes, like the maintenance department and those who work in the very hot kitchen. One day Fernando, a groundskeeper, was surprised that some kids asked him to play basketball when he was weed-whacking nearby. Our response: So did you play?
The natural beauty around camp is something we never take for granted. Ed and his maintenance department (Marc, Jimmy, Fernando, Mary, Betty, Myron, Vicky, Jonathan, Toppa, Emilio, DJ, Heather and Jeff) take tremendous pride in keeping everything looking and working just right. Then there’s Kristen, our horticulturist, who puts her heart and soul into every flower and all things Skylemar. Seeing beauty in every direction definitely has a positive impact on our mood and well-being.
Speaking of well-being…everyone appreciates our nurses and doctors. Where else besides Skylemar do you have a talented medical team available to you round the clock, with no appointment necessary?
We cheer for friends and staff members at least a hundred times a day and give public shout-outs after meals. When someone has the nerve to speak to the whole camp in a meaningful way, they are given a standing ovation.
Take today, for example. Three meals and three Meal Minutes, thanks to Bode, Eli and Tristan in the Stars Division. Through their words, they truly demonstrated their attitude of gratitude.
Each spoke about their camp experiences, and what they learned over the years that they wish they had realized in the beginning. For example, Bode learned that we should advocate for ourselves, that there’s always an appropriate time and a place, that your past does not define you, that it’s a good idea to ask people questions about themselves, and that you don’t always have to be the loud kid who is the center of attention. The audience appreciated his advice, and gave him a standing O.
Eli talked about his earliest years at Skylemar, and how at first, he didn’t always participate because he was worried about not knowing how to play the game well. He now knows that you can’t let your fear get the best of you. He said, “At Skylemar, everyone wants you to play.” He found that he enjoyed himself much more when he gave it try. He said, “Don’t fear something new, but instead take it as an opportunity to have more fun. Who knows - you might really like it”. The audience appreciated his honesty and guidance, and gave him a standing O.
Tristan, our only camper from France, spoke about how scared he was when he came to Skylemar for the first time. He was all alone in a country that spoke a different language. He had to remind himself that he trusted his parents to find the right camp, where he would be well cared for. He spoke about how grateful he was for every staff member and camper, who patiently answered his questions and made him feel welcome. We adore Tristan and are grateful that he and his parents took a chance on us. Standing O!
As for Skylemar parents, these are the ones for which we are most thankful. We are confident that each of us here have won the lottery by giving us those who love us more than anything imaginable. Although for some it can be hard to say, we know that each Skylemar camper is grateful to those at home for the opportunity to be here. Your camp directors thank you to the Sky and back, for sharing with us your most precious possession.
Today we were especially grateful for Nick Shep. He has spent a tremendous amount of time creating some exciting new elements to our Intercollegiate Day program. He kicked off tomorrow’s big day with two newfangled events: The 5k Relay and the Cardboard Boat Race. These were the first points-earning opportunities, so the team spirit was evident in both exciting races.
The 5K Race had kids running from the furthest points of our 200 acres, and everywhere in between…a 3.1-mile track meet! Congrats to Noah K who was the first to cross the finish line. On the pond, the Boat Race was as entertaining as it was competitive, as all 4 state university teams (another first) wildly cheered on their paddlers. Three of the four collegiate vessels actually made it cleanly across without a piece of the boat, or their "captain", from falling off! When it was over, the Volunteers of Tennessee had claimed both events, and will take a lead into the full day/night of activities tomorrow. More then, stay tuned!
