N’s camp is right in the zone of very unhealthy air in the upper Midwest from the forest fires in Canada. As a result, the camp has had to pivot a bit as far as moving outdoor activities inside. We’ve gotten way more communication than usual from the camp, telling us what they’ve been doing to keep the kids entertained and occupied and safe from unhealthy air, including renting out movie theaters to see movies, going roller skating and watching the World Cup inside nearby auditoriums.
I am going to share two things: first, N’s second session cabin photo; and second, one of the updates we received from camp over the weekend. It’s long.
Director’s email from yesterday (7/18):
| It was the haziest of times, it was the brightest of times… Here in beautiful Lake Nebagamon, we’re enjoying a sunny, bluebird day. We expect days like this at camp. Days when we can be outside playing, exploring, venturing into the wilderness. But this session didn’t start that way. A situation totally out of our control– fires burning in Minnesota and Ontario, throwing smoke in our direction– required us to pivot. On Wednesday and Thursday this week, facing the smoke that many of our families from Chicago to New York are now experiencing, we decided as a community that we would not be deterred. That in the face of a challenge out of our control we’d adapt. We’d remain nimble. We’d stay safe. We’d have as much fun as we would on a sunny, bluebird day. On all of those fronts we’ve succeeded. As an administrative team, we’ve thought about the smoky situation through what we call the “two camps” lens. There’s Camp 1: the camper experience. Then there’s Camp 2: the behind-the-scenes experience of administrators making decisions to maintain health, safety, and fun. A TALE OF TWO CAMPS On Wednesday morning in Camp 1, arising from their first-night slumber, campers headed to the Rec Hall for the first breakfast of the session. They noticed some mist moving through the air before enjoying chocolate chip pancakes and sausage, and a rousing rendition of “Drop a Nickel” led by an incredibly talented vocalist… the camp director! Then they headed off for orientation day. Meanwhile, in Camp 2 we all woke up excited to kick off the second session! Upon checking our weather apps, as we do each morning, we noticed that smoke was likely headed our way. So, we did what we always do in Camp 2; rolled up our sleeves and got to work. We called local environmental health authorities for guidance and potential resources should the smoke get worse. We consulted medical experts. We reached out to our friends at other camps. We collected information. We started making plans. “World Cup? We’re watching the World Cup?” The Rec Hall erupted at lunch when we shared the news that we’d be walking to the Village of Lake Nebagamon’s (air conditioned) Auditorium for a viewing of the Argentina vs. England match. Spirits were high, and were buoyed by the five of our staff members and one of our campers from England who rallied all of us behind the Three Lions. Nevertheless, the room rocked with Argentina’s late comeback. The smoke wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It became clear that our quick pivot to watching the World Cup would need to be just one in a series of changes. We gathered the Steering Committee– our camp leadership group– and worked through next steps. We’d need some key materials to get through safely. We needed air purifiers and a supplement of KN95 masks to add to our inventory. At the same time, the World Cup match was coming to a close and we needed to develop brand new indoor programs on the fly, a challenge given that one of the best parts about camp is that we operate almost exclusively outdoors. Our program team put their heads together. “An all camp Big Brother-Little Brother Soiree? Unheard of! ” The Soiree, a classic activity for new-to-camp 3rd through 5th graders to connect with their Big Brother– a returning Lumberjack camper who welcomes them to Nebagamon– was unique this year. We returned to the Village Auditorium after dinner, and extended the Soiree invitation to all ages. The soiree was spy-themed and really got everyone laughing as we created secret handshakes and attempted to break each other’s codes. We wrapped up the Soiree as we always do, with s’mores. Sure they were oven-baked s’mores, but there is just no way to ruin a s’more! With no way to procure enough air purifiers in the Duluth area, as stores had been sold out, we looked south. Our waterski director and our camp photographer drove to Rice Lake and then to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, two hours away, with instructions to purchase as many as we needed to have enough for all the camper cabins, staff housing, and public indoor spaces like the Big House and Rec Hall. Meanwhile, a duo of camp alums making their way up from Minneapolis for a visit came in with a huge assist. Already halfway to camp, they stopped on a dime, turned around and headed back towards the Twin Cities to engage in their own shopping spree to add to the supply from the Wisconsin drivers. When all was said and done, we had procured enough air purifiers for every space we needed them. At 11:30 PM, the final haul of purifiers arrived from the Twin Cities. A group of senior staff convened at the Big House, assembled them, and went on a mission. Donning headlamps, they ventured through our sleeping camp, quietly installing the purifiers cabin by cabin until all of camp was taken care of all the while internally humming the Mission Impossible theme song as they crept through the night! “Wow, it doesn’t smell smoky in the Rec Hall,” was the sentiment in Camp 1 the next morning. We convened inside the newly air-purified building, eating in shifts to ensure nobody would have to eat on the exterior porches as the Axemen and Lumberjacks usually do. After breakfast we headed to the lower diamond for a field trip to an indoor roller rink and then to the movies! “We’re going to need some more masks,” was the sentiment in Camp 2. Once again we scrambled drivers and mobilized alumni who were more than willing to pitch in and gathered enough masks from Minneapolis, Eau Claire, and Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The roller rink was positively groovy. Campers shimmied to the music and shuffled around the rink. We did the limbo and danced to the tunes. Plenty of kids excelled, relying on ice skating experience, while others tried roller skates for the very first time. The 70s laser lights were the cherry on top. But perhaps most excitingly, (at least to those in Camp 2) save for some bumps and bruises, everyone left the rink with all bones in the same state they began! The Big House office was positively buzzing with action; plans for tomorrow, updates for families, a system for determining criteria for outdoor activity, communication with medical professionals. All of our staff back at camp were hard at work readying programming for the field trip to return and developing policies and procedures to manage the shifting forecasts across the Northwoods. After enjoying Minions and Monsters at the theater, our movie critics in the Swamper Village gave it a whole-hearted two thumbs up. They were all jazzed to sit in recliners in an air conditioned theater watching a flick on the big screen! Our trip staff, with wilderness trips temporarily grounded, joined our caretaking crew and kitchen staff to help with maintenance around camp and preparing meals. Leadership on the trip program explored options for sending trips out with the developing criteria in mind. Our infirmary staff diligently updated medical plans for campers with asthma, and joined in on communication with parents of sensitive individuals in camp. Our kitchen staff shifted meal plans on a moment’s notice to accommodate field trips and meals served in shifts. Cabin Counselors provided endless empathy and fun. After a modified indoor Wannado that evening, two Loggers made their way to the tennis courts for a quick match before jop-up time. Their village director informed them that the courts were closed due to the air quality. One of the campers responded, “Air quality? Is that why we did all that fun stuff today?” Our specialists, with projects temporarily closed, put themselves to work planning multiple contingency plans for the coming days. Our office staff fielded phone calls and emails non-stop, worked on updated logistics and labeled masks for each camper and staff member. Our administrative team, including our full-time year-round staff, maintained a steady hand, responded calmly to every curveball thrown our way, and set the tone for camp through it all. “Normal camp!” Cheers rang through the Rec Hall yesterday morning as the air quality improved and we went back to business as usual. Armed with medical guidance, resources, and countless hours of hard work, we moved forward with a plan: following our set criteria for determining activity levels, and adding numerous contingency plans should the smoke return. Today, we’ve followed that criteria shifting from regular projects to more low-key projects as the air quality fluctuates. |
