As I plan and prepare for our summer programs at Baby Fingers, I have been thinking about summer camp. I have had the privilege of watching my children grow up at camp – quite literally, because I have been there all along. My husband and I met at a week-long music workshop hosted at a very special teen summer camp that he had attended. In 2006, my 5 and 7 year olds and I made our way back to Warwick, NY so I could direct a day camp on the very grounds of that teen leadership overnight program. We spent 3 summers there before moving to Great Barrington, MA, or as we say, the 01230… the Eisner Bubble.
Camp is truly special. I have seen my children grow, make friends, learn new skills, become young adults who care deeply for others and who are willing to spend their summers now on staff helping to take care of other people’s children. In addition to being bunk counselors, one has been an adventure specialist (ropes courses and climbing towers) while the other trained to be a baseball coach. They help kids feel as “at home” at camp as their own counselors always did for them. Kids who may not fit in anywhere else are not just accepted at Eisner, but empowered to be their true selves. Kids who may lack the confidence to stand in front of their class to give a presentation at school are thriving as performers or leaders or athletes, and those who already possess that confidence learn to help others … while simply having the time of their lives with their very best friends.
We’ve now had 10 summers at Eisner and 13 summers as a family at camp… and we’ve all lived 10 for 2, living the 10 month school year just to get back to camp for those precious 2 months. We lived in the Bubble – the Eisner Bubble – for the past ten summers…
In my 10 summers at Eisner I chose, prepared, and directed 56 productions with 60 groups of campers. Plus two staff shows. I supervised 10 variations of the drama staff. I had the honor and privilege of working with hundreds of young people who touched my life deeply, who gave me purpose each summer, and for whom I was able to be a substitute mom, a source of emotional support, a creative guide, a self-confidence boost… I got to peek in on my own children as they thrived in this beautiful place. My older one was in one show with me, my younger son in two, and both played in the pit band for several others. I found my tribe, so to speak, of other adults who also love camp. Far from a vacation, this intense work and summer lifestyle provided a change of scenery, both literally and figuratively.
This summer, I’m not returning to camp. I need to focus on Baby Fingers and music therapy research. My younger son will still be on staff and I’ll visit a couple of times at least. It’ll be strange and I know I’ll miss it. But Eisner will always be my home away from home. I’m eternally grateful for having had the opportunity to strengthen the drama program at Eisner, to touch and be touched by so many special people, and to see my children thrive along side their best friends within this special community.
So as I continue to plan our summer schedules for Baby Fingers, I continue to look for ways I can incorporate a little bit of what life is like in the bubble – kindness, accessibility, creativity, and loads of love.
PHOTO BY ochpictures