Parents often ask me, ‘What makes Tripp Lake Camp unique?’ It’s one of the easiest questions to answer, yet at the same time, it’s always hard to find the right words. It’s a feeling unlike any other, a sense of community, a sisterhood that forms right before your eyes – a bond that can only be created when you’re disconnected from the noise of life, social media, and distraction. Considering the world we live in today, parents often question if their daughter will struggle throughout summer accepting this disconnect. But without hesitation, my response is, ‘Trust me; their acceptance happens sooner than you would think.’ We’re only on day two, and already the pleading for their phone, tablets, iPods, and internet connection have subsided. Would they pounce at the option to be on social media? Of course! But in less than 2 days, their focus has shifted. Rather than worrying about what the outside world looks like, they’re focused on soaking up these next seven weeks inside the Tripp Lake bubble!
One of the group’s laser-focused on being fully present this summer is our young ladies living in 1AB. These girls are entering their last summer at Tripp Lake Camp, many of whom have grown up calling Tripp Lake home year after year. To see these girls flourish into the ladies they are today, beaming with confidence, intelligence, kindness, and love for the entire TLC community, is one of my proudest moments as Camp Director. Knowing it’s their last summer, these girls bring more energy, passion, and excitement than ever to each special event – and tonight was no different. This evening the Election of Team Captains, a traditional event where Seniors vote to nominate four 1AB girls to be Team Captains for the summer. These Team Captains bring the energy, spirit, and leadership for our four big teams – essentially being the mascot for their team! They are a vital part of fostering a positive and fun team environment for campers.
This evening, the votes were tallied, and the Team Captains were ready to be announced! Campers traveled to the outdoor area of Cliff House, which overlooks Tripp Lake creating a perfect view of the glistening water as the sun begins to set. As I looked at campers gathered around, I saw our younger campers watching our Seniors – trying to learn cheers, jumping in word by word. And then, before we knew it, the time to announce Team Captains was upon us! I couldn’t be more thrilled and excited for the selected Captains! They’re all going to be amazing!
As the day comes to a close, I’m so proud of our girls. Our new campers are adjusting beautifully to a brand new environment, and our returning campers are getting back into the swing of things with incredible energy and excitement. Since campers have been so limited this past year with community-building opportunities, it feels like our campers are more ready than ever to be present, engaged, and determined to make this summer an incredible one!
Kind Regards,
Leslie
