It’s Magic

07/05/2013

The idea of a cabin in the woods, to some, is rustic as far as sleeping is concerned. Others would say, that without the soothing glow of a touchscreen, sleep would be a hard thing to come by.

So I challenge you; ask a camper from Susky village how many walls her campsite at Moonshadow had, where she and her cabin-mates made pita-pizzas beneath a ceiling comprised entirely of leaves. Ask one of the boys in Outpost if he prefers the smartphone left at home to the glow of a thousand new stars, that he’s seeing for the first time, as they fill the night sky…

If you asked, their answers would be filled with tales of hikes in the woods, and of new experiences. Last night saw the villages of Forest, Lakota, Susky and Outpost venture out towards their favorite spots, helping counselors to hunt for firewood, and settling once and for all which marshmallow makes a better s’more; ‘burnt’ or ‘golden brown’?

After a session that saw clouds feature heavily, the sun finally made an appearance. July fourth saw over 150 campers set out into the woods, each with a sleeping bag and a spirit of adventure. Whilst no fireworks lit the skyline, the mixture of woodsmoke, constellations and fireflies were a welcome replacement.

For these campers, sleeping in the woods isn’t rustic; it’s magic.

Alex Draper
Assistant Wawayanda Director

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dan Weir

Dan Weir
Director of Camping Services
campdirector@frostvalley.org
845-985-2291 ext 270

Growing up in New Jersey, Dan Weir knew Frost Valley YMCA as the place his family loved. Now Dan has 21 summers working at Frost Valley YMCA under his belt. He has progressed from junior camp counselor to Director of Camping Services, overseeing Frost Valley’s overnight summer camp programs. Dan holds a Master’s Degree from Stony Brook University, specializing in youth development and technology affecting youth, and a Bachelor’s Degree from George Washington University in Psychology. Dan lives year round at camp with his family.