by Julie Conway and Laurie Leighty

My first summer at Camp Trinity was in 1975 I was a counselor on Wintoon with 7 – 8 yr old girls.  Julie Wacht was my co-counselor.  It was a great summer and Julie and I would remain friends over the years  – sharing Bar 717 memories – and returning for Alumni Weekends and helping on the Advisory Board.

Flash forward 44 years to Summer 2019:  We returned as Resource Staff during third session.  We wondered what the two weeks would be like – what jobs would we be assigned?  What would we do on our day off (ended up driving kids to the Alps instead)? Would we be able to resist seconds of all the yummy camp food and avoid gaining weight?  Would we be able to sleep on those cots?

Well, we slept on Green Pastures where the morning sun ensured that we never slept through the wake up bell….on the same cots we had on Wintoon way back when (or at least we think they were the same ones only our 60-something bodies weren’t quite as adaptable).  Most days we were assigned to help in the craft shop – keeping supplies stocked, helping with sewing, or lanyards, friendship bracelets or tie dye.  We also drove kids to the Alps as well as another trip to Hayfork for rebar and to pick up the organic food order.  We cleaned and organized when we could.  We hoped we were helpful…..

And in return, we were entertained by the very creative and theatrical announcements that the counselors provided.  We were inspired by the kindness and acceptance that the campers showed each other.  We were impressed with the leadership that Kent, Gretchen, Laura, Emma, Jean and Nick provided.  We soaked in all the camaraderie among the staff and campers.  And on a daily basis, we wondered “what is the magic that has kept Bar 717 going nearly 90 years?”

Looking back maybe it has survived because of that special Bar 717 feeling, philosophy, program…all of the almost impossible to define things. It’s what psychologists call the “affective realm.” It’s not the “cognitive realm” which is the stuff you can touch and feel.

At 717 the focus is not about learning to ride a horse, or make a tie-dyed shirt, a lanyard, learning how to play guitar, or being able to tell an oak tree from a pine tree….it’s about, as Grover would say, “growing blue ribbon citizens.” It’s friendships, special moments, freedom, choices, responsibility, family, community… You know the story.

So when the kids get home and their parents see them clearing the table, staying in contact with new friends, asking if they can go back the following year, displaying new self-confidence and personal responsibility, etc., their parents notice. That is, of course, what any parent values, much more so than the lanyard.

And so, even after 44 years we can return to that magical place and be filled with its awesomeness…..