A large part of my youth was summer camp. I actually lived for the summer, my favorite part of the year. I began going to overnight camp when I was in the third grade, after several years of day camp. The day camp I recall the most was a science camp with projects about our natural world. In my mind's eye I see a fossil project using plaster of Paris; perhaps I have a photo of me in a box somewhere and that is my witness.
During elementary school I went to Camp Green Erie (Girl Scout) and Camp Takodah (YMCA) beginning with two weeks away and then joining the 'lucky' and staying for a month. When I reached 9th grade I moved on to the Vineyard Sailing Camp on the island of Martha's Vineyard. In many ways, that camp shaped me. I lived my school years to get back to the Vineyard.
This camp built on anticipation. Each Wednesday was a camp race and on Sunday afternoon (I think?) was a locals regatta. Each boat would have a skipper and 2 or 3 crew selected. They were grooming us to both lead and follow, not easy for teenagers to be sure.
At this point in life, I cannot imagine the responsibility of being the counselor aboard each boat. We sailed Gems and Day Sailors with the coveted prize of any week being assigned to a Gem, fast sleek and with both jib and spinnaker.
Days began with the flag raising, the entire camp population circled around the flag pole with the color guard extending proper flag etiquette to raise the flag. From there was breakfast followed by 5 or 6 songs, sung with gusto. I still have many of them in my head.
We didn't feel deprived having to live with what could fit in a steamer trunk for a month or even the whole summer. Since we had to get to the island via the ferry from the mainland, being thoughtful in your trunk contents was paramount.
In the 5 years I attended the camp, the camp director was Cinny (at least that is my memory of her name). Each year she made special camp ties for the staff, I was pretty proud of mine when I became staff.