Session V: The Camp Spirit Test

PROTOCOL 1-9-5-1 reads that all campers must cancel any and all scheduled activities to participate in a full out Camp Spirit Test. This protocol is only invoked in the most dire of circumstances. (For instance, if a Camp Spirit Extinguisher was parked in the middle of the lake. That might call for it.)

The Water Snake (who was revealed to have valuable information during Camp Clue) gives us the puzzle pieces we need (literally) to uncover the counselor double agents.

They're among us! Send 'em on down.

What do you all have to say for yourselves? Sorry? Sorry AND you're revealing that the DARK AGENT is about to turn the Camp Spirit Extinguisher up to full power!? AND that we've only got 90 minutes to max out the Camp on Spirit!?

Oh no! Maxing out the Camp Spirit can only happen one way...

Initiate Protocol 1-9-5-1! This is not a drill!

That's right! It's time for...

The Camp Spirit Test!

Spirit Test? Oh yeah. We're ready for this.

Spirit Identification Cards are handed out. Now's the time.

And how do we test our Camp Spirit? With the challenges of the above listed characteristics.

Demonstrating the patience to make the well shot.

The speed to plummet down the slip'n'slide...

...and knock down a bunch of bowling pins.

The spirit to...show their spirit.

The speed to capture flags guarded by a counselor.

Fake tin can archery in the bowl.

The famous hydration station.

The concept is simple. From the bridge you...

Just throw...

Launch...

Hurdle...

Or catapult...

Full water balloons...

At our counselor Sam Ryder.

What's not to love about that?

Friendship bracelets are always a good indication of Camp Spirit.

Perhaps the most daring spirit station of all...seeing who has the bravery to swim outside the swimlines and approach the Spirit Extinguisher itself.

Cause it wouldn't be a Camp Spirit test at all with some solid waterfront representation. 

There's some soaking wet Camp spirit.

After conquering the challenges of Lake Shawanni...

Campers could dry off around the fire.

By accepting a story telling challenge.

But of course, Arts and Crafts has to be represented too.

We present...

The Camp Spirit Mural.

Sure, any camper can do flag raising. But how many can do blind folded flag raising?

Nuthin' but trash can.

Proving your spirit in emergency circumstances really is even more fun than you'd think.

Any good spy movie has some important scene involving thumbprint access.

And this is ours. Who will leave their thumb print on the side of the Whitehouse Bathrooms?

A completed spirit card! We did it!

Our own Agent Rattlesnake reports that the device is almost off-line...

All we need is one final Camp song to push our spirit level over the edge.

What was the real key to defeating the machine?

Our brave swimmers tied friendship bracelets on it, of course. We solve all of our problems with friendship 'round these parts.

So the Dark Agent was again defeated, and Camp went off to celebrate with our standard Friday evening ceremonies, campfire and dance.

But we did leave behind on the wall a small record of the Campers who proved that their spirit was strong in the Summer of 2015.