A Mid-Season Opening Campfire

Yes, we are into a THIRD Session of Camp, which means we are solidly out of the beginning of our summer season and right smack-dab in the middle of our summer season.

But every single week of Summer Camp starts fresh and anew (middle-of the season or no) with an OPENING CAMPFIRE!

Yes, we kick-off every session gathered round a roaring blaze down at our Lakeside Fire Ring...

Lit with the Camp Spirit, that small flame we keep within our lantern that lights each campfire week after week, summer after summer, year after year...

The only problem is, it's last week's Camp Spirit, last year's Camp Spirit, it's the Camp Spirit of summers past, and that won't do for a brand-new opening campfire!

And since this week isn't last summer's Camp, or even last week's Camp, but rather something brand-new that is happening for the very first time (and never been created before!), it's time for our campers to add something to the spirit to make it their own. 

So they raise their hands, as we look for volunteers to add some wood to the fire.

And with the log they throw in, they add something they're looking forward to this Camp week...

Something about Camp they're the most excited about...

Something that keeps them coming back summer after summer...

Or something that has brought them to Camp for the very first time.

And once several campers have added a piece of wood (and piece of themselves) to the fire...

And every camper thought about what they, themselves, will bring to the Camp community this week...

The flames of our Campfire are not the same ones that sat in the Lantern waiting for their arrival at L.G. Cook 4-H Camp...

But are rather something brand-new that belongs exclusively to the campers of Session #3, 2016.

And after that (since we've by now all had our fair share of welcoming symbolism), it's time to meet the counselor staff!

And what's the best way to be introduced to the counselor team around a crackling opening campfire?

Campfire Skits, of course!

Who-hoo indeed. Everyone loves campfire skits.

But the counselors aren't the only ones to meet, we need to get introduced to all of our campers in their animal groups as well...

Drumroll please, as the red team unveils their secret selected animal sigil...

And it's the BEARS!

Ooooooooooooooooh.

...The bears.

And how do you tell which of our campers are on the Bear team?

Why, they're the ones high-fiving like bears, of course.

And now who wants to meet more of the counselor staff!

With more skits, obviously. 

And so on and on the campfire goes.

With more skits!

More wood added to the fire.

More songs!

More animal groups!

More counselors!

More skits!

Yes, the Opening Campfire keeps going until... 

Everyone's been introduced...

Everyone feels welcomed...

Everyone has contributed something unique to this week's Camp Spirit...

And until it is far, far too dark to continue taking photographs.