July 2008
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Sunday, July 27, 2008

Change

Big changes in the fields this week.  Our corn is tasseling.  This is the pollination process and we can also see the tiny ears starting to form.  The stalks will not grow higher because the plant will be putting all its resources now into producing those delicious ears of corn.

Even though we've had nothing to do with the success of this crop, somehow I still feel like it's ours, just because we've been watching this particular field and these front rows so closely since they were tiny seedlings.  Wow, have they grown up!  They aren't recognizable compared to those little shoots of early June.

Of course, this makes me think of camp, where we have had a lot to do with the growth of another type of "crop", our staff and campers.  I have been thinking this week about the transformation of many of our staff and campers.  I think of each, one at a time, and try to remember what they were like when they first arrived this summer.  I compare that arrival time with now and I'm amazed.  Even though I have been coming to camp for many years, I am never bored with this amazing transformation.  In some cases, it's hard to recognize a person between their first day and now.  They are usually more confident, more outgoing and much more at ease.  In many cases, they are sharing talents and skills that were invisible to us those first weeks.  It really is like they are different people.  And it's a joy to watch.

We're sure to see more amazing growth and change this summer, both out in the fields and right here in camp.  What a privilege to be part of this.

Tom

Sunday, July 20, 2008

How does it happen?

Our corn continues to surge higher and now I can only look up at the tops of the stalks.  It's such an orderly formation, these corn fields.  It seems like every plant was placed in just the right spot to make perfect rows with just the right space between each one.  The farmers of Donaldson's Farms have done a splendid job.  They've kept these fields healthy with crop rotation, tilling, fertilizing and watering when necessary.  And they have many, many acres of these fields so it's a huge job.  As much as I admire the skill and hard work of the farmers, though, I can't help but stand in awe of the miracle that is before me.  Life is a miracle and without that miracle the skills of the farmers wouldn't be enough.  Of course, it makes me think of camp, from which Jeremy and I have just come to take this picture.  We've said goodbye to our campers for another weekend and finished up plans with our staff for the second half of the summer.  Our staff works very hard and uses all the skills at its disposal to make our camp a fun, safe and caring community.  But we need the miracle too.  There's a magic that happens at camp that is not quite explainable.  It's a spirit -- some feel it's religious, others call it the human spirit, others feel that it's both -- that we can't create or change.  We need to work hard and do our part, but then the magic takes over and the wonderful community of friendship, growth, learning, fun and much more just seems to mysteriously fall into place.  So while I can predict here in the corn field that in the next week or so the tassels will be forming on the corn and not long after that we'll see the small ears forming, I can't explain completely how that will occur.  Likewise, I know what activities we have planned at camp these next four weeks, but I can't tell you what camp is really going to feel like or what exactly will happen.  I need the mystery of life, the magic of camp, to take over.  I just know that as surely as we'll have sweet corn to eat in August, we'll have an amazing camp experience for our campers and staff and we'll be creating memories that will last a lifetime.  I can't wait. 

Tom

Sunday, July 13, 2008

It was a great week for the corn

When Jeremy and I went back to the corn fields on Friday we were surprised at how much the stalks had grown in just one week.  It looks like they've doubled in height.  This made me think of how quickly a week goes by at camp because we do so much in just five days.  The campers arrive Monday morning and before we know it we are waving goodbye to the busses Friday afternoon.  Yet we have done so many different things in that time.  This week it was over 40 different activities plus evening programs, tournaments, day trips, play rehearsal, talent show, bunk times and more.  It was a good week at camp and, obviously, while we were busy on our campus it was a great week out in the fields.  We've got even more planned at camp for Week 4 than we did for Week 3.  I wonder what the corn will be like next Friday.

Tom  

Monday, July 7, 2008

Third week at the corn fields

I no longer have to stoop down for my hand to touch the top of the corn stalks; it's "knee high by the Fourth of July".  So things are going well out in the fields.  Plenty of warm weather and sunshine and just enough water.  There's still a long way to go before the harvest of those delicious ears of sweet Jersey corn, but it feels like the hardest part is over.  The stalks have made it past the toughest part, they are tall enough to shade out the weeds and this field is now definitely going to produce a successful crop.  Back at camp, we sort of have the same view of how things are going.  While we are very experienced at running our camp, it's always a bit of relief to get all the preparations done, welcome the staff, train them, and then have our first session with the campers.  Those campers left on Friday and we are elated with how things went; it was an awesome two weeks.  So much fun, so many new friends.  Now it's time for Week 3, a pretty big increase in the number of campers in camp and lots of terrific activities planned.  Just as the corn can't be stopped now, our camp is on a roll and CK-NJ 2008 is already one of our most amazing summers ever.

Tom
 

July 2008
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