The 4th of July!
Happy Fourth of July! Independence Day holds a special place in the North Star calendar, and this year’s celebration reminded us once again why this day captures the very best of what camp represents. Campers and staff arriving at the flagpole were so excited in their most creative 4th of July attire. But there was a curveball, as I had woken up to an email from Birch Trail that a stomach bug going around there meant the annual social was cancelled. We told them the news and promised to have a plan by lunch, but the boys were sure that I was playing a joke on them.
Then we headed into the Lodge and began our day by reading the Declaration of Independence for morning grace, and celebrating life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by indulging in a waffle breakfast served with sparklers by our amazing kitchen staff. Everybody was singing along to our 4th of July playlist that filled the Lodge with the perfect energy to start the day.
The morning’s patriotic spirit quickly transformed into the passion of our Green-White Marathon. This epic relay race showcases nearly every camp activity imaginable, from sprinting on foot to splashing across the lake on a fun-bug. The two teams competed across the entire camp against each other in everything that North Star has to offer: swimming, canoeing, climbing, archery, riflery, biking, tent building, tennis volleys, bed making, basketball, bucket filling, spirited camp songs, and more. The Green-White Marathon is such a joy to watch and take part in because winning has nothing to do with individual talent. Success is only achieved in the relay through hard-fought teamwork and cooperation between campers of all ages, and both teams did such a great job doing so in one of the tightest races we’ve had in years!
It all culminated, as it does every year, in the grand finale—Boil Water Boil. The entire camp gathers around two representatives from each team as they compete to build a campfire in an effort to boil a pot of water the fastest. The Green team had a head start when the race arrived at the final event, and they were able to build a great fire to secure a victory!
One of the skills we teach at camp is adaptability and resilience, and though the boys were absolutely sure that we were actually heading to Birch Trail, we were on our way to Carson Field to see the Eau Claire Express take on the Mankato Moondogs in a Northwoods League Baseball Game. We had an amazing night cheering, singing, and feasting on ballpark hot dogs. Several of our Pine Manor campers were able to participate in the on-field challenges including a burger building competition and a tire roll. The college players were happy to indulge the campers and threw them many souvenir balls and signed a ton of autographs.
We returned to camp, tired out from all the excitement, but still had one surprise left. We gathered on the tennis courts for some spectacular fireworks that continue to set the bar. Our neighbors from around the Spider Lake Chain park their boats in Brewers Bay to watch and cheer too. It was an amazing end to an unexpected and unforgettable 4th of July!
