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What do summer camp and cabin decks have in common? They’re both liminal spaces (places in between). When you turn onto the long, winding driveway at camp, the world seems to change. The trees grow tall and close, forming a canopy overhead. The noise of the highway and everyday life fades. By the time you arrive, you’ve crossed into a different kind of place. It’s not your usual home, and it’s not the outside world either, it’s somewhere in between. Summer camp has always lived in that space. It’s a break from routine, where days feel a little different and time moves in its own way. For a week at a time, campers step out of their usual lives and into something new. In that “in-between,” friendships form, confidence grows, and a sense of wonder shows up in small meaningful ways. Camp meets kids right in the middle of growing up, in that stretch between being little and becoming more independent. It’s a time full of change, learning, and figuring things out. At camp, we’re grateful to be part of that. We work hard to create a place where campers can try new things, be themselves, and enjoy being fully present. This past week, the London Home Builders’ Association, along with their community, built two new cabin decks. These additions to the cabins are brand new places for campers to gather. They sit right between indoors and outdoors, between rest and activity, between a cabin group and the rest of camp. I can picture campers there in the morning, listening to birds as they wake up and head to breakfast. Or in the evening, sharing their rose, bud, and thorn from the day. These are the spaces where friendship bracelets get made, cabin games are played, and the energy slowly shifts from busy to calm. They help mark the movement from one part of camp life to another. As summer approaches, maybe there’s an invitation here for all of us to notice the in-between moments a little more. To slow down, to reflect, and to find a bit of wonder in the spaces that don’t always ask for our attention, but often give us the most in return.
Carter Mahoney / Executive Director
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