Blog

Is the holiday season the warmest time of the year? Temperature-wise, here in the Northeast, not really. We prefer summer time for the warmth, but when it comes to family, friends, giving, love, and food, the holiday season definitely heats up. “The most wonderful time of the year” makes people happy, and as camp people we also like to think ahead to our time spent at camp.

One of the main reasons I love this time of the year can be explained by the family holiday card. We all get them from our relatives, our neighbors, etc. But the ones that truly make me feel special are from my camper’s families, and our staff. These cards welcome us into their lives giving us a glimpse at what makes them happy during the holiday season- family, their dog, their kids. That is what camp is all about; it is an extended family, one that expands across the world.

The lessons that camp teaches are universal; the power ofkindness, of creativity, of laughter, of joy, of silliness. Camp gives campers and staff the experiences and memories that will be with them forever. Yet in between these moments and memories, we learn the power of resiliency and the power of having real face-time, something that is often missing in today’s world.

At camp, our counselors know and teach the importance of family. Our family will cheer, embrace, accept, and love others. At camp, you are loved unconditionally even with our flaws. In this wonderful time of the year, let us to remember this- to reach our arms out to our camp family and recall those who stood up and cheered us on at trying something new, embraced us when we failed, and pushed us to succeed. Camp offers all those things- strangers from every background, different cultures, coming together to celebrate the one thing that our campers truly want and we all need-friends.

Each summer, our campers and staff create or expand their second family, their camp family, on the shores of Little Bear Pond. When our campers get off the bus to step onto the Wekeela campus, the warmth of the Maine air along with many hugs and smiling faces from old friends and new faces greet them. At Camp Wekeela, family is the core that binds our relationships together. There is a reason our slogan is “Camp Wekeela Where Friends Become Family.” As Bug Juice and Wekeela shirts mimic some cozy hot chocolate and ‘ugly sweaters’ of the holiday season, we hope the fond memories of the summer time bring warmth to our campers and families this holiday season. Summertime may seem far away, but the opportunity to reminisce about the memories that you made at Wekeela makes this holiday season so much more special. We are all so thankful for the gift of camp in our lives. Wishing everyone a healthy, peaceful and joyful holiday!