Camp Woodland Blog

The Exception Is the Norm at Woodland!

Posted by on July 1, 2015

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This past Saturday, I just happened to be passing through Chicago’s O’Hare Airport a few hours after the bus left with eager campers headed to the Northwoods of Wisconsin for the start of summer 2015.  Had my flight been a little earlier, I may have joined them for the ride to one of my favorite places on Earth! Lucky for me, travel plans will bring me to Rhinelander in about 10 days.

Having a little bit of time to kill before boarding my connecting flight to Houston, I wandered through the B Concourse looking for a tasty meal.  As I meandered past travelers hustling and bustling about, I passed by a family of four playing cards.  I did a double-take.  At some point in the not too distant past, this would NOT have struck me as being unusual; however, I was taken in by their sense of togetherness and enjoyment.

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I actually got a huge smile on my face as I walked by because I did not see one technological device at this amazing scene of happiness.  No phone, e-Reader, laptop, iPod, Beats headphones…nada.  I saw four people truly enjoying each other’s company, and YES, they were LAUGHING!  I could only imagine that they were having a great time together – 2 parents and their 2 teenage children.  What a cool sight to see!  How sad, though, that this has become the exception and not the norm.

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I continued to traverse the concourse to find my meal of choice and told myself that I would actually say something to this exceptional family should they still be at the same table upon my return.  After grabbing some healthy fast-food (ha!) and making my way to the gate area, this family was STILL playing cards and Mom was in the process of taking pictures of Dad and kids.

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I decided that this was my chance to approach them and offer to be the photographer so that Mom could also be in the picture.  I told them that they had just MADE MY DAY merely by their choice of spending REAL “FaceTime” together in the airport when most people barely even notice the person(s) sitting next to them.  Many travelers keep their thumbs busy while waiting for their flight to be called or they retreat to their “zone” while listening to music being piped in via headphones.  It was imperative that I take their family picture so that this rare occasion could be documented!  This family had actually decided to engage with each for the 2-3 hours while waiting for a delayed flight – how refreshing!

Riding

On my way back to wait for my own flight, I couldn’t help but reflect on how spending REAL “FaceTime” at camp is the NORM and not the EXCEPTION.  While it may seem unsettling at first for you and your daughter(s) to be physically and technologically separated while away at camp, it is crucial to the adjustment process.  Campers will become more fully immersed into the camp experience if they are completely “unplugged” and able to jump into the process of making new friends without the distractions from a myriad of screens.

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With the help of the amazing Woodland counselors and staff, campers are forming relationships with the girls in their cabin and activities this week.  They are singing and dancing and laughing together (minus the milk coming out of their nose!).  The best thing you can do to connect with your daughter is to send an upbeat letter from home via “snail mail” or Bunknotes.  Don’t be surprised if you get a return reply saying how much fun she is having in her new summer home and community.  This is the NORM at Woodland, not the EXCEPTION!