A Letter of Appreciation for Second Session

Dear Second Session,

Campers left last week; how do you say thank you for a month like this?

Thank you for the early-morning paddles, muddy shoes, sun-warmed chats on the rocks, songs that somehow got louder every night, and laughter echoing from one end of camp to the other.

Thank you for showing up, not just for the big adventures, but for all the little things that make Nor’wester what it is.

Thank you to the campers who tried something new, even when they weren’t sure they could do it. For the courage to climb a little higher, sail a little faster, sing a little louder, or simply walk into a new group and introduce yourself.

Thank you to the Rangers for a surprise mid-summer Thanksgiving meal, the Mariners for collecting bark for the Salmon Bake, the Archers and Explorers for embracing the opportunity to dance in the Big House, Vagabonds for embracing their overnight adventures, the Wayfarers and Islanders for serving Banquet, and so much more!

Thank you to the staff who gave so much of themselves to make these weeks possible. Thank you for the patience, creativity, energy, and care they brought to every day.

And thank you to our Mountaineers and Troubadours, who stepped into leadership in so many ways. You helped unload the barge when food orders arrived, took turns washing dishes, set up visitor tents, led singing, and found wonderfully Nor’wester ways to pull “pranks” that were actually helpful - like mysteriously setting all the tables in the Lodge.

Thank you for understanding that being an older camper at Nor’wester means more than having a little more freedom. It means noticing what needs to be done and doing it. It means looking out for younger campers, helping without being asked, making room for someone else, and knowing that the health of this community belongs to all of us.

And thank you for making room for joy.

There were certainly long days, unexpected rain, challenging trips, and moments when camp tested your patience. But there were also the unmistakable Nor’wester moments: a tent laughing until the curfew bell, a song everyone somehow knew, a perfect sunset from the water, or the realization that the people around you had become your people.

That is the gift of a Nor’wester summer.

Second Session, you brought your own energy, humor, traditions, and magic to camp. You became part of a story that started long before you arrived and will continue long after you leave. The trails may be quieter and the Lodge a little emptier, but traces of you will remain in the friendships made, skills learned, songs sung, and ways you helped make camp a better place for someone else.

So, from all of us who are lucky enough to call Nor’wester home: thank you.

Thank you for being brave, goofy, helpful, curious, generous, and fully yourselves.

And thank you for reminding us once again that the magic of Camp Nor’wester isn't just in the place.

It’s in the people who show up and make it what it is.

With enormous gratitude,

The Nor’wester Community