Embedded Files
Written by Rowan Groom, Summer Intern
On a rainy late June evening there was a salient excitement in the air. As training came to a close and staff prepared to welcome first session campers they also began to buzz about Board Dessert, a favorite tradition of many Onas community members. Dinner ended with a drizzle still pattering and staff headed to the Blue and Gold Sides to put on their Onas best (a clean shirt). At 7:30 the drizzle had lightened and staff splashed through puddles and muddy paths towards the Dining Hall to mingle with the Friends Camp Association (FCA) Board of Directors. Laid out on a table was an assortment of sweet treats- brownies, homemade tiramisu, and delicious strawberry shortcake. Staff and board members sat at dining hall tables greeting each other and learning more about their involvement in Onas.
Holly Hecht, Onas’s Executive Director, formally began the evening by asking those in attendance to introduce themselves with their names, pronouns, number of years spent at Camp, and any Quaker affiliations they have. Afterwards, Holly asked the groups assembled at tables to take a look at Onas’s mission statement and reflect on how it manifests in daily Camp programming and reverberates throughout our Onas community at large.
Second-year CIT, Leela, reflected “You're always so supported, you're never left alone. And it's true, everyone is so willing to just step in and help you immediately, correct you, because you are in charge of children… you truly feel like you have a family.”
Eliza, the Mental, Emotional, and Social Health Coordinator here at Onas added, “I think that the mission, vision, and values statements are just so beautiful, really thoughtfully written. Clearly a lot of care has gone into them.”
A CIT manager Camilo commented that he “enjoys seeing people from different walks of life all together under an Onas roof and learning why they're here.”
Program Director Harry said his favorite part of board dessert is that you can “really appreciate the scale of this place and see the impact it has on people.”
Senior Counselor Zane cited his favorite part of Board Dessert is the “dessert aspect” and as the years have gone on he’s gotten much less nervous interacting with board members because “they all seem very down to earth.”
Board member Eli said “I always love getting to see how people have grown up as I’ve interacted with them through the years and there’s nothing better than driving up 611 on a summer day at the end of June.”
Another board member Katie said “I love the energy that builds up during orientation… I’m always impressed by how many years the younger staff have already been at Camp. To see that excitement and nervousness is a good landmark to see how you start the summer off and then how much confidence and how many new skills you gain during a season.” We had no doubt that this summer would be any different.
We tried to get to the bottom of the origin of this beloved tradition. Matt Hecht could date it back to at least 1990, but no one could confirm how and why it started. Despite its mysterious origins, the Board Dessert is always a hit among board members and staff alike.
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