Camp Is My Home

This piece made me cry! It is so special to me!

Airy Is My Home

By Noah Solovey

Camp is the place where I feel with my people, and at home; at my summer home. All the people there are so united and together as one, and everyone cares about one another. I go to my beloved sleepaway camp, Camp Airy, for five weeks, and at the end of each session, the famous “Airy Olympics” takes place. For this Airy Olympics, my general, or in a simpler term, the team leader was Ethan Gordon, who ran The White Team. The other general was Jared Simon, who ran The Green Team. It was how the traditional Olympics worked: the camp is separated into two teams, and both teams compete for points to win “The Airy Olympics.” It is possibly the biggest camp event, and in this short memoir, I’ll be going over one of my favorite parts of it, Song Fest. From the suspenseful, nail-biting parts, to even the finale: Tug of War, this Olympics was eventful, unforgettable, and cliffhanging, but the songfest was the main competition that changed the whole entire thing..

I was tired from the long day. Tired, and still getting over a cold. A camp cold. I knew that Song Fest was tonight and couldn’t miss it. It was pushing my limits a bit, but to be with my camp friends on the amazing Olympic night only comes so much summer, so I’d have to. I went to the usual shuttle stop. At my sleepaway camp, half of the activities are uphill, where the bunks and dining hall are, and the other half are downhill, and when we had to warm up for song fest, we had to go downhill. Everybody gets used to walking up and down the hill, stepping on the good-luck stone, getting a drink from the water fountain, or just simply walking and bonding with their friends. I have to get rides because of my medical condition, Multiple Hereditary Exotoses. I saw Ethan, chatted with him, and soon enough we were down the hill. I found my bunk, sat down with my CIT Brother Jordan, and we were handed out the song sheet.

The second I read Written By Alec Lusby I knew it was something class. He worked for the camp music department, and I could recall hearing him practice this song. I started reading through it, and it made me cry. It was beautiful and reminded me how much camp matters to me. I couldn’t visualize the tune in my head because of all the white team chants, “Everyone, let’s get started! CMON WHITE TEAM!” Everyone was quiet and the white team, half of the camp, started reviewing it. Then, we reviewed the team song, which had more passion rather than meaning in it. It was still amazing

~~~

I chose Sour Patch Kids over 100 Grand for Camptine. I sat down with the paper in my pocket ready to sway side to side with my camp friends, reading along to the amazing lyrics. After Scott “Poopy” Black, the co-director of the camp finished his announcement, he yelled, “Camp Song, White Team, First.” Gordo (Ethan Gordon’s Nickname), counted to three on his fingers, and the white team went into sync.

Hey there my old friends

How’ve you been, I really missed you

Cause we live so far away

But now we’re back at camp again

Ready to go

This is gonna be the best one yet I know

I feel the glow

Check out the new bunk,

See it looks just like the old one

But the memories we’ll make here

Will be somehow even more fun

Close your eyes

Hear our song and feel the bright blue skies

And realize

The team was into it now, everyone was swaying, crying, and singing together, as a camp. As one.

Oh, Airy is our home

We, can make this place our own

Oh, camp is our summer home

We, can make this place our own

Make this place our own

The next verse was my favorite, so catchy, so camp-y.

Hike down to go-karts

Or the brand-new fancy skate park

Segal’s back so take a swim

Or go see Greg to make some art

So much to do

Climbing up the hill with my old crew

I’m here for you

Walk up the row and

See rehearsal at the theater

Do an interview for Linda

Sing with Dan “I am a pizza”

Extra cheese

Sing goodnight to Airy and Louise (Louise!)

I feel at ease

It was all coming together, the tears the emotion, all of it, it felt like the entire camp was united.

Oh, Airy is our home

We, can make this place our own

Oh, camp is our summer home

We can make this place our own

No extra line this time, it rolled right into the bridge.

Michelle has props and future stars,

STEAM has 3d pens and art

And all of that is only just the start

Cause each and every memory

Is truly now a part of me

That I will always keep close to my heart

Airy I can promise you

That by the time that we get through

Our lifes will never ever be the same

That’s why we caaa-aaame

The tears were overflowing now. A sea of emotion. It is no longer the seven seas. Welcome, the new sea, The Airy Ocean!

Hey there my old friends

See you next year don’t you miss me

Few more years and we’ll be CITs

And we’ll be making history like we do

This family’s always here for you

Can’t wait to see you here next June

Hey there my old friends. I’m so proud

Let’s sing it loud

4! 4! 4! 4!

Oh, Airy is our home

We, can make this place our own

Oh, camp is our summer home

We can make this place our own

Make this place our own

Oh, whoa, whoa

Make this place our own

Make this place our own

Oh, oh

GO CAMP!

It was amazing. The uniting between everyone. It seemed that the Olympic ending announcement came early. The “Camp will now go back together. As one.” announcement. Yes, that one.