Dear Boundless Families:
Summer decided to pay us a visit today for a change. When we looked at the 5-day weather forecast before the journey began, it was pretty grim.
And yet, every day has had its ample sunshine and the rains simply haven’t come. It’s turned out to be quite heavenly.
Not a bad metaphor for how your kids are doing.
I have to chuckle. I am guesstimating here – I think that probably half the students came to the pick up on day 1 expecting to be sent to some kind of teenage purgatory.
They have quickly learned to that this place is what you make it, and they have made it a piece of paradise. For your kids are settled in, engaged, befriended, trusting, loving, chuckling, bruised, bug bitten and literally dancing on the tables to reggae music.
The have become “home team”, to borrow from their many idioms that have taken over the community.
The Freshmen left yesterday for 2 nights in Algonquin and are probably right now showering under a water-slide-like waterfall. This group reminds me of some video footage I have seen where sardines are trying to elude dolphin predators. They move in beautiful waves, in graceful and effortless synchronicity. This age group still is in the developmental place where moving in lockstep feels good. They feel quite sterling about Sterling and his crew of teachers – quite attached, and are loving every moment. This group found its stride in about 90 minutes on Day 1.
The Sophs got the benefit (or burden) of my typical end of week lunacy and silliness. I too suffer from the strange malady of actually liking teenagers. I starting chirping at them, and they back at me. The most gregarious of the four cohorts, Tony Town is filled with movement and hilarity. I saw Tony with his typical bow-legged swagger that he gets when his group is well in hand. The girls just rock and rule the roost, which is as it should be. This gang leaves tomorrow morning for 5 nights on the Dumoine river, and they leave with confidence bordering on outright hubris. They have earned it. You would be pleasantly aghast at how well they already function as a team.
Something magical happened on night three with the Juniors. While their anxiety was being ignited by the 60 foot high swing, they patiently talked each other through the challenge with great benevolence, proving to each other that they will indeed get by on pure kindness. They hit their emotional sweet spot and are downright chilled out. Jeff, their trip leader, is befuddled as to the extent of how easy going they really are. They are not a hollering kind of group. They enjoy the quiet moments together. Jeff is looking over his shoulder wondering what the catch is here. Do they need more animation? I advised definitely not, enjoy the ride, because they definitely are. The level of buy-in compared to 72 hours ago is simply extraordinary. I will get to hang out with them on day 10 on the Dumoine River. They leave Sunday – and I am chomping at the bit. This group is exactly my speed.
As to the Seniors – a similar laid back, total buy-in energy to the Juniors, but add in a dose of some entitlement. We are waging war on this, and are winning. They are not quite used to us calling them on their shit in such an inimitable way. Unable to resist our charm and each other’s, the group has let their hair down and is slowly falling in love with each other.They too leave for the Dumoine on Sunday.
A pretty awesome session so far. If you haven’t heard from us by now – and thank goodness virtually all of you haven’t – now its time to relax. Your kids have made this place their home, and are eager for the next phase of their journey. Enjoy your long weekends sans teenage hormones.
Warmly,
