A Trip to the Lake

Sunday. August 1. All the campers packed up their bathing suits and towels and piled into three Stuart Hall buses to go to Lofton Lake, a short thirty minute ride from Staunton. Every YCTC session has this day for the campers to just relax and get ready for the last week of camp. After getting to the lake and going over the rules, the campers run down and jump into the water. The overcast day doesn’t stop them from gathering and talking in a shallow area or having cannonball contests off the dock. While some campers played in the water, others sat on the dock and watched, snuggling in their sweatshirts and long pants. The weather was pretty cold, but didn’t stop the fun. Luckily the rain held off, and the campers were able to freely walk around the lake and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Walking away from the lodge, the view of the lake opened up and with the clouds low over the mountains, the vision was strikingly beautiful.

The BBQ for lunch was perfect for the cool day, and the campers wolfed it down. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, lemonade, watermelon, oranges, carrots, and cookies were laid out for everyone’s enjoyment. As the owners of the lodge stoked up the fire, campers gathered around it. A couple of people started playing guitars and ukuleles, and soon there was a circle of campers singing along. Meanwhile, other campers took canoes and kayaks out onto the lake. When it was time to go back to Stuart Hall, the campers had to be pulled away. They probably could have sung songs around the camp fire into the night, but they eventually all got back on the buses to go home. Before getting there, however, the camp made a stop at Klein’s, a local ice cream shop. The line twisted into the parking lot, as all the campers ordered their treats: a perfect way to end a successful day. Once back at Stuart Hall, some campers did laundry, while others brought pillows and blankets into the library to watch movies. When it was all over, the campers went to bed well rested and ready to get back to work for the final days of camp.

Darielle Shandler