Dropping my son Anthony off for first session was like going back in time for me…..driving the back roads to camp (and narrowly avoiding certain death on some of the turns), unloading the footlocker (the same one I took to Camp Chanco for 8 years), finding out which campsite Anthony was in, meeting the counselors….

I have been so looking forward to the day that I would send my own kids to Chanco.  Thankfully, over the past year, all three of them have become very familiar with camp as we have been there often for the CCAA board meetings, workdays, open houses, and just general FUN.  So when we found out that Anthony was in Campsite Matthew, he was quite happy about this – the previous weekend we had been at Chanco for the end of grunt week (see Helen’s hilarious blog about our fun times that weekend) and we had stayed a few nights in Matthew.  So Anthony already knew his way to the bathhouse, dining hall, ropes course, pavilion, waterfront…..He of course chose the same chalet and same bunk he had slept in when we were there before….Fortunately, he managed to keep from falling out of the bunk this time (during grunt week, he fell off the bunk not onto the floor, but the other way and was trapped between the screen of the window and the bunk frame). 

After meeting Anthony’s counselors Clay and Ryan, checking in with a few of my old campers now working at Chanco (Julie and Angie), and saying hi to many friends, we decided we better take off and leave Anthony to his own experience there.  This was so hard for me – I wasn’t really worried about leaving him there, or that he would be homesick (it is only really 5 days), and I knew he would have so much fun – my main problem was that I was jealous of him that he was getting to spend the week at Chanco and I had to go home!!! 

OK, fast forward to Friday…..pickup time.  I spot Anthony looking pretty filthy and wearing the shirt that I think he wore all week – he gives me a hug, but is still involved with the ball game going on.  His counselors say they loved having him (what else would they say, but I think they really meant it), and Rick Mason tells me that Anthony gave the most insightful answers during chapel discussions.  Anthony shows me his feather (another pang of jealousy, I LOVE Indian Night).  Evidently, Anthony is also a master horsefly killer at the pool with a noodle (like father like son, right Helen, Chuck and Ken?)

But I think the most important thing to me was listening to Anthony jabber all the way home about the activities, and how he loved his counselors and campsite mates and Jim Sitzler (with whom we had to take a picture before leaving, THANKS JIM!), asking me if I remember certain songs, and best of all, about how he can’t wait for next year…..and that right there says it all to me.  He has been bitten by the Chanco bug….

Now, July 13 is fast approaching and I am preparing to drop off my oldest daughter Kira for third session.  Does anyone think they would notice if I went in her place?  Not that she would let me….she can’t wait for sailing and ropes course. 

I am so thankful that Chanco has been here for the past 40 years helping us all to grow in spirit and love….and I am just as thankful for all of us that are working so hard for Chanco to be around for the future.  Can’t wait to see you at the reunion in October.