Identifying Happiness
Very often, when first-time campers arrive, they don’t really get it yet. The joyful singing all day, the deliberate silences on hikes, the slow-pacing of activities, the evenings of reverent reflection – the magic of life at the GRP is all very bizarre.
“Why is everyone so happy all the time?” we often hear. “It’s weird.”
Other common refrains we hear from new campers include: “Why are we singing so much? It’s kinda cult-y.” “Why are we being so quiet in the woods? It’s creepy.” “All we’re doing tonight is sitting around a fire? That’s sounds so boring.”
These campers sit back and watch their enthusiastic peers with skepticism, and it’s easy to see why: Life at GRP is a full-tilt culture shock to what so many are used to.
Arrival to camp can be a jarring digital detox that kids just weren’t anticipating, and withdrawal sets in quick. After the flurry of activity involved with unpacking, meeting bunkmates, camp orientation, and learning all the new traditions involved with mealtime, things slow down here at the GRP. This is when campers start to get that itchiness for hyperstimulation and instant gratification found with digital interaction.
Among the skills the Green River Preserve provides, we start with covert lessons in mindfulness.
As early as the first night, campers learn to sit and feel present in the moment, where they are safe to express how they’re feeling. This, of course, takes practice, which is why we have an evening tradition we call “Rose, Bud, Thorn” in which each cabin invites campers share their personal highlights, rough spots, and what they’re looking forward to.
During the day, we encourage campers to choose curiosity over judgment. They’re invited to engage their senses in all the new sights and sounds of the Preserve, from the colorful celebrations at the Lodge, to quiet explorations in the mountain forest. We exemplify the practice of Fortitude in our interactions with each other as we teach campers how to show respect and deference to those with life experiences very unlike our own. For many young people, camp is the first time they’ve lived among such a diverse array of people and learning group dynamics is a new challenge.
Ultimately, we’re able to coax campers out of their shells by showing them a wonderland just outside their comfort zone. Day by day, the sunshine, music, and unabashed joy of play permeates even the toughest exteriors and soon, those who seemed them most skeptical are among the loudest at sing-alongs and talent show skit performances. It’s truly a sight to behold.
So maybe the rumors are true. Maybe with all the sunshine and singing and good food and friendship and fresh air and swims in fresh water we are all brainwashed, but most of us just identify it as “happy”.
Story by Liz Z Pardue with photos by Samantha Keebler & Brandon S. Marshall