More Than a Song: 19 Years of GRP Magic
One of the most frequent questions I hear during staff interviews is, “What makes GRP special?” While there are countless ways to answer, I always find myself returning to one thing: the community.
A massive smile crosses my face whenever I share the story of my annual New Year’s gathering, a tradition that has lived on for 19 years, to help answer this question. What started in 2007 with a group of CITs has grown into a lifelong bond. In 2008, after my first summer as a counselor, I was invited into this circle, and we haven’t stopped gathering since.
While the gatherings have evolved over nearly two decades, the heart of them remains the same. We still talk about “Ort,” share stories of old campouts, and keep GRP at the center of our conversations. This year was particularly moving as several future GRP campers joined us. When it was time for one future camper to go to bed, we learned that her mother sings her “Sister’s Brother” every single night. Without a second thought, my friends and I gathered to practice the rounds, then went upstairs to sing her to sleep.
Arm in arm, we sang the words that have anchored us for years that we learned at GRP: “Sisters, brothers, let me tell you how I’m feeling. You have given me such treasures, I love you so”.
As I watched my friends, once my fellow counselors and now parents themselves, I realized why these relationships are so enduring. This is the group of people who saw me for exactly who I was: my nature-enthusiast, fly-fishing-loving self. At GRP, I never had to pretend to be someone else. I was encouraged to try new things, was supported when I struggled, and felt appreciated for my differences, never ridiculed.
That is the true magic of the Green River Preserve: the acceptance, the encouragement, and the long-lasting friendships that begin in the woods and carry us through adulthood.
As I sang with my friends, tears filled my eyes. We don’t know exactly what 2026 holds, but I know that GRP will remain a constant, welcoming future generations of environmental stewards and helping them form the same bonds that have sustained me for 19 years.
We are incredibly blessed by our GRP family. As we step into this New Year, I am deeply thankful for every parent, alum, and camper. I can’t wait to see you back at GRP this summer!
And I leave you with this “Sisters, brothers, let me tell you how I’m feeling. You have given me such treasures, I love you so”.
