Woah, day one wipes you out. I’m so tired I could sleep for a week, yet I can’t wait to get up tomorrow morning and experience another day with some of the funniest, quirkiest, most adorable little boys I’ve ever met. My heart is so full of memories, quotes, stories, and experiences that I will treasure for a lifetime.
The day started with registration where returning campers were eager to put in another year while rookies were a mix of excited and nervous. Names I’d been hearing were matched to faces, but everyone was somehow a bit different than I expected. The boys built with LEGOs and played Uno until everyone had arrived. Then we headed out.
Trust me when I say, if you want an experience, ride shotgun in a van of eleven preteen boys. From screaming the Little Einsteins theme song to saying all sorts of ridiculous things (“One time I saw someone eat a baby sock!”), these kids had me choking back laughter and shaking my head before we’d even arrived at the field.
In case you didn’t know, the boys’ arrival to camp is a huge deal. Coaches make signs and banners with the kids’ names on them and cheer them through a line of high-fiving volunteers. One head coach announces each boy’s name as he comes out of the van. It’s really cool and shows the campers right from the start that this week is going to be unlike anything they’ve even experienced before.
Then the boys met with their coaches; I went to help with lunch prep. Next time I look up, the kids are taking part in games of catch way too intense for my skill level. I’m telling you, some of these children have crazy good arms. Throughout the late morning and early afternoon, the campers showed off their mad catching skills in drills that had me thinking This is day one? Some of these kids have never played before?! In the batting cage, every single boy hit at least one ball. Games completed by one team reaching 100 points achieved that goal faster than I thought possible. It is truly amazing what a complete newbie to the game of baseball can accomplish with a little bit of instruction and a whole lot of encouragement.
Throughout an evening of huddles, games, and laughter, I was struck again by how normal all of the boys are. I mean, some were ridiculously excited to receive new shoes to replace the ones falling off their feet (“I found these [old] ones in the woods, and they’re my size!”), while others were able to mindlessly swallow meds whose names I can’t pronounce without water, but they’re just kids. They may be lost and hurt, but they still love to play outside (except, of course, Mr. “I’m more of an inside kid”) and don’t think through all their actions (“Can I shower again?” I’m all sweaty) and say hilarious things (“Vote for me for cabin president!”). They’re witty and smart and talented and strong. You just have to take the time to meet them.
