Camp Green Lane 100th Summer Blog Post, August 8th
Another guest blog post tonight, Enjoy!
Attention everyone in camp – it is now time for evening blog post!
This is Aunt Marnie Field office. For those who don’t “know” me, this is my 16th year at CGL, my first back after a long hiatus in the real world. I come from a long CGL Field Office green & white bloodline dating all the way back to 1966. Some of you reading this post may remember Aunt Robin (my mom) FO 1993-2005 and Aunt Ray (my grandmother) FO and Girls Supervisor from 1966-1980. So yeah, you can imagine my nerves coming into this summer with those big shoes to fill!
I’m currently sitting in the Field Office, listening to the sounds of camp, pinching myself, wondering how I got so lucky to be here? Being in the center of camp, circle adjacent, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know your children as they pass by to activities, pop in for an emotional support bandaid, a frolf disc (frisbee golf), a basket/soccer/kickball, to check the lost and found, pick up mail or to excitedly tell me they got a hole in one at mini golf so I can announce it at the end of free play. The best part has been to see the kids (counselors included) getting to be kids – playing, laughing, smiling, working through conflict together without the pressures of the outside world weighing in. Being in the Field Office I get to be a fly on the wall witnessing campers celebrate when someone: hits a basket, kicks a home run in BBK, nails the harmony for a color war song for the first time, scoots their way across the finish line of a relay race…I also get to witness when friends circle around to cheer up a friend who got the last out in kickball, or didn’t have the game they were hoping for. I get to see the just because hugs and hand holding as they move through camp. All the pure moments that happen when they don’t know anyone is watching.
Today we had a brief rain shower after lunch during birthday meal rallies and everyone was sent back to their bunk for a short bunko. On the way back to his bunk, Cody from the Orioles popped his head into the field office and said “I think I know why G-d is crying. It’s because tomorrow is the second to last day of camp.” Choking back my own tears I told him I think he’s absolutely right! We’re in the part of camp when things sneak up on you. Tonight is birthday meal, followed by awards night. Tomorrow brings another action packed day with trunks coming down from the rafters in preparation of packing mixed in. Then comes Cabaret, Banquet and Firefly in the blink of an eye.
When I picked up the microphone for the first time this summer to make an announcement, I just kept hearing my mom’s voice in my head saying “loud and slow, loud and slow.” To be honest, I think that’s the most we can hope for, for a summer between the arches – that it be loud and go slow. Loud with spirit. Loud with laughter. Loud with sportsmanship. Loud with friendship. Loud with love. That time moves slowly so we can soak up every second and every opportunity that comes our way between the arches.
Now with just a few days left of summer 2026, and time feeling like it’s racing by, I think we’d all give anything to take it slow, hit pause and just stay here as long as possible.
Yours in camping,
Aunt Marnie Gornizky-Markowitz