Camp Green Lane 100th Summer Blog Post, July 13th

While the Greeks Are Away, the Seniors… Serve

I think that’s how the saying goes. Or at least it does here at CGL.

Our Greek Division, made up of our 15- and 16-year-old campers, spends each summer mastering one of the most important jobs at camp: keeping everyone fed. Gamma serves breakfast, Sigma and Delta tackle lunch, and Alpha handles dinner. By this point in the summer, they’ve become a well-oiled machine, setting tables, serving meals, clearing dishes, and somehow always seeming to know exactly where everything belongs in the dining hall.

But what happens when the Greeks leave camp?

Yesterday they headed off on their annual trip to JRA (Jewish Relief Agency) and Reading Terminal Market, and this morning they departed for one of the highlights of their summer: the Greek Trip. While they’re away making memories, camp still has hundreds of hungry campers to feed.

Enter the Seniors.

The transition actually began a few nights ago, when Uncle Evan and Aunt Naomi held the annual dining hall draft. The Seniors eagerly selected which tables they’d be responsible for, then got a crash course in everything that goes into making mealtime run smoothly. They learned how to set and clear tables efficiently, where every plate, pitcher, and utensil lives, and perhaps most importantly, to always keep an eye out for a fellow server who might need an extra hand.

Because that’s the CGL way.

I’m happy to report that we’re now three meals (and a Snack Squad!) into the experiment, and the Seniors have been fantastic. They’ve jumped right in, worked together, and kept the dining hall running without missing a beat. The Upper Seniors are already getting a taste of what life in Greeks will be like next summer, and I’d say they’re passing with flying colors.

It’s one of my favorite things about camp. Every summer, the older campers inherit responsibilities from the campers who came before them. They learn by watching, practicing, and eventually teaching the next group. It reminds us that camp only works because everyone pitches in.

Speaking of teamwork, today also brought a visit from Adam of Path to Rhythm. Through drumming, games, and group activities, Adam challenged our campers to create music together in real time. It wasn’t about keeping the exact right beat, it was about listening to one another, working together, and finding a shared rhythm.

Whether they’re serving lunch or keeping the beat, our campers proved today that the best things happen when everyone works together.

– Aunt Robin