Camp Green Lane 100th Summer Blog Post, July 16th

Today is one of the best days of the summer, in my humble opinion.

A day of costumes. Of trying to find your shoes. Of cheers and songs and, occasionally, eating something that probably never should have been suspended in Jell-O.

It’s Olympics!

For the newly initiated, Olympics is a one-day camp-wide competition where the entire camp is divided into four teams. This year’s teams represented the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, and for the past few days campers have been learning songs and cheers, and preparing for one of CGL’s most beloved traditions.

The day began with Opening Ceremonies, where each team proudly performed its March. Tonight, during Olympic Sing, they’ll perform their Razz – good-natured musical roasts aimed at the other three decades. (Nothing says camp spirit quite like a cleverly crafted insult set to music.)

Once the ceremonies wrapped up, teams scattered across camp for a series of divisional competitions that can best be described as “organized chaos.” Among the events:

• Diving for treasure at the bottom of the pool
• Four-way dodgeball
• Slip-and-slide relays involving buckets, pitchers, and kickball
• Acting out ridiculous requests in relay races
• A Red Rover-meets-soccer hybrid
• Trying to name a fruit or vegetable that starts with the letter Q
• Conquering our world-famous obstacle course

And then there’s all-camp All God’s Children.

Picture this: every camper and counselor in camp removes their shoes and sits in a giant square on the soccer field. Upper Staff members then proceed to toss said shoes all over the field. At the signal, everyone races to find their own shoes, put them on, tie them, and line up with their team.

If that sounds completely ridiculous, that’s because it is.

Olympics is one of those traditions that’s nearly impossible to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it. On paper, it all sounds absurd. In person, it’s pure camp magic.

For further clarification on our wacky Olympic games and contests, please consult your children on Visiting Day. They’ll either explain it perfectly or leave you even more confused. Either way, you’ll know they had a great day.

Stay tuned to see which decade will win the day after all the points have been tallied and Razzes have been performed!

– Aunt Robin