Camp Green Lane Blog Post, July 21st

“Today was the most fun day of the summer!” a Cadet Boy said as we walked down a giant hill in another camp.

He and his friends had just blanked Camp Nock-a-Mixon, 2-0, in a U12 soccer game. It was their first Intercamp Games experience and they were walking on air, about to board a yellow bus back home to Camp Green Lane.

About a week ago, the Green Lane U12 team competed against our U16 team in a friendly practice session the coaches arranged. They were so proud to announce during Line Up a few nights ago how they held their own against the much older boys. Scheduling changes led to a coaching change and by the time the game started on a faraway field this afternoon, Oscar, their new coach, was looking down at a dozen faces for the first time.

Anticipation for today’s games was building and after breakfast, the boys boarded buses with their shin guards and music playing. The girls’ teams hosted games here in front of bleachers packed with hand-painted signs. Everyone comes out on days like today to support their Camp Green Lane family!

But over at Nock-a-Mixon, at the top of a hill where their main soccer field sits, our youngest team wore white. Nobody was there to see it when Green Lane took an early lead. Toby in goal was perfect, even against a penalty shot. Then another CGL goal, a header from Blake, to go up 2.

And as the referee counted down the final seconds, they all ran together and made a pile in the middle of the field. Someone dumped water on Oscar’s head. They jumped and cheered and shook hands and jumped some more.

For those boys, it was their World Cup.

And for at least one of them, it was the most fun he’s had all summer.

“Until Thursday,” he said. “When we go to Dorney.”