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Three campers hiking up a rocky trail in a forest, one wearing a pink cap and carrying a walking stick, and the other in a wide-brimmed hat, and the third in a white bucket hat. Campers on top of rocks at the top of a mountainYoung camper with backpack walking in the woodsPerson with curly hair sitting on the grass facing a campfire at night, holding a piece of wood, surrounded by others seated in a circle around the fire.Two campers holding white chickens
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Events, Who We Are

A Day of Fun & Connection at NPDC Family Picnic

October 31, 2024
5 Images of The Nature Place Family Picnic summer 2024. A child on belay climbing rock holds up a tree, an adult helping campers make planters, a family having a picnic lunch, two people riding a golf cart and smiling, a child receiving granola from an adult with a picnic patterned table cloth

Celebrating Togetherness, Camp Spirit, and the Joy of Summer

By Emily Angell, Communications Manager

On a typical summer camp day,

you’ll find me glued to the standing desk I’ve lovingly dubbed The Command Center with a phone in one hand and a walkie talkie in the other, looking at the computer.  I’ll most likely be printing a report, passing a staff member a note, and attempting to locate a missing water bottle simultaneously. Inside of the camp office, my day involves a lot of problem solving, listening, learning, and working to elevate the camp experience all while supporting families as well as staff. And at the end of the day when our buses have cleared, and all the kiddos are safely home, I’m proud of my work behind the scenes to make camp operations and communications appear effortless.

A person with long blonde hair sorting blue Nature Place shirts out of a box

All of this is to say, I don’t get out of the office much, and when I do, it’s special. That’s why when we hosted our first NPDC Family Picnic this summer, I found the day incredibly memorable. Instead connecting with people across the digital divide, I had to opportunity to engage face to face with our camp families: genuine humans who were brimming with gratitude, thoughtfulness, and kind words for the experience their campers were having. The impact with which I felt those kind words caught me by surprise.

As families arrived, there was an air of excitement. I made a point of greeting families as they came down the path to the Enchanted Forest, because I wanted to put faces with names from my phone and email conversations. As more families arrived, I had a handful of “ah ha” moments as I connected each grownup with their camper and remembered our many conversations. It was wonderful to meet folks in person and to see those digital interactions come to life, as handshakes turned into hugs. 

A child climbing a tree with rock climbing holds, while a group of people look on

Watching the campers proudly show their families around their summer home was delightful. They practically dragged their grownups by the hand to all the places they loved—venturing to the Fairy Stream, visiting Russ at Outdoor Skills, reaching the top of the climbing tree and showing off their group room. It was fun to see excited faces as they shared what makes camp so special to them. The day was one of activities and merriment, connection, and enjoyment. 

There were a few conversations that really stuck with me that day— parents I had been emailing with for months, but meeting face to face and having a chance to chat as friends, outdoors on such a beautiful day just brought it all full circle. My favorite part of the day, though, had to be jumping on the back of Scott’s golf cart, playing an impromptu mobile concert of camp songs like “At the Nature Place” and “This Camp is Your Camp” and seeing the smiles and laughter from everyone around. (The musician persona I wear outside of camp sometimes joins in for a musical number at Morning Share.)

A crowd with both children and adults gathered in front of a building with large windows singing along to 3 musicians

Our Family Picnic reminded me of why we do what we do—creating a space where joy, connection, and belonging come alive. It was a wonderful day, not just because of the fun, but because it reaffirmed the positive impact camp has on all of us.

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