Another Beautiful Day: The Magic of International Day
What an amazing session we’ve had! After nearly 10 years of working at Gwynn Valley Camp, I can say with total confidence that this is one of the most magical places on Earth. Every single day here is special and unique. One of the things I love most about camp life is the element of surprise. Even when you know exactly what the schedule entails, you can never truly predict the moments of pure joy that will happen until the day unfolds.
That was reflected in a spectacular global adventure. For our highly anticipated International Day, we packed our imaginary bags and traveled across the globe to explore the rich cultures of Colombia, Brazil, and Egypt.
Our journey began at the breakfast table, where the Dining Hall was filled with the savory aromas of a hearty Colombian feast. Campers fueled up for the day with arepas, warm, griddled corn cakes, fluffy scrambled eggs, and guacamole and refried beans, fresh, rich sides to complete the plate. With full bellies, the campers headed out into the morning sunshine for their final A-Day Discovery session, wrapping up a week of skill-building and deep-dive learning.
As the lunch bell rang, we transitioned to the vibrant culture of Brazil. The kitchen outdid itself, serving up a traditional Brazilian meal. Feijoada, a rich, deeply flavorful black bean stew, crumbled bacon and rice, fresh oranges and crisp salad. One of my absolute favorite parts about the camp experience is getting to introduce campers to diverse cultures and flavors they might otherwise never have the opportunity to try. Watching them pass plates of new foods and eagerly ask for seconds is a joy in itself. 
The afternoon opened up into a bustling tapestry of classic camp activities. Campers split up across our program areas to chase their own adventures. In Camping Skills and Nature, campers gathered around the fire to bake golden stick bread. Over at the Mill, the smell of freshly ground grains filled the air as campers cooked up traditional Johnny Cakes. The Lake was alive with laughter during free swim, with campers taking a cooling dip or testing their balance on stand-up paddleboards (SUPs). Some campers chose to explore our beautiful mountain trails on horseback, while others caught air and zoomed down the winding flow track on mountain bikes. For those leaning into their creative side, the forge was hot as always at blacksmithing. Campers carefully hammered and shaped glowing metal into striking moons or snake pendants.
As the heat of the afternoon faded into a cool breeze, dinnertime transported us to Egypt for a nutmeg creamed pasta and 7-Color Salad. And then to top it all off, desert! We were treated to an Egyptian treat called basbousa. We always eat well here at camp, but there’s no day quite like International Day for our Kitchen to pull out all the stops!
The grand finale of International Day took place on the green during our evening program. Campers were divided into three groups and rotated through three games representing each country, Brazil with kite flying, Colombia with a football match, and Egypt with a rousing game of Egyptian Capture the Flag. For me, the true whimsical magic of the day hit its peak during the kite rotation. Seeing campers sprinting across the open green, laughing and looking up at the sky trying to catch a breeze, was pure joy.
