The Longest Session: An Ode to C Session
Three weeks ago, Opening Day arrived in a rush of duffel bags, cabin assignments, and that particular kind of noise that only a Dining Hall full of new faces can bring. Our Head Counselors have a tradition on the first evening, at Opening Ceremony, to ask campers to raise a hand if they’d made a friend that day. I guarantee that if we’d asked that question last night every single hand in the Lodge would’ve shot into the air!
C Session is our longest of the summer. I love this session. I love how strong the bonds are that form during it. I love that our Closing Campfire goes late into the night in order for us to call up and honor all of our 4+ year returning campers. 
I love the fresh energy that new campers bring as we transition 10 days in from session C1 to C2. I love that we’ve already been able to experience so much of the summer and that there’s still so much more of it to look forward to. I love C session!
This year, C session managed to give us a little bit of everything: two full sessions’ worth of campers in C1 and C2, an entire slate of Mountainside and Riverside backcountry adventures, America’s 250th birthday celebration, Mexico Day, a Farm Campfire, two Special Days (themed around magic and pirates respectively), sixteen new piglets, and too many Friendship Circles and s’mores to count.
I find myself at the conclusion of these three weeks filled with gratitude. It’s a pleasure to get to do this work. This morning was filled with smiling faces and an unspoken air of “see you next year.” I hope that 
all of your rides home this morning were chock full of animated stories, puzzling riddles, and no small amount of confusing camp lingo!
As C Session comes to a close, we’re left with the same feeling that seems to follow every session at Gwynn Valley: gratitude for the new friendships forged, camp’s living traditions continued, and the simple, sacred moments that happen when we all slow down enough to notice them. We can’t wait to welcome you all back next year!
