Time Warp

September 15, 2008
My days in California have come to a close. In some ways it feels like I am exiting one world and entering into a new one; closing a door that possibly will never be opened again. My final month at Camp Tawonga was almost surreal. The quietness during the week as I helped get ready for the next family camp weekend was definitely cherished. The reunion of familiar faces every weekend as staff would return for another program.
Soon that place will become a distant memory as I travel from one world to the next. Indiana, a world I once was in for four and half years I will now return to as if bending back time while still moving forward. Lynette, my roommate of old, will be my roommate again for the last time. She looks to have a male roommate of the more permanent fashion in the coming year and I look to other horizons in the job market. Knowing that this new, familiar place will be a place to recharge and refocus as I prepare myself to step through yet another time warp; still unsure of where it will take me.

Close to Nature*

September 14, 2008

As my time at Camp Tawonga was coming to an end, I started to think of all the new pieces of nature that I learned to identify over the summer. Some of the trees and plants were native to California and others I had seen before in other locations around the country. With my camera in hand, I walked around the property ready to capture the close details of the nature around me. Not only did this include the trees and wild flowers, but also the garden. Jacob and Palmer worked all summer planting and tending the garden along with the help of the kids. Their labor was definitely not in vain, as many of the vegetables eaten at meals were fresh from the garden. These photos can only be a testimony to their dedication and also the absolute beauty of nature.

The Plaque

September 10, 2008

In Camp Tawonga tradition, instead of kids and staff signing the walls of their cabins each group makes a plaque with all of their names and an illustration that represents their summer. Space to hang these plaques however is becoming limited especially for those trips and staff member that don't have a specific building. This caused some limits to be in place; so in respects to quests, a plaque can only be made if it is a first of some sort. Well, in the past there has been a Northwest Quest and a Canada Quest, but this summer was the first for the Northwest/Canada Quest Mash-up. Unfortunately, there was not enough time for the questers to make a plaque of their own. So, I took it upon myself to make one during the evening. Here is the final product.

Family Camp

September 2, 2008

Camp Tawonga is quiet now. No sounds of kids running around with the hustle and bustle of activity. All of that will change on Friday when another round of family camp begins. For the past two weekends I have seen more of the Camp Tawonga property than I did all summer.

Family camp at Tawonga has a completely different feel then camp during the summer. You aren't responsible for the kids the entire time. I imagine it is what it feels like to be a grandparent. Have the kids for a little while in the morning and then give them back to the parents in the afternoon.

For the past two weekends I have dipped my hands in a variety of different jobs which again has given the weekend a different feel. Take a group of adults on a 2 mile hike in the morning up to the ridge. Take a bigger group of a adults on another hike down to Lower falls for a swim in the river late morning. Reunite them with their kids. Have Lunch and then help with arts and crafts in the afternoon after rest hour. Shabbat Dinner, enjoy the evening activity scheduled for the families like a talent show and then enjoy the adult activities at night like a dance.

Most of the time I feel like I am just part of the big clan of people that is here enjoying the activities and having conversations with people from all walks of life.

The weekend comes to an end and the quietness of camp begins again as I stay on to work maintenance during the week; preparing the buildings to be used again in a few short days. A computer and a phone are my only outlet to the outside world. Two more weeks and this haven of solitude and peacefulness will disappear and become another life that I once lived. I will walk away from this place with a different world view then when I entered three and a half months ago and with a different view of myself.

The Westbrook Times: Through the Lens

The Westbrook Times has expanded its publications. Now available is the Westbrook Times: Through the Lens. This additional website provides a further look into many postings featured in the Westbrook Times. Through the art of Photography enjoy more images supporting many of the stories told but also see images from untold stories.

It is true that not all posts will be featured on Through the Lens. Those that are will have an asterisk (*) next to the blog entry title.

As a special note: This photo album site is provided by Shutterfly and therefore provides the opportunity to order pictures for those that are Shurrterfly members. All that I ask is that if you wish to order any photos that you first contact me about it. I currently have all the rights to all the photos and would like to protect that.

Enjoy!

P.S. The Link is in the Right hand column under Photo Album :)