Lanalog
spring 2022
Dear Lanakila, Happy Spring! My mind and heart are filled everyday with warm memories of 2021 and excited anticipation for the summer of 2022. Lanakila has been in existence for 100 years and it feels special that we will all be in Vermont together to celebrate. I recently spoke with my fellow camp directors about the power of watching our communities come together and what intentions we wanted to set for the summer. One of phrases that kept coming up as we talked about our intentions was, “reaching beyond”. To me, reaching beyond means stepping out of yourself enough to connect with someone who might see or understand the world differently from the way you do. Reaching beyond is our ability to take risks and work to create a sense of community outside of our own individual desires and experiences. This ability is one of the most powerful tools we have when it comes to creating a community that nurtures a sense of belonging. I love to watch the summer planning come together each winter. As campers sign up and get ready for opening day, I have the opportunity to assemble the counselor staff that makes it all happen year after year. As I talk to our unit heads, our department heads, our 2nd Year Bridgers, our kitchen staff, and everyone else in between, I am struck over and over again how grateful I am for the quality of people who are our camp leaders, and what wonderful role models they are. In fact, they are more than role models — they really are mentors who take an active role in reaching beyond themselves to guide and coach and counsel each of us as we navigate our daily lives. We are all looking for mentors in our lives…campers are, counselors are, directors are. Jeremy Cutler (Assistant Director) mentors me in always pushing himself to try new and creative things (and being patient with my excessive energy); David Westcott (Head of Brookside) mentors me in helping me remember Rule #6, to not take myself too seriously; Sam Danford (Head of Woodside) mentors me in always showing up with “the next big idea”; Leo Egger (Exploring Counselor) mentors me in maintaining a positive attitude through any situation.
The mentors in our lives need to be believable and reliable. I believe they need to show us things about ourselves we may have trouble seeing. We need to know that they are honest in what they say and do, and that we can count on them when things are difficult. What I love about Lanakila is that our counselors really are believable and reliable; they enjoy the challenge of being role models and mentoring others. I know that when I arrive at camp each year, I will be surrounded by an unusually large group of the most amazing people I know — counselors and campers who are committed to being “fine people,” helping others do the same, and having the best, most fun summer we can have. It is the unique combination of play and seriousness that makes Lanakila special. If it was just fun all the time it wouldn’t have depth; if it was just serious it wouldn’t have light! I hope Lanakila teaches you to cherish both your “serious you” and your “silly you,” and if you don’t know how to do that, just keep your eyes open in the summer of 2022… it’s going to happen day after day. I can’t wait to see you all this summer. Skol,
BRYAN PARTRIDGE Director of Lanakila