Scamp Spirit fall 2019
When people ask me about the lessons and values we learn at Aloha, I usually talk about things like resilience, courage, confidence, and self-reflection. When I saw the recent questionnaire on social media that asked about a possible new department at Aloha in 2020, my mind went to our informal prank department — and a whole new perspective occurred to me. The prank department is a perfect microcosm of our greater Aloha community! It demonstrates all the values that are fundamental to Aloha.
This is Aloha: our shared adventures, sense of purpose, community, and growth. We play, work, explore, & laugh together on the shores of Lake Morey each summer... The Prank Department is purposefully inclusive: Anyone can speak up with an idea and participate at their level of choice. All are welcome. The concept was the brainchild of one person (thank you Brita Mutti!) and yet with leadership, support, and involvement, it has grown to include a team of interested individuals that shifts over time. Our yarnbomb efforts this summer added a sense of focus and cohesion among first-, second-, and full-session campers, and the unity and commonality within our greater Foundation was evident when we visited Hive, Lanakila, and the year-round office in our pranktacular denouement.
Pranks often emerge spontaneously, and yet they evolve with collaboration, organization, and intentionality. They allow for creativity and self-expression, and perhaps most importantly, they are FUN! Helping to execute a well-designed prank brings a sense of joy and accomplishment; and being on the receiving end of such an undertaking helps others feel recognized, valued, and affirmed. Of course, in the case of our finger-knitting extravaganza, many of us had to learn new skills… and if we didn’t catch on quickly, we needed perseverance and maybe even a little humility to get it right. We deepened friendships while sharing laughs, and the journey was as spectacular as the destination. This is Aloha: our shared adventures, sense of purpose, community, and growth. We play, work, explore, and laugh together on the shores of Lake Morey each summer, and then we go off into the world once again — our senses keener, our appreciation deeper, our lives richer. I ask you, what lessons from the Prank Department are you putting into practice in your life? Aloha and love,
Sarah littlefield Director of Aloha