WEEK

From the Editor

In its simplest form, the Spirit is a book full of photos of the summer - but it represents a lot beyond that. It’s a bright spot in the winter when camp feels so far away. It’s a recognition of all the things we accomplished - how we grew, how we learned, the challenges we faced and the comfort zones we left. It’s being a part of history, joining a tradition spanning over a hundred years, with the first The Last Whistle - the Dudley yearbook that The Spirit takes after - published in 1938. It’s countless memories - the laughter and the sweat, the absurdly happy welcomes and the sad goodbyes - bound into a book that I’ve now had the chance to bring to life.

It’s a book that wouldn’t be possible without countless others, some of whom I want to thank here (although I could go on naming people for as many pages as there are smiling faces at camp):

To the Kiniya Pubs team for helping to chronicle this summer, and for always supporting, understanding, and reminding me not to lose lens caps (sorry). Aviva, for her expertise and jumping in to help. Erin, for working tirelessly, corporate retreating, and accomplishing the feat of a whole summer of Kiniya pubs. To the people that were so kind to lend me some of their talent for parts of this book - namely, the creativity of Charlie Quayle and the special story they shared with us this summer; the crash-course on night sky photography from Dave Nelson; and to the ideas, guidance, and willingnesss to stand in a field and take about a hundred photos of one spot in the pines that would become this year’s back cover, many thanks go to Hanna McPheron. To all the editors of the Spirits and Last Whistles before me: the hours I’ve spent pouring through old copies were countless and inspiring. A special shoutout goes to the 1984 Last Whistle, which is a personal favorite.

Thank you to Fiona, for being Fiona. To Wubba and Glenn for being the best friends a girl could ask for, and the leaders of much needed boondoggles when I needed a break from the pubs o ce. To Marnie, our fearless leader, for working tirelessly towards making our summers possible. And thank you, immensely, to Lefty - for making The Spirit for so many years for Kiniya, and being the best role model in this job that I could ask for.

For smiling for the camera and jumping back to action when I explained it was actually a video, for asking about my camera equipment, for being wacky and weird and wonderful - a final massive thank you goes to all of the campers that fill up this book and our summers with their laughter and light. You guys make camp the best place in the world. I tell people that camp is the best place in the world - and the most important place in my world - without hesitation. It’s become clear to me that a defining moment in my life was when I was brought to an open house and introduced to Marnie McDonagh. The importance of camp to me made it pretty hard to write this letter; it was the absolute last part of the book that I finished, right before passing it o to Lefty in the fall. While I know The Spirit means all the things I’ve said and more, I struggled to put into words exactly what it means to me. But at the end of the day, I can’t really say it better than this: I love camp with my whole heart, and getting to help record the memories of the summer has truly been an honor. I hope you enjoy this book even half as much as I enjoyed making it, and that you always find yourself back on Kiniya shores.

- #20982 Ibby Maruca