CJL - Rolling Along

Things are continuing to roll along here at camp. We've got two sessions behind us and three more to go. Third session begins tomorrow, and it's just one week long. And then two more two week sessions, and we'll be done.

Last week we had a great deal of excitement. The septic system in Romany (the unit for the youngest campers) required replacing, and there was a copperhead in the cook's house. I was in the office with a bunch of my fellow staff members when the snake incident happened. As soon as we heard about it, we grabbed sharp tools and ran to address the situation. I think that incident is a perfect example of life here at CJL: a completely absurd situation that makes us laugh for days and brings us together. Not to mention how badass we are, taking out a copperhead with some shovels and an axe!

No doubt the next five weeks will hold more excitement, fun, and challenges. I will try to be good about updating this thing.

And for a tiny preview of what awaits after camp: August 1st-11th my parents and I are going to Seattle and Vancouver. And then I'll return to Greenville, SC!

Exley. Out.

CJL- Banquet

Olympus was in charge of Banquet for first session. And as the program director, I was in charge. Banquet is the final dinner of a session during which we set up the dining hall differently, eat food that's a bit fancier, and commemorate the closing of the session.

Along with help from my friend, Laney, I decided on "Kentucky Derby" as the theme. So here are some photos of our decorations...

CJL - Intro

So I'm spending this summer at my beloved Camp Juliette Low. I began attending CJL when I was seven years old. I first went with a friend, but after that year, she stopped going. But I loved it so much that I continued to spend weeks there in the summers.

CJL was founded by Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts and an all-around fascinating, wonderful woman. Some points of interest about "Daisy," as she was known: At her wedding, a grain of rice became lodged in her ear, and when it was removed, she had lost most of her hearing in that ear, leaving her mostly deaf on that side. She began recruiting girls for the new scouting movement in and around Savannah and registered the first group of Girl Guides in 1912. CJL was founded in 1922 as a camp to train Girl Scout leaders, and while it is no longer affiliated with GSA, it remains true to her mission of training girls to lead, learn various skills, and grow.

Juliette Low Lodge

One thing I truly love about CJL is that not much has changed since its inception. Some tents now have light bulbs, but we still sleep in the outdoors. And the JL Lodge is the original structure and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Since I've been on staff, I have come to appreciate the way in which CJL fosters so many skills in our campers. By living in tents with other girls, separate from counselors, they learn to handle their own affairs. Girls learn numerous camp craft skills such as wood chopping, fire building, lashing, and so many others. And the campers learn that they can have fun without iPods, TV, and computers!

Some of my fellow staff members

My tent this summer

Bathroom. Fancy, right?