During the JC and Outbacker cookout on Friday night, the icebreaker introduction included, “Your name, where you are from and the moment in history where a Mariachi band should have played.” Not only was this an excellent, thoughtful and hilarious icebreaker (“on the Berlin wall as it came down”, “when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation”, “the moon landing”, “at my birth”), it also made us think about all of the incredible moments that are created and crafted at camp. One JC said, “On top of my first 14er (14,000 foot mountain)” which led to a series of side conversations about Mariachi’s on Mountaintops and a discussion of which mountain summits might be able to support a full Mariachi band.
Mariachi music has a long, rich cultural and revolutionary history and, with its rural and Western roots, seems to share a great deal with our celebratory, sometimes irreverent, and always connected camp community. To see the campers from High Trails and Big Spring spend Saturday evening together, dancing, laughing, singing at the top of their lungs in their “Day Glo/Glow Stick” dance-theme-finest was the epitome of zany fun. To listen to High Trails campers read quotes and sing, “Let It Be” on Vespers rocks as low clouds encircled Pikes Peak was a moment of thoughtful reflection, unity and harmony. To feel the excited, or nervous, or happy, or I–just-need-a-little-reassurance hug from a camper or friend reminds us that we have embarked on this journey together, and we are responsible for making sure we share positive, transformative moments that will be memorable in everyone’s personal histories for the decades to come.
With days that are like weeks and weeks that are like days, we pack in many incredible experiences and countless powerful memories in our time together. This upcoming week will be no different. Along with SOLE and CORE, our JCs and Outbackers will go on special adventures including a shared guided raft trip on the Arkansas River, our Sanborn Junior campers will go on their second overnight camping trip, and other campers will fill their weeks with overnights, all days and fun unit and evening activities.
With the myriad opportunities for celebrations, fun, possibility and excitement…we are thinking we might need a camp Mariachi band before the session ends.