The first day of Camp Zenith is officially underway. This marks my fourth year as Head Men’s Counselor for this session. I have a whole crew of college students serving as counselors and volunteer parents filling the role of dorm dad’s. I have a great job as long as there is not a crisis or some unmanageable discipline problem. We have an awesome staff, so that makes it even better. Thus far I have inflated air mattresses, made runs to the airport to pick people up, and served as a general flunky. The best part of my job is watching the kids interact with the staff and with each other…

Last night we did have one minor event that I perceived to be symbolic in a way. Every year at Zenith we break 450 campers into groups of about 20. The “Z” Groups, as they are called, are an important part of the camp experience. The girls share a group of dorm rooms with other female members of their Z Group and the boys in turn share block of rooms with other male members of the same group. The groups do a vast majority of the camp activities together.

Last night the groups spread all over the campus for an initial get acquainted time. Three girls for some unknown reason became separated from their group and could not find it. We looked all over the campus for Group #9, but they were nowhere to be found. The three lost sheep spent group time riding around in a golf cart with the head women’s counselor searching for their camp family.

The girls took it all in stride, but I still felt badly for them. The first night of camp is a time to forge new relationships. They were missing out! I saw one of those girls this afternoon. She and the others had already assimilated into the group during today’s activities and all was good.

Last night I thought about kids who have been separated from their biological families for a variety of reasons. I especially thought of the children who will attend Royal Family Kids Camp later in the summer. That camp is specifically geared for children in court ordered foster care. Just watching a handful of campers unable to find their “Z”Group caused me think. Separation is a scary thing for a child at any level. Such a minor event really turned out be symbolic for me.

As we head into the second night of camp, new adventures await us. My boys seem to be having a good time. It is Daniel’s last year as a camper and Mitchell’s first year at the high school session. Randall is not here counseling this year, but the kids are asking about him! It is going to be a fun week. I hope it is a week to forge new relationships and solidify existing ones.