What's a Hoosier?

Nobody knows the answer to that question, but if you live in Indiana you ARE a Hoosier. I'm about to spend a few days out there as a member of an accreditation committee for the American Camp Association (ACA). Since the committee is made up of people from across the U.S., there actually won't be many Hoosiers on the committee, but that mid-western friendliness will definitely set the tone for our deliberations.


Back here in New Jersey a lot of people are suffering greatly from the floods brought to us by those two angry ladies: Irene and Lee. I know that many of our camp families are in some seriously flooded areas and I hope everyone is safe, though I know you are dealing with a lot of damage. I drove through one of my former home towns the other day, Cranford, and was shocked at the extent of the damage there. And yesterday I couldn't get into Blairstown because the Paulens Kill had flooded the town a second time. Fortunately for Blair Academy, the main campus (and the part that we use in the summer) is high up on the hill. But many faculty residences, along with the school's maintenance facilities, are down on the flood plain. We are sorry to see so much destruction, but we know that the people in strong communities like Cranford and Blairstown are the type that pull together and don't stop working until everyone is back on their feet.


As New Jersey and other East Coast states recover from these floods, we reach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. We remember that day like it was happening right now, when we wondered how we ever would move on from there, much less be looking back ten years later. We published a "Sundial" shortly after 9/11/01 and here is some of what I wrote in that issue:


Between the last time you received a Sundial and today the world has changed. We know sadness as we had never imagined it, along with fear, anger and so much more. The world and each one of us has changed and we wish that this had never happened. Amidst these overwhelming feelings, though, is the growing understanding that not all of the changes are negative. We have learned, for instance, how precious and wonderful life is. We awaken to each day with a new sense of purpose, a greater urgency to use our time well, a stronger focus on caring for and about each other. I thought I knew how wonderful our 2001 Campus Kids summer was, how special each camper and staff member was. In this new reality, however, I am so much more grateful for the opportunity we had to live, play and work together. I cherish the memories more than ever. Each of you has been in my thoughts and I hope you have been spared the most painful losses of the September 11th tragedy. I know that for many of us, camp friends have been an important part of our support systems. That support will continue and will grow stronger every day. If there is anything we can do at Campus Kids to help you, please don’t hesitate to ask. I hope that your camp experiences, both past and future, help restore the happiness, friendship and hope that should be part of everyone’s life.


I still do gain strength from my camp colleagues and friends, from all of our campers and camp families, from the camp experience itself. And my trip to Indiana will reinforce the good things I know about camp because I'll be with a group of remarkable people who are doing good work in their camps across the country. Camp communities fuel optimism.


Families have already been setting up tour appointments for later this month, which is very exciting. Also exciting is that Jeremy, Teri and will will finally all be back together again in the camp office on September 14. If you've ever passing through Madison, please come visit. And if you figure out what a Hoosier really is, I'll buy you lunch.

Tom