We are freshly returned from our adventures on Orcas Island. And what adventures we had! We learned about ourselves, each other, and the world around us. We encountered challenges daily that caused us to change and grow into more perseverant and courageous people. Together we thrived as we encouraged each other through these challenging tasks, and learned that with encouragement, we can do things we thought too difficult.
Hiking Mt. Constitution was a major challenge we faced. And yet, we ALL MADE IT! Even though many of us wanted to quit, wanted to homestead right there on the steep hillside, we made it to the top. Each of us found different ways to embrace the challenge. Some found a natural strength that pushed them to the summit, others found empowerment in each other, while others found the surrounding beauty enough motivation to carry them upward. All of us had to dig deep, and find an inner strength that drove us to the summit.
Our other challenges included experiencing and conquering many natural residents on Orcas Island. That included the fearsome night time visitor, the beady-eyed raccoon. Each of us have our own raccoon adventure stories to tell, and love playing out the drama those nocturnal beasts caused. Others kept count of how many bald eagles we saw on a daily basis. Our favorite was the eagle who sat nestled in the treetops of Mt. Constitution, and hovered over us as we sang the preamble to the Constitution. One of the best encounters was the rare sighting of an Orca Whale pod breaching and spouting around in the Orkila bay.
While we may have returned a bit stinkier and dirtier than we were on our departure, that is not all that changed for us. Inside ourselves we discovered a source of bravery, courage, and determination to thrive at camp. Each of us left our comfort zones, and entered the challenge and learning zone. We made new friends and found new depths in our old friendships. Together we found and appreciated not only the natural beauty around us, but also within us, and within each other. We carry our camp memories in our hearts.
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