We received an unexpected text from camp’s head of Art +Philosophy, Ken Vallario, Tuesday morning: “We decided to recreate this photo during first.” The referenced photo is the one below, a 1930s scene from the Scatico Boys Art Studio, in which we see kids hovered around a project (?) with a counselor in the back, and others working along the standing window tables.
The recreation from Tuesday’s first period optionals crew— a collection of lower hill campers working on Art Show projects— is pretty spot on. We have Head of Boys Art, Mar, presiding over the table in the back, and campers busy with projects along the side. Of course, there are some “spot the difference” moments: Crocs in 2024 versus ankle socks; athletic shorts instead of wool (?) ones; yarn and resin projects adorning the walls, rather than hand tools.
The phrase that came to mind was… the more things change, the more they stay the same. We talk a lot about the “timeless” quality of a Scatico summer experience. How a camper from the 1940s, or 60s, or 80s, and a camper today can not only speak the same Scatico language, and feel nostalgic for the same phenomena— rain on the bunk roof, the unstructured joy of free play, walking with a friend to a meal and spotting a rainbow (a camp moment just yesterday), being lifted up by a counselor— but compare notes on very specific Scatico traditions: Color War events, line up, Divisional Sing, Opening Campfire… The programming, values and life lessons of camp reflect, of course, the realities of an ever-changing world around us, and yet, there is always a seed of true consistency. A North Star that exists outside of time.
Another scene from this past week: girl side campers swimming out to the “wibit” (camp’s inflatable obstacle course) during General Swim, cracking up as they scale the “iceberg,” singing bits of Top 40 hits as they jump into the water. Some songs and chants are clearly from TikTok or memes— they plant us firmly in a specific time and place, the way hearing a song brings you back to the exact moment in your life when you first heard it— but the general gestalt is… timeless. Kids ranging in age from 8 (Juniors) to 14 (Subs), cheering each other on, laughing at not particularly funny (to an outsider) jokes or moments, remembering counselors and dives and General Swims from summers past. Older campers tell younger about when there, “wasn’t even a wibit.” Juniors work up the courage to try a flip off the top.
Coming to divisional mailboxes Thursday… Carnival announcement!
This Saturday, Scatico will embark upon another time-honored tradition… the Carnival. We think this special event dates back to the 1930s. And while we’ve implemented some upgrades since Carnival’s inception— an inflatable comes via a party rental company; a photobooth uses a digital camera— at its core the Scatico carnival is… timeless. Divisions operate throwback style state fair games like dart boards, hands-free donut eating contests, popcorn machines, and milk bottle tosses. Campers of all ages mingle and snack. Friends get married, and remarried, and married to new friends, with tinfoil rings at the marriage booth.
This year’s theme, Country Western, will (naturally) come with its own twists. Head of Maintenance Teddy will be moonlighting as a hay ride tour operator (campers do not yet know this). The Senior boys and girls will be operating a “Scatico Saloon” complete with line dancing. A series of gold rush golden rocks will be hidden throughout the Carnival to be “cashed in” for Scatico swag (bandanas, theme-fittingly).
Each summer in the 12523… a timeless, new frontier.