Blog content from Heather Dickerson, Director of Administration
I wanted to write about the sense of place that so many people who love Camp Gorham feel. Naturally, trying to unpack something profound and deeply personal is more challenging than I expected. This is type-2 fun blog writing; the kind of fun that pushes and stretches you while you’re in it,leading to a real sense of achievement, better personal understanding and a really good feeling when you’re done.
And that is kind of like summer camp. Kind of like Gorham.
So... what is it about Camp Gorham that creates such a strong sense of place for so many? Personally, I think it’s in the trees*. Other people might find it in the water or feel it when they see a loon dive or deer run. Wherever you feel it, it’s hard to argue that there is something in the way that Gorham’s land and water come together to create this setting for the tangible and intangible to combine. When we’re at Camp, the natural world around us is both the stage and main character.
There’s a sense of homecoming I feel driving down the first section of Dart’s Lake Road. There’s something about this section that feels like a gateway from the outside world to the bubble of Camp Gorham. Maybe it’s the pine trees and the way the balsam smells; maybe it’s the way the light hits. I’m not sure, but I can identify that place as the spot that welcomes me here.
There are other spots where I feel the magic of Gorham. Looking west from Thunder Point and dipping my fingers into the water is the place I go to feel grounded. Looking off of my deck to see the light play and shift and change on East Mountain tunes me in to the rhythm of the day and the season.
For me, the sense of place here at Camp Gorham is about people, too. My experience here – like that of so many campers and staff – is co-created by the experiences we share. Sitting on the bleachers at Coliseum is the place I go to share the joy and exuberance of a camp day with our campers. Part of why I love Thunder Point is because of the moments and conversations I’ve shared with people I hold dear.
There is also a connection to Gorham that’s created through activity. Campers feel it, and our volunteer Camp Makers and Trail Cutters live it. There’s magic in playing hard and working hard for something you love. There’s also a deep sense of achievement that just adds to all the reasons we love this place.
This sense of place and connection to Camp Gorham invites all of us who drive under the arch to find what we need here and welcomes us exactly as we are. For many of us, this connection invites play, exploration and being able to do the things you only get to do here. Where else do you get to cheer for the smelliest shoe award? For others, the pull to the place invites hard work through volunteerism. Our Camp Makers and Trail Cutters crew return to Gorham from around the United States because they’re pulled to give back to a place.
The words on the archway as you leave camp read: “more than a camp, a living spirit.” For all of us who’ve found another home here, it’s the wild spaces, friendships and adventures we’ve shared that’s found a hold in our hearts and spirits.
*Further reading and fun science: Learn about the scientific benefits of being in the pines! Phytoncides are released by trees and plants, especially conifers! Breathing in phytoncides has a positive health benefit. Check out this article from the Adirondack Council to learn more.