A Time for Reflection and Growth

By Karen Culpepper Camp Director

THE PAST FEW MONTHS have shifted our lives in previously unimaginable ways, causing many of us to reexamine long-held assumptions. For me that has meant balancing my immense pride in this community with feelings of discomfort as I realize there is much work to be done here. In 1921, when most camps were segregated by race, gender, and religion, Treetops sought to build a community based on inclusion and progressive ideals. Nearly 100 years later, we are faced with a welcomed, though challenging, reminder that building community must be an ongoing and intentional process.

We are at a point of inflection, both globally and right here at Camp Treetops. The fact that these recent events—of uncertainty, of reflection, of potential—are happening now, during what would have been our 100th summer, feels like opportune timing. Gearing up for this summer, the focus was on celebration. While I believe we do have a tremendous amount to be proud of, this pause in our summers gives us the chance to dig even deeper. We are exploring the ways in which we can—and should—celebrate what we have built and all we have accomplished, while entering into our next 100 years with an even greater sense of openness and intention.

At Treetops, our history is highly valued, and change can be difficult. Throughout my time as Camp Director, I have often felt responsible for navigating the balance between our long-held traditions and progress. As conversations and actions have pushed us to confront some of that thinking, though, I have realized it’s not Camp’s traditions I am meant to maintain, but its ethos; those two things are not the same. It is not the activities and the routines, but instead the values, that must guide us. And at Treetops, that ethos centers around every child. Each summer, we endeavor to create a safe and supportive space for children and the time to make connections to one another and to the natural world, to foster creativity, to build resilience and cultivate confidence. Creating that space and time does not happen by accident or through blindly following tradition. To build a community that is more dynamic and compassionate, we must continue the work of recognizing the needs, rights, strengths and struggles of all.

I am inspired and energized by the commitment this community has demonstrated throughout the years, and even more so now, in working toward the goal of increased inclusivity. Campers, families, and counselors from throughout Camp’s history have stepped forward with an echoing message of “How can I help?” I am grateful for those who have offered support, as well as those who have demanded that we take a hard look at our traditions, beliefs, and routines to ensure that they reflect the kind of community and environment we want to provide for our campers and counselors. In this unexpected centennial summer, this moment is one to celebrate.

Confronted with grief, loss, anxiety, and uncertainty on a global scale, our community has unified in its love of this place and in the confidence that we can do better.

It is in these conversations, this time of important reckoning, that I feel the absence of campers and counselors here the most. There is grounding in the sights and sounds of children playing and creative energy in the collective ideas of counselors that I am missing. The leadership team is meeting remotely and I delight in receiving updates from campers and families from their homes, but these are not real substitutes for the joy of a community gathering in person. I look forward to being here with you all again, at Camp, at Friends’ Weekend, or somewhere in between, working together to build an increasingly open, responsive, and supportive environment for children and adults.