The Gift of Sunsets

Written by Kaitlynn 'Crayola' Kupsky

When I think about Camp Tekakwitha, so many memories come to mind.  Many of the memories involve the beauty of God’s creation.  One of the greatest treasures of nature at Camp Tek are the sunsets on Loon Lake as the waterfront gives a picture-perfect view of each sunset.  The sunset is a truly beautiful background for many important moments at camp.  Every Sunday, we end our first night together by singing “Day is Done” by the waterfront.  As we hold hands and swat away mosquitoes, we sing and pray together as one large camp family.  While we stare off into the beauty of the sunset, campers and counselors alike are anxious and excited to see what the week will bring.  On Thursday nights, we have a ceremony that honors the tradition of Camp Tek.  This ceremony begins by walking down to the waterfront on a path lit with tiki torches.  As campers approach the waterfront, they see the sun setting below the trees in the horizon.  This sunset is often full of color, from yellow, to orange, to pink, to blue.  As campers gaze upon Loon Lake, they also see a counselor arriving on a canoe portraying St. Kateri Tekakwitha.  As we pay tribute to our camp’s namesake, campers share their cabin-made Kateri crosses, many of which are adorned with memories from the week: memories that were only dreams on Sunday night.  

The most beautiful sunsets I have seen come after storms.  Only after the skies have let out the rain, thunder, and lightning can we see the beauty that lies underneath.  The sunsets that come after the rain are breathtaking.  This spring, our lives were turned upside down.  I had recently started my first teaching job in January.  I was just getting into the groove of things and really getting to know my students.  One morning, I received notice that the school would be closing and we would be closed for one month.  Of course, we know how that went.  I experienced many thoughts and emotions.  How are my kids going to learn?  How will I be able to support them?  When can we all safely be together again?  I had to rethink the way I teach.  Students had to rethink the way they learn.  Shortly after school shut down, I wondered about the status of camp.  Were we going to be able to hold summer camp?  How could we make summer camp work safely?  Of course, we also know how this turned out.  After all of these storms, there must be something positive and beautiful to look forward to.  There must be a sunset out there somewhere.  

How can we still make this summer a sunset summer?  Where are we able to see the beauty of God after all that has happened?  What are you grateful for and what are you looking forward to?  A few weeks ago, I was walking out of my job at a restaurant and was struck by the beauty of the sunset.  My first thought was: This sunset would look amazing on Loon Lake!  Then I thought:  It is so beautiful right here, right now.  There are little sunsets in so many moments already this summer.  Connecting with camp friends.  Finally being able to attend Mass in person.  Receiving letters from family and friends.  Later this week I am taking my youngest niece strawberry picking for her first time.  I am sure that will be a sunset moment.  This summer I have been able to slow down a bit, connect with family more, and prepare more for the upcoming school year.  We are able to stay connected with camp in new ways.  How are you able to slow down and see the little sunsets in your life?

Blessed are the Curious, for They Shall Have Adventures

Written by Anne 'Nala' Geenen

Over the past eleven years, I have spent approximately 5,000 hours at Camp Tekakwitha. 5,000 hours laughing, loving, and learning. 5,000 hours with God, friends, and family. 5,000 hours at the place that means the most to me in the world. 

I like to think there is an eleventh Beatitude: blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures. Every waking moment at camp is an adventure. As a camper, the counselors would never tell me what we were doing next (despite me asking every few minutes) so there were surprises around every corner. I always tried everything: archery, boating, swimming, field games, arts and crafts, and gaga ball. Days passed in the blink of an eye and I never wanted to leave when my parents picked me up on Fridays. When I turned 15, I graduated to LeaderQuest. This adventure was crazy awesome and exciting. We were given more freedom like a later bedtime and offsite trips, but with more freedom came more responsibility. We were put in charge of some activities for the younger kids. I had always considered becoming a counselor, but my two years in the LQ program solidified the idea for me. At 17, I became a junior counselor. I remember the day I checked in and got to pick my camp name. I had spent years debating, but I finally settled on Nala. Yes, from the Lion King. As a JC, I spent two weeks at camp helping the full-time counselors. The following spring, I applied and got accepted to be a counselor for Summer 2016. The summers of ’16 and ’17 have been the greatest adventures of my life. At camp, I am free to explore who I am, deepen my relationship with God, and become my true self. Working with kids has been incredibly rewarding. There are good days and bad days, obviously, but when I look back at my time spent at camp, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. 

I want to talk about names for a minute. Both my camp name and my confirmation name have great significance. In the Catholic church, when a follower of Jesus receives a new mission from God, he or she receives a new name. Like Saul becoming Paul, I have done this twice. When I got confirmed, I selected Saint Kateri Tekakwitha as my saint. In my mind, there was no other choice. Saint Kateri is the patron saint of children, ecology, and Camp Tekakwitha – three things I feel strongly about. When someone gets confirmed, they are sent out into the world to help spread the word of God. This was the mission for which I received the name of Kateri Tekakwitha. Then, when I was hired at Camp Tekakwitha, I received a new mission: to help my campers grow in their faith, realize their abilities and become more confident in themselves. For this mission, I received my camp name: Nala. Now, my full name is Anne Kathryn Nala Kateri Tekakwitha Geenen. And no, I don’t sign all six names when I fill out forms or credit card receipts. 

My time at Camp Tekakwitha has been the single most influential thing in my life. I made lifelong friends, learned real-world skills, and had boatloads of fun. Camp Tek will always hold a special place in my heart and I thank God every day for it.