Music to My Ears
This winter my family added a one hour commute to school as part of our daily routine. We found our “dream house” and of course bought it before it went to someone else, however, we also weren’t willing to give up the small community pre-school we so love for our two little ones. Thus, for the remainder of this year we spend a significant portion of our day in the car. There are downsides to this for sure, yet there have also been some unexpected upsides. One of which is singing.
In Brown Ledge We Trust
I remember 1989. It was significant because I recall my grandfather proudly showing off the big sign that was hung on the side of the barn: Bicentennial Farm. 1989 was the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the US Constitution, and the sign on the barn signified the farm had been operated by our family since that time. (Our ancestors actually pre-date the Declaration of Independence in 1776).
Sharing the Light
Rainy days were sparse last summer, but there was one particular Sunday afternoon that was notably dark and dreary. As we all sat down for lunch the lights over the tables were customarily off, however, the increased darkness from the rain and cloud cover made it difficult to see what we were eating, and more importantly, each other. Franny walked around to each table to remind us, it was ok to have the lights on while we eat and we can turn them down low when it’s time to sing our Sunday songs.
Around the Horn
The splendour falls on castle walls
And snowy summits old in story:
The long light shakes across the lakes,
And the wild cataract leaps in glory.
Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying,
Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying.
A Summer Unlike Any Other
“One day, my grandfather passed on his woodcutting axe to me. It was a good axe, but old, and the handle was brittle and difficult to hold. So I went to town to buy a new handle for my grandfather’s axe. Then, over time, the head of my grandfather’s axe became chipped and cracked, and eventually split. So I went to town to buy a new head for my grandfather’s axe. Now my grandfather’s axe has a new handle and a new blade. Can I still call it my grandfather’s axe?”
Routines
This summer I participated in the Camper-Counselor tennis tournament for the first time. I entered the match perhaps a bit too confident, as despite my partner’s best efforts to carry us, we were methodically eliminated in the first round.
A Letter to Families
Dear Families,
We are just weeks away from the start of camp. This will be Brown Ledge’s 99th summer welcoming campers to the shore of Malletts Bay. I am incredibly honored to be leading a team of highly skilled and passionate adults, and to collaborate with them to provide the ultimate camp experience for your child. I am also remarkably humbled by the trust you put in us to look after and care for your most valuable asset.
Joy Earned
Joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself.
— Mahatma Gandhi
Taking Risk
When my son was six years old it took him almost two hours to jump off the dock for the first time. It was a warm summer day and the lake water was warm. I was standing about waist deep just a yard or so out. The dock itself was maybe a foot and a half above the water and you could see clearly to the bottom. I didn’t see much risk, but his appraisal was much different. “What if I touch the bottom? What if Dad doesn’t grab me fast enough? What if I take a breath while underwater? What if water goes up my nose?” And many more worries I’m sure.
Choice
I was recently talking with a parent of two about their children coming to camp this summer. She had her own opinions about whether they …
Connections
Camp, at its core, is all about human connection. It is the antithesis to the artificial world created through social media apps, news feeds, and …
Holiday Message
On a recent afternoon my family engaged in the annual tradition of adorning our home with various holiday decor. We swilled hot cocoa as we …
Mentorship
As I sat down to write this blog I called my mentor, Biff Sutcliffe. Biff was my dorm parent, chemistry teacher, and advisor when I …
Welcome to our Blog
Hello Brown Ledgers! This is the place we will share some thoughts and reflections centered around the Brown Ledge philosophy, mission, and community. It may also include a few gems from the Archives and feature special guest writers from time to time. You can expect posts monthly September to May (we expect to be busy with, well, camp during the summer). We hope you enjoy it!
Filling My Bucket
We are far more complex than just our personal belongings, yet they provide a window into our world and the experiences and memories we hold …
