Awiskini & Celebrating International Diversity
At Adirondack Camp, we have a special ceremony known as Awiskini, one of our oldest traditions, to emphasize our cherished core values here at camp. During Awiskini, we honor campers who embody our principles and have successfully completed the challenges of Silence, Memory, and Service to earn the title of true Adirondackee. The weekly ritual includes engaging games to test our abilities and foster enjoyment among all participants in a wooded area ringed by tall pines and bedrock cliffs.
Additionally, we gather to share stories that pay tribute to the fundamental values of our community and respect to peoples who lived here thousands of years ago, honoring their cultures and values. Our international staff are encouraged to join us, sharing stories from their own backgrounds and histories, even in their native languages, as a genuine tribute to their roots.
At camp, we take great pride in our diverse community, which includes campers and staff from across the globe, spanning from New Zealand to South Africa, Mexico to Hungary, and China, just to name a few. The Adirondack spirit reaches worldwide. Our cultural exchange goes beyond the weekly Awiskini ceremony. During Gathering, you might hear a Polish poem or a Maori song being shared. It’s more than just the words themselves; it’s about the deep connection these expressions hold in the hearts of those who share them.
Our Kiwi staff bring a piece of home with Jump Jam, an elementary school tradition where every Friday morning, they lead us in energetic dances to kickstart our day before breakfast. Meanwhile, our Mexican kitchen staff treat us to delicious meals from their homeland, enriching our dining experience. During dances, we sometimes groove to Spanish songs, or we share with each other different words from our languages. These are just a few examples of how we embrace and celebrate our diverse backgrounds at camp. In our dining hall, flags representing the nationalities of all our campers and staff proudly hang, serving as a constant reminder of the multitude of cultures thriving under one roof.
Activities Yesterday
World Cup
On Monday we had our last semi-final for World Cup, a close game but South Africa arose victorious after a 2-1 win over USA. Into the final they go!
Trips
What’s On Today
The weather today will be partly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. The high will be 83°F (28°) and the overnight low 65°F (18°C). We’re hoping to hold the World Cup Final today during general swim, England vs South Africa, it’s sure to be a great game! It’s a Wednesday today so our schedule will be ABCDE, it’s the last day of activities for session one, and our evening activity is a closing Awiskini ceremony!
