Have you ever heard of Fred and Ethel, Fred and Ginger, Fredand Wilma, Ricky and Lucy, Bonnie and Clyde, Sonny and Cher, Romeo and Juliet, and Superman and Lois Lane? I’m sure you get the idea so we can stop now!  These are famous couples, both real and imaginary, who have made their mark on history, literature, film and television.  Some couples are easily recognized while others have drifted into obscurity.

This week is Mr. and Mrs. Doublecreek Week.  We have five couples who may not be famous anywhere else, but at Doublecreek they are really a big deal!  This year’s couples are Griffin and Dara, Marisa and Nick, Katie and Hunter, Chad and Cassidy, and Rachel and Gabe.  They are going all out to win the coveted title of “Mr. and Mrs. Doublecreek.”

The couples compete in the following categories:  formal wear, swim wear, singing and dancing, and talent competition.  Of course, competition such as formal wear requires a leap of faith by the audience.  Expecting counselors to don evening dresses and tuxedos after playing with campers in Texas during August is a tad unrealistic.  But, they use a tried and true method employed often at Doublecreek:  imagination!!  They strut their stuff wearing fake boas, loud blazers, ridiculous shoes, boots or heels, oversized bowties, and crazy unkempt wigs.  They pretend they are “puttin’ on the Ritz” and the audience pretends they’re watching a Paris fashion show.

Swim wear can best be described as “floaties on parade.”  The highlight this year was a CPR demo which will never be confused with anything seen on “Baywatch.”

Thursday was the singing and dancing portion of the competition.  Since singing and dancing is what we do best at Doublecreek, this was a great show!  We had Katie, Hunter, Cassidy, and Chad combining to bring us a Broadway-style number complete with balloons, glitter and all the 7^th and up campers.  Nick and Marisa gave us a terrific two-step number that included a show-stopping entrance and exit which had Nick and Marisa riding off into the sunset – Hollywood-style.  Rachel and Gabe showed off their best dance steps to the tune “Footloose” while being backed up by our quick-stepping CITs.  Finally, Griffin and Dara treated us to a charming duet, by singing “Loveis an Open Door” from the movie “Frozen.”

In the end, Dara and Griffin won the coveted title of “Mr. and Mrs. Doublecreek.”  They join a 

growing line of deserving couples who have earned this title.  This title was won by performing onstage.  But Griffin and Dara are hardly our only deserving Mr. and Mrs. Doublecreek counselors.  We have dozens of potential candidates who give it up for our campers every period of every day.  They just don’t have the crown and scepter to show for it.

-- Joe Ray

Here's the link to this week's video:  https://vimeo.com/135716257

This week is “Glee Week” at Camp Doublecreek.  I must confess I’m not really up on Glee.  It was just this week that I realized that Glee and High School Musical were not the same show.  I have only a rudimentary understanding of Glee – there is some semblance of a plot line and a lot of singing.

However, Glee at Doublecreek started not on Monday this week, but the previous Friday.  TV writers would be proud to have created the scene we had at Sing-Song.  With a great deal of ceremony, sentiment and class, Griffin Reeder proposed to Dara Whiteside. Griffin and Dara are two of our favorite counselors and met and fell in love at Doublecreek. The scene had everything:  roses, memories, lots of clapping and cheering, more than a few teary eyes, and followed by lots of singing and dancing.

Then on Monday, July 27, 2015, Andrea Neal, the lovely wife of our Director, Dan Neal, gave birth to Sadie Carter Neal, who is the younger sister of the incomparable Brooklyn Grace Neal.

In light of Griffin and Dara’s engagement and Sadie’s arrival, Doublecreek Glee Week turned into real life romantic and joyful melodies.  With Dan being out to spend time with his family I did have moments where tunes like "I'm So Lonely" by Bobby Vinton or "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Elvis or Hank Williams (personally I think Elvis sang it better).

I’ve been very proud of our staff this week.  Starting with our office staff, adventure team, horseback riding crew, pool crew, group counselors and CITs, all have pitched in and enabled Doublecreek to run as smoothly as possible.  Many have taken on extra duties.  More than once this week, I’ve remembered something that needed to be taken care of, and when I checked, it had been done.  To these mystery staff members who took care of business, “Thank you!”!  These counselors make me think of the song "Men In The Ranks" because they know how to get things done.

I suppose most Glee episodes need to have drama to be memorable.  Thankfully, we have a different way to make things memorable at camp.  Our Glee episode has made me want to sing and dance.  But, in the true spirit of the show, I’ll refrain from doing either one and leave it to our talented counselors.

-- Joe Ray

Here's the link to this week's video:  https://vimeo.com/135002734