Thanks for the Memories

April is Staff Appreciation Month at Camp Doublecreek, so we decided to have a “Battle of the Decades” on social media to recognize our present and former staff members.  If you want to start a competition, put a “best of” list out there – especially best movie, song, etc.  
There are only a handful of us senior citizen discount users who have been around since the beginning, and I can personally recall all five decades. To help out, here is my thumbnail account of each decade.

The 70’s were unique.  Doublecreek looked and felt very different from any other decade.  For one thing, we were the only thing out here.  The camp was situated on 125 acres.  There was a pond for fishing and we hauled hay.  When we went on trail rides, we needed a compass.  We had horny toad races and took field trips to the auction in Georgetown.  Ironically, as enrollment became larger, the physical size of camp became smaller. Round Rock grew up around us.

By the time we got to the 80’s, we routinely ran between 250-300 campers a week.  We needed a fleet of buses, not just one bus and a van, to haul in our campers. Today, we have a uniform fleet of buses.  All are white and numbered.  However, during the last half of the 70’s, through the 80’s and into the 90’s, we had multi-colored buses with creative names.  We had the Blue Bomb, the Red Baron, the Orange Bevo, the Aggie Bus, the Tan Can, and the Teal Bus.  But the granddaddy of them all, was the Green Monster.  The Green Monster was an old city bus, and it was Uncle Carter’s favorite!  That bus could carry half the camp, if needed.  Like all things mechanical, the Green Monster finally gave out, and watching it being towed away, was heartbreaking.

In the 90's, we were busting at the seams.  We had to have Sing-Song on the basketball court to accommodate everyone.  Mini-golf was added and the garden was a big hit. The advent of Terrific Thursdays introduced campers to innovative creative activities -- the girls loved to paint my fingernails all different colors.

When it comes to physical changes at Doublecreek, the 2000’s take the cake! Since the beginning of the 2000's, we have added paintball, rockwall, D2, low-ropes course, gaga ball, indoor/outdoor soccer field, four-square cages, and expanded the office space, just to name a few.

I realize I’ve spent an inordinate amount of space describing the physical changes at Doublecreek, without touching on the most important factors – campers and counselors.  Oddly, I don’t see significant changes in campers and counselors over the years.  The biggest change with campers over the past 46, soon to be 47, summers, is style.  They dress differently, but I still see shy campers clinging to their parents on Monday morning the first time they get on the bus to come to camp, while others jump out of their cars and get on the bus before their moms and dads get the car door open.

Counselors – same thing.  They dress differently, they are more technically savvy, but they bring the same attributes to the table.  They put campers first while giving the best part of themselves to ensure campers have a great experience at Camp Doublecreek.  So which decade is the best?  Since I have a personal and positive stake in all five decades, I’ll cop out and call it a five way tie!

-- Joe Ray

No Problem!!!

We had a visitor to Camp Doublecreek in the early morning of February 20, 2017.  It was a tornado and boy did he leave a calling card!  The roof of the riding arena was ripped off.  The water slide had its base ripped from the concrete and the canvas shredded.  The roof from the riding arena landed on the tennis court fence creating a mangled mess.  One Gaga Ball pit had the roof caved in and our big new pit traveled over 50 feet to the end of the tennis court.  Every day we find new damage.  Maybe we should stay in the office and we won’t have anymore damage!  That strategy works for ostriches; maybe it could work for us?

We were asked how the storm would impact Spring Break Camp. Well, I think we could have called this Spring Break Camp, throwback Spring Break.  No riding roof, no problem.  We didn’t have a roof over the riding arena until 1979, and we had no clue what we were missing!  Of course, we don’t swim during Spring Break Camp, but still, we managed for years without a water slide.  No Gaga Ball pits, no problem!  If you have four square, you can play four square anywhere.  No fence at the tennis court, [all together now] NO PROBLEM!  We didn’t have a fence around the tennis court that first summer, which only encouraged long rallies.

In fact, that first summer, we didn’t have a diving board at the pool, nor did we have a sidewalk around the pool.  We had one (yes, one) water fountain.  No mini-golf, gun safety or D2.  I think we had gymnastics under a tent.  We played football and soccer in an open area -- it would really be a stretch to call it a field.  There were multiple things we didn’t have that we have now.  But, we had campers and counselors. From the very beginning, Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy instilled into everyone, that building relationships and having a memorable summer, was all you needed.  All to say, that It doesn’t matter if the roof is literally in left field. Camp Doublecreek has always been, and will continue to be, a safe, fun filled place for boys and girls, because that is our legacy!

PS - Director Dan wants everyone to know all will be fixed by summer, and will be better than ever!

-- Joe Ray

Generations of Love!

Last year, we came up with the slogan, “We’re All Heart”, to honor Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy’s love for all campers and staff.  To me, this slogan has always had a special meaning, and this year it becomes more special, because I am making the transition from Director Dan to Director Dad. My daughter is coming to camp for the first time as a mini camper! It brings my heart so much joy to think of all of the fun she will have and the friendships she will make, just as I did when I was her age.

Some of my favorite memories as a mini camper include, swimming in the Doublecreek pool with the counselors, riding that good ole horse, Star Fire, shooting a bow and arrow for the first time, and climbing on the jungle gym.  For me, being a mini camper meant more than just attending a great camp, it meant joining my grandparents and their extended camp family.  You know that moment at your family holiday when you graduate to the adult table?  Well, that was the excitement I felt coming to camp!

Now, I’ve found myself wondering what kind of camper my daughter will be. Will she jump right in during sing song, or will she wonder why her dad is playing with all of the other kids? I’m not sure, but here’s what I know.  When campers come to Doublecreek, they are loved!  They are accepted!  They are celebrated!  They leave at the end of the day knowing someone believes in them. All my other questions will work themselves out, because really, what else could a dad want?

From our family to yours, Happy Valentine’s Day!

-Director Dan

Happy New Year!

Yes, I can still hear those holiday greetings!  But they're starting to taper off.  Emotionally, January is a transitional month.  You’re coming off the rush of the holidays, into the weight of returning to school and work, and staring at bills you’ve accrued during December.

But, hey!  It’s a new year.  January is my launch month.  All the ways I intend to improve myself:  losing weight, saving money, becoming stronger, faster and smarter, I start in January.  Never mind that I should try to do these things throughout the year – starting self-improvement projects in July doesn’t make sense to me.  Starting in January, that’s the time to start.  Why?  It’s a new year! One year I examined my goals.  Upon closer inspection, I realized that if I achieved all my goals, I would morph into a completely new person.  I don’t need to become a new person – just a better person.

As you already know, Doublecreek doesn’t need to reinvent itself.  But, there are always tweaks that can be made.  As soon as summer is over, we’re working towards next year.  Winter Break Camp is over, and now we’re working towards Spring Break Camp.  The Austin Family Camp Fair is coming up and (ready for my shameless plug?) registration is open!  Some years Doublecreek has major physical additions; other years the changes are so subtle you can’t detect them.  What’s on the horizon this year?  Come visit us at Open House in April and see for yourself!

Some things change, others remain the same.  For instance, some counselors will return; some will graduate and begin new careers.  Some campers will return and some will become counselors-in-training (CITs).  The “heart” of Doublecreek is one thing that won't change.  This intangible trait was developed by Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy, and has been passed down to Director Dan, as well as our owners, Judy and Jane.  Everyone who has been a part of Doublecreek, either as a camper or counselor, is a part of this legacy.  

I hope you will continue to be a part of the Doublecreek legacy and help us to make this great camp even greater!

-- Joe Ray

My One-Legged Bird

I’ve always considered Thanksgiving to be the sandwich holiday.  It falls between Halloween and Christmas – easily the two most commercial holidays on the calendar.  Hence, it is often taken for granted – an afterthought.  Thanksgiving has always had deep meaning for me.  I have so much to be grateful for. What crystallizes this for me is a bird and a man.

I really enjoy putting birdseed out on out back patio.  It’s fun to watch the different birds fly in and help themselves to the food.  We have bluejays, cardinals, doves, pigeons, finches, and grackles – lots of grackles.  One Saturday morning I was drinking coffee and watching the birds when I noticed one grackle in particular.  He was large, black and only had one leg.  After that, I developed a weekend ritual – get up, put on a pot of coffee, put out birdseed and wait for my friend.  I always smiled when he showed up.  Having one leg didn’t seem to bother him.  He fought for food, played in the water and chattered like everyone else.

I have another ritual.  Every three months on a Sunday, I volunteer at a program called “Church Under the Bridge.”  This organization provides a hot meal, drinks and care packages for a portion of the homeless population in Austin.  The meal is served after a worship service.  Over the years I’ve evolved into the “coffee man.”  Before the service starts, I help man the coffee table.  The location for Church Under the Bridge is under IH-35 across from the Austin Police Department.  From a sensory perspective, it’s not a pleasant experience. But the humanity found there is overwhelming.  Despite their situation some are hopeful, other live in a state of resignation and many appear defeated.  The common thread of this population is the uncertainty of living day to day.

As soon as we’re set up, a line forms.  Soon I’m in the rhythm of handing out coffee, asking them “how’s it going?” and most of the time, saying “you’re welcome” when they express their gratitude.  Occasionally there’s time for small talk.

One man caught my attention.  As I handed him his cup of coffee, he said “Thank you.”  But he didn’t verbalize his thanks, he told me “thank you” in sign language.  He was a short slim man with an open face and a horribly mangled right hand.  He always made several trips through the line.  After every trip he signed “thank you.”  I would ask him “How’s it going?”  He would always smile and give me a “thumbs up.”  Every time I went to Church Under the Bridge, I would look for this man.  It was always good to see him.  Given his situation, I was always amazed he could smile and give me a “thumbs up.”  When we finished cleaning up and loading up all the equipment, I would look for this man.  He was always gone on his merry way.  I would get in my car, but I never started it up right away.  I would have to sit and decompress.  You see, after every Church Under the Bridge, I felt empty but grateful.  I realized how fortunate I am.  I have my wife, Susan, my family, my home and my health.  It humbles me to think that if I had an emotional, physical or financial calamity; if I suffered from a chemical imbalance or if at birth my chromosomes hadn’t line up correctly, I could be on the other side of the coffee table.

I hope this Thanksgiving we will take time to consider all the blessings for which we are thankful.  Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday!

-- Joe Ray

I Love Halloween!!

I love Halloween – always have!!  I really like the candy – all kinds of candy!  The only difference between now and when I was a kid is the hard candy.  My teeth can’t handle jaw breakers anymore.  Oh, the trials of old age.

When I was young, I couldn’t wait to go trick-or-treating.  For me, trick-or-treating was all about the candy, with almost no thought to the costume.  I didn’t view the costume as an expression of myself – the costume was simply a license to get candy.  Have you seen children show up at your door wearing a cheap mask and holding out a pillow case?  Well that was me.

Of course that attitude doesn’t fly with most children.  At school when children discuss Halloween, they’re not talking Butterfingers or lollipops; they’re talking about the costumes they will be wearing.  As I got older, my attitude towards costumes has evolved.  In fact, after Susan I were married, we always managed to come home with some hardware from costume parties.  One year, we went as Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood.  The next year Susan went as an elegant Victorian lady and I went as the Elephantman. Luckily for posterity, no photos survived.

Halloween is a time of superstition which and be traced back to Celtic times when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts.  The word “Halloween” dates from about 1745.  It comes from a Scottish term which means “All Hallows’ Eve.”  I generally don’t dwell on the deeper meaning of Halloween.  I simply enjoy it.  I watch old horror movies for the tenth time and buy lots of candy to hand out to all the cute ghosts, pirates, princesses, monsters, and superheroes who come to our door.

Halloween is a transitional holiday between Fall and Winter.  Halloween comes after the leaves turn and we get relief from the heat, but before trees go bare and a hard winter sets in.  Of course, here in central Texas, sometimes we don’t have dramatic season changes. But Halloween helps us to prepare for winter and the upcoming holiday seasons with new camp experiences around the corner.

Oh, by the way, if any Doublecreek campers come to my door, don’t be disappointed if I don’t recognize you.  Remember, you’re in costume!

-- Joe Ray

Summer in the Rear View Mirror

You’ve heard the expression, “objects in the rear view mirror appear closer than they are.”  That’s how summer feels to me.  We are more than a month removed from Doublecreek’s last day and I find myself looking back on a summer that’s slowly receding into memory.  It is officially Fall.  Baseball is moving into the post-season, football is in full swing, and at many elementary schools progress reports are going home.

I’ve been to Doublecreek several times since the last day.  This time of year Doublecreek feels empty.  Doublecreek is made for children and when children aren’t around, there's a void.  This off-season is especially significant as we hit the one year mark since Aunt Trudy left us.  She was a wonderful and special woman who touched so many lives. Together with Uncle Carter, Aunt Trudy created a special place.   She will always be missed, but we can find joy in the knowledge that Aunt Trudy’s and Uncle Carter’s vision endures and thrives. A true testament to their vision that Camp Doublecreek continues to be a place for campers to have fun and grow.

Yes, Camp Doublecreek looks and feels empty now, but It won’t be dormant long.  Winter Break Camp is just around the corner, then Spring Break Camp, then we’ll have another summer.  Of course, there will never be another Aunt Trudy, but because of Aunt Trudy and Uncle Carter, there will always be another summer.

-- Joe Ray