Camp Wannaknitasock

What’s your camp utopia?

Jun 29, 2023

Can you name the best job you‘ve ever had?

I bet it comes to mind quickly. Mine does.

While I’ve had plenty of jobs that I have enjoyed, my all-time favorite was working as a camp counselor at a summer music camp.

Camp Albemarle nestles in the same nook of my heart as the Anne books. I fell in love with both of them around the same time in my youth.

I spent six magical summers at the music camp housed at the former American Boychoir School in Princeton, New Jersey. My camp memories all seem to have Instagram filters—the ones with golden confetti and heart bubbles and electric rainbows.

A few years after aging out of camp, I learned of the tragically-early passing of a sweet boy I befriended at Camp. My soul felt called to return and work as a counselor.

I spent three delicious (and humid) summers working at my beloved Camp Albemarle. We sprinted, and we lounged. We sang, and we feasted. We gloried, and we sobbed.

Albemarle. Was. The. Best.

Here’s a photo of me with two amazing women I met through Albemarle—both as a camper and a counselor. We had so much fun! Also, sorry I don’t have any styled photos of the campus or anything. I didn’t realize I would be writing a Substack post about it a few decades later. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Recently, I dropped some of my kiddos off at summer camp. Standing in the center of the sun-drenched soccer field, I wished I could be a counselor again.

And immediately I changed my mind.

While being a camp counselor glitters in my memories, the reality of my current situation changes my needs and expectations. I am twice as old as I was, with innumerable new responsibilities and expectations. Plus I avoid at all costs marinating in humid air that hangs like a hot wet blanket.

But golly, do I ever wish I could pack up my sleeping bag and a trunk and escape to summer camp for two months of the year. No worries. No responsibilities.

What would your ideal camp look like?

I want knitting—lots and lots of knitting—while chilling with all of my (new and old) best friends.

My musical mind is warbling, “Make new friends/ but keep the old,/ One is silver/ and the other gold.” Anybody with me on that oldy-but-goody? I guess this means we will have camp songs! Someone needs to bring a guitar!

I will also have some laid-back outdooring—hiking, light sports and games, biking, and relaxing by a pool. (Notice that I can knit while doing at least two of those activities!)

All meals will be cooked, served, and cleaned up for me, and they will always include healthy options plus cake. (This is my fantasy camp, so…)

Every evening will include a starry sky canopying a campfire with friends, s’mores, and more knitting (unless my fingers are sticky with melted marshmallow).

The weather will be in the 60’s and 70’s. Some evenings may get chilly enough for a fingering weight sweater or shawl, though!

I think I’ll name this glorious retreat… Camp Wannaknitasock!

Anybody want to join me?

Even though we can’t actually head out to a campground for two carefree months, we knitters seem to make do. I’ll bet you can name at least one Knit A-Long (KAL) or knitting event that has the word “Camp” in the title!