Happening 72 \|,,|

Come As You Are 

Since 7th grade, I've been lucky enough to experience Camp Mikell. Throughout the year, my church connects with other churches throughout the country up in these beautiful, peaceful, and kind mountains to celebrate God and each other. As Episcopalians, we believe in the power of music and community as we accept each other for our differences and spread unconditional love. We believe in allowing people to come as they are without any fear of judgment or criticism, and when I go up to Camp Mikell, my transcendentalist side is allowed to brightly shine thorough as I surround myself with both nature and kindhearted people. 

 At my church, there aren't a lot of people my age, and those who are aren't interested in coming together as a community in creative activity and service. Thus, my experiences at Camp Mikell have always been made incredible by my family and the teams at camp. In 7th grade, I experienced DYC at Camp Mikell for the first time with a few kids my age, my mom, and my Aunt Mary. We had a great time, but I didn't really connect with too many people. In 8th grade, I went back to DYC with my family and only one girl my age; we had fun, but didn't stay friends. That spring, I went to New Beginnings at Camp with family and some girls I thought enjoyed the experience; I had an amazing time, but they didn't really appreciate it. In 10th grade, I brought a close friend from school to DYC with me and my family and it was the best one yet, however, after that, she couldn't make the next few events.

This year, I decided I didn't want to go through the struggle of going with people who didn't really want to go or just bringing someone along. I decided it was time to take that step and go alone, leaving my mom behind as well. Happening is an even more special event meant for high schoolers learning about responsibility and preparing for independence; It's a place meant to help comfort such kids as we take these next steps. As a senior, I knew it would be the perfect time to go; I knew I needed some of that understanding and love from people going through the same thing.  

Friday: Eating, Singing, & Connecting

Friday afternoon, I left school and was picked up by my church's youth directer to get on the road for Toccoa, Georgia. I had said goodbye to my dad and sister that morning and said goodbye to mom a few hours before. All my luggage was already at camp, for my Aunt Mary who was working the camp had taken it up earlier. 

On the way there, we talked and made a stop at a Dollar General to go the bathroom and eat some Mike & Ikes. When we finally arrived, we checked in and walked around. I was incredibly nervous; I was so used to arriving later with a few other familiar people and my mom.

We said hello to my Aunt, and then, they left, leaving me on my own. I went back over to the porch rocking chairs and swings where we had said hello to a few girls my age when we had just arrived. I said hey again and asked to sit with them. They were very kind and warmly invited me to hang out with them. I then made my first friends at camp, Elora and Taylor.  

Games, Kairos, Talks, & Surprises  

Later, the dinner bell rung, and we all headed down to the dining hall. I sat with Elora, her friend Gary, my Aunt Mary, and a few other people. We got to know each other, while eating macaroni & cheese, broccoli, bread, and pie. Then, the bell rung for everyone to meet in the ODH. 

From there, we sang and danced to Camp Mikell songs and played some get to know you games, such as Ships & Sailors and Runners. Then, we were put in our weekend family groups. We were blindfolded and met our family groups by voice; I was put in Kairos, meaning "the right time." We were thus able to talk to each other without feeling shy or nervous. Team led us all to various stations around camp as we got to know each other by personality and talking only. It was awesome, and eventually, we shed our blindfolds to see one another, meeting Danielle, Ella, Ruthie, Maddie, Romelle, Shep, and guess what, Elora!

Everyone then listened to a member on team talk about an experience they faced. After, we split back into our family groups to discuss the talk and make an art piece. After presenting our project, we sang some more before being put in our cabin groups. 

Once my group was all together, we headed all the way up to Clayborne II and were met with a cabin filled with butterfly and light decorations. All of our beds were already made, and there were chocolates and notes on our pillows. It was a beautiful sight to see before going to bed.

Saturday: Family Groups, Reconciliation, Caritas, Piety Dinner, Love, & Vigil 

Saturday morning, we all woke up and got ready for the day. At that time, I connected with one of my cabin members, Katie. We all headed down to the ODH to sing and dance before breakfast, and Katie and I got to know each other. 

When we got to the dining hall, we were surprised with colorful place mats that assigned where we were to sit in order to meet new people. I got to eat bacon and eggs with some new people, and after, sat on the swings with Elora and another girl. 

We listened to some more talks and did some more activities with our family groups, including talking about faith and acceptance and putting on a skit for the whole group. At lunch, I got to meet more people as we ate croissant sandwiches; at break, I kept talking to one of my lunch buddies, Hayla, because, as it turned out, she's also in IB, and we talked about our classes and international books. 

Quiet Reflection, Nature, & Caritas 

Then, was reconciliation. We spent 2 hours in silence as we were allowed to roam the camp grounds, connecting and reflecting with ourselves and nature. I spent half the time on the Alexander hill reflecting and the other half behind the ODH on the deck facing the green and foggy mountain side home to the ancient white cross shining among the clouds. There, I took the time to appreciate nature and how fortunate I am for all that I have and will continue to successfully grow as I learn about myself and others. 

After reconciliation, we received our Caritas: bags of letters and small gifts that had been collected from family, team, and friends in the weeks leading up to Happening. We all went up to our cabins with our Caritas bags and spent a good 90 minutes reading all the notes of unconditional love. It was a truly beautiful experience as I read letters from aunts, cousins, grandparents, my great-grandmother, my mom, dad, sister, teachers, and more.

A Stormy Pious Evening 

When Caritas ended, the bell rung, and we all headed down to the pool pavilion as it started to thunderstorm to hear another talk: The Piety Talk. It was the best talk all weekend and was incredibly beautiful and deep; I thought she did an amazing job. 

After, was Piety dinner in which we all ate in the ODH as we were served by team. They had decorated the ODH in lights and personalized tablecloths for each family group. I sat with Kairos as we ate chicken, potatoes, and bread in silence, while team performed songs for us. At that moment, it was revealed that one of everyone's family group members was the family group leader helping to guide us the whole time; Kairos' was Elora! 

Rainy & Meaningful Experiences 

After Piety, we had a small break and then an activity with the whole camp as we traveled around the grounds and read together as team played guitars, keeping in time to the melody of the rain pouring around us. Then, we gathered in the ODH for a meaningful experience as our group leaders washed us away in silence as candles glittered around the whole room. I had a beautiful moment with my aunt as we sung and reflected. 

Later, we broke into our family groups, and in the dark, held vigil in our designated areas around a candle, speaking our truths and giving each other loving and supportive advice.

Bedtime Story Snacks 

Before it was time to head up for bed, everyone gathered in the ODH as we were read 2 bedtime stories and had cookies and apple juice; it was really sweet and funny. Then, we sang for a bit before heading up to shower and go to bed.

Sunday: Flowers, Celebration, Sharing, Giving, & Endings 

On the last morning of camp, everyone was woken up at 6 in the morning to team coming into the cabins with daisies as they woke us up with praise and song. Everyone was really confused, but in our pajamas, we followed team down the hill along a path of lanterns to the ODH to be surprised with celebration team. 

It was time we earned our handmade wooden crosses that symbolized our Happening experience and the unconditional love we're surrounded with. We were called up individually to be given our crosses that had been prayed over in the weeks leading up to camp. People cheered and took pictures as we were gifted with such a meaningful symbol.  

Packin' Up For Sacraments & Letter Writing  

After celebration, we headed back to the cabins to get dressed and to pack up our luggage. I took home some of the butterfly decorations and took a Polaroid picture with Katie before heading down to the ODH to sing before breakfast. We ate waffles and muffins as we sat with the people who gave us our crosses. 

After breakfast was sacraments as we split into our family groups and connected again. More people from around the camp came by each group and connected with each of us as well. After some more silence time, we went to our family areas and each wrote ourselves a letter about the weekend. We exchanged numbers and social media as we wrote our future selves, turning the letters into our group leaders so, at some point in time, they'll be mailed back to us. 

A Warm & Fuzzy Time!

Then, was Warm & Fuzzies time in which everyone was given a necklace of yarn to trade with one another. The whole camp stood up with their Warm & Fuzzies and traveled around the ODH for the activity. A good Warm & Fuzzy trade comes with a complement and a hug; I walked around complementing, trading, and hugging people as we thrived in the Warm & Fuzzy environment. 

We all sang with our new Warm & Fuzzies before heading to our family groups to come up with a performance to present to the camp about our Happening experience. We all headed up to one of the chapels on the hill after some practice time to watch the creative projects; Kairos performed a skit about some of the awesome and funny things that made up Happening!  

A Kairos Lunch With Caritas & Tattoos 

Then, we took our group picture on the wooden stands next to some of the chapels outside. We posed as one big Happening 72 family for the little drone camera and then headed to lunch.

At lunch, we sat with our family groups at specially decorated tables. Ours was Disney themed and was covered in temporary tattoos and glitter. We were also surprised with more Caritas on our tables! There were more letters, little presents, and candy from team, family, and friends, including our Happening T-shirt and some camp stickers. We ate salad and had ice cream before it was time for the closing Sunday service. 

A Family Surprise!

During the break before the service, I headed to the ODH to put my water bottle up, and was very surprised to see that my mom and Cousin Megan were there! They had driven all the way up together to surprise Aunt Mary and me and go to the service before taking us to dinner and home.  

A Singing Sunday Service & Peaceful Goodbyes

At the beginning of the service, each group came up and introduced themselves to the families that had arrived at camp. We were to say our names and favorite thing about the weekend, and when Kairos was called up and I spoke, I said my name and that my favorite thing about the weekend was just feeling so loved and understood; I got a lot of claps and "aw's" for that. 

  

Camp Mikell's services are always so beautiful as we celebrate our experience, ourselves, and God through music and praise; I truly look forward to the singing and dancing every time we come up here. During the Peace, we all hugged and said our goodbyes as Happening came to an end. I said bye to my friends and gave a big hug to mom and Megan. Then, we went up to the cabins to grab our stuff and got on the road. 

Reminiscing Already Happening At Outback 

 

On the road, Aunt Mary and I talked about our Happening adventures and how much it all meant to us as we headed to Outback for a special dinner together. We met up with my Uncle Duane, eating steak and fries and potatoes as we talked about camp and going back to school. 

Nothin' Like Some Unconditional Love At "The Right Time" 

Overall, Happening 72 was an absolutely amazing experience filled with so much love, connection, acceptance, and happiness. I'm so grateful for the friends I made, the faith I strengthened, and the Happening team and family that made it so, so special. I will never forget this wonderful journey, the things I learned, and the people that made it happen. I love me some Camp Mikell magic and hope to spread that unconditional love to others as I show them how important it is to come as you are. Senior year has definitely been wild as I continue to find myself and accept the change to come with college ahead, and I know for certain that this Happening weekend happened at "the right time." 

\|,,| UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, BABY \|,,|