It’s hard to believe that Session 3 is coming to an end and that this tight-knit community of friends—who seem to have known each other their whole lives—were mostly strangers just 2 weeks ago. Today will be all about celebrating and reflecting on these past two weeks together: this afternoon and evening each of our arts programs will share their final performances; we’ll have our final Flagpole of the session, complete with our final Meece nominations and Golden Broom award; at dinner we’ll eat pierogies and sundaes and dance to the Beach Boys; and tonight we will hold our end-of-session dance party and reflective Secret Ceremony campfire.
As we gear up for these final celebrations, we’re also looking back on all that we’ve done and accomplished so far this session. In that mindset, I’d like to share some highlights!
After a few days at the beginning of the session of settling into our regular schedule and getting immersed in their arts program, campers took a break for our annual Classics Festival. Working in art forms of their choice, campers created original interpretations of classic works: they choreographed dances to classic ballads, wrote parodies of well-known songs, created a play based on the Fleetwood Mac album Tusk, updated literary classics, and more. With their evening of performances, campers—and staff—were truly impressed by their peers and by how much this talented bunch managed to create in just a few hours. These early performances set the stage for an inspiring session of creativity and artistic exploration.
As part of our 25th Anniversary celebrations, we invited Dala back for their third Centauri concert—and first since 2012! Between their positive messages about the importance of being yourself and following your own path, their banter and theatrical renditions of Queen songs, and their performances of camp classics like “Lennon and McCartney,” Dala formed a special connection with a whole new Centauri generation. Campers lined up to talk to the band, get autographs signed, and share with the musicians how much their songs had meant to them. It was a beautiful evening and an incredible testament to the power of art.
The morning after Dala’s concert, campers awoke to the sounds of the Hogwarts Express, welcoming them into the Harry Potter festival. Students put on the Sorting Hat to learn their Hogwarts houses, took classes in everything from Potions to the History of Magic to the Care of Magical Creatures, and gathered for an afternoon Quidditch tournament. The day then took a turn when Voldemort and his Death Eaters returned and campers used the spells and lessons they had learned to fight them off. Once the camp had successfully defeated Voldemort and his army, we gathered to reveal the winner of the house cup (Hufflepuff!) and drink the strange concoction that is Butterbeer. Even after the celebrations wrapped up, campers continued dueling in the Quad, talking to the characters, and recounting their favorite moments from the day.
Along with these bigger events, the session was full of evening programs, spirit suppers, a banquet, and loads of other games, workshops, and events. Campers solved the Mystery of the Maharaja Express, fought for Rome’s legacy, and helped Shrek and friends reclaim their swamp from Lord Farquad.
Of course, most of the best Centauri memories come in smaller, often unplanned moments in dorms and with friends. Session 3 was full of these quintessential magical Centauri moments: from dorm mates using bamboo poles, string, and pepperoni sticks to “fish” in puddles around camp to a spontaneous singalong and parade back to the dorms at the end of our Shrek evening program, with campers draping their arms around each other and singing “All Star” at the top of their lungs.
Ultimately, what we all remember the most about Centauri, year to year, is this feeling that we have found our people and our place: in short, that we have found a community where we can truly belong. Watching our entire group of campers and counsellors joyfully singing, laughing with, and hugging each other all the way back to the quad, it was clear that the magic of Centauri has worked again; these Session 3 campers and staff have formed an amazing community that we will all remember for a long time.
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Maria
Senior Staff
Centauri Arts Camp