A special camper

I met Carlie about five years ago when I was asked to do a nature program at YMCA Camp Skycrest, near White Mills. She was younger than other resident campers, but had a special niche in camp as the niece of a staff member, sharing camp life in a cabin with the youngest campers.

Now, at age 10, Carlie has become an old-timer at camp, and because of her love of art and the outdoors, has become a fixture in outdoor programs. Each summer, when she arrives, Carlie first inquires about nature activities and immediately signs up for them. And this summer, she’ll help with the transformation of a sunny spare room at Skycrest into our first-ever nature center.

Last July, when I introduced animal puppets into our nature programs, Carlie and her friend Marissa drew on knowledge of our blueberry-picking expeditions to write an original puppet play they titled “Sour and Sweet.” They also organized cabin mates for an evening practice session, and the play debuted next day in the camp’s recreation building to enthusiastic applause.

Since last July, it’s been performed by local children at venues as far afield as Promised Land State Park and the Highlights for Children’s Christmas open house. A Highlights editor, delighted by “Sour and Sweet,” and a refrain repeated by its animal characters — “Sour and Sweet is a tasty treat” — later wrote letters of appreciation to both Carlie and Marissa.

On her trip to camp on Sunday, July 2, nothing could stop Carlie from visiting our Butterfly Barn in Milanville and saying hello to Roberta, our new goat, and from searching chicken roosts for newly laid eggs. Thanks to her, and other children I work with each summer at Camp Skycrest, July has become a very special month for me.