There are not many parts of my life that have impacted the person I've become more than Camp Encore/Coda in Sweden, Maine, and the thirteen summers I've spent there. It is the place I met the love of my life and so many of my best friends. It is the place I was cast as a lead for the first time, and the place that expanded my passion for theater beyond just a hobby. It is the place where I realized that I love working with kids and directing. It is the place I truly began eating disorder recovery post-treatment. It is the place I questioned my sexuality for the first time, realizing there may be a fuller version of myself I hadn't yet tapped into. Put most simply, it is the place that made me me.
For reference, this is Encore/Coda, a summer music camp:
This is the first summer since 2010 that I have not gone to Encore/Coda. I decided back in January that I would be taking the summer off (and I phrase it that way since I will be going back to camp in the future; I simply refuse to say goodbye forever), as I was really just getting into the swing of PAing, and I wanted to pursue summer opportunities in film. I can only imagine how eleven-year-old me would fully yell at me if she knew I wasn't at Encore/Coda right now...although she'd also find it very cool that I'm working in movie production, so I think she'd be okay.
After making a short(ish) goodbye-for-now post on my instagram about E/C and getting some crying out, I haven't really let myself think about camp. Mainly because I have such bad fomo that thinking about not going back physically makes my heart hurt.
Due to the writer's strike, however, my summer's schedule has worked out in such a way that I am spending three days doing a little work at camp - I went both days this past weekend, and I'm going again tomorrow. Now before you go "wait...so you are going back? Aren't you being a little dramatic?" Honestly, maybe I am, I tend to be a little dramatic. But trust me. Visiting for three days is just not the same as a full summer at camp.
On my drive back from camp on Saturday, I finally let myself truly reflect on all my memories and years there, for the first time since January. Naturally, I got emotional - I can't help my Cancer moon. (Also if you're not into astrology...I frankly think the stars rock, and I will be mentioning them at least once a blog post so...sorry about it.) I figured there was no better way to get my feelings out than to write about them. If you follow me on Instagram, this is essentially going to be a much longer version of what I wrote back in January.
There's no way I could pinpoint every single moment over the last thirteen years that has had a lasting impact me; one, because that is impossible, and two, because even with how open of a book I am, there are always going to be memories that should be kept close to heart and solely between those the memories were shared with. So, I created a little scrapbook of moments that I feel encapsulate my time at Encore/Coda, and I'm going to tell you a little bit about each of them...
Meet Sophie, aka Giraffe, aka Agent Sophster Goodie, aka one of my best friends and just generally one of the greatest people ever. The Ann to my Leslie, if you're a diehard Parks and Rec fan like we are.
Sophie and I met our very first year at camp, all the way back in 2010. We were in the same cabin (Sandpipers), and we'd be in the same cabin every year until Sophie stopped coming to camp in 2016. We were friendly from the beginning, but we didn't become besties until 2012, so we always marvel at the fact that we even have that 2010 photo - huge kudos to one of our moms for snapping the shot.
I've shared countless memories with Sophie, but one that will always stand out to me was in 2014, our fifth year at camp, when we decided to write each other "Five Year Speeches" about our friendship. Literally how adorable is that?? We spent a whole free period basically just being like "I love being your friend," and it was absolutely just as pure as it sounds. I also remember that we couldn't stop laughing and actually getting through our speeches was a hike. Other highlights over the years include coming up with our nicknames, Shortcake and Giraffe, once we were old enough to realize our height difference; the endless pre-camp-dance photoshoots (of which I will spare you); and now both living in Boston and getting to see each other at least once a week (which is truly huge for us, as we were always long-distance friends growing up). All this to say, everyone needs a sister-friend like Soph, and I'll forever be grateful to Encore/Coda for bringing us together. Soph if you're reading this, hi and peanut butter jelly time 5eva.
One of the biggest parts of camp for me was always the musical theater show. It taught me important theater skills, like rehearsal etiquette and learning lines and songs fast (because we put together a show in just three weeks!), and it was also just a ton of fun. I have so, so many memories from theater with my friend Case, another bestie, because we were often playing opposite each other onstage (she's the one standing in the Sleeping Beauty picture). It was always really fun preparing for the shows together because we both just loved theater so much! In 2019, I started directing shows at Encore/Coda, which was a real full circle moment. It was nerve-wracking to take on at first, but it quickly became the highlight of every day. All of the six shows I've directed at camp have been rewarding in their own way, and they've certainly sparked a deep passion for directing both theater and film.
What is sleepaway camp without cabin life?? I loved every single one of the cabins I was in, whether it was as a camper, CIT or counselor. It always just felt like a big family made up of other girls my age, and quite a few of the friendships I made in these cabins will last our lifetimes. Arrival day was super exciting because we got to find out which cabin we were in (which always felt like a BIG deal) and who we'd be living with. I would move in right away, as getting my things unpacked and setting up my space always made me feel at home. It also gave those of us returning to camp the time to catch up and gush about lives before heading out to make new friends. The people, and the acceptance I felt from them, have always been the main reason I kept returning to camp every year. The people make the experience, and I was constantly gifted with beautiful friends to live and share my time with while at Encore/Coda. I'm forever grateful for that.
A brief moment for my oboe days. I began playing the oboe in fourth grade, back in 2009, when we all had to pick an instrument in school. My mom plays the oboe, so naturally I followed in her footsteps. It was my main instrument when I started at Encore/Coda, which was the first place I ever played in a band setting. E/C played a huge role in my growth on the instrument, for the brief time I played it. I kept it up for all three of my "lower camp" years, until I stopped in the middle of the school year in seventh grade. By then I loved theater so much I didn't want to do anything else, but I'll always be grateful for the musical training I received at such a young age because my love for music has never gone away.
I was a camper from 2010 to 2016, and in 2017 I became a counselor. To the left are a few photos from my first summer working at camp. I was a lifeguard until Covid hit, so I got to spend my first three years as a counselor spending quite literally every day down on the water. Needless to say, it was pure bliss. I was also blessed with the best first co-counselor ever, Kirsty, and we had such a great time working together. She's lives across the pond in Scotland, so sadly I haven't gotten to see her in a long time. If you're seeing this, KIRSTY I MISS YOU PLEASE COME VISIT!! <3
The rest of my staff years thus far (2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022) were all amazing summers at Encore/Coda, as I went from Junior Counselor to Senior Counselor to Head Staff. I met so many people in 2018 and 2019 who are very important to me, including my boyfriend, Ofer. He's wonderful, and a true beast at the bass trombone. What started as a camp crush is now a 4.5 year relationship, and it's been more than what I could've imagined. We love camp crushes in this house!
In December 2018, we had a small reunion, which would become the first of many. "We" refers to me, Ofer, Riley and Eustaquio (whom I also met in 2018), and Dara (whom I've known since our crusty days all the way back in 2012). That winter weekend in New Hampshire is still one of my favorite memories of all time - I think we laughed for three days straight. Peep the Alcatraz-themed gingerbread house, courtesy of Eustaquio and Dara, in the scrapbook slide above. Six months later we did another reunion, and since then they've become a tradition. We even went to Paris together in December of 2019!
Other highlights from the last five years working at E/C include: lots of trips to The Gazebo in Bridgton, ME for ice cream on nights off; planning and running camp activities with Eustaquio, Riley and Maya (another Head Counselor and a good, very funny friend); the first day off Ofer and I spent together in 2018 (which was exactly five years ago today because it fell on July 4th); going to the Fryeburg Fair [almost] every fall; joining Head Staff in 2021 and getting to work closely with Cara, Jamie, Ellen, Nathan and Andrew, and learn a lot about how Encore/Coda is really run behind the scenes; lots of late nights in the office when Eustaquio and I were so loopy from tiredness that everything was funny; filming and editing videos for camp, which meant a lot to me because the camp directors took my passion for filmmaking in stride and worked it into my job as a Head Counselor, helping me to grow in yet another area I'm passionate about; directing more theater shows; and so, so many more.
I've gushed a lot in this entry, yet still feel like I've barely scratched the surface of all the fun times I've had at E/C. If I keep writing, however, I'll just go on forever, so I'm going to leave it there for today. Camp Encore/Coda is a beautiful place, and I think it goes without saying that if you are looking for a music camp to attend or to work at, I very much recommend that you check it out here: www.encorecoda.com :)
I'm going to leave you with another music rec, on theme with the entry: "Twinkling Lights" by Annalise Emerick. Riley is the one who showed me this song. She discovered it and quickly sent it to me saying "This is literally about camp." And it is. It's a beautiful song about the time spent at a summer camp, and the instrumentals give the vibe of stargazing-by-a-campfire (aka a classic camp night). It definitely makes me emo when I listen to it, and I hope you like it too.
Until next time:)
Cheech
(which, fun fact, is a nickname that originated at Encore/Coda, courtesy of my fellow eggles Liat and Case)
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