This year, many rising seniors have participated in WriCampia’s CIT program, reading aloud to Lower and Middle Camp bunks each night as well as assuming track-specific leadership roles. In addition to reading to younger campers, Sophie K., 17, serves as the Managing Editor of this year’s The Yearly WriCampian. Sophie has been involved in the newspaper since she started as a camper in 2023. This year, she is overseeing all the articles and ensuring everyone meets their deadlines, and she said that she loves having the opportunity to work with younger kids and offer guidance on their articles.
Ciri P., 17, and Wilbur are both CITs in Bunk 15. “I have pride for the cabin I read for,” Wilbur said with a smile. “They are wild and incredibly talented.”
Ciri shared that one night, their Middle Camp bunk invited them to a spa night in which Wilbur got to wear a face mask. Willem VM shared this appreciation of reading to younger campers and often enjoys employing funny voices for the different characters. “It is genuinely a highlight of my day every day,” he said.
It was 2021, the year after the pandemic, when they first came to WriCampia as a rising 8th grader, Wilbur N., 17, explained, while knitting a shawl at the picnic table on the deck of the Arts Center. Now a rising senior, Wilbur recounted memories of their first year at camp, specifically remembering their bunk counselors, Moe and Zoe. “They were the perfect amount of authority, yet they felt like our friends. They’d get us out of bed every morning and tuck us in each night,” they said with a smile.
“Camp was a lot of firsts for me,” Wilbur continued, sharing that Wrichella 2021 was their first time performing live for other people. Since then, they have grown confidence and pride in themself–performing at camp and beyond.
Senior Camper, Leila S., 17, also transformed on the Wrichella stage over her past eight years as a camper. “At camp, I speak to people I would never know back home and it’s just normal and relaxed. It’s the most accepting place and I was able to grow into a performer because of it.”
A big part of what makes WriCampia so special is the people and spaces that foster connection and understanding. Senior Myles S., 17, said that the Voice Culture Race club (VCR) has played a big role in supporting his camp experience. Savannah S., 16, a long-time member of VCR, agreed, and added that “since camp is a majority-white space, finding a bubble of people who just get it is so helpful.”
She added that here at camp, inside or out of VCR, “I can just be who I am,” without feeling overly conscious of being a Black American. Leila added that she believes that VCR has not only impacted her personally but has overall made WriCampia “a safer and stronger place.”
For many seniors, spending year after year at camp has helped them observe personal growth in themselves. Willem V.M., 16, said, “This year is really the first year I’ve put myself out there,” remarking that when he first arrived at camp he didn’t have the same confidence. Tommy G., 17, said that camp has helped them come out of their shell and that they see a lot of progress in their social ability.
This year was the seniors’ last WriCampia as campers; their last camp dance, last lip sync battle, and last performance at Wrichella or Page 2 Stage. But it will not be the last time we will see them.
Ciri said that despite this being her last year as a camper, “I definitely want to come back as a counselor.”
We can’t wait to see our CITS grow into counselors in two years! ✎
