Before camp this summer, I searched both the Camp Danbee and the Writopia websites for a hint of what Wel-B-Yon (WBY) looked like. WBY is the decades-old, coveted bunk-suite for Senior Campers—legendary for its multiroom building equipped with a couch-laden lounge. After all, I was a rising junior and had never seen the upstairs of WBY—where the senior campers slept. I knew it was different from our bunks, and I didn’t know if it would be a positive or negative change. Ultimately, I gave up and just hoped for the best. Little did I know, I was worried for no reason.
When we got to camp this year, a counselor led us to our bunk, but they didn’t take us to the old WBY. They then told us that we had a new WBY, and I, of course, assumed they meant some building was repurposed to be a bunk. We started our walk, and I noticed we were taking the route to Acres where I had bunked the past two years, and I started to despair. I remember thinking, “Man, I thought we graduated from this.”
But as my group walked by the stream, we looked up and there was a building that most definitely had not been there last year. That was when we started to get excited.
Part of the excitement over the new WBY was that it was just that–new. While the other buildings weren’t necessarily ancient, having new bathrooms and appliances amplified the enthusiasm. The brand-new WBY boasts four rooms and two bathrooms, plus a basement (granted the basement is not furnished yet, except for a fridge with a mysterious jug of prune juice). Three of the rooms are bunk rooms, and the remaining room is our very own living room with tons of space, perfect for late night hangouts or birthday parties. Each room also has a door that leads straight to the outside for easy access, with its own magnetic screen net (like the one in front of the medical center). The living room is spacious with a comfortable couch and a table for games and cards. WriCampia set up laptops for a workshop that is held there, and for evening writing electives, which was especially helpful in writing this article. The two bathrooms are opposite each other, and each have five marbled countertop sinks, five showers, and six stalls. The building’s placement is also ideal, with it being close to the pool and pavilion, while not having as much of a hill to climb as Upper Camp Acres bunks. On the walk there at night, you’ll also notice fairy lights hanging over a new path. This path leads to the new WBY’s backyard, with benches and chairs—a chance to end your night with some stargazing.
Unfortunately for the boys, they don’t have a new bunk. A male senior camper said that “They got a great upgrade and we… did not.” They are in a bunk in Acres (that reportedly has mold in it), but that could change next year if Camp Danbee decides to build another bunk.
The main difference between the new WBY and the old one is the space. In an article from the 2023 The Yearly WricCampian, WBY campers described being cramped in their spaces, especially considering all three bunks had to share one bathroom, albeit with multiple stalls.
While I wasn’t able to see the upstairs of the old WBY because Danbee staff now live there, Lil, one of the Newspaper Track leaders, gave me a quick rundown. They said that the upstairs consisted of three rooms almost equally split, and that the bathroom was downstairs along with the common areas.
A senior camper who has been in both the old and new WBY said that “despite the walk, it fosters a greater sense of community with your bunk because there’s so much more space to hang out with your friends.” ✎
