By Aaron Selkow, Owner/Director
In just one more day, the gates will open. The buses will pull in. And the best part of Chestnut Lake Camp — the campers — will be back where they belong.
The duffels are already here and unpacked. The campers’ beds are made, and their clothes are neatly folded onto their shelves. The lake is still. The fields are ready. And our team is ready — really ready.
We’ve spent many days preparing this place and these people to care for your children. To make them feel safe, inspired, included, and loved. And as we put the final touches on our preparations last night, I stood in front of our incredible staff and did something I had to psych myself up to do: I sang.
The song was Forever Young by Bob Dylan. And while the lyrics may be familiar, singing it last night felt different.
You see, I’ve been going to camp since I was five years old. My first director — Bob Miner — was one of the greats. Every summer, he would open camp with a song called Banks of the Ohio. I grew up with that tradition. I sang it year after year without really thinking much about it — until I got older and realized the lyrics were, well…about a man murdering his fiancée by throwing her into the Ohio River. Not the most “campy” theme.
When I became the director of that very same camp years later, I quietly retired that tradition. Not because there was something wrong with the song. It worked for Bob. But it didn’t work for me. I realized something important: when I sing to campers and staff, I want the words to mean something to me.
Now, when I pick songs to share at Community Campfire, I choose ones that reflect what I believe camp is all about. Songs that carry a message, or that speak to something I want to say (but maybe I can’t find the words for myself). And last night, I stepped out of my comfort zone a bit and sang something new — well, new to me. Forever Young is, in many ways, everything I would want to say to your children, if I had just one song to do it.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong.
That’s what camp makes possible. Courage in the little moments. Strength is found in new friendships, in first tries, in small victories. And our staff — this incredible, talented, thoughtful group of humans — is here to help your children discover just how brave and capable they are.
They’ve trained hard. They’ve asked good questions. Furthermore, they’ve leaned into the work. And they are so ready — not just to lead activities or manage bunks, but to show up for your children with kindness, presence, and heart.
May you build a ladder to the stars,
And climb on every rung.
Camp doesn’t fast-forward through the hard parts. It meets kids where they are. Whether it’s making a friend, getting through a tough moment, or finding joy in something new, growth happens here, rung by rung. And every child’s ladder looks a little different. That’s what makes this place so special.
May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true.
This isn’t just a break from school or screens or schedules. It’s a space where values take root. Where kids learn how to live alongside others, how to listen, how to lead, how to be themselves, and be part of something bigger than themselves. At Chestnut Lake, that’s the core of what we do. And I believe that’s what will stay with your child long after the last day of camp.
May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift.
The summer ahead will be filled with action. With laughter. With friendship and music, and movement. With stories told under stars, games played in the sun, and moments that will be remembered for years to come.
And in all of it, your child will be supported. Seen. Loved.
So today, before the joyful chaos begins, I wanted to share a simple truth with you: we are ready. Your child’s place is here. Their people are waiting. And this summer — steeped in song, community, growth, and heart — is going to be unforgettable.
Let the music play. Let the summer begin.
