2014 - Phantom Wilderness Troupe (Source: Myself)
Summer after summer of working at this camp, I eventually became the nature specialist. Basically I was the on staff animal expert and would teach kids all about nature, etc. So one evening I received an invite from the wilderness counselors to join the wilderness troupe around the campfire for some s'mores, if I'd be willing to share some fun lessons about night time animals and such. I eagerly agreed and planned to meet them at their campsite around sunset.
I was running early, but had decided to just go by myself to the Wilderness camp where I would wait for them to return from their previous activity. This new wilderness location was nowhere near as secluded as the old location from 2007, but it was still a good hike away from the rest of camp. I arrived to an empty camp, as expected, so I found a hammock to recline in and waited. It was a cool evening for summer, and the wind gently rustled against the leaves as I started to grow impatient.
By now, almost an hour has gone by and there is no sign of the wilderness troupe. Giving up, I decided I would just go back and prepare for tomorrow's lesson. But just as I was about to leave, I heard kids chanting. It was exactly the sort of military style, Troop Beverly Hills sort of chant you'd expect from a summer camp, so I decided to wait since they were so close.
I listened. And listened.
Another 15 minutes went by and I could still hear them chanting. It was already dark so I figured I'd just meet them on the way up and tell them we'd reschedule. So I started walking back. The chanting stopped.
By now I have gotten out of the woods and about a quarter mile down I seen the Wilderness troupe at the last building that has electricity and water. Annoyed but mostly confused, I approach the Wilderness counselor who apologizes for being so late - they had gotten caught up in Chapel. I said it was fine, but asked what took them so long at this building, since I could hear them doing their chant for like 20 minutes.
At this the counselor looked at me and just said, "Chant? What chant?"
Pursing my lips, I looked back towards the woods and just said, "Whelp, I'm going to bed."
In my 6 years working at this camp, I had gotten to know the woods very well. I often walked them alone, but this was the first time I really had no explanation for what I had experienced.
Summer after summer of working at this camp, I eventually became the nature specialist. Basically I was the on staff animal expert and would teach kids all about nature, etc. So one evening I received an invite from the wilderness counselors to join the wilderness troupe around the campfire for some s'mores, if I'd be willing to share some fun lessons about night time animals and such. I eagerly agreed and planned to meet them at their campsite around sunset.
I was running early, but had decided to just go by myself to the Wilderness camp where I would wait for them to return from their previous activity. This new wilderness location was nowhere near as secluded as the old location from 2007, but it was still a good hike away from the rest of camp. I arrived to an empty camp, as expected, so I found a hammock to recline in and waited. It was a cool evening for summer, and the wind gently rustled against the leaves as I started to grow impatient.
By now, almost an hour has gone by and there is no sign of the wilderness troupe. Giving up, I decided I would just go back and prepare for tomorrow's lesson. But just as I was about to leave, I heard kids chanting. It was exactly the sort of military style, Troop Beverly Hills sort of chant you'd expect from a summer camp, so I decided to wait since they were so close.
I listened. And listened.
Another 15 minutes went by and I could still hear them chanting. It was already dark so I figured I'd just meet them on the way up and tell them we'd reschedule. So I started walking back. The chanting stopped.
By now I have gotten out of the woods and about a quarter mile down I seen the Wilderness troupe at the last building that has electricity and water. Annoyed but mostly confused, I approach the Wilderness counselor who apologizes for being so late - they had gotten caught up in Chapel. I said it was fine, but asked what took them so long at this building, since I could hear them doing their chant for like 20 minutes.
At this the counselor looked at me and just said, "Chant? What chant?"
Pursing my lips, I looked back towards the woods and just said, "Whelp, I'm going to bed."
In my 6 years working at this camp, I had gotten to know the woods very well. I often walked them alone, but this was the first time I really had no explanation for what I had experienced.
