Summer Camp Chatter: “That Coffee Ritual …”
At the April 22 Summer Camp Rally/Potluck, Sharon Ritchie suggested that real coffee drinkers
bring their own coffee filters and special blend of coffee.
I immediately remembered the early morning summer camp coffee ritual of past years …
Every morning, warmly snuggled in my sleeping bag, I would hear a volcano take off.
That meant that Wes Prouty was starting the fires that would heat the water for dish washing and
— more importantly — for coffee.
How long could I sleep before the coffee water would be ready?
How guilty should I feel because there were so many people already up and working hard to have
everything ready for breakfast and lunches?
The cooks were busy in the cook tent.
Bob Dark would be watching the coffee water ready to pour it for the early risers.
Ed Lichtenstein and his committee would be setting up the lunch table.
All of these activities would be in “dawn’s early light”.
Eventually, I can stand it no longer.
I have to get up and get that cup of coffee and stand with other campers sharing the beginning
of the day.
This ritual requires that one be warmly dressed, cheerful, and willing to make positive comments
about the success of camp.
One must also greet sleepyheads with the question, “How did you sleep?”
Hopefully, there will be an answer that will keep the conversation going for a few minutes.
It is not necessary to lie, but it helps to have seen or heard some wildlife during the night.
By this I mean mice, bear, ants, or snakes.
How wonderful it is when a camp member lifts the heavy coffee pot and pours the hot water into
your cup …
There is instant coffee, probably Taster’s Choice, available for all campers.
Those who bring their own filter and coffee are busy making their brew.
The fun of this is to give a cup of freshly brewed coffee to a friend and watch their face.
Many a morning, I would have a cup ready for my twin sister (who always forgot to bring her filter!).
My husband insists that instant coffee is good enough, and we are all making a fuss.
I suspect that he is hooked by Taster’s Choice commercials.
Sadly, I will not be part of the “filter group” at camp this summer.
I have discovered Folger’s Coffee Singles Freshly Brewed by the Cup.
Each single packet has a coffee bag like a tea bag that is easy to stick in your pocket.
I’ll close with one last tip: A thermos coffee mug is a great way to keep your coffee
hot on these chilly mornings.
If you have any questions about filters and coffee, call Sharon Ritchie, Camp Chair (342-8435).
If you have questions about instant coffee, call Virginia Prouty, food buyer extraordinaire
(484-1356).
If you don’t drink coffee, please disregard all this chatter.!
— Janet Jacobsen
Entertainment/Summer Camp
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