LegendaryLodge.com

TEAM & CAMPER BLOG

06.10

Camper offers his poetic reflection on the Legendary experience

Across the Lake
By Clay
I can be myself with no fear
Don't have to worry if I shed a tear
No one there making fun of you
The feelings you feel are real and true
God in every aspect of your life
Not forcing those who don't fit in to flee strife
Holy Spirit present in every person's soul
Filling up your emptiness making you whole
Away from the world in a beautiful place
Able to open up and see God's face
Everyone is equal no person is greater
God is the Almighty power and creator
I miss my family but find comfort in my friends
I wish this wonderful week never ends
But now it is Friday and it is time to go
Taking across the lake the new things we know
It seems so long until next summer
Waiting that long is such a bummer
I miss it already and I haven't even left
But I am sure of this you can bet
That my new faith will not break
Because of the things I have learned across the lake.

-Clay was a camper at Legendary Lodge during the 2009 season.

02.10

Counselor reflects on LL from the other side of the BIG pond

The Counselor List
By Ali Dombrouski….Go Torreros!

Since the top ten/seven list theme seems to be pervading the Legendary Lodge blog website, I will have to adhere to such guidelines. I’m currently living in Madrid, Spain, for the spring semester and have found myself thinking more and more about the Lodge. I’m assuming this cyclic thought process is intricately connected to my slight Montana homesickness. Since LL is a huge part of my life in Montana, it only seems natural that memories of last summer constantly circulate in my head. So I’ve decided to gather my thoughts…and upon further analysis I’ve narrowed them down to the top ten elements found at camp that we counselors miss most (or maybe it’s just me…).
10) Coffee Addiction – Sure addiction has a negative connotation to it. But when thought about in terms of coffee at the Lodge, all pessimistic views shuffle aside. I was never a big coffee drinker myself, until the caffeinated wonder of this grounded bean was revealed to me this summer. It’s hard to explain, but there is something so cool about being in a half daze from telling three too many ghost stories the night before, and then undergoing the transformation that ensues from a simple sip of that liquid-brown gold. Plus, the rotation of all the interesting coffee cups that the Lodge has accumulated throughout the years keeps your coffee drinking experience fresh.
9) Making Friendship Bracelets – If you had asked me at the end of the summer for a friendship bracelet I might have choked on my grilled cheese sandwich in utter contempt. When one of your only workshop talents is making those darn things, it should come as no surprise that after eight straight weeks making knots with strings grows somewhat tiresome. However, five or so months after the fact, I find myself itching to make one. I don’t know what it is, but people from California find it SO crafty that I can create such an art form. So while at camp it may seem like making friendship bracelets is the norm, the outside world has not seen such innovativeness since sliced bread.
8) Caboose on the Hike – During my camper days, I was definitely one of those brats who wanted to prove my athletic abilities by nearly running up the mountain on Tuesday morning. Even my first year as a counselor was spent towards the beginning of the hike line. However, this past summer I have come to appreciate the end of the line and its constituents. There is something raw and real about being with a camper or counselor who needs to take their time in reaching the top of the mountain. You begin to better understand how much of a triumph it is to finally plateau onto the sight of that white cross, marking the end of what was.
7) Free Time – I believe that LL does a pretty darn good job of balancing structured activity with the much needed concept of free time. It really is quite free. There is nothing like having an obligation-less period block. Swim, play basketball, meet new people, eat candy, canoe, skip rocks, reflect, play ping-pong, find small animals, pick flowers, chat with friends, hula hoop, play cards, make crafts, write letters, listen to music in Eagles Nest, play foosball, shower, pray, I mean…the possibilities are literally endless. No conflicting engagements, no previous commitments, just good ol’ free time.
6) Dressing Up – I do not consider myself to be funny, usually I just try too hard and the fruitless effects of such efforts are what people laugh at. But after this summer I think I can put myself in the “mildly comical category,” simply because of the practice time. Though my range is somewhat limited (I can do cheerleaders, beauty queens, librarians, and tooth fairies), I believe that my time spent as Diddly McDoodle or Conan’s lousy intern was well worth it. I don’t think there’s another job out there that requires its employees to adopt such a lifestyle of impromptu-ness…except for actors on Who’s Line Is It Anyway. Of course I’m completely embarrassed while adopting such personas, but I am so completely alive at the same time. In fact, the times I have dressed up as one thing or another are the memories that burn most vividly in my mind.
5) Not Showering – Until the past summer I was one of those germaphobes who showered at least twice a day. But at the Lodge, what you look like has very little to do with what you do up there or how people treat you. I hate to fall victim unto my college environment…but southern California is not a place where you’re appreciated solely for your insides, quite the opposite in all reality. So for me, to jump from SoCal fashion to MT grunge is a gap that I often fall short of. However, summer 2009 taught me the beauty of crawling into a sleeping bag that hasn’t been washed in two weeks with dirty feet and face paint still stuck in my eyebrows. If you don’t care, then no one else does. So just don’t care, dudes.
4) Silent Mornings – When I was first told that the counselors would be spending each morning in 15 minutes of silence, all I could think about were those precious moments of sleep being lost. What a Debbie Downer I was. However, after only a week of experiencing what silence did for my faith, I became a silent junkie. I read a fabulous book called Poustinia, which you all should read if you get a chance. I was dedicated to my journal writing, and prayed like I have never prayed before in my life. The consistency of such a practice cannot be matched in any other way. To be blunt, it is a complete necessity. Simply writing this has inspired me to find more time to say nothing and listen more.
3) LL Mass – Daily Mass is usually not my cup of tea, but if USD offered masses like the ones at the Lodge every day I would be slurping that tea up and away! Father Mark is the man. No way around that. But beyond his eloquence and open approach to the Catholic faith is the surrounding environment. Receiving Christ on top of a mountain, after a fresh summer rain, while listening to E-Con jam on the guitar is just so…right. You forget that that your bum hurts from protruding rocks, you forget that your legs are cramped from sitting crossed-legged, and you forget that a good-sized bee is buzzing around your noggin. You forget all that stuff because you are one with the Creator and the Created, which is what Mass is all about.
2) Guest Appearances – The volunteer counselors are the chocolate chips in the cookies of camp! Of course I love the “paid” staff, but the fresh faces that arrive every Sunday morning keep us all sane. The only way to give proper credit to these individuals is through a stream of conscious reel of memories… Shane’s squirrel story during morning meeting, Fanny’s bear impersonations, Nichole’s blonde hair and braiding skills, Pumpkin and his perfect geek persona, Wad’s orange Brady Quinn T-shirt, Sammy’s stellar dance moves, Lindsey’s hair dying abilities, Stephanie MANsanti’s muscles, Heidi’s mountain top singing, Drew is a real live fighter pilot, plus the rest of you wonderful people!
1) Thou Mayest – John Steinbeck’s East of Eden has the perfect passage in explaining what counselors, and I would venture to say, most members of the LL family miss about that place. The whole scene in which this excerpt takes place in is in reference to the story of Cain and Abel, so brush up if you need to…
“The King James version says this – it is when Jehovah has asked Cain why he is angry. Jehovah says, ‘If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.’ It was the ‘thou shalt’ that struck me, because it was a promise that Cain would conquer sin… Then I got a copy of the American Standard Bible. And it was different in this passage. It says, ‘Do thou rule over him.’ Now this is very different. This is not a promise, it is an order. And I began to stew about it. I wondered what the original word of the original writer had been that these very different translations could be made… And this was the gold from my mining: ‘Thou Mayest.’ The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel – ‘Thou mayest’ – that gives a choice… Why, that makes man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win.”
SO…what that all boils down to is that we humans have been given the gift of choice by God. And LL is a place where making the right choice is simple, potently simple. Not much more needs to be said because the choices that present themselves at the Lodge come with the clear-cut answers. But after leaving those sacred grounds, the choices multiply tenfold and the answers are vague at best. And we all struggle with that transition. So while this list ends with what I, as a counselor, miss most about LL…it’s also a call back to our summer senses. Reflect on what you know and love about Legendary Lodge and after some time it will become clear that…thou mayest.

01.10

First-time camper reflects on Legendary Lodge ~ Year One

Feb. 2, 2009 ~ Camp Director & my cousin Colleen Dunne calls while we’re at Walmart. She tells us that camp registration started the day before & at least 40 of the 90 spots are full & if I’m going, I need to register soon. We call my dad & he registers me. We call my cousin Bailey & her parents register her.

Feb. 3 2009 – the last week of July ~ I’m super super exited about going up to the Lodge for the first time ( I finally think of myself as a “Big Kid” as I have 10 older cousins & 6 of them had been to camp there, one to Leadership camp, two were counselors one was going to be a volunteer at my camp) & thought about it all the time.
Weekend before camp ( last weekend in July)~ I pay a visit to Legendary & love it!!!!!

August 2, 2009~ My mom, my sister & I drive up to the Lodge. We wait in a long line with my cousin Bailey & her family & then make that life changing boat trip across the lake. When we get there, we get our Camper Numbers & go inside the lodge to give health info & get our t-shirts & name badges. We then find bunks & “make the beds” & put our luggage by our bunks. We then walk around camp & meet some counselors & new people. At about 5:00 the bell rings for the parents to leave. I gave several goodbyes then headed to Eagle’s Nest to learn about camp.

August 2 – 7 2009 ~ I have a great week of new friends, small groups, workshops, secret sisters, capture the flag, polar-bearing, washerboards, cabin time, Masses, hiking, swimming, big game, skit night, praying & singing, learning about God & so much more!!!!!!! I met so many new people & learned that my duty was to go back across the lake & teach everyone about the Kingdom.

August 7, 2009~ We get up early & pack, clean, & haul our stuff down to the dock. We take the boats back across & Colleen, Fr. Marc, & the counselors talk to everyone. Then all the campers sing. We drive home.

So, that’s my first adventure at Legendary Lodge in a few words! I could write a more detailed account but that would take at least ten pages. My top ten favorite things (in no order) were:
10. Polar bearing or any swimming. Polar bearing is when some campers wake up early & jump into the freezing cold lake for no real reason. Our entire cabin except one did it one morning.
9. Big Game. On the first night of camp, we had to write the top three things we were excited about & one girl wrote big game. Well, I assumed that was some kind of sports activity & boy was I in for a surprise when I found out it was a mystery game!!
8. Skit night. Skit night is when campers & counselors perform skits of any kind. It’s fun to watch & perform in skits.
7. Workshops. Three or four days during the week, we sign up for cool or crazy workshops to do in the afternoon. I did nail art, yoga, mod podge journals, & barbershop work.
6. Secret sisters. On the first night of camp you pick a name out of a hat that is a girl from your cabin. You give her a treat every day (such as candy, pop, a handmade item, a note that said you prayed for her, etc.). At the end of the week you reveal who you are to your secret sister.
5. Learning about God & His Kingdom. I learned more about God & His Kingdom that I ever thought I would. The Lodge is a life changing place. It is a sanctuary from the rest of the electronic, media-run world that we live in. It is way, way more than you would expect. I learned so much there.
4.”The Dance” This year at girls camp, there was a carnival dance. The activities included dancing to live music (played by some of the counselors), musical chairs, bead drop, nail-painting, ribbon braiding, face-painting, & eating caramel corn.
3. Singing. Every day that Fr. Marc is there, we have Mass. He was there every day of my camp, so there was Mass every day. We sang tons of different songs during Mass. The Lodge’s song book has some great Christian songs which are very modern also. Also, whenever you get a package or forget to wear your name badge, you have to sing the Squirrely Song. I won’t give anything away, though!! Also, we sang while waiting in line for meals.
2. The Hike. The hike to the top of the hill was great. We took lots of “song breaks” & everyone had a great time yelling “Switchback!!” When we got to the cross, we enjoyed the view, took pictures, & had Mass.
1. The Lodge. Everything about the Lodge just made me feel so good & at peace. I learned so much & had so so so much fun!!!!

I love the Lodge!!
- Isabelle was a first-time camper during the 2009 Legendary Lodge Season

11.09

Seasoned camper offers "the list"

“Legendary Lodge, Marcie, it is a place to swim, hike, meet friends, and grow closer to God.” My mom informed me of this as she filled out the sign up sheet. My older siblings had gone before, and I decided to give it a shot. I was very hesitant about being away from home for five days – as a nine year old, that was long time to be gone!

The week finally came, and it was unforgettable. My mom was right about it, but it was more than the swimming, hiking, and meeting friends, it was learning about God and becoming his friend. It was about meeting girls from around the state and calling them sisters in Christ. For the next seven years I went back. At home, I talked about Legendary Lodge year round.

This summer was my eighth and final summer, and that realization made the power of the Lodge very immediate. Before camp I did something I had never done before: I made a list of things I would like to accomplish since it was my last hurrah… (as a camper that is.)

The list read as follows:

Hang out with people that I don’t already know. There are always people there from Helena that I already knew, from sports, church, or school, but by hanging out with people that I didn’t already know it formed new friendships I still have today. Going into a summer camp as individuals, we all have pasts and mistakes but during the camp everyone is viewed as equal and starting with a fresh slate, so different from the real world where biases and judgments interfere. At the Lodge there is no such thing, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. For example; two summers ago my good friend Leigh and I were at camp and were talking about this concept. There are no “cliques” or “groups.” No “cool” kids, and certainly no one is left out. As we were discussing this, another camper walked by us. When he passed, we continued our discussion by commenting that he was probably well known at his high school. Later in the week we went and introduced ourselves to him. Much to our surprise, he not only lived in Helena, he was a classmate of ours.
Be “present” at everything we do. It is so easy to zone out and daydream in any situation. But at the Lodge, this wasn’t the problem. I was so engrossed in what was going on that I would now change my wording. Instead of “be present” I would say: be able to remember everything we do.
Sign up for adventurous workshops. Now, don’t get me wrong, friendship bracelets are always a great time… but this year I wanted to make sure to do something unforgettable. Three times during the week we sign up for “workshops.” These range from making friendship bracelets, to playing poker, to bowling off the dock. During one sign up, the sheet read “huck hunting.” I stared at it and went through the possibilities of what that could be, and decided there was only one way to find out. Turns out, huck was short for huckleberries! We went on a hike back through parts of the trees that I had never even noticed were there. It was definitely an adventure! To make it more of an adventure though, instead of eating the fresh huckleberries as I picked them like the rest of the group did, I decided to cup them in my hands and carry them back. (A few friends wanted proof of this workshop!) Looking back, I honestly have no idea how I made it, crawling under branches and climbing over fallen trees without using my hands. I made it out of there with a little scrape on my leg (that has since left a scar) from the adventure, and every time someone asks what it is from, I simply say, “It is from huck hunting!”
Swim. It goes without saying that jumping in the lake is a form of freedom. The water is perfect, but the view from the water is incredible. Looking up at the trees and the cabins that have seen so many transformation in the lives of campers, counselors, and even parents. Then, turning and looking at the other side of the lake, the “outside” world that we all know. The lake in between symbolizes the transformation that we all face when we cross the water going from the real world to the holy sanctuary of the Lodge, then back again.
Listen closely to God’s word. Since I could remember, every Sunday was church day and every Wednesday was religious education night. I learned a lot from both of these places. At camp though, we were taught not only how to listen closely to what God was saying, but what he is teaching us. Each and every story is meant for us to learn from and take to heart. Now when I am in church or when reading God’s word, it is easier to listen because I finally realized that he is speaking to me.
Sing at skit night. You are probably wondering where the flaw is in my list… and this would be it! I will be honest, I chickened out. I’m sure that I could come up with plenty of excuses, but I won’t. I did however make an effort to sing as much as I could during Mass and other parts of the day. When it was skit night, and everyone stood up there and shared the talents that they had been blessed with, I simply promised myself that someday, when I am a counselor, I will sing at skit night, not only to cross it off of my list, but share my talents and face my fear.
Savor the beautiful camp ground. If you have never been to Legendary Lodge, make your own “list” of things to do, and put VISIT LEGENDARY LODGE at the top. I promise you that no matter how many pictures you have seen or how many times it has been described to you, you will not be able to imagine the beauty of the camp. In my eyes, everything on camp represents something spectacular. The cabins are history. The many generations of campers that have not only come to the camp, but have had their lives transformed by the camp. The water is the reminder that once you cross back over to the other side, it is your duty to spread the word of the Lord and live in his footsteps. The trees represent the angels that stand so tall above us and look over us for protection, shading us from despair and enabling us to climb them, learning more about them, so we can see the bigger picture of our surroundings and the beauty from up above. The campers and counselors and everyone at camp represent God’s children, who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. And finally, that beautiful mountain with the cross at the top symbolizes in so many ways our loving God. The journey up the mountain, much like our faith, isn’t always easy. There are rocks along the trail and we often grow weary, especially when we think about how easy it would be to turn around and head back down to the mountain. As you reach the top however, the presence of God replenishes you. The cross at the top, God himself, is so welcoming. There is room to sit and be with him, to look outward at what he sees in the beauty of the land and water. The ability to pray, talk to him, and reflect. The climb was worth it!

So there it is, my list in full! I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to spend so much time at the Lodge. I wish there was some way for everyone to go there at some point in life, if you have been, remember everything about it and spread God’s word and the stories of the Lodge for all to hear. For those of you who will never get the chance, I have a list for you!

Hang out with people you don’t already know! Make the point of introducing yourself to someone new, who knows… they may need someone to talk to.
Be present and remember everything you do. In everyday life it is so easy to regret yesterday and plan for tomorrow, but just try living in the moment.
Sign up for adventurous workshops. In other words, try something new, you may find a new talent… or you may just find out why you had never tried before!
Swim. Free yourself every once in a while from the everyday stresses of life. For you this may mean jumping in a lake, going for a run, or even take a vacation!
Listen closely to God’s word. We were made in God’s image and likeness, so take that opportunity and live as he did. Strive to truly be a child of God.
Sing. It may be in the shower, and it may be in front of an audience or even at church but sing and let people listen to your talent! Don’t let your fear hold you back.
Savor your surroundings. Look around at the beauty surrounding you. It may not be a camp ground, it may be your family, job, even day to day situations.

Don’t forget that with this list, your boundaries are never ending, your time limit is forever, and your mistakes can always be forgiven.

-Marcie is a Cathedral of St. Helena parishioner and a senior in high school.

7.17.09

Top 10 reasons to love Legendary Lodge

By Eric Connolly
Let’s face the facts: if you’re an even semi-regular reader of this publication, you have heard of Legendary Lodge. You have more than likely read a counselor bio or seen a photo of the camp stretching across the south end of Salmon Lake. You may have a child who has been a camper at the Lodge or you may have been a camper yourself.
Either way, the stories and legends that stem from this small peninsula have been ingrained in the hearts and minds of many in the Diocese of Helena.
So how do you tell a story that has been told many times before?
After stewing over this dilemma, this writer has decided to take a page out of (The Late Show) host David Letterman’s book.
Here are the top 10 things you might not know about this summer at Legendary Lodge.

Number One: This year’s theme? The Kingdom of God is at Hand – This Changes Everything.
This summer, the Lodge team is tackling one of the most complex pieces of theology that our faith holds: the Kingdom. The sessions for the week are broken down into four parts: The Kingdom of God is Real, The Kingdom of God is Open to Everyone, The Kingdom of God Calls Us to Change and The Kingdom of God Calls Us To Serve. Through these sessions, the campers go back across the lake with the knowledge that the Kingdom is here, and that they are an essential piece.
Number Two: Contrary to popular belief, youth still love to run around and have a good time.
No television. No Xbox. No iPods. No internet. Just a whole lot of swim time, ultimate Frisbee, capture the flag and hiking. And yes, parents, the kids LOVE it all.

Number Three: Polar Bearing.
Every morning, around 8:30 a.m., a group of young people will inexplicably jump into a freezing cold lake for no other reason than to just do it. Someone please call the Discovery Channel, I think we may have polar bears here in Montana.
Number Four: What is the Big Game? You just have to find out.
The number one question asked by campers soon after they come to camp: what is the Big Game? The activity itself is a large, themed journey around the camp where campers must solve a mystery by interacting with counselors dressed as characters related to the theme. Vague description? Yes. Only because we don’t want to give away the theme, just make sure you’re studying up on some Montana history…
Number Five: Fifth and sixth grade boys are very good at finding living things.
If I’m ever trapped in the wilderness with a group of hikers, I just hope that we have a group of fifth and sixth graders, because they will immediately find every living thing within a 500-yard radius, including snakes, frogs, deer, crawdads and even the occasional beaver.
Number Six: The youth of today can and WILL pray.
Do not sell our youth short; they know how to pray. Not only do they know how to pray, they are highly motivated and they have the desire to have deep and moving prayer lives. I cannot stress this point enough. Find some time to pray with your kids.
Number Seven: Camp Director Colleen Dunne LOVES being thrown in the lake.
Seriously, you should all try to get her in the lake; it’s a fun time for all. (This writer takes no responsibility for the dryness of said camp director if said camp director is thrown into said lake…)
Number 8: The Holy Spirit is putting in serious work through the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
The first week of camp at Legendary Lodge was the OYYAM’s Leadership Camp. With events like the Justice Outreach Project, Creation Fest, Junior High Rally and CYC Convention, you will be hearing a great deal about this revitalized youth movement. Be sure to check up on the great work they’re doing at www.dohyouth.org.
Number 9: The youth of this diocese are quite talented.
Every Wednesday night, the Lodge team organizes a Skit/Talent show. Whether it’s beautiful music, hilarious comedy or just the pure creativity that campers put into these skits, it’s apparent that there is some serious talent in today’s youth.
Number 10: The tradition will continue.
Through all the years that Legendary Lodge has been in existence, it has created many memories, as well as traditions. As we transition into the future and the changes that are part of our temporal life, the traditions that make Legendary what it is remain. Legendary Lodge is a place of God; it is a place of learning, of prayer and of sharing. It is truly a place where the youth of the Diocese of Helena come closer to Christ.
So, as we move into the future, as campers become counselors, and perhaps eventually parents of future campers, Legendary Lodge remains. It remains as a beacon of the light of Christ that shines through our youth and the amazing things they will do.

Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 25, No. 7, July 17, 2009.