Of all the different parts of Camp Burgess & Hayward: Trips, Outdoor Education, the Farm, etc., my most powerful connection, by far, is to Camp Hayward.  This is probably a good thing as I am the Hayward Director and it is also the inspiration for my blog. Born & Bred comes from the first line of the Camp Hayward Song: “Camp Hayward born and Camp Hayward bred.”

There is something about the Camp Hayward Song that connects me to all different times of my life. Here are a few select memories:

1998: I am 12 years old, learning the song for the first time. As stated in a previous blog post, I continued to sing these songs daily driving my parents to the brink of insanity. My mom knows all the words to the song although she never attended camp. (On an embarrassing side note: I did wonder why we were singing about bread)

2001: As a Trailblazer, I arrive to Session 3 and learned from my counselor, Stephanie, that there has been a remix added to the end of the song. I am not particularly great at keeping a beat, so this added a bit of difficulty.  Hay-word!

2003: Singing the Camp Hayward song to the entire Hayward staff in the original Tousant Hall. The details of which will remain will the Staff of 2003.

2011: Having taken a two year break from Camp, I was very excited to sing again. I thought I might have forgotten the words, but it’s like riding a bike! A very loud and intense bike. Raa raa Hayward we love you!

by Jessie Williams, Camp Hayward Director