Out at Camp Moss Hollow, Youths Can Find an Escape From City Cacophony

Life at a summer camp has a unique rhythm. Actually, it has several. Various beats intertwine to create complex polyrhythms: the ebb and flow of meals and games, of camp songs and campfires, of lights-out and ghost stories. There's the rhythm of the counselors, the rhythm of the campers and the rhythm of the animals.

That last one is the most ancient rhythm, played out for millennia regardless of whether a nearby human is flint knapping a spear point or roasting a marshmallow. Things are no different at Camp Moss Hollow, nestled in the rolling hills of Fauquier County.

Camp director Hope Asterilla is familiar with the routines of the critters who call Moss Hollow home. Here's her description of a typical day:

"It's early morning at the Hollow. As the campers arise to prepare for the day they are greeted by any number of wildlife -- our new neighbors for the summer. The rabbits and squirrels run playfully over the grounds, moving quickly to avoid the campers they startled. Three turkeys strut across the open field, artfully avoiding the cookout area as they move toward the mulberry trees outside of Chase Lodge.

"The turkeys leave the area just before the family of deer arrives to dine on the nearby apple trees. The deer visit frequently throughout the day, introducing their new fawn to the protocol of the Hollow. The campers stand in awe watching them -- up close and personal -- not wanting to intrude but waiting to see their graceful exit over the fields.

"Nestled in the corner of the rustic planter under the eaves of the old log cabin building, the wren family welcomed five new chicks to the Hollow. Every morning the natural curiosity of the children and staff leads them to stand respectfully in quiet wonder, watching the mother bird protect and feed her young. The bug population is a bit nervous as they watch the wren scout for food.

"At the same time just a few feet away, ruby-throated hummingbirds nourish themselves on the two feeders outside our office window. They arrive throughout the day, to the amazement of campers who have never seen the beauty and swiftness of this small bird in its natural habitat.

"The night is filled with the sounds of the hoot owl and the footsteps of the resident raccoons looking for their midnight snacks. The deer come out one last time as the red fox emerges to check out the sights.

"The campers watch and listen. They are amazed by all around them: excited to discover the Eastern box turtle by the pond, a bit worried about the two small ringneck snakes found on the hike.

"The campers get used to sleeping peacefully through the night among their new neighbors, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city."

Thank you for the lovely description, Hope.

We're all connected to nature, though that can be hard to believe when the most natural thing you ever see is a pigeon. A week at Camp Moss Hollow can help an at-risk kid make a connection to nature that is more, well, natural. To make a tax-deductible gift in support of the camp, send a check or money order, payable to "Send a Kid to Camp," to P.O. Box 96237, Washington, D.C. 20090-6237. Or contribute online by going to http://www.washingtonpost.com/camp and clicking on the donation link. To use MasterCard or Visa by phone, call 202-334-5100 and follow the instructions on our message.

And speaking of natural rhythms, nature can't be rushed. The chefs at Clyde's have been patiently waiting for local blackberries to ripen, and they finally have. That means Virginia blackberry salad and Virginia blackberry pie with ice cream are on the menu, both made with local fruit from Westmoreland Berry Farm. Order either today at area Clyde's restaurants or the Old Ebbitt Grill, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Send a Kid to Camp.

Play Ball!

Here's another way to support Moss Hollow: I'll be throwing out the first pitch at Friday's game between the Bethesda Big Train and the Youse's Orioles at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda. And throughout the game, I'll be moving through the stands like a carnival huckster, urging fans to buy raffle tickets for the club's various prize drawings. Proceeds will go to Send a Kid to Camp. For info, visit http://www.bigtrain.org.

My e-mail: kellyj@washpost.com. Meanwhile, over on my blog, we're talking Radical Civility: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/commons.