The check-in table is busy but organized, counselors flipping through clipboards like they’ve done this a hundred times. When it’s your turn, the girl behind the table grins at you.

“Name?”

You tell her.

“Perfect. You’re Cabin Seven — Hawks.” She circles something on her page and hands you a lanyard. “Cabins are up the hill. Drop your stuff off and head back down to the fire ring for orientation. Erin’s your counselor; she’ll get you all sorted.”

You give her a quick nod, sling your bag higher on your shoulder, and head toward the path.

The camp smells like pine needles and sunscreen, the air buzzing with noise from every direction — basketballs hitting the pavement, laughter from the lake, someone yelling for a friend across the quad. You take it all in as you follow the dirt path uphill, passing cabins that look exactly how summer camp cabins should: chipped paint, sagging porch steps, screen doors that slam if you don’t catch them in time.

Cabin Seven is halfway down the row. There are already a couple of kids sitting on the porch railing, talking and gesturing like they’ve known each other forever. One of them glances up as you pass, then keeps talking. You don’t stop — just push the door open and step inside.

The cabin smells like wood and bug spray, faintly sweet like someone just sprayed air freshener. Half the bunks are already claimed with blankets and duffels. You spot an empty one near the window and toss your bag onto the mattress before looking around.

Someone’s music is playing softly from a speaker near the door. Outside, the porch kids are still talking, their voices carrying through the open windows.

You sit down on your bunk, just listening for a moment, not feeling out of place but not really in place either. It’s too early to bother introducing yourself — sooner or later, you’ll all get thrown together anyway.

The cabin door creaks open behind you and a girl in a camp T-shirt steps in, clipboard tucked under her arm.

“Alright, Hawks!” she says, cheerful but not too loud. “Let’s do this quick so we don’t miss orientation. Find a bed if you don’t have one yet, then grab your water bottles. We’ve got a busy afternoon.”