In 1993, 13 years after the establishment of the Tusc village, mountain biking became a required element of the program, adding a new dimension to the Senior Camper experience. And from that point forward, Tusc campers and staff have biked around camp.
By the early 2000’s, merely biking around camp did not seem to be enough. As a result, the “ironman/ironwoman” became a Mass Program element. It would be excruciating for the participants but still served as a beacon of potential. As a result, 2005 marked the beginning of Triathlon Hobby Group. There was not a great deal of interest and only the most serious athletes chose to participate.
The Hobby Group sustained and slowly gained momentum. The “ironman/ironwoman” competition in August Color War became a critical focal point of that summer culminating program, further enhancing the image of Triathlon. By 2007, there were 25 campers in the hobby group with 12 competing in the Color War event and all 25 participating in the end-of-summer triathlon. And in 2009, enrollment in the hobby group reached a staggering 35 with a staff of 10. The eight Tusc campers who were not in Triathlon listed it as their second choice for Hobbies.
It was no longer just the most physically engaged Senior Campers in Triathlon Hobby Group. There were campers who had no experience biking, campers with little skill in swimming and campers who were highly-seasoned as athletes. This wide spectrum undertook a tremendously taxing triathlon around camp on a hot August day last summer. CSL watched in awe as the 35 triathletes completed their course and then stood together, overflowing emotion as a result of what they had accomplished.
One of the negative resultant effects of the hobby group’s enormous popularity was the sparse amount of Senior Campers in other hobby groups. This concern coupled with the tremendous opportunity and interest from the Senior Campers led to a major change in the program. Triathlon was taken out of the Hobby Program and placed directly into the Tusc Program as the Tusc Triathlon Association.
Two two-hour sessions a week for the entire summer, the 52 Senior Campers will train and build their skills and endurance ultimately leading up to the August Color War and the final running in late August. Running, biking, and swimming at its finest not to reach any goal of perfection or dominance but rather of completion and achievement, not as individuals but as a team.
In 2009, 4 of 17 hobby groups had Senior Campers enrolled. In 2010, 12 of 15 have Senior Campers enrolled. Last summer 35 of 43 Senior Campers trained and ran a culminating triathlon. This summer, 52 of 52 Senior Campers will train for and run in a culminating triathlon.
