This weekend marks the final run of publication for Behind the Boîte.
I was recently blessed by being selected to participate in Camp Runamok, a life-changing week of whiskey education for bartenders run by Lush Life Productions down in Kentucky.
In honour of one of the most enriching experiences in my bartending career thus far — and because it’s possibly the last time I’ll be able to say “because it’s my blog and I can do what I want” — this final run will be distinctly different from those in the past.
Every post will be, in some way, coloured by camp.
What I learned at camp, Pt. II
Love letters from Camp Runamok Spring Session 2017 Squirrels
CAMP RUNAMOK SPECIAL EDITION
By MARTA S
I asked a handful of fellow Runamok campers — or “Squirrels” as we are known — if they could take a few moments and send me a few words about their personal camp experience.
As to be expected from any member of my Squirrel family, they went above and beyond. They sent me so much material, that I had to split the piece into two.
Find Part I here.
And now, some words from my family.
I highly, highly encourage you to watch the short, stunning video above to prime yourself for their words.
Anna Lazaridis
Bartender, Fiery Ron’s Hometeam BBQ
Charleston, SC
IG: @annathegreek83
“Just do it.”
That’s what three former Squirrels told me about applying to Runamok. Mind you, they’re also my leading female role models in my life behind the stick. So I did. The first time I attempted my application, I struggled. I have a hard time talking about myself. So I took a deep breath and took another route: a bottle of rosé and some tequila shots. Boy, that started the storytelling. I sent off the application with the thought that I would be lucky to be on the waitlist.
Months later…
I almost would’ve missed it if my friend hadn’t posted his acceptance on Facebook. I jumped on Gmail. There it was: innocuously tucked away in the “social” folder. I clicked it open.
“Congratulations” was almost a foreign word to read. I blinked. Then shrieked. Yup. Woke up my two roommates who were napping. It had begun.
The beautiful thing about camp is that it starts before you even arrive. Thanks to social media, I was able to bond with not only my cabin, but my new session brethren as well. But this is also when I started feeling the “uh-oh”. I have been bartending for 10 years, but only recently started into the craft cocktail niche. I started feeling small. Doubting myself. What was I even doing on this roster?
That stopped right fucking there on day one. I was right where I was supposed to be. I know every camp session is special, but to be involved in a session that was almost all camp virgins like me? It was beautiful.
We experienced it all together. There was no judgement. No peacocking. It was immediate love and support. To see the faces I had been communicating with, to hear our inside jokes in person, to hug, to dance with them…
I had one bad day. It was Friday. Our second to last day. Wild Turkey was our distillery tour for the day. It was a daunting one. I’m mildly claustrophobic but had handled the rickhouses pretty well thus far. I was so excited to see the famed Warehouse A. My heart sank walking in — I’m 5'4" and the ceilings were maybe 5'10". Jimmy Russell, the legendary master distiller, was talking. I smiled. I laughed. But all I could hear was the blood rushing through my body. He finished his talk and I managed to walk out calmly. But then I was sobbing quietly in a corner. I was so ashamed.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. I peeked up. It was Cameron, a return camper from the Tullamore Dew cabin. He pulled me aside. Talked me down from my panic attack. When I got on my bus, there was no awkwardness. No one made me feel bad or embarrassed. When we returned to camp, my counselor (aka Mom) put cold towels on my neck and helped me down to the pool party. She placed me on a float and set me adrift. People held my hand and hugged me. And then… then my jam came on. I hopped off the float and jumped out of the pool.
And. Just. Started. Dancing. And it was perfect.
That’s what camp was for me. It was knowledge. But it was bonding. Love. Acceptance. It was a safe place to be you. The connections I made there will last me my whole life. It was/is the best week of my adult life.
#campishome #campfriendsarethebestfriends #campisforever #camprunamokspring2017
Micah Anderson Jr.
Bartender & Server, Whiskey Cake OKC
Oklahoma City, OK
IG: @coacha27
The single best lesson I took away from camp was the fact that the bar community at present is the most tight-knit work community I have ever been a part of. It really is a family that takes you in and teaches you, and nurtures you into someone who can be successful in this business.
Camp Runamok is the epicenter of that feeling of family and community. The relationships, both personal and professional, that I started at camp will be a part of my life for the rest of my life. I know that I will benefit from all of them.
There is nothing like camp, and there is no profession like ours.
Editor’s preface:
While it’s not rare for cabins to bond within themselves, it is somewhat rare to see two separate cabins bond fiercely with each other for the entirety of the week. But that’s exactly what happened between my Gentleman Jack-sponsored Canada Cabin of six ladies (led by Sam Casuga), and the gentlemen of the Espoloń tequila “Agave Suavé” cabin, led by Mo Brooks.
These men were our biggest cheerleaders. They were our “dates” for Italian family dinner night and picked us up at our door promptly at 8:30pm to escort us to the mess hall. I knew that the worst thing that could happen to me if they were around was that Ryan might steal my cigarette from my mouth saying, “Don’t you know these things kill you?”… Only to start smoking it himself.
These are my brothers in arms, and just a few of the people who kept me laughing no matter how exhausted I was the entire week. 100% gentlemen. 100% sauvé.
Maurice (Mo) Brooks (Counsellor, 2017)
Lead Bartender, Novela
San Francisco, CA
IG: @mococktails
Camp is home.
I wasn’t sure what to expect my first year at camp, which was in the fall of 2016. I was fresh off Cane Camp [Ed. note: Lush Life’s rum education week in Puerto Rico], so I was feeling pretty good. My first day at Runamok, I was honestly overwhelmed. The sheer amount of people was enough, but then add in the fact that it was one room full of people that first day, some of which I knew, and some I didn’t — it was a lot.
By the end of the week, I had gained a family of brothers and sisters. Coming in as a counsellor this year having that base was important, I feel. But still I thought I was gonna fuck this whole counsellor thing up. Like, really shit the bed! To lead a group of grown men who pay their own bills, and hustle just like I do wasn’t the hard part. The hard part was imagining having to play the role of their “dad,” so to speak.
[Ed. note: It was common for Squirrels to refer to their counsellors and head counsellors using the terms of endearment “Mom”, “Dad”, “ma’am”, and “sir”. They were, after all, the one’s with prior camp experience and there to lead us in the right direction. All in good fun.]
But somehow, I was blessed with Calvin Peña, Alex Williams, Pea Kay, and Ryan Derosa. That group of men made my life a joy all week. The way they ride with me regardless what was asked is something I can’t thank them enough for. What I can say is this — I love them.
Shit, this may be a long one. Let me get this out of the way, then: I love the entire Lush Life crew.
Now, on to those damn Canadians! I regret not spending more time with each one of you. All of you ladies were fucking amazing. Energy, passion, and well… you guys do fuck. But seriously, I’m so glad we paired up as cabin life-partners. To watch you ladies grow was really amazing. It ain’t easy being from somewhere specific, getting thrown somewhere new, then being highlighted for it.
But that’s what camp’s about: being able to do just that, and leave with a whole new family. I run home now to Houseparty, or I check my GroupMe every two seconds. [Ed. note: Social apps we Squirrels have used to stay in touch since getting home.]
Because I miss you guys. Even now, we’re writing our stories and contributing to this because this means something — because camp means something. It’s our home and nobody can take that from us.
There’s so many people I want to thank but that would be another two pages. I can’t wait until I’m in Toronto. I can’t wait to hug my Canadian “daughters”.
Marta, you are the shit for doing this. The fact that you chose to make us something you wanted to make sure people knew you cared about is awesome.
I can’t wait to see you again. I could write for days but just know this: I love all of you.
#tearitup #agavesuave
[Ed. note: Thank you, M0.]
Laura Kepner-Adney (Counsellor, 2017)
Bartender, Good Oak Bar/Dusty Monk Pub
Tucson, AZ
IG: @tucsonlaura
FB: Tucson Cocktail Club
One of my favourite co-campers asked me recently the three things I’d miss most about Camp Runamok. I answered without hesitation: community, culture, and campfires. These things can be at least vaguely recreated in real life, outside the glow of a sponsored week in bartender heaven; but the post-camp return to the real world is akin to culture shock after months in a foreign country.
Community is the basis of camp. We build community within our cabins, our buses, our dinner and breakfast tables. Every new event is an opportunity to grow connections. Because Lush Life draws from a self-selecting base of bartenders focused on education, career, and kindness, building community comes naturally. We’re all there for the same reasons, and we’re all sworn non-dicks. [Ed. note: The first official rule of camp is “Don’t be a dick”. It’s in the manual.]
Ours is a culture of generosity and gratitude. It’s incredible. Because we share the same goals and the same space for seven magical days, we have a common duty to improve every second of every camper’s experience whenever possible. We help each other without question. We hug each other without reason. We work because we love the work.
Campfire nights combine the above into a profound friendship-fest of song, dance, food, games, and love. Every night we get to come together and remind each other why we’re here. Yes, we’re here because we love whiskey; yes, we’re here to build our knowledge and skills; yes, we’re here as ambassadors of our cities and workplaces; yes, we’re here because we worked hard to get here.
Ultimately, though, we’re here because of each other. The connections we build here will last the rest of our lives, contributing to future education, jobs, ambassadorships, and friendships. I’m lucky enough to have been twice, and I know that the Runamok network extends well beyond each session.
We’re all Squirrels for life. Every bus we ride on, every pool we jump in, every campfire we build, every ‘Despacito’ we hear will simultaneously bring us joy from the memories, and a little sorrow that our lives aren’t a perpetual Camp Runamok.
Marta S is a bartender & freelance writer living & working in Toronto. She created Behind the Boîte in March 2015 & is going to miss it. You can contact her at marta@martas.ca
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