by Sam Smith
At SCATS, every camper comes into contact with the worldwide game phenomenon known as Magic: The Gathering. As far back as the counseling staff can remember, the game has been an integral part of camp culture, spanning Optionals, meals, and any free time during which campers can squeeze in a game.
The game itself is fairly simple. Players use a customized deck of cards against each other in a battle of strategy and resource management, with cards representing mystical creatures and fantastical characters. The appeal to campers is twofold: The game itself is an entertaining mental excercise to be done with friends, and the concept of deck customization means that no two decks will ever be the same. With a pool of over 60,000 unique cards released from 1993 to the present, the possibilities are nearly limitless. Every camper can create a deck is eternally modular and that reflects his or her personality and interests.
I am not exaggerating when I say that campers will play the game whenever and wherever they can. During community time, campers can be seen playing in every room of the building. Even Optionals have been centered around Magic, usually run in our third-floor commons.
SCATS and Magic are permanently intertwined, a pairing I don’t see coming to an end any time soon.