For most campers, the middle of the week at RockRidge Canyon means another day packed with adventure. But for those of us from Dawson Creek who have been coming for the past few years, we know something else is coming…

Cabin Inspection Day!

It’s the day when adult guests visiting RockRidge Canyon (Adult Guest Program) make their way through the cabins, judging each one for cleanliness before crowning 1 deserving “Cleanest Cabin” champions.

This year, our cabin consisted of seven boys from Dawson Creek, two campers from East Vancouver, their incredible leader Wilfred, and myself as the Dawson Creek cabin leader. Three of our Dawson Creek boys were experiencing RockRidge for the very first time, while the rest of us had been part of our Cleanest Cabin victories over the past three summers.

As soon as cabin clean-up day arrived, everyone knew exactly what needed to happen!

We didn’t just tidy up!!

We packed our belongings as though we were heading home. Every drawer and dresser was emptied. Garbage cans were emptied. Shoes were lined up neatly along the wall. The bathroom floors were scrubbed. Mirrors were polished until they were streak-free. Countertops were wiped down. Toilets were cleaned. Water spots were dried from the showers, and even the shower curtains were draped back over the partitions exactly as they had been when we first arrived at camp.

Every single camper pitched in!

Then Wilfred decided to add something extra…

He wrote a beautiful poem welcoming our judges into the room. It was warm, creative, and full of… bribery(?)… We paired it with a bowl of candy for our guests to enjoy, a small bouquet of freshly picked wildflowers, and one generous camper even left a $5 USD bill as an extra surprise. (The judges kindly left the money behind, but they certainly enjoyed the candy and appreciated the thoughtful welcome!)

With everything complete, there was nothing left to do but wait.

That evening at dinner, more than 200 campers packed the dining hall as everyone anticipated the announcement. The speaker stepped onto the stage and asked for a finger drumroll on the tables.

The room filled with excitement.

Then came the words we had been hoping to hear:

“The Cleanest Cabin winners are… T1B… Dawson Creek!”

Our table absolutely erupted!!!

Teenagers jumped to their feet, cheering, high-fiving, and celebrating as loudly as they could while the entire dining hall looked on. It was one of those moments that perfectly captured the joy of camp – not because we had won a prize, but because of the teamwork, pride, and shared effort that got us there!

This year’s victory also belongs to our friends from East Vancouver. Sharing a cabin meant sharing the work, and together we earned the title.

And with that…

The streak lives on!

Four years in a row!!!

But the Story Doesn’t End There…

Normally, winning the Cleanest Cabin earns the cabin a Pinnacle – which is a legendary twelve-scoop ice cream creation shared by the entire cabin from RockRidge Canyon’s very own Scoops.

This year, however, RockRidge had something much more… memorable… in mind.

Shortly after our win was announced, one of the head leaders asked me to go discuss something with another head leader. While I was distracted, another leader quietly gathered the boys together.

They were asked a simple question:

“Instead of a Pinnacle… would you rather slime your cabin leader?”

Apparently, there wasn’t much need for discussion!

The answer was an immediate and enthusiastic YES!!!

The only catch…?

They had to keep it a complete secret from me for the rest of the week!

For three whole days, they somehow managed not to let a single hint slip. Looking back now, their excitement makes perfect sense. At the time, I simply thought they were enjoying another incredible week of camp (which of course they were doing too!)

Little did I know…

On the final night of camp, we walked into Club like any other evening. The boys were buzzing with excitement, but I assumed it was because of whatever games or surprises the program team had planned.

Then suddenly, Dawson Creek’s boys were called to the stage!!

Our girls’ cabin leader grabbed my camera.

Then…

My name was called?!

Within seconds, I discovered exactly why everyone had been acting so strangely all week.

Standing in front of more than 200 campers, my own boys were handed a large bucket of slime and given the honour of dumping every last bit of it over my head.

It was cold!

It was thick!

It was unbelievably gooey!!!

Quite honestly, it was the thickest slime I’ve ever experienced!

The boys absolutely loved every second of it, and judging by the laughter echoing throughout the room, so did everyone else.

It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable week together!!

Words can only tell part of the story…

You’ll have to watch the video below to experience the rest.

Winning the Cleanest Cabin four years in a row is certainly something we’re proud of.

But what I’m even more proud of is the culture these boys are building.

New campers quickly learn that excellence isn’t about perfection—it’s about serving one another, working together, paying attention to the little things, and having a whole lot of fun along the way.

Congratulations to our Dawson Creek boys, our East Vancouver cabin mates, and Wilfred for helping make this another unforgettable chapter in our Cleanest Cabin legacy.

Now…

Who’s ready to make it five years in a row?