How do you convey a complicated message that resonates and inspires your listeners?

The soundtrack in this video is a cover I did of Xavier Rudd’s song Messages. I would play this song at my summer camp during campfires and teach the campers the chorus with a “neato repeato” so they could join in between the verses.

I was about to break out my ukulele or banjo and make a recording of “Messages” for this video when I remembered I had a recording from a few years ago. I was traveling around the Pacific Northwest and a good friend had let me stay at their cabin on Mt. Hood. The cabin sat right on a big river and we recorded the song while hanging in hammocks just above the raging waters.

When I put the track against the background video of the rainy trees, I was pleasantly surprised to realize just how similar the sound of a rushing river is to rain.

As Green Camps has grown since we launched in 2014 our message continues to become more and more clear. It can still be confusing to step up to the task of “going green” and we continue to learn through our interactions with camps and camp professionals.

Clearly delivering our message, was my focus when I started brainstorming to create this video. I wanted to summarize the lessons and ideas that have culminated with the camp industry’s first green certification program. Along with outreach education, these are the two biggest strategic focuses at Green Camps.

I hope you enjoy the video and that it delivers a clear message as you listen and watch.

Lyrics: Messages by Xavier Rudd