For seven years, sophomore Sydney Trager spent her summers at Camp Timber Tops, a sleep-away camp located in Greeley, Pennsylvania. It was here, etched into the wooden railings of the bunk beds, that she found her tattoo inspiration.

The tattoo, located on the top of her right foot, features four symbols that together mean “second star to the right and straight on till morning,” a quote in the children’s classic, “Peter Pan.” This quote describes directions to the fictional island “Neverland,” home of Peter Pan.

“When I was younger at sleep-away camp, we would write these symbols in every bunk,” Trager said. “We thought that if we never grew up, we never had to leave camp.”

As the story goes, Peter Pan refuses to grow up, wishing to stay young forever. Neverland, in a societal context, has been used as a symbol for immortality and escapism, both of which are highlighted through Trager’s tattoo.

More personally, it is a reminder of her experiences at summer camp and the community she found there.

“I wanted it for three years, and would write it on my foot in Sharpie every day,” said Trager, “and my parents saw that I really wanted it and eventually said OK.”

Camp Timber Tops has been a home away from home to Trager for seven years. The camp used symbols such as the ones Trager has tattooed as its own special motto: stay young, and remember your roots.

“When I got older, it was something I lived by — to never let myself grow up too fast,” she said.

Overall, Trager believes this tattoo serves as a reminder of her lasting friendships made at Timber Tops and how she hopes to live her life in the future.

“It’s about the friendship of all of us but it’s also more about life in general,” said Trager. “Just staying young and feeling young.”

Published on September 8, 2015 at 12:01 am

Contact Hanna: hrhorvat@syr.edu