After you first arrive at Camp Half-Blood, you’ll soon realize that no two campers’ experiences are the same. But there is one universal truth you can count on: your time at CHB will, at least in part, be informed by your godly parent.
We hate to say it, but the identity of your mother or father on Olympus will likely affect your reputation, your group of friends, and your ability to excel at certain activities. It will most certainly determine where you’re going to be bunking all summer.
As you undoubtedly already know, your cabin assignment at Camp Half-Blood is directly tied to the god or goddess who claims you as their child. Some cabins are inhabited by demigod campers year-round, and some are unused for seasons on end. A few cabins have remained empty since the day they were first built.
Today, we’re looking at two cabins that currently house zero demigod campers. However, the summer session always brings with it a whole slew of surprises. So, as unlikely as it may seem, perhaps Cabins One and Two won’t stay empty much longer. After all, you never know when an innocuous pine tree will transform back into a demigod teenager.
Special Welcome Message for Demigods of Cabin One:
Hail and welcome to Cabin One, O Child of Zeus! If you have been claimed by the King of Olympus and assigned to this cabin, you are in very rare company indeed.
But not to worry—Camp Half-Blood is one big happy family. So don’t expect the other, less powerful demigods to treat you differently.
Okay, the other campers might treat you a little differently at first. But only because you are a child of one of the Big Three, which is a bit of a curiosity in the 21st century. Upon learning of your lineage, the other campers may stare at you with awe and wonder and keep their distance due to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority.
Eventually, however, your fellow campers will look to you for leadership and guidance. Especially during times of crisis. As a child of Zeus, you will invariably rise to the occasion and steer your fellow demigods toward ultimate victory and glory.
Because if you don’t step up and accept the burden of leadership, a child of Poseidon or Hades may take up that leadership position. Which, nine times out of ten, is a recipe for disaster and calamity.
What’s Inside Cabin One?
-A beautiful, 10-foot-tall gold statue of your father, Zeus, in a striking and commanding pose (No defacing!)
-Smaller gold statues of majestic eagles (Again, no defacing!)
-That’s about it!
What You Should Pack:
-A cot or sleeping bag if you wish. Zeus’s cabin has no furniture, as no child of Zeus should have the need for any luxury items or creature comforts.
-A signature weapon that can channel your control of lightning and electricity. Please speak to a senior staff member if you are not already equipped with such an item.
-Snacks for whichever mythical animal companions you inevitably adopt. We’re not sure what storm spirits eat exactly, but we’re sure you’ll figure it out.
Meet Your Head Counselor: Thalia Grace
“Dude, I keep telling you guys that I’m not the head counselor of Cabin One anymore. I retired and joined the Hunters of Artemis, remember?
“But I guess in the statistically insignificant chance that another child of Zeus finds their way to camp, I should tell you this: Camp Half-Blood isn’t the worst place to hang out for a little while. It’s certainly safer for you than the outside world. But as a child of the Big Three, you’ll have a huge target on your back no matter where you go. Our dad has a lot of enemies.
“To survive, you need to toughen up. Take part in the camp’s training exercises. Seek out alliances. Find your people. And embark on a quest or two, even if they seem scary. Take it from someone who spent way too long trapped in one specific spot: the only way to get stronger is to step out of your comfort zone and face your fears head-on.
“Big Papa Zeus might consider courage to be one of our inherited traits, but it’s not. It’s a muscle.
“And hey, if you find that Camp Half-Blood isn’t a good fit for you, we’re always looking for female demigods willing to join the Hunters of Artemis.
“If that’s not your idea of fun, then try to enjoy the cabin. It’s not exactly cozy, but it’s one of the only places you’ll find true peace and quiet at camp. And Iris-message me if you find my missing earring anywhere in there.”
Special Welcome Message for Demigods of Cabin Two:
Welcome to Cabin Two! If you have been assigned to this cabin, there’s been a terrible mistake. We don’t mean to freak you out, but you really don’t belong here. Off to the Hermes cabin you go!
No demigod has ever been assigned to Hera’s cabin because she has no demigod children. As the Queen of Olympus and the goddess of marriage, Hera would never go behind her husband’s back and bear a mortal child.
Regardless, we do have a missive to share from Hera herself regarding her honorary cabin:
“I may not have any demigod children of my own, but as the goddess of family, I can’t help but feel that, in some way, I am a mother to you all. And that is why I am so proud to be represented at Camp Half-Blood.
“Let the pristine marble cabin carefully constructed in my name serve as a constant reminder of my pure, undying affection for every one of you. And allow my peacock insignia to inspire you to treat one another as you would any member of your kin. Because, as descendants of the Olympians, you truly are all one extended family.
“Even if I find the circumstance of your birth to be a perverse submission to base temptation and a distressing testament to the weakness of the Olympians. Not that it’s your fault, of course!
“Now, with that out of the way, I humbly ask you to honor me by not tracking mud on the front porch of the cabin. And please stop trying to ‘high five’ the chandelier outside the door. And if I hear word of another piece of gum stuck to one of the marble columns, I am afraid I will have no choice but to intervene and put a permanent end to your disrespectful behavior.
“As a final reminder, the only persons residing at Camp Half-Blood who are permitted to enter my cabin (outside of emergencies) are Hestia, Chiron, and Rachel, the Oracle. That’s right, Dionysus, you are not included on that list. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about all the instances when you attempted to sneak inside to host one of your depraved parties with the dryads. Lest you forget, my husband isn’t the only one who can increase your sentence as camp director for another century!”
Stay tuned for more information on the other cabins at Camp Half-Blood in the coming weeks!