As a kid I didn't go to camp every summer. I went to Stony Lake for confirmation camp in 2001 and 2002, and enjoyed both summers. I remember a variety of things about both summers. I thought that today I would share some of those memories.
Back in 2001, I can still remember not really knowing the girls I was in a cabin with, and feeling like I didn't quite fit in with that group of campers. Yet, I managed to find other campers that were my age and that I got along well with. I can also remember that during that week in 2001, I began to realize that despite having been questioning my faith for a few years, that there was a God out there. It was during the week I spent at Stony Lake in 2002 that really had an impact on me.
In the days leading up to me leaving for Stony Lake in 2002, I had a dream that was rather confusing me at the time. The dream was about myself and my fellow campers running around camp trying to meet and talk to all of the counselors. It was at the end of the dream that I reached the final counselor I needed to meet.
Within a couple of days I was on my way to camp. Having reached Stony Lake, I met the counselor that I would be spending my week with along with several other campers. The moment that I met my counselor, I had one of those moments when my jaw dropped and I had no clue what I should say. It was during the first moment that I saw my counselor that I realized that she was the same person that I had walked up to at the end of my dream just days before.
Throughout that week, I learned a lot about myself. I was lucky to be in a cabin with a group of girls that I got along well with. I also was lucky to have the counselor that I had. The counselor I had was one of those people who had an impact on my life. Throughout that week, the counselor I had shared her faith with us, and also showed me that it is okay to be an introvert. It was at the end of that week that I remember thinking "I need to work at a summer camp when I get older.".
I have been lucky. I've been able to work at a summer camp since those two summers. This summer I will be working at Spring Hill here in Michigan. I'm looking forward to it in so many ways. I know what to expect out of working at a summer camp. I also know that I am going to enjoy every moment of the summer. I am also looking forward to working at Spring Hill for another reason. In a way, I am returning to a situation that led me to working at summer camps. I just hope that I can have a positive impact on the kids I will be working with this week, help them grow in their faith, and help them find their path in life.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
Updates
It sure has been a while since I posted here. But for several weeks now I have had one piece of good news that brings me back here today.
I am going to be working at camp again this summer. Not Wisconsin Badger Camp, but Spring Hill. I am looking forward to spending this summer as part of the kitchen staff at Spring Hill here in Michigan. Although I will miss the time I have spent at Wisconsin Badger Camp the past two summers, I am sure that this experience will also be one that I will never forget.
I am hoping that I'll be able to post here regularly throughout the summer to keep you all updated on the happenings at camp, and how I am doing. As the summer gets closer, I'll be sure to let you all know if I will be posting regularly or not.
I am going to be working at camp again this summer. Not Wisconsin Badger Camp, but Spring Hill. I am looking forward to spending this summer as part of the kitchen staff at Spring Hill here in Michigan. Although I will miss the time I have spent at Wisconsin Badger Camp the past two summers, I am sure that this experience will also be one that I will never forget.
I am hoping that I'll be able to post here regularly throughout the summer to keep you all updated on the happenings at camp, and how I am doing. As the summer gets closer, I'll be sure to let you all know if I will be posting regularly or not.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Four Months Later
It's been four months since I left WBC...has it really been four months? At times I feel like it's been longer than those four months, and other times it feels like I was at camp just yesterday. As I was thinking back to camp today, I came across the following quote:
It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving. --Mother Teresa --
I don't know what it was about this quote, but it reminded me of camp the first time I read it. Maybe it was the fact that Mother Teresa was trying to say the the important part was putting love into what we do and give. It was during this past summer at camp that I did a lot. I also gave a lot of myself. But that wasn't the important part. The important part was that I found myself giving and doing things because I cared about my campers.
Looking back, I couldn't be happier with the experience of being a counselor at WBC. It was one of those experiences that allowed me to spend time with people that had a huge impact on my life. I now can look back at the pictures I took of my campers, at the pictures and cards campers made me, and the notes that several of them wrote me and smile. Many times those things make me grin from ear to ear, and they regularly make me tear up. Here are some of the notes and quotes that have stuck with me that I experienced at camp this past summer.
I will miss you all a lot you mean so much in my life every forever I love you so much love, camper name
Dear Erin
Hope you feel better we all miss you very much you mean everything you do a lot for us at camp we all love you Camper name
"The meaning of life is to live life to the fullest" camper
"The meaning of life is living." camper
Erin
I am going to miss you I hope you have a good summer fall and winter up at camp and at home with you mom and dad.
love,
camper name
To Erin
my special friend and the best counselor here at badger camp
Hope you are feeling like yourself very soon It's no fun being sick. Camper name
I hope you get well Erin. We are sorry that you got sick. Get well soon. We miss you. Camper name
...I was happy to have you as a counselor the past 12 days...I'm enjoying myself here at WBC. Thanks again and have a great rest of your summer...Camper name
I love reading these notes and looking at their accompanying pictures. As I was looking at them just now, I saw the campers names, and couldn't help but smile, and remember the moments with each of those campers that made my time with them the most memorable. Sometimes it was something as simple as sitting together, not saying a word, and just enjoying each other's company. Sometimes the memorable moment with a camper was taking a picture together. Sometimes it was a joke. Sometimes it was watching one of my campers dancing their heart out. Sometimes it was a hug. Sometimes it was seeing one of my campers get excited about seeing a camp friend again. Most of the time it was seeing a camper smiling from ear to ear and hearing them laugh at something that sticks out to me.
Looking back at the photos I took of myself with my campers, and of my campers that I wish I could share them all with everyone so people could see the personalities that I got to know and see on a daily/weekly basis.
That was the cool thing about working with people with developmental disabilities--getting to know them personally and getting to enjoy the simplest things with them made all of the hard work and long hours worth it. It was those simple moments that made me smile, laugh, and enjoy life. Camp forced me to truly appreciate being near "normal".
It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving. --Mother Teresa --
I don't know what it was about this quote, but it reminded me of camp the first time I read it. Maybe it was the fact that Mother Teresa was trying to say the the important part was putting love into what we do and give. It was during this past summer at camp that I did a lot. I also gave a lot of myself. But that wasn't the important part. The important part was that I found myself giving and doing things because I cared about my campers.
Looking back, I couldn't be happier with the experience of being a counselor at WBC. It was one of those experiences that allowed me to spend time with people that had a huge impact on my life. I now can look back at the pictures I took of my campers, at the pictures and cards campers made me, and the notes that several of them wrote me and smile. Many times those things make me grin from ear to ear, and they regularly make me tear up. Here are some of the notes and quotes that have stuck with me that I experienced at camp this past summer.
I will miss you all a lot you mean so much in my life every forever I love you so much love, camper name
Dear Erin
Hope you feel better we all miss you very much you mean everything you do a lot for us at camp we all love you Camper name
"The meaning of life is to live life to the fullest" camper
"The meaning of life is living." camper
Erin
I am going to miss you I hope you have a good summer fall and winter up at camp and at home with you mom and dad.
love,
camper name
To Erin
my special friend and the best counselor here at badger camp
Hope you are feeling like yourself very soon It's no fun being sick. Camper name
I hope you get well Erin. We are sorry that you got sick. Get well soon. We miss you. Camper name
...I was happy to have you as a counselor the past 12 days...I'm enjoying myself here at WBC. Thanks again and have a great rest of your summer...Camper name
I love reading these notes and looking at their accompanying pictures. As I was looking at them just now, I saw the campers names, and couldn't help but smile, and remember the moments with each of those campers that made my time with them the most memorable. Sometimes it was something as simple as sitting together, not saying a word, and just enjoying each other's company. Sometimes the memorable moment with a camper was taking a picture together. Sometimes it was a joke. Sometimes it was watching one of my campers dancing their heart out. Sometimes it was a hug. Sometimes it was seeing one of my campers get excited about seeing a camp friend again. Most of the time it was seeing a camper smiling from ear to ear and hearing them laugh at something that sticks out to me.
Looking back at the photos I took of myself with my campers, and of my campers that I wish I could share them all with everyone so people could see the personalities that I got to know and see on a daily/weekly basis.
That was the cool thing about working with people with developmental disabilities--getting to know them personally and getting to enjoy the simplest things with them made all of the hard work and long hours worth it. It was those simple moments that made me smile, laugh, and enjoy life. Camp forced me to truly appreciate being near "normal".
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
End of the summer
Well the summer is over. My adventure of a second summer at Wisconsin Badger Camp is over. I'm still in shock, even though it's been most of four days since I left camp. So what have I been up to since the end of the summer at camp?
The last group of campers left on the 16th. After they left, we began final work projects and got quite a bit done. Having finished for the night, we all had time to change clothes before going to our staff banquet, watched the slideshow and gave our final gifts. It was nice to have some time with the staff to relax, talk and enjoy simple things.
On the 17th, we finished our work projects, got our final pay checks, and said our goodbyes. It was then that my Mom and I left camp together. Throughout the drive home I told some of my favorite stories.
Having arrived at home, I couldn't believe that I was home after being gone for a little more than two months. I was ready to adjust to "normal" life again. My parents were glad to see me. I had realized that I missed home when I got home. I am now readjusted to real life, and enjoying being able to cook something every day.
The last group of campers left on the 16th. After they left, we began final work projects and got quite a bit done. Having finished for the night, we all had time to change clothes before going to our staff banquet, watched the slideshow and gave our final gifts. It was nice to have some time with the staff to relax, talk and enjoy simple things.
On the 17th, we finished our work projects, got our final pay checks, and said our goodbyes. It was then that my Mom and I left camp together. Throughout the drive home I told some of my favorite stories.
Having arrived at home, I couldn't believe that I was home after being gone for a little more than two months. I was ready to adjust to "normal" life again. My parents were glad to see me. I had realized that I missed home when I got home. I am now readjusted to real life, and enjoying being able to cook something every day.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Kids Week!
Kids week was a great experience! I loved my group of three lovely ladies. It was fun getting to cuddle with them each night before bed, and tell them bedtime stories. The fact that they enjoyed the stories I told them each night meant success.
Probably my favorite part of the week was going camping with the girls. Because we were at out camp-the farthest campsite from the main part of camp-and the act that there was a lot of open space, the girls and the rest of the campers enjoyed spending time running around and enjoying themselves. One of my campers made a book out of the paper and crayons that I brought with me, which they read in the tent before bedtime.
I am now sitting in Eagle watching Alice in Wonderland with another member of this summer's staff. I am trying to enjoy this last weekend here at camp while it lasts. I know that it will not be long enough. I also know that this next week is going to fly by.
Probably my favorite part of the week was going camping with the girls. Because we were at out camp-the farthest campsite from the main part of camp-and the act that there was a lot of open space, the girls and the rest of the campers enjoyed spending time running around and enjoying themselves. One of my campers made a book out of the paper and crayons that I brought with me, which they read in the tent before bedtime.
I am now sitting in Eagle watching Alice in Wonderland with another member of this summer's staff. I am trying to enjoy this last weekend here at camp while it lasts. I know that it will not be long enough. I also know that this next week is going to fly by.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Week Seven in Review
Week seven was a good week, minus the two arguments between two of my campers. On Thursday during noon rest I got a letter from a camper from the two week session, after having gotten two campers having an argument to calm down and apologize to each other. That letter meant so much to me, and still does. I have since written a letter and sent it to her. I'm sure that this particular camper will enjoy having a letter in return from someone that she enjoyed hanging out with for two weeks.
On Friday morning I had one camper crying quite hard because she really didn't want to go home--she had had so much fun at camp. That made me smile. I had never had a camper crying so hard because didn't want to go home. That really made me smile, and made me tear up.
One of my favorite parts of last week was the knock knock jokes, even though they seemed a bit annoying at the time. So here are a few of my favorite jokes:
Knock knock.
Whose there?
Anita
Anita who?
Anita friend to help me find a chicken.
Knock knock
Whose there?
Anita?
Anita who?
Anita chicken
Knock knock
Whose there?
Anita?
Anita piano.
(That one I came up with)
On Friday morning I had one camper crying quite hard because she really didn't want to go home--she had had so much fun at camp. That made me smile. I had never had a camper crying so hard because didn't want to go home. That really made me smile, and made me tear up.
One of my favorite parts of last week was the knock knock jokes, even though they seemed a bit annoying at the time. So here are a few of my favorite jokes:
Knock knock.
Whose there?
Anita
Anita who?
Anita friend to help me find a chicken.
Knock knock
Whose there?
Anita?
Anita who?
Anita chicken
Knock knock
Whose there?
Anita?
Anita piano.
(That one I came up with)
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