The sun is already blazing; the smell of summer is in the air. I slip on my pink crocs and bright yellow t-shirt all smiles ready to start my day. I get in my car windows down, country music turned up, trying to get to my towns coffee shop before the line gets too long, once my large ice coffee is in hand I get back on the road ready to head to camp. I take a quick sip of my coffee and jump into the car line. I go car to car helping campers find their groups. The smile of a camper who is excited to be there and see you is the best way to start the day.
The first day is always a different experience because they are all quiet, they sit there in a circle as we play fun name games and learn their favorite colors. That is something that quickly comes to an end. By day three all I hear is, “Emily, look at me” and “Emily did you see that”. Sometimes I do miss the original silence. There is a bond that comes quickly forms and is unbreakable. I would do anything for my kids. Whether they are in the best mood ever or having a bad day we were always able to have a great time. Not to say that there were not rough moments over my 8 weeks, but the good always outweighs the bad when I’m at camp. There were temper tantrums, vomit, and pee, but nothing was ever intentional.
The incredible experience of being a camp counselor, for those who haven’t experienced it do not understand the bond that goes along with working with children for 8 hours a day. As a counselor for 5 and 6 year olds there is an indescribable sense of pride that comes with knowing one of your kids accomplished something that they had been working all summer on. Whether that was learning to canoe, or finally receiving an archery badge. They rely on you all day every day to be there for them and support them. The look of pride in there eyes and smile on their face when they can finally say “I did it” is something that I hold near and dear to my heart. We spent days in the sun, out on boats, making arts and crafts and playing games. They learned how to swim without bubbles and conquered their fears. To know that you helped them grow is one of the greatest gifts that can be given to a counselor.
One of the hardest things I had to do was accept the fact that I did not get to go back this summer. I received an internship opportunity from an amazing company that I loved. I knew I couldn’t be a camp counselor forever, but leaving behind friendships that will last a life time, and the ability to still be a kid in the summer was a hard thing to do. Thank you to my amazing bosses that helped me even when I struggled, to my friends who made camp even more memorable, and most importantly to the campers who impacted my life so greatly.