Photos Provided by Paige Maffett
Summer Camp. The phrase has a different meaning for everyone. Ranging from a week forcibly spent outdoors with strangers to an invigorating outdoor experience, summer camp can have many results for those willing to give it a shot.
Watching the leafy green trees fly by as I sat in the backseat of my friend’s parents SUV, I was apprehensive yet excited for all the fun activities that awaited me at this unknown place. My best friend of the time asked me to go to this catholic youth camp with her called Camp Ondessonk.
We sat at the edges of seats as we drove down the winding gravel road to be greeted by smiling faces that pointed us in the right direction. Little did I know, these faces would soon be my role models and maybe even close friends as I grew older.
We were selected to a group (called a unit) of about thirty girls that we met right away and the life-long friendships started right then. Our counselors were there to greet us with bright smiles and helping hands.
The older girls immediately welcomed us with open arms and were eager to share camp’s adventures with us. We learned to trust these people we had just met and the word “teamwork” took on a whole new meaning in our ten year old minds.
We worked together as we ventured to every activity area this camp had to offer. Our unity made every girl feel like they belonged and they had a true purpose.
It was vital to have our unit as an unwavering support system due to the uneasiness of staying away from home for those first-year campers like us.
Needless to say, this special place soon became much more than just a summer camp. From the campfire traditions to the three-walled cabins to the personal relationships we developed, this place became home. Not only did the welcoming atmosphere make us feel completely comfortable; we were able to indulge in all kinds of outdoor activities such as horseback riding, archery, hiking, swimming, boating and riflery.
Year after year, we began counting down the days until we were back in the Shawnee National Forest enjoying camp songs and delicious foil burgers. Our time spent at camp dominated our conversations long after it was over until we began anticipating the following summer.
After going to camp with my friend for a few years, we eventually parted ways and I became a staff member myself. Seeing Camp Ondessonk impact lives as I got older was awe-inspiring.
The way this unique place brings together family, friends and strangers is unlike any other. Not only is it due to the excitement and animosity that the campers bring in but it is also due to the insanely talented staff members that serve camp so faithfully. These are people that are very diverse in their everyday, at home lives but come together and work diligently to ensure that every camper is having the best time possible.
Never have I worked with a group of people that is more selfless and dedicated than these staff members. It is refreshing to spend time with those that are perplexed by nature’s beauty and are genuinely compassionate for the kids we take care of.
This is a safe place for many campers, staff members and even adults to be true to themselves.
Countless campers have told me that “Camp Ondessonk is a place where I can be myself” or “I feel like nobody is afraid to be themselves here.” And that’s the goal. Showing compassion. Building confidence. Empowering people.
This place offers an outdoor experience like no other, but it most importantly gives people a place to grow. To find out the type of person they want to be.
I feel that it is my job as a camp counselor to not just provide an exhilarating encounter with the world around them but to most importantly provide a sense of belonging. I encourage all of you to find that sense of unity, affinity and wonder. In my case, it is a summer camp. But for anyone else it could be a job, a place, a group of people or even a good book.