A Hard Good-Bye

Dear Camp,

Wow, where to begin…the impact that you have had on me over the past years cannot be summarized with mere words or in a simple blog post. How does one say good-bye to something that has shaped and changed who they are so deeply? You have been one of the most constant things in my life, while simultaneously being the one thing that was always shifting into something new. No two days were the same, but I think that that is part of what is so amazing about the whole experience. You learn to be flexible, to adapt and adjust, and to “roll with the punches” as it were.

In the ever constant sea of movement and chaos that occurs on a regular basis at camp it wp-image-162070097 is easy to get lost in the waves. Yet I have learned to see the beauty in it all. On the surface it can seem like a whirlwind of constant motion, of people always on the move to either serve or clean or host or run activities. However if you take a step back and look at it as a whole you discover that it is in fact not a mad crush of people bumping along in every direction; rather it is the most beautiful of dances. Not only are there the graceful choreographed steps (the routine of each day), but tossed in are the breathtakingly improvised movements that show the true mastery of those performing. wp-image-203859695 It is only in watching this grand dance that one can see how truly beautiful it is to work amongst people who share the same vision and passion as you. And for that opportunity I am forever grateful.

No matter how long you work at camp for, there are always those people who come along and embed themselves into your life. They come alongside you not only in work but in the rest of your life as well. They guide you, talk with you, laugh with you, cry with you, and stick with you for the rest of your life.

I believe that there is a unique bond that is formed between people who work so closely and intensely with each other over extended periods of time; simply because you share every aspect of your life with each other and as a result your lives begin to meld together to form this brilliant friendship.

You have also given me countless opportunities to grow in every aspect of my life. Sometimes it can feel as though you have been tossed into a pool that is too deep for you to swim in, however it is in those moments when we feel like we cannot stand that we find what we are truly capable of. And it is those exact moments that have helped to shape me spiritually, emotionally, physically, wholly. There are things that I have done at camp that I would have never done if I hadn’t been given the opportunity (or lovingly thrown into it), and it is through those opportunities that I have found some of my greatest passions. The changes and growth that I have seen in myself over the past years of working for camp are innumerable.

In essence what I’m trying to say is one massive…

Thank You!

There is no way to know who I would be if I had never come to camp first as a wee IMG_20170118_194058_433 camper and then as a staff member, but I do know with absolute certainty that I would not be the same person that I am now. I also know that I would not give up a single second of my time at camp nor would I change anything about my experience at camp; because if I were to change even one tiny detail then I would end up altering the entirety of who I have become. The people that I have worked with, the groups that I have served, and the lives that have been changed at camp have all had a profound impact on my own life. There is nowhere that I would have rather worked (and lived) for the past 2 years (and 6 summers) of my life. I am deeply saddened to have to say good bye, yet I am holding my breath with anticipation for what will unfold next for you.