142 more days till camp!
43 more days till camp!
3 more days till camp!
It was 2010 when I first entered you as a clueless little camper. It was my first time being without my parents for a certain period of time and my first time experiencing sleep away camp. On that 5-hour and 30-minute drive up to you without traffic, thousands of thoughts popped into my head.
What are these two weeks going to consist of?
Is it going to be like the "Parent Trap?"
Am I going to get homesick and want to come home after the first day?
It is a catholic camp...does that mean it’s a bible camp?
All these questions and thoughts would soon be answered once I arrived. The time finally came when I pulled into 83 Richards Rd, Wolfeboro, NH. My two weeks here were about to begin. My best friend from home and I decided to tackle this experience together and weren’t exactly sure what to expect. Once we arrived we were directed towards our cabin, in which we would be living in for those two weeks. The cabin was to be filled with around 10-12 girls and two counselors. The cabin we were assigned was with the number 12 on it. There was nothing more to it to me but a silly number. Although, those two weeks changed everything.
Never in my life would I have thought that this place would mean so much to me. I have met people all around the world from places such as Australia, Hungry, Canada and England. When making the decision to attend this camp, I was not aware that there would be so much diversity. Those two weeks in Cabin 12 were the best two weeks I had during the summer of 2010. I learned how to speak French from some of my cabin mates, learned how to canoe, went tubing for the first time, grew as a person, and realized how much this place really means to me.
It didn’t really hit me until those two weeks were coming to an end that I would be leaving this place that I just had the best time of my life at. It was session four that determined that we all would be leaving soon, campers, counselors, and head staff. As we headed into the chapel for the last time of that summer, many emotions were rushing through people. I looked around and there were tears in almost everyone’s eyes. Not the bad type of tears, though. It finally processed that we all were leaving camp. The thought that we could possibly never see some of these people again came to mind and not knowing if we would be back here soon was questioned.
The next day the sun came up, we all packed our belongings and had to say our goodbyes. As I was saying goodbye to the people I lived with for those two weeks, I knew this wasn’t the end for me. I wanted to come back every summer that I possibly could, and so I did. I went back the following summer for another two weeks, and then the following summer for a month. This camp was my home away from home.
Although it has been a long four years since I’ve been back to Camp Bernadette and I am pleased to say that this summer I am finally going back. I am not returning alone. I am going back with one friend that I had met at this camp my very first year going. Although, the first year we never really talked and just knew of each other but later became best friends the following summer. I have managed to keep in contact with my friend, Isabella after these four years even though we may live 650 miles apart. The past four summers we have been contemplating about going back. At last, we are finally completing our dream of being a counselor and are going to experience this together.
Personally myself, I am so excited to be able to experience Camp Bernadette. Yes, this experience is going to be completely different, since I will be a counselor. Although, I am looking forward to giving kids the experience I had as a camper. Only 61 more days till I will be soaking in the sun on Lake Wentworth and teaching kids how to swim and so much more. I am just as excited and nervous, as I was when I entered the camp in 2010 but I can't wait to see you soon Bernie!
