There Is Something Magical About Camp
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

There Is Something About Camp That Is Just Pure Magic

When you're over-tired and lost among the trees and songs, it's like magic

146
There Is Something About Camp That Is Just Pure Magic

If you've ever been to summer camp, you know that it is a place of pure magic.

I didn't really grow up going to summer camp. I went once when I was nine, again for a class trip in middle school and then when I was 15, my mom told me that being a counselor-in-training would look good on my college resume. So I packed my giant duffle and went to camp without knowing a soul who would be there. I'm not going to lie, I was a little terrified the moment I got there, surrounded by longtime returning campers. Immediately, I wanted to get back into my comfort zone that included my bed and air-conditioned home.

Once I got over myself, I fell head over heels for camp. It's a place where within hours, you create inseparable bonds. Because you're constantly together, star gazing, trying to fit three people on a paddleboard, or putting on your war paint for capture the flag. And maybe you will never talk to these people after camp, maybe they will pop up on your newsfeed, maybe you'll host camp reunions every once in a while, maybe you'll talk every single day. And it doesn't matter, because those endless camp days were real, that bond is irreversible and irreplaceable.

As a CIT, I remember looking up at the counselors who were teaching us all of their best tricks and tips for becoming a leader. I hoped that one day I could be a tiny bit like them: inspiring and authentic. I had this dream that maybe I could spend just one summer camping in the woods, getting so lost in the nature that the rest of the world disappears. So instead of getting an internship like all the type-A personalities at school, I spent my spring semester applying for counselor positions at camps. Somehow, I landed a job in California and I ran with it. I jumped far outside of my comfort zone, not knowing a soul who would be at this camp, half terrified and excited to be spending the summer doing something that I'd only dreamed of. That year, I was also lucky enough to join Camp Kesem. But that meant that after my ten weeks of working at a summer camp, I'd spend another one volunteering. And it's hardly a question to say that it was by far my favorite summer despite the 96 hour work weeks.

So this year, when I decided to build my resume over the summer with a nice sounding internship, I wished that I could go back in time to my days under the redwood trees in California; and I couldn't wait for my one week of camp at Camp Kesem. But after I'd spent the majority of the summer interning, doing homework, and going on bike rides, a week of Camp Kesem was a culture shock, an absolute roller coaster and I wasn't sure how I'd done 11 weeks of camp the previous summer. But by the end, when I got off the bus and to my dorm and collapsed into bed, I couldn't even sleep because my heart was full to the brim. And just like that, I remembered why camp is so remarkable and why all summer long, I was wishing that I could just be at camp instead of sitting in a desk and staring at a screen.

Because, by God, campers are some of the strongest, bravest, most full of life and inspiring people you'll ever meet. They remind me that I don't need to think so much or stress so much because there are s'mores and laughter and it is so easy to just be there, to be in that moment. It's like magic. That's what kesem means, after all.

So, that week that I spent in a disgusting cabin with floors covered in a mixture of water and dirt with the occasional spider, stinky socks, smelly shoes, and clothes strewn everywhere--yes, welcome to a cabin full of the contrasting personalities of nine-year-old girls--where I was on my toes all day long, keeping track of kids, allergies, and ghosts was worth it. The endless days, the chanting, the laughter, the views disappeared all too quickly.

It's been a week now since I've returned from Kesem, and although I can look at my wrist where the strings that tied us all together are, I still keep forgetting the magic. I've squashed it with stress, limitations, and expectations I put on myself. Which is why I'm taking the time now to remember the magic.

These kids get to be kids for one week. They get to be their complete selves, surrounded by counselors who care about them, who are there for the purpose of their growth and making sure that everyone is having a good time. And these kids love you and look up to you like crazy, even if they don't show it. Some will draw you pictures, others will never say thank you. Nevertheless, their laughter and grins say it all. Camp is for them. They create the magic, we just make the space for it.

Because camp counselors are role-models, that's what we signed up for, so we let our best selves shine, putting aside our fears of spiders and our aching heads (because as much as we tell the campers to stay hydrated, it's unlikely that we are) and we create the space that is absolute magic.

And I'm thinking that maybe we should take some of that magic with us, remind ourselves that even though life isn't perfect right now, the magic is real.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

51541
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

33090
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956072
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

181003
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments