There’s a hidden piece of paradise in western North Carolina. It’s located in a little valley between rolling Blue Ridge mountains, and it comes alive during the lazy summer months. Its trees flourish in hundreds of shades of green, a babbling creek swerves between the shade of those trees, farm and forest animals of all shapes and sizes call out, and the laughter of joyful children playing in the lake echoes through the hills.
This place is called Gwynn Valley Camp, and it has served as my getaway since first grade. I grew up there learning how to build a fire, feed a baby calf, try new foods, and eventually, as a counselor, do my own laundry. That’s right, folks, I learned how to do my laundry before college.
However, since moving into college, I’ve talked to many people that grew up without going to camp at all. After my initial reaction of “I’m so sorry,” I’m usually taken aback by their confused expression. Too frequently, the responses I get are “I don’t think it’s my thing anyways”, “I mean, I went to a tennis day camp”, or “I don’t think I missed that much”.
My heart sinks thinking about all that they missed out on.
As a camper, I remember gaining strength and independence that I never knew I’d had as I rode the zip line for the first time or climbed up sections of Looking Glass Rock. Living in those air-conditioning-free cabins, I made so many friends from all around the country that I still hold close to my heart today.
As a counselor, I found the confidence to be a leader and the silliness inside me to dance around the cabin while singing “Let It Go” to get a little girl out of her shell. My world expanded even more as I met other counselors from Scotland, New Zealand, and even South Africa.
Growing up at camp has shaped the way I approach life. I am able to see the simple joys in everyday things, and I have an appreciation for nature, repeat-after-me songs, and farm grown food that some people weren’t lucky enough to have.
So, this summer, while everyone else finds some sort of professional internship, you can find me in the mountains, learning a lot more than I would ever be able to learn in an office.