Dear Summer Camp,
Thank you for the hours you put into my growth and my happiness. I came home to you for five summers, 12 days a summer, 24 hours a day. All in all, you gave me 1,440 hours. That's 86,400 minutes spent making memories with some of the greatest people I will never forget. And every single one of the 86,400 minutes were used, because I swear I barely slept when I was there. But that's the most beautiful part isn't it? That we are all too caught up in the people around us to close our eyes and rest.
Thank you for introducing me to some of the greatest people I've ever met. I met my best friend because of you and I don't think I could ever repay anyone for that. Camp friends are special, because we don't need to see each other during the year. It's a bonus that my best friend only lives about 40 minutes away, but it's an incredible feeling to go back to camp after a year and pick up right where we left off with everyone. My best friend is an inspiration to me in the way she carries herself, her music and her life. She was there for me through all of the home and high school drama, and we could always escape home to you when times get hard. The summer sky, the music blasting, the lake, the sneaking out, it's our safe place we came to when everything in reality seemed impossible. The magic of camp is that it isn't a small suburban town, it's a big family reunion.
Disclaimer: If any of our counselors are reading this, we definitely never snuck out!
Thank you for hiring so many incredible counselors: from a woman who inspires me every day as my older sister and best friend to a man who I've had a crush on forever. People like models, world travelers, Broadway performers, college graduates and even new parents. They're quirky and different: the best kind of people. The counselors don't care what other people think of them back home which is why they make the greatest inspirations at camp. Just old enough to be adults, just young enough to be inspiring and full of dreams and stardust. There's no better people to help children grow than their summer camp counselors.
Thank you for letting me be good enough to be a counselor in training. I learned much more that year than in any of my others. I became the older sister, I became the safe place. I was lucky enough to pass my experience onto generations of summer camp to come. I hope I lived up to the expectations that came before me. Thank you for my cabin of five perfect young ladies who I was lucky enough to have for two different summers. I hope they grow up as thankful to you as I am.
Unfortunately, life has reared its ugly head onto me and I will not be returning this summer. My heart hurts, but I feel safe knowing that counselors are still there, shedding their fairy dust and sunshine on new smiling camper’s faces. I know that these memories will never leave me, so thank you for making my life so memorable. Without you, my childhood would have been so much less magical.
Thank you for your heart, your soul, your humor, and your memories. I can't wait until I find a way to return home to you.
Love always,
A Whimsical College Bound Summer Camper
