Since I started preschool, I have been going to the Lakeland Hills YMCA for summer camp. Obviously, I don't remember what I did during those 4 hours of supervised playtime every day for 6 weeks of the summer, but I'm sure I had a blast. When I was in third grade, I started going to the YMCA summer camp for the whole day (from 8am-4pm) every day for 6 weeks each summer.
I also don't remember my first day of YMCA summer camp way back in third grade, but I imagine it went something like this: I walked to my camp group table underneath a big white tent, alone, and waited until my camp counselor told me what to do. Eventually, I probably sat with a group of girls and eased my way into the clique they have formed, probably not talking.
Fast forward to my third week of YMCA Summer Camp in third grade. I was waiting at my table for all the campers to file in. To my excitement, I saw this tall, blonde girl who was on my travel soccer team during the year before. We didn't talk much, but we were definitely outsiders on our soccer team, so we typically stuck together. So this girl sat next to me and we start talking. Her friend came to camp as well, so began to form our own "group" at the camp.
My soccer friends and I, 6 years after we met (2014)
As we grew up together, our group of 3 swiftly became a group of 5. I'm not really sure how the other 2 girls began to talk to us, but I'm glad they did because they became my best friends. From that point on, I loved summer camp. YMCA Summer Camp was easily my favorite part of my past summers. I loved having a break from my school friends and seeing my camp friends (and only my camp friends) for 6 continuous weeks. We caught each other up on the latest gossip at our school and brought our yearbooks; we all told detailed stories about every single person in each of our yearbooks. After the countless gaga championships and card games, we thought our mismatched group from third grade became whole... Until our last year at the YMCA Summer Camp.
We were in 8th grade and eventually, we all went to separate high schools and didn’t have time to go to the summer camp any longer. As we were fulfilling our last year together, we met this girl who was sitting alone, waiting for the day to be over. We invited her over, and it was like all 6 of us connected instantly. The new girl and I had a lot in common, and we became best friends.
Although we all came from different towns and would go to different schools, when we are together, it feels as if we haven’t missed anytime together. I would like to thank Lakeland Hills YMCA Summer Camp for making this group of girls who barely knew each other into one unbreakable friend group.
Catie, Meghan, Jess, Lauren, and Lexi: I miss being with you guys every day and making countless memories. See you guys soon.
