I've been working at the same summer camp for the past eight years. I have gained 85% of my childcare knowledge through working at that camp. Not only have I gained professional experience, but I've also grown as a person. I knew that one day I would have to put away my camp shirt and say goodbye but I never thought the day would come! Summer camp was something I looked forward to every summer. I've met some amazing people through working here and of course some great campers.
To the administration at my summer camp:
Thank you for giving me the most amazing opportunity and for helping me gain so much experience in childcare. I definitely wouldn't have got this far in my career if it wasn't for you! I am very grateful and always will be!
To my campers:
This is honestly the hardest goodbye! I am going to miss seeing your cheerful smiles and energetic souls every day. Every year you all teach me some sort of lesson. One of the biggest lessons that you have taught me is to live in the now and to be happy with what you are given in life! Even though kids are still very young, they can still open your eyes to a world of things that you never thought about. Lastly, I need to thank you for cheering me up no matter what was going on in my life at the time. You all knew exactly how to put a smile on my face!
To my coworkers:
Tears are rolling down my eyes as I'm writing this. I've been working with some of you for years. We spent so much time together that we would start calling each other "best friend" and that's exactly how it went! Some of you have become some of my closest friends and I'm so happy we met through summer camp! I am so excited to see what some of you do after high school and college. You are all such great individuals with such great work ethic and such big hearts! I am forever grateful that I got to work with such amazing people. I have so much love for all of you and I wish nothing but the best! I will miss you so much, keep being the greatest camp counselors ever!
To my sixteen-year-old self:
I know it's hard to believe but this summer camp is going to open your eyes and open doors for you that lead to big opportunities! This summer camp job is going to turn into a big part of your life and on your last day you may just cry. All of those summer camp memories are going to flow through your head and you're going to miss the simpler times of being a camp counselor!