I, like many other children, attended summer camp starting at a young age. I clearly remember my first camp - I was seven years old and I went to a nearby nature reserve for day camp. My best friend attended the summer before, so I was very excited to begin a new experience with her. Needless to say, this was the beginning of a love that would last over a decade.
My first camp consisted of games and learning. I don't have very many memories of this camp, but the ones I have are clear and vivid. I remember playing "Dead Fish". Our counselors told us to stay as still as possible, just like a dead fish. Needless to say, I was not very good at this game...
The next summer I attended Girl Scout Camp, where I would continue to go for four years. There I learned how to boondoggle, how to properly put out a fire, but not much else. I remember a lot of drama, but a lot of good campfire recipes.
The final camp I went to was my favorite by far. I went to a local CampFire USA summer camp for seven years- from age 9 to 16. I began their Counselor In Training (CIT) program at 13, graduated at 15, and became a staff member at 16. The weeks I spent at camp were by far the highlight of my summer. I learned how to swim here, as well as how to start fires, sing camp songs at the top of my lungs, and how to relate to the younger campers. I remember being 12 and having a five-year-old day camper ask me for help tying her shoes. Instead of just tying them, I sat down and taught her how to do it herself. I realized that I had now made an impact on this little girl; she didn't need to ask for help anymore, she was independent. I knew then that I had to be a CIT.
CITs were a whirlwind of learning child development, behavior management, and quick thinking. Even today, I need to crouch down to talk to a child, a habit that CITs ingrained into me. I learned about word choice and how to listen properly, a task that I honestly believe many adults have yet to master. When I went to college, I was not concerned about homesickness because I had practice being at camp. I was not afraid of living with a roommate because I learned how to live in a cabin with six other girls and a counselor.
Looking back on my decade of summer camps, I wouldn't trade it for anything. My summer on staff was exhausting but exhilarating. I learned to hone my skills from CITs and apply them every day. To this day, I still use the listening skills from camp. I can understand young children speaking fairly easily. I learned how to tie knots and start a fire at camp. I learned how to identify poison ivy. I learned how to Tarzan through a ropes course and how to communicate with others. Yes, I grew as a camp counselor. I grew in ways I cannot fully describe. I firmly believe that being a camper, a CIT, and a camp counselor have shaped my life for the better and would strongly encourage anyone else, everyone else, to do the same.
