A wise man once said, "Be of Good Courage and Know That You Are Loved."
There have yet to be any words that mean as much to me as these. They are engraved on the back of the sign that stands to greet everyone as they enter camp. They wish you well as you leave, and leaving is never easy, whether from the week of camp or at the end of the summer.
Never have there been words that remind me of so many memories. From seemingly endless vespers at the end of a busy day to the deep conversations had in the center of cabents, from being a camper to being summer staff, from new friendships to old friends, I can surely say my camp experience has been a God send. I cannot imagine the person I would be if I didn't have the magnificent privilege of going to camp.
I went to camp one week during the summer every year, and sometimes to church or youth retreats during the school year. We used to joke that we lived 51 weeks for the one week of camp, and while it may seem exaggerated, camp was always the best week of my year.
The most powerful and emotional experiences I have ever had have been at camp. While bible study, and cabinet family time were always thought provoking and inspiring, I always looked forward to walking the labyrinth at night, lit by candles. This is where I feel closest to God.
I have learned countless lessons from camp that I couldn't learn anywhere else. From serious ones, like how to be closer to God in daily life and how to be a good friend, to more practical ones, like not to take food into your cabent, and how to change out of a swimsuit without showing anything (I'm looking at you, Lindsey). But, overall, I have learned how to be a good person, and I can directly attribute who I am today to camp.
As a camper, the Summer Staff were the coolest people ever, and I wanted to be just like them. They created an atmosphere that cannot be paralleled. They were outgoing, funny, and made camp the best place on Earth. For the past two years, I have had the privilege to be a part of the Summer Staff.
I was thrilled to have the opportunity to make camp like it was for me, for all of the younger campers. While it is a never ending job with long hours, I got to spend the whole summer at my favorite place, helping to make it possible for others to enjoy it. I didn't, however realize how much more I would learn as a Staffer. Everything from don't leave shoes under your bed because they get moldy, to more serious things from other staffers, about life in general.
Going into my last summer as a Summer Staffer is bitter sweet. I am elated to be back for another year, but I know how hard it will be at the end of the summer to say "see you later" to a place and people who have given me so much. I know the day will come at the end of the summer, when I leave and see those words, "Be of good courage and know you are loved." I will be crying, I have no doubt, but I hope they will be tears of joy and not sorrow.
"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." ~ Winnie the Pooh
