Like many other children during the summer, I went to summer camp. I couldn’t wait for camp to start. To me, summer meant camp. Every summer, the first day of camp was as exciting as Christmas morning for me. I was a pretty average kid with very average skills. There was nothing special about me. But, this camp truly changed my life.
The camp that I went to is called Adventureland Day Camp and it is located in Bensalem, PA. It is a beautiful piece of land with a lake and the Neshaminy Creek, as well as a rock wall, a zip line, pools, and so much more. I started there when I was about four years old. Some of my best memories happened at this camp. I learned skills in sports and improved the skills I already had. I learned how to do new activities, such as archery. I was taught how to swim, and found a new love for the water. I soon became a great swimmer, due to my daily swim lessons. I loved the water so much that when I was old enough, I became a certified lifeguard. My love for nature and the outdoors grew. I remember going on nature walks through the woods and noticing things that I never knew before. I learned names of plants and how to identify them (leaves of three, let it be!). I got dirty and grimy and I loved every second of it. I learned how to take fish and turtles off of my line once I caught it. I learned the importance of being aware of safety, because some things at camp can be dangerous. I became better at making friends because I did not live in the immediate area of camp. Therefore, I did not go to school with the kids that went to the camp. This forced me to go out of my comfort zone and make friends. These friends became lifelong friends. I learned that you might not enjoy every activity, but some people wont like the things that you enjoy. Everyone has his or her own likes and dislikes, and that’s OK. This forces you to take a step back and look at things a different way. I started to participate more in the things that I “didn’t like”, which made me realize that if you give things a chance, you may be surprised. I always felt accepted at my camp. I was always a “bigger” child and struggled with my weight and confidence my entire life. But, at camp, that didn’t matter. There were kids of every background, class, race, ability, size, shape, etc. This camp became my second home.
When I got older I decided I wanted to work at camp. What an experience this has been. Somehow, I have learned even more from this place as an employee, than I did as a camper. Now, I can work with other people, even if I don’t particularly like them. I can think outside the box. Sometimes, it is hard to get kids to do something. Finding a fun and creative way to get them to do what you ask of them is a great skill to know. On top of everything I learned at camp, I think that it just made me an all around better person. I do not think that I would be as accepting, patient, willing to try new things, creative, and so much more if I didn’t spend my summers at camp. Thank you to my summer camp for changing my life for the better.
