See, you would THINK that once youth group ended for the summer that I would actually have some time to myself. Yeah. Right. I'm still working 2 jobs, remember? And doing some sitting on the side. And finalizing plans for the mission trip. And teaching CPR. Cur-azy.
At least I've have SOME time for myself. One of the highlight of my summer so far have included a few trips down to camp, including just the other night to closing campfire. It was second session closing, and that has been my favorite (yet incredibly bittersweet) of the summer since 2002. This is the campfire that marks not only the halfway point of the summer, but it also marks a milestone in some campers' lives. This is the fire when the CITs (and, to be fair, AWITs) graduate. Many of you may remember that I was CIT director (that's Counselor-in-Training, for those not up to speed on the lingo) for 3 years at my summer camp. I thoroughly enjoyed that job, and second session closing was always a lot of fun. Even though I was saying good bye to them, I was also sending them out into the next chapter of their lives at camp. As Director, I had 21 girls complete the CIT program (29 if you include the group I started but didn't finish), and 14 of them went on to work either the summer after graduation or more.
It's fun knowing that a place that impacted you so much has been impacted by you, too. These girls who are working now are MY kids. I helped them learn who they are and to embrace it. I helped them learn how to encourage others to do that. I taught them how to handle homesickness and trouble kids, and how to spot child abuse, and how to be a positive role model. I know I'm not the only person in their lives to have done that, but I am one of the most significant, in the camp sense. They're going out as counselors and helping young girls develop a sense of self worth, a sense of who they are, and helping them find a love of camp.
It's hard to believe that when my mom first suggested I go to camp back in 1994 that it would turn into something life changing, and something that would play a crucial role in my emotional development. But it did, because 5 staff members opened their arms to an awkward little girl and loved her. I can't have been easy to tolerate -- I was 8 and in Border Village. I have memories of calling for a counselor -- Fraggle -- in the middle of the night because I was homesick or scared of the dark. I've lived in Border Village, and trust me, it's definitely not easy tolerating the girls at 2 in the morning -- but she did.
Anyway, 6 more joined the ranks on Thursday night, and I got to go to campfire to watch them graduate (one of my own was CIT Counselor... Mama was proud!!). I cried, just like I always do, but I didn't BAWL until after they were announced as "Former CITs." I lost it when we gave the title of "Honorary CIT" to an amazing camp director, a woman who came to camp as a Unit Leader in 2001 (my CIT 1 year, in fact), and found a passion for it, just like I did. She didn't get to go through the CIT program, which is more like a family. She didn't get to experience the traditions and past times. She wasn't able to participate in Green Trees and Taps with all of the Formers at the close of every campfire -- even though she felt a connection to this place too.
When Rosethorn went up to announce what the Formers had unanimously decided, she almost cried -- and she's NOT a crier. She was eloquent and heartfelt and when she said Smiles's name, Smiles sat there, kind of shocked for a while. Then she stood up and started walking up to us. And then the staff stood and cheered. Then the campers. This woman has made more of an impact on Cedarledge than I ever could. She's kind, and full of love, and her name is fitting because she is ALWAYS smiling. She loves to laugh. She loves ranch dressing. She loves dining hall shenanigans. She knows how to straddle that ever-delicate line of friend and authority figure. And EVERYONE recognizes that.
Smiles, I don't know if you will ever read this, but thank you for your commitment to camp. Thank you for your commitment to showing girls respect -- for others and for themselves. Thank you for sacrificing your summer -- a "vacation" to work at camp year after year. Your impact will be felt for years to come down there, and elsewhere because I know you impacted me.
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