As a little girl I yearned to go to overnight camp. Riding horses, shooting, climbing, swimming, and most importantly, giggling with bunkmates simmered in the back of my mind. Because my parents probably would have ugly cried every night from missing me, overnight camp was not in the cards.
But, the desire to go to sleep away camp never left me. Now that I’m at The Heart, I understand why that lifelong yearning took up residence in the back of my mind. Camp is the ultimate school. At camp, learning isn’t confined to academia. Instead, everyone is charged with problem solving, community building, and self-improvement. I don’t know how long it would have taken me to learn the value of community and by extension, the value of myself.
During the off season I am lucky to do what I love: learning. I am constantly researching the best kid-rearing practices so that I can improve the campers’ and LITes’ experiences. Conveniently, this research and its application, makes me a better mother. Witnessing the stages of childhood in real time helps me better understand my daughter. Since inspiring children of all ages is my trade, I am always seeking motivation to bring my best self to the table.
Through serving camp, I have discovered myself in a new light.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
-Winston Churchill
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