To Camp(finity) and Beyond

     Whether you pride yourself in winning science fairs, writing competitions or sporting events, you  belong at camp. Whether you specialize in identifying birds or designer handbags, you belong at camp. Whether you’re an extrovert, an introvert or somewhere in between, you belong at camp.

 Camp is a magical place where everyone belongs. It’s known as a place where one’s true self comes to life, the good, the bad, the ugly (makeup is minimal), and the BEST.

When I signed up to be an Activity Leader in 2012 I had no idea what I was getting into. I truly didn’t. I mean one can only get so much information over a skype interview. My interview took place while I was on the clock working at a bridal boutique. Doesn’t sound too “campy” does it?

Everyone has their reasons for applying for summer camp positions. The majority I’ve seen have to do with schooling requirements, but then there are those like me who just need a break from their own life and feel like focusing on someone else’s. Focusing on others and having fun while doing it is fairly easy to do if you choose a camp for kids and young adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities like the camp where I was, Camp Aranzazu. But even if you don’t choose a camp with a powerful mission like Aranzazu, it still has the power to change you, transform you, to make you grow in crazy, cool ways. 

 

Now before you go applying because I made it sound so awesome, you should know some requirements for the majority of camp positions. If you’re considering applying, check yourself. Are you…

Reliable?

People rely on you every day to be in the position you’re assigned. If you don’t show up and take on the responsibility that’s been handed to you, others suffer. Whether your responsibilities include cooking, cleaning, planning or playing, they all require you to PERFORM.

Adaptable??

You have to be willing and ready to adapt to situations on the fly. Sometimes plans have to change, and you have to be flexible enough to keep on keepin’ on. 

Selfless???

There comes a point where the fun slows down and work starts to feel more like work. This is a common trend with all non-profit work. You have to be able to dig deep and believe in the mission enough to where you’re able to keep going, because you’re not doing it for your own personal gain, but for someone else’s.

A little silly????

You have to be AT LEAST a little silly to work at camp, and what I mean by silly is that you have to be able to laugh at yourself. You don’t have to be the finniest guy/gal in the room, but you do have to play along and let yourself have FUN!

If you are selected to work at a camp, you have so much to look forward to and even more to gain from the experience liiiiiike….

Friends!

Some of my favorite humans on the planet I met through camp. Whether you spend one week together, a whole summer, or a whole year, the relationships you build there have the power to last a lifetime. 

Perspective!!

This one is huge… After working with kids with chronic illnesses and disabilities, I realized the hard times I came to camp to escape from really didn’t compare to what others face.

Hard Skills!!!

It’s the little things that matter, like how to build a campfire, properly fold a water hose, or tie a figure 8 follow through knot that have come in handy way more often than I ever would have guessed. 

Soft Skills!!!!

There are times when you dig deep for patience, understanding and confidence. You also become more comfortable leading groups of people and speaking in front of crowds. There’s no mystery to why companies love hiring previous CAMP PEOPLE! 

Connections!!!!!

You’ll meet so many people during your time at camp, but the connections don’t stop there. I was in a food truck line yesterday and met the nicest man. Can you guess what connected us?? CAMP! He was a camp person himself in a completely different state many moons ago.  I told him about my goals here in New Braunfels and he introduced me to 3 different people THAT NIGHT to help me reach those goals. 

Humility!!!!!!

Because everyone belongs at camp, and not everyone is exceptional at everything, you gain this golden opportunity to witness others excel at things you wish you could do, and if you’re determined enough, you could end up doing those things yourself. Some of mine included making it to the top of our tower/zip, leading a campfire story/song, baiting the fishing lines (worms freaked me out) and facilitating groups in low ropes/team building activities. My first summer all of these activities were terrifying, but when I came back to work full time with camp I was determined to master all of the above. Now I can tackle heights like a boss, my niece gets a new campfire story every few months, I’m not QUITE as scared of slimy creatures, and I feel confident I can make a team out of strangers if you give me one afternoon! Though I feel confident and proud of what I accomplished at camp, I was very humbled and still am today by the people who are naturals. One of my best friends who still works at Aranzazu is a nature loving, rock climbing, story-telling guru. Being in her presence every day as a co-worker and friend pushed me to new heights, (literally). Sometimes you just have to take a step back, learn from an expert, and embrace your (many) mistakes as taking one step closer to becoming a master. 

As I’m writing this and reflecting on my time as both an activity leader and program manager at Camp Aranzazu, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the chain of events that brought me to camp. The growth I witnessed in myself and our staff is beyond measure, and it’s helped to prepare all of us for our current and future adventures.

If I’m ever driving you around to view houses, no need to worry about awkward silence. I’ll just whip out my backwards version of Cinderella. Thank you, Camp.