One of my closest friends is back working at summer camp in Ontario this summer. I recently sent her a care package by snail mail and it reminded me of the reasons camp is so important. Camp has always been a huge part of my life. It has truly been one of the biggest, if not the biggest influence on my life. The events I experienced and the people I meet have shaped me into the person I am today.
I was eleven years old when I started going to YMCA Camp Chief Hector. It was introduction into a uniquely and exquisite new world. It was not instantly sunshine and rainbows. I struggled being away from home, yet I loved everything I had the opportunity to do. I never once said I did not want to go back the next year but I was always missing my parents when I went. As time went on I fell more deeply in love with being outside and experiencing a sense of adventure an the less I struggled with being away from home. Camp Chief Hector not only taught me valuable outdoor skills; how to backpack and canoe trip, but it showed me how to care for the environment, be strong, to be a leader, to be independent and to be myself.
Camp has always been hard for me express accurately how special it is. The people who were at camp, just understood, we did not have talk about it we just knew. The best explanation I could give for years was it’s camp, its the best place on earth.
It was a place that was extremely challenging both mentally and physically at times. It was always adventure, yet adventures are not necessarily easy. There were multiple times weather out on a trip or the in camp activities I wanted nothing more then to be at home in my own bed, with parents, and or my boyfriend at the time. The simple comforts of an warm showers and or favourite foods you take for granted and become a craving at camp. You feel extremely blessed when you do finally get to home, yet a little disorientated because you have adapted so well to excelling in nature.
It was a place that challenged your way of thinking, challenged what you thought was acceptable, the type of person you wanted to be. We always talked about our camp versions of ourselves. I always came back to school struggling with camp version of me and the regular every day version of me; I could not quite get the two people to meet. I found the pressures of fitting in, getting the good grades, achieving in sports to be hard to reconcile with the simplicity of the camp. For a long time I believed I could not be both people. I found it extremely cool and enlightening that as the years went on there became less and less difference between those two people. I was lasting longer each year in my true authentic camp self.
I would also like to highlight that I do full heartily believe that doing well in school, sports and having nice things (if you desire them) is also extremely valuable to yourself and does not have to mean you are two different people or hypocrite to the simplicities of nature and in turn camp. This realization and acceptance of the same was a major turning point in my life. It truly allowed me to be who I was. Someone who absolutely loves being outdoors, being active and simply being in nature but also someone who works hard and enjoys materialistic things such pretty heels, nice clothes and comfortable home.
Being on this path, having this discovery is what camp is about. It is about finding the strength, the courage to be challenged, and knowing success can be found through failures. It is knowing those around you are important, that communication and leadership are extremely valuable traits to have and further the ability to find yourself through everything. Camp allowed us to be your true authentic self all before we even knew that was movement or what it was. It was camp it was simple it was everything we needed. A simple example of this was the hours we spent on our Wilderness trip (18 day caneo trip at the age of 16). We sat and paddle for hours discussing what was going to happen in the final Harry Potter book. We talked all about the writing, the character development, the plot twists, where we were when all the other books came out and it continued for hours. Another easy example was talking about boys and girls (when we with the boys), we talked about relationships, what it meant to be in love in all aspects, how relationship made us feel, if we all end up as crazy old single people. We left everything on the table, we are the most open, honest and nonjudgemental versions of ourselves.
My camp friends have deep understanding of how I am. the fears we felt we also felt we could easily express them in this environment. We also found it a joy to express how much we loved the hiking, the canoeing, the rough and tough aspects of camp. They know me as well anyone could know me and often at times better then I know myself. These girls are the most accepting people I know. That is to say when I am being a little crazy or needed to get my priorities in check but it also came from a place understanding and love; a true blessing.
We did not go to camp to find ourselves, we went to camp because it was so fun and we loved the people. Camp is solely about showing up, doing your best and loving each other and the outdoors.
At the age of seventeen I started working as a counsellor at this same camp. Working at camp for me was all about being able to give the younger generations the same thing that was given to me; to show them all the reasons to love camp, to show them the magic of the place. It was amazing to help along and watch the children grow, to fall in love with the outdoors, as well as with themselves. By leading them though the backcountry, listening, seeing the environment through their eyes. I learned so much about myself. Teaching outdoor skills and empowering them to be themselves were experiences I revered as counsellor. It is an indescribable feeling to see a child experience similar things you and be a part of them overcoming these same challenges as well as loving a place the same you do.
When I worked at camp there were more female counsellors then that male staff, which lead there to be female staff running boy groups at times. I always liked working with the boys groups and would request to do so. I found them to be extremely energetic and in some respects easier to relate to, as I was ‘tom boy’ myself. I had a meeting with my section directors about being able to work with them. They stated they really believed I would have larger impact on the girls. The girls needed to see, and be exposed to strong female leading them; showing them that girls can be just as tough, and outdoorsy as the boys. At the time, I didn’t completely agree with them because I naively believed that everybody already had someone like that in their lives. I never thought that person would be me, especially 17 year old me. I for sure did not think I was feminist. I honestly only thought the boys groups were fun, I didn’t really know how to relate the more ‘girly’ girls. Well they honestly taught me so much about self, as the did the women I co counselled with. I saw such strong girls, and strong not only in the way the boys are strong but in the way girls are strong. They have an instinctive desire to care about others, they can lead, they are creative, they are extremely resistant and it is so rewarding to see these girls overcome their self doubt, to empower themselves and each other to accomplish what they set their minds to.
There is a huge value in spending time with females who seek adventure and can inspire each other. They help create balance, strength as well as positivity in each other their lives.
Furthermore, it was not until later I truly realized the importance of this and the impact it had on me. I was honestly just having the most fun I have ever had. In my later years reflecting on these experiences I am truly blessed to have them and lucky enough to be able to express their importance. Having has these strong experiences I have continued to understand the importance of them. The bigger reason than having the best summers of my life at camp was being able to pass on those moments, the joy of nature, the simplicity of it, the freedom in self expression and the ability to empower the strong fierce will of girls and boys.
In the following years, I lead a leadership group for a different camp in Vancouver. I had the opportunity to work with teens in the outdoors with a focus on teaching leadership skills and honing their out tripping skills. This was exciting opportunity for me. I truly felt I could impact them in positive way. It comes back to the desire I had on passing on the same experiences and joy I had gotten from my leaders when I camper. The summers I spent in leadership programs were a safe place, they cemented many of my values and they truly pushed me to be independent, and love myself and stand in my own truth. I was able to share these experiences and create new ones in order to provide the same level of care, and knowledge I had gotten. It was amazing to see everything come full circle. I love watching teens come into themselves, be strong and fearless, to become excellent in outdoors skills and love nature.
Camp is Camp and will always be extremely valuable and great love of mine. It is one the best experiences you could ever your children/yourself.
“I better one, for the knowing of you”
