Well Wildcats, it’s that time of year again.

That time of year where we pack up our lives, come to college and reminisce about our summer adventures. Luckily for me, my summer adventures were probably a lot more fun than most of yours.

I work at YMCA Camp Kitaki.

Working at a summer camp is easily one of the most challenging, yet rewarding things I’ve ever done.

When I was younger, if you’d have told me that someday I’d be a certified lifeguard or trained to run one of the most advanced climbing structures in the Midwest, among other various skills,

I probably would have laughed.

Really? Who thinks of these things? They pay people to do that?

But I can’t imagine my life without that place, without those kids.

When a camper is so tired he feels like he can’t last another day so he plops by the pond for a mini mental breakdown?

Put me in, coach. I love it.

I once talked with a young man (we’ll call him A) who was very concerned he’d never be able to build the perfect fighter jet, he’d never make his millions or buy a Maserati. He’d never find love and have a family.

Life was over.

I feel ya, A.

But A is ten years old.

One thing I’ve learned from this job is that kids are much smarter than people think they are. Like A, they get the big concerns of people today, although maybe their perceptions of the
future are slightly… off.

A group of boys and I sat to have a discussion about being respectful, what that looks like, and how we can be respectful at camp.

Towards the end of our discussion, one boy looked at me and asked, “Wouldn’t it be good if everyone in the world was like this?”

Wouldn’t it be good if everyone in the world knew how to communicate effectively? To apologize when we’ve offended someone, and when we make mistakes, fix them? To live honestly but progressively; acting in the best interests of all people?

Yeah buddy. That’d be awesome.

Camp isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. There are days when you wake up at 5:30 to be at the barn at 5:45, have 50 horses groomed and saddled by 8, spend all day working hard and fall into bed at 11 that night just to get up the next day and do it all over again. The physical and mental workout is exhausting.

I’ve never loved any other job as much. I’d do it every day for the rest of my life if I could. It’s not just a job; it’s a way of life.

We provide our campers with so many opportunities: things like canoeing and fishing, a rope swing at the lake, archery, horseback riding, and the chance to make a creative art project. They get LOTS of opportunities to learn about nature, swim at the pool, climb our Tango Tower high ropes challenge course, zip line and so much more.

We also give kids the opportunity to be responsible for their own daily preparations, to sleep away from home and have that chance to grow. Campers get team building opportunities with their cabin mates and chances to explore how they want to live as an individual.

Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

Lucky for all my family and friends, they often get the chance to see camp through my eyes.

I just can’t shut up about it.

I get a lot of rolled eyes and deep sighs, so what? Sometimes I sucker those people into practicing a teambuilding activity for me.

Or my classmates.

I’m sure they love me.