A Story of Fortitude From the Summer
Summer camp at Green River Preserve is a time when hundreds of unique stories, perspectives, and journeys converge in one meaningful time and space. Each session is completely different and special, as that exact combination of people will never share an experience like it again.
On closing days, I have seen our campers recognize how impactful their time together on the Preserve was as they tearfully hug goodbye, returning to their separate lives. I have watched them hug their new friends goodbye, promising to see them next summer, as they prepare to leave with their families. I have seen them laugh with their counselors, reminiscing on their inside jokes and the time they shared together. As they begin to tell their families their stories, I have seen how meaningful their time with us has been. While the time spent at GRP is a small piece of our campers’ lives, the lessons learned, and memories made have a huge impact on their lives. There are so many lessons learned and lifelong memories being made at camp each day that I’ll likely only ever know about 1% of them. That said, when I think back on my summer and the memories I saw being made, one particular story stands out.
Sam was a camper in Hemlock Hut this summer. He was a great part of the cabin and got along well with all of his cabinmates and loved his counselor. At the same time, Sam struggled with feeling homesick and wanting to go home. Over the course of the two-week session, I had some great conversations with Sam. He knew that camp was a special place that he didn’t want to miss out on, and that these two weeks away from home would be a really important time of growth for him. Even with all the fun he was having at camp, the good friends in his cabin, and great counselors, he still had a persistent urge to go home. He was conflicted, torn between wanting to go home and staying at camp to challenge himself and grow. While talking with him during Free Time one day, I asked him if he could imagine himself on Closing Day if he were to stay at camp the whole session. How proud would he be of himself? How much would he have grown? How many good memories would he be able to take home and tell his family? Sam looked at me and said, “I can’t imagine that, I just feel like I can’t make it until then even though I want to”. It was clear he was pushing himself and that it was a challenge, but he still wanted so badly to stay at camp.
So I asked him to focus on enjoying each little moment at camp. If he was playing cards in the cabin or walking to his activities with his friends, trying to stay present and enjoying that special moment. To take advantage of the time he had to get to know his cabinmates and counselors. I wanted him to know that he could do hard things and we would be right by his side the whole time.
The rest of the session flew by, and before I knew it, we were setting our wishboats in the lake at sunset. Sam came up to me with a big smile. He didn’t have long because he had to go join his friends rolling down the hill but he stopped, gave me a hug and said, “You were right, I’m so proud of myself and I’m glad I stayed.”
There are so many stories like Sam’s that I may never know about, but each camper has the chance to challenge themselves, grow, and become their best self at GRP.
