Y Talk: A Special Counselor-Camper Bond by Brittany Rose

After reading Justin’s blog last month, I couldn’t help but laugh remembering how I tried to explain the importance of camp to new employees this year. I’ve heard it before too. My dad would go with his old standby, “Are you sure you want to be a counselor again this summer? You have bills, college, things you need to start paying for.” I chuckle now, because college loans and bills will never go away, no matter what job you have. But him asking the question always made me pause to think about it every summer before I would go ahead and sign the application again to re-apply for the job.

Thankfully I like to think I have two things going for me that are needed at camp: I tend to be quite the talker, and that leads to me smiling and laughing a lot, and I like being silly and acting like a kid. But even after going through all the staff training to prepare you for the summer, you can’t help feeling nervous jitters when that first family and camper walks down the field into the village to you. With a nervous smile you say, “Welcome to Camp Thompson, I’m Bipp.”

I loved having the youngest girl cabin my first summer. I laughed right along with those 7- and 8-year-olds at the oddest things all summer. I have quite a few memories of campers as a first-time counselor. But one camper in particular stands out. Danielle – tiny, brown hair, freckles – was so excited to get out of the car after the “longest drive of her life” from Maryland. She never stopped talking from the time she stepped on the cabin porch on Sunday until she was upset she had to leave on Saturday. She was a mini-me and I knew we would get along great. She went from story to story about their dog, how her parents were staying at the campground down the road if I needed them, how her brother was at camp in case she needed to talk to him, her plans for the summer, her school and so on. As part of our patch program Danielle consistently chose the Alpine Tower. Even at 8 years old, she was determined she would get to that level 5 no matter what.

Danielle came every summer after that first, sometimes for more than one week. During that time, she didn’t want to miss camp no matter what. No broken arm or a move from Maryland to Georgia was going to get in her way. This summer – Danielle’s sixth summer at camp – she had three weeks to accomplish the goal she set at age 8. And after her first week, I had the honor of awarding Danielle our first level 5 Alpine Tower patch at Camp Thompson. It’s a moment I won’t forget and a feeling I struggle to describe.

It’s a feeling only 14 young adults get to sense each summer at resident camp. As campers come determined to climb the tower higher than last time, make a clean jump off the ramp at mountain boarding, have their team win Color Wars or to pop the balloon during the Apache Relay – their counselor is right there with them, cheering for them to be successful. It is a feeling that must be like what their parents feel the first time they watch them walk, ride a bike or swim without floaties. It’s that “proud parent” moment that keeps campers and counselors bonded in that special unique summer camp way. Thank you, parents, for sharing some of your child’s special experiences with our counselors.

I have been lucky enough to experience this feeling more than once. As I watch my staff get older each year and turn into exceptional young adults, I remember that many of them started as that 8 year old camper at camp for the first time.

-by Brittany Rose, Camping Services Director