Dear A Thousand Summers,
As Thanksgiving approaches, I have been thinking about what I’m thankful for and my time at camp is near the top of the list. I want you to know how much camp means to me and how grateful I am to your donors who have made the camp experience possible for me.
Camp is not only fun; it helps you grow. And the past 3 years at camp have helped me grow in countless ways.
Oh wow, where do I start? Camp is pretty much all about trying new things! From your first sleep-away camp to your first hike to your first time trying jambalaya, camp is all about new experiences. There’s nothing more to say than that camp made me more curious and excited to learn. It’s thrilling and so, so worth it when you peak that first mountain. Especially since you know there’s so much more to come.
There are so many things that have helped me increase my confidence at camp. The freedom, the programs, the friends, the everything! Camp builds on your confidence in so many ways. For example, the hikes at the beginning of the term are easy: A hike to Ouzel Falls or Dream Lake. But by the 4th week, you could find yourself peaking three mountains in one day, or even going up Meeker! Camp does this to build your endurance, self-esteem, and confidence. And because of it, even if you’d never do it again, you can leave camp confidently thinking: “I did that.”
Camp is basically one big team. You’re always part of a group, a team, a family. And because of that, you always have to cooperate, listen, and trust one another. In hikes, you have to trust your group to stay together and motivate each other. In crafts, you have to be supportive and respectful of other works. During All-Camp and Playday, you’re either working with fellow campers to create a funny skit, or you’re helping your team win tug of war. It’s all a team effort. All of it. And you have to be committed to your team to win.
Camp also teaches you how to problem solve. When I went technical climbing, I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to get up to the next ledge on the rock, but after some back and forth with my friends who were belaying me and a few stumbles, I found some good footing and got to the ledge. You always have to problem solve at camp, but that’s what makes it so much better. Because it’s satisfying when you don’t know how to do something at first, and then some problem-solving pays off.
Nature has always just seemed to work with me, so spending a month immersed in the outdoors at camp is great. Camping outdoors makes me feel free and happy. Climbing on boulders is fun and refreshing. Hiking takes me to places that truly let my love for the natural beauty of the land flow. Although bug bites are really annoying, it’s worth a million mosquito bites just to see the breathtaking view from the peak of a mountain.
I had a lot of great experiences at camp, but it was the counselors that had the greatest impact on me this summer. They were so sweet and kind and just made me feel like I was on the top of the world. I could come to them with anything, and I knew they’d always listen. They motivated me in ways that have truly touched my heart, and I will never forget them.
This experience means everything to me. Not getting to go to camp truly feels like not getting to go home. It has impacted me so much and I would not be who I am today without it.
There just isn’t any combination of words in the entire world, in any language, that can tell you truly how much I thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for letting me go back to the place I call a secondary home. It is truly a blessing that you made this happen for me.
Bailey
This gift of a camp experience quite literally changes the lives of both the campers and their families! This is an unmatched experience that gives kids the necessary tools they need to believe in themselves. Confidence, determination, perseverance, self-regulation, collaboration, and problem-solving are just a few of the amazing traits these kiddos strengthen at camp in a way that positively affects the rest of their lives! Camp has a direct impact on quality of life for everyone who is lucky enough to experience it.
—Bailey’s Mom