The first resident camp session at Camp Arrowhead since 2006 is about to begin! Saturday, June 28 is opening day. This made me think of one of my favorite camp memories (as a staff member).
The first year I was on staff, I was apprehensive about opening day. Pre-camp training had been great, but I wasn’t too sure about having actual KIDS there! Luckily, someone was there to remind us what it was all about.
The staff had gathered in the parking lot, and was waiting for the buses to arrive (keep in mind, there were NO children on site yet). We could hear the rumble of an approaching vehicle, but it was coming from main camp, not from the entrance. Moments later, the camp’s Isuzu Trooper arrived, carrying Grumpy, the camp director, and other central staff members. Grumpy careened around the parking lot in the Trooper, stirring up ALL of the dust, and shouting, “The campers are coming! The campers are coming!”
She was just one of many role models who taught me that camp is really about the campers (and no, she did not drive that way with kids around!).
I never went to summer camp.
I never went to camp either, although I did serve as a counselor when I was a senior in high school. It was one of those sixth grade outdoor education camps. I should write a post about it.