Waukeela Camp for Girls, New Hampshire

Why would I want to write about an experience that I had 8 years ago? The reason is really simple; it was life changing! It was an experience like no other. It was an experience which has shaped me as a person. It was an experience which I couldn’t imagine still has an impact on me, 8 years later. When I said ‘yes’ to this opportunity, I couldn’t have predicted what would happen to be over the next 3 months. So why am I writing about it? Summer camp has begun! Every year when opening day is approaching, when I see the introductions of new counsellors on their Instagram, photos among the pine trees, I’m flooded with all of the feelings of my own experience. It feels like home. Warm fuzzies!

I left my job in 2015. I then began my second round of university. I was in my second year when I felt that familiar itch. The itch that doesn’t go away. I was ready for a change. Whilst the first year of university gave me the energy which I so desired. I was enthusiastic, ready for a new challenge and this time I moved out though in the same city. I had my own space. I felt in control of my life. My mind began to wander. I spent my first year at university subsidising my income by working in restaurants, pubs and making coffee. I knew I didn’t want to push through this lifestyle and ‘make it through’ to the end of my degree. I should say that at this time I was 23. I knew that when I made the decision to go back to university I would be classified as a ‘mature student. I wasn’t interested in partying, spending summer in the same city, festivals weren’t scratching the itch, nor was a holiday. I just knew that I wanted change in my free time whilst I finished my degree.

In the winter of 2016, working in a coffee shop, my friend and I posed the idea of working abroad, specifically signing up for ‘Camp America.’ I knew that many of my peers when I was in university at 18, had signed up for a summer working on a camp. I remember being excited for them, but at that time and for years I told myself ‘I am a home body’, others told me ‘you’re a home body’ so it hadn’t crossed my mind that I would work on a summer camp but I was happy for those who did.

I had been living away from home for over a year by this time and I hadn’t felt more free. I started to wonder if I was that ‘home body‘ I told myself I was, or had I just bought in to that idea because others told me I was?

We registered interest and for the first few months, I kept it to myself that I had signed up. I didn’t want any external noise to distract me from the decision I was so sure of taking. I wasn’t ready to defend my decision. Although I had made many decisions up to this point which I felt had empowered me and gave me confidence to continue to do so. These were all decisions which all took place in the same city; there was still a sense of security and safety. Whilst they changed my life in some aspects, they were also decisions which were easy to convince others that they were the best for me. Until I had paid for the first stages of the application process and until I was in the position were I was waiting for a summer camp to choose me, I didn’t tell anyone that I signed up. I didn’t want talking out of the idea. I didn’t want unwarranted opinions on my decision. My decision to leave work in 2015 to begin university, gave me confidence in myself, I hadn’t felt before.

I knew that no matter what, I was going to be in USA that following summer.

The application process was simple. I clicked submit and I waited. I was waiting for a camp to choose me. November turned to December, turned to January with no offers. Neither of us had any offers. Time was passing and I wanted this dream to become a reality. We decided to attend the Manchester Recruitment Fair to meet some of the camps ourselves, in hope we would be hired on the spot.

They introduced themselves. I introduced myself. ‘Do you drive?’ Gill said, ‘yes!’, I replied! ‘We have space for a high ropes counsellor, do you have any experience with climbing or are you willing to learn?’ ‘No, no experience but yes, I’m willing to learn’ was my response. ‘We would love to hire you as a high ropes counsellor!’ My response, I hugged them! Gill, Ellie and Cindy! A wave of relief set over me, a connection had been made. These were the familar faces I would see no less than 5 months when I landed on US soil.

Say yes more often!