Summer is here. This
means that students all across our city will start summer camp this week! This summer I’ve been given the chance to
work at a camp sponsored by a local church. I am excited for the promises of
faith, fun, and learning that so many campers will experience this summer. Preparing for camp reminds me of why camp is
such a magical place.
I was in seventh grade
the first time Mom agreed to send me to sleep away camp in the mountains of
North Carolina. Truthfully, it surprised
me that she didn’t question my request at all.
Camp is all about fun but it is also extremely physically
demanding. Nonetheless, Mom was brave
enough to let me test the limits of cerebral palsy and it was life changing.
One afternoon we took a
field trip to a local river to go canoeing. I was paired with the counselor who was constantly
lifeguarding at the lake. So, I trusted
him to keep me safe on the water. We paddled comfortably for a short while as
he called stokes down the river. All the while, he kept his own paddles strong
and steady so that we were on course.
This is to say, he pulled most on the weight on our ride because he
wanted me to enjoy my experience. Then, the unexpected happened. Our canoe flipped over and I fell out! This left me with two options: I could swim with the current down the rest
of the river route or slide down the river rocks the rest of the way. I could swim but I wasn’t totally confident so
the bumpy ride down the river rock was a go.
The current was slow moving but I was still terrified. At the bottom I my eyes were filled with
tears. Yet, at the end of the trip I was
thankful that someone had been willing to take me on the river trip with my
fellow campmates. It was so much FUN!
Years later, I am still
excited to tell the story about the day I fell out of the canoe. Summer camp is such a magical place. It seems to
be the only place where campers and counselors alike are willing to take a risk
and then freely admit it failed. There’s
an element of excitement and adventure to camp that exists at no other time in
our lives. We let go of our fears. We
stretch our personal limits a little
bit more only to discover the true joy of
being the person we’ve never imagined we could be!
Here’s to celebrating a
summer of ever lasting memories for the young people of Charlotte!
