I remember the first time I drove through the camp gates like it was yesterday. I was nervous but excited for what the summer was about to bring and knew that it was going to be a great few months.
But on that sunny afternoon in June 2011, I really could never have predicted the impact camp would have on my life and that, eight years later, I’d be moving to America and taking on a full time position as the Assistant Camp Director of the same camp that welcomed me with open arms all those years ago.
If you’ve been keeping up with my Instagram, you’ll know that back in December I was finally offered this position after months of going back and forth about whether it would happen or not, and I can’t even explain how happy that email made me feel. It was like everything had just aligned perfectly and all my dreams were coming true.
Since that first summer, I’ve tried to spend as much time at camp each year as my J1 visa will possibly allow and it’s always seemed like wishful thinking that I’d be able to travel to camp for the summer and not have to leave. So for that dream to finally become a reality is a little surreal.
And ok, my current visa is only for 18 months, but that’s long enough to spend two more glorious summers here, with a winter in between, and to try to achieve all of the many goals I’ve set myself to make camp the best it can possibly be for our campers and staff.
I’ve still got about 2 months until any of our seasonal staff arrive and the Spring season really gets under way, but until then I’ve got plenty to keep me busy – between sorting through staff paperwork, planning for our Spring school groups and writing up new plans for some exciting changes happening this summer, I know these next weeks are going to absolutely fly by.
And in-between all the hard work, I’m definitely going to be taking advantage of the fact that I actually live here. After all this time. I ACTUALLY LIVE HERE.
I still can’t quite believe it.
Summer Camp Secrets 