The annual International Wear Your Summer Camp T-Shirt Day is Tuesday, November 15!

To participate, wear your favorite camp gear on November 15 repping Camp Carysbrook; take a photo of you and your friends in your camp gear and post or tweet @camptshirtday using the hashtag #camptshirtday. Don’t forget to tag Camp Carysbrook for Girls and we will share it on social media!

All Throughout middle school and high school my schedule stayed the same. School, club meetings, swim practice, homework, sleep. Yet the time had come to decide if I wanted to do that for the next four years or if I wanted to take what I have learned from it and try to apply those qualities elsewhere and grow even more from new experiences. Change. It’s something that can be frightening for some people but it was something I was desperately seeking by the time I was a senior in high school. For the first summer in years, it wasn’t going to be spent at swim practice. I needed a change of scenery, a change of life and a change of purpose. And becoming a counselor at Camp Carysbrook brought me exactly that.

Carysbrook has taught me so much about myself but also about others. Megan and Savannah both previously touched on how it feels to arrive at camp for your first time, and I too felt that as an 18-year-old first time counselor. I was nervous because I didn’t know anyone, didn’t know how to get around, and didn’t know really what to expect. I quickly learned that the group of women I was going to have by my side for the next two months were some of the most incredible people that I, still to this day, have ever met. We all come from different states, countries, backgrounds, etc. but at Carysbrook we are all one in the same. We come to camp because we love to see friendships blossom, goals achieved, and confidence gained. We sometimes get told by parents that we have changed their little girl’s life, but really they changed ours in more ways than they even think is possible.

Camp teaches life lessons for everyone no matter what age. I am thankful that through being a counselor I have learned the importance of flexibility, honesty, and integrity. Mother Nature can always throw the staff for a whirlwind when it decides to rain for five nights straight during evening program. Yet it’s trials like that, which allow us to come together, make a plan, and execute it. Now instead of freaking out about a change of plans even outside of camp, I know that I can use what I learned and apply it to any situation. Honesty can be shielded in so many different ways through social media and texting, as it allows someone to sit behind a screen and say whatever they want- no matter the truth of it. At camp, we all learn how important and valuable truth is. The type of honesty that I have learned is that it is equally important to be honest with yourself as it is with others. Lastly, I have learned how rewarding it is to have integrity; doing the right thing when no one is watching. You don’t need an audience to perform an act of kindness, and you don’t have to be rewarded whenever you do. Kindness is what we as humans are supposed to treat other humans with, without the thought of a personal benefit coming from it.

One of the most rewarding aspects that comes with being a counselor is seeing young girls become confident and proud of who they are. There are so many false “social media set” expectations and standards that adolescents at any age feel the pressure to meet. At camp it doesn’t matter what you look like, how tall you are, or what color hair you have. Camp Carysbrook creates a safe haven that promotes lifting one another up, celebrating eachother’s interests, and accepting everyone. Age doesn’t matter when it comes to friendship at camp nor does popularity. The overwhelming sense of pride that fills my heart comes when your shy camper on Day 1 of their session, is helping one of her cabin-mates nail that dance move for Rock Concert because she can tell she is nervous. Or when you see an older camper take a younger camper under their wing because they had experienced that feeling once too. They change each other’s lives. I feel that it is an absolute privilege that I get to witness and be part of it in the most beautiful place in the world.

I walked out of the Dining Hall, the sunlight greeted my eyes and I began blinking rapidly as I adjusted to both the bright light and to the idea that my family was driving away. I was an eleven year old with two vast weeks of complete and utter unknown staring me dead on. As I stood outside, adjusting to my surroundings, I was also faced with a choice. My options were: r run up to my cabin and hide my pooling tears, or walk over to Front Fire Patrol and say hello to a girl who I remembered meeting in my cabin earlier that day. I chose to chase after that girl, and when she noticed my blinking eyes, she grabbed my hand and took me down the hill to archery where we learned to shoot our first bow and arrow. It was a big moment and a big day for my eleven year old self—full of choices, independence, learning, and new experiences. In that moment, of that day, I fell in love with Camp Carysbrook. When I reflect upon that day I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Through my summers at Carysbrook I have become the person I am today, and for each of those summer days I will be forever grateful.

As I approach my tenth summer I have compiled a list of the top 10 things I am grateful to have experienced, learned and developed during my time at Carysbrook.

1.) Friendship – At Carysbrook I learned the true value of friendship—friendship that is based purely off common interest and sincere similarity. Because camp friends represent a different kind of friendship—you do not get to see each other for 9 months out of the year, age, race, and beliefs are not factors of importance and camp friends know more about you than any of your other friends. Camp friends love camp just as much as you do, and I am grateful to have made lifelong friendships at Camp Carysbrook.

2.) Outdoor skills – It never ceases to make me laugh when I return home, share stories about my summer and watch my friend’s and family’s faces of disbelief. I can be simply discussing the harmless black snake that slithered through the field or describing the bat I saw flying through the trees; they are always surprised by the rustic nature of camp. But I am proud that I know how to remove a moth from a building and build a fire— I am grateful that camp gave me the chance to develop practical skills.

3.) Confidence – Every year I return Camp has helped to shape my confidence further. During my years as a camper I learned to have confidence in myself, in my own personal skills, and in my voice. I found when I was able to identify with others over our shared love of Carysbrook that it was easy to be myself. As a counselor I have found confidence is sharing myself, skills and voice with our camp community. I am grateful to have been a confident camper and now a confident counselor.

4.) Creativity –No matter the time of day or weather camp boasts a gorgeous natural environment. The land is a common denominator whose constant change prompts campers and staff alike to embrace creativity. Whether it is in a new Arts & Crafts project or the colors of a friendship bracelet, the natural world of camp is reflected. I am grateful to have spent time in a beautiful environment that fosters pursuing creative endeavors.

5.) Passion –Ask almost any camper what they look forward to most, and they will tell you, without skipping a beat, that they absolutely cannot wait until camp this summer. And the same is true for staff members and the parents of campers. We all understand the importance and the magic of Camp Carysbrook. I am grateful that at the age of eleven I found a place that inspires passion.

6.) Compassion – Every member of our community brings their own story to the summer. We not only welcome each story, but we celebrate them. Carysbrook is a place that celebrates differences; it is a safe place to both express and explore those differences. I am grateful that Carysbrook offers an atmosphere of understanding and compassion.

7.) Flexibility –Even though camp’s schedule is the same from day to day every moment of every day is very different. People come and go, activities change, and it can be raining one minute and sunny the next. We adapt as a whole to our surroundings and the forever changing situations. I am grateful that I understand the importance change, both big and small—and that change is okay.

8.) Communication – Every member of our community brings their own skills to the table and each of those skills is an integral part of the summer. We need everyone to be a cohesive unit and so at camp I have learned to ask for help. We can learn so much for those surrounding us. I am grateful to understand the value of clear and direct communication.

9.) Leadership –The people that I admire most I met at Camp Carysbrook. As I progressed through my years at Carysbrook I learned how to be a good and effective leader by observing and listening to those around me. I am grateful to have mentors with high leadership standards.

10.) Purpose – As a current senior in college the question “so what are you going to do when you graduate?” is constantly being asked of me. To that particular question I do not yet have a long-term response. However typically the follow-up question is, “well, what do you like to do?” and to that I am sure of my response. I love to work with people and I learned that about myself at camp. I am grateful to have discovered what I love to do.