Reasons Everyone Needs a Friend Who's Worked at Summer Camp

No this isn't a plea for more friends, and yes... it is totally biased. However, whilst my friends from home often roll their eyes; sarcastically exclaiming "omg did you go to camp???" (If I had £1 for every time I'd heard that) whenever I mention my summer past-times, I often wonder if they realise the benefits that my experiences could bring to their lives. So, I decided to compile a list of reasons why you should be glad for 'the friend who works at summer camp'. 

1. Firstly, picture this - 

It's 2043: the year of the apocalypse - civilisation as we know it has ended and you're living rough. You can only choose one friend to help you survive.. who do you call?

a) The Fiat 500 Princess
b) The 'Responsible One'
c) The One Who Doesn't Shut up About Camp
d) The Foodie

DING DING DING we have a winner! You know you want us on your side - believe me, we'd do pretty well surviving in the wild - BUILDING FIRES IS OUR FORTE. (plus, we make the best smore's).

2. We make really great birthday posts - no, making Pic-stitch collages and writing cute messages isn't in our job description - but we all do a damn good job of it. 

3. Feeling a little low? We are trained and experienced in dealing with upset, homesick kids - we know how to cheer people up and take their mind off things. We live for random acts of kindness and love making others feel good about themselves. 

4. An unexpected storm hits and your plans for the weekend are ruined... FEAR NOT. 
Making last minute rainy day plans is a cute hobby of ours - we probably all have a journal page full of crafty ideas incase an afternoon on the ballfield is rained out... and if we can organise activities to keep nearly 200 kids occupied during a thunder storm - we can definitely come up with some pretty fun new plans to save your Saturday. 

5. We always have a lot of energy - we spend the whole summer looking after and entertaining kids whilst running on very little sleep. Our daily routines consist of dancing, singing, racing around like MAD, and answering a million questions from 7am to 10pm - we never switch off. So if you need a boost of enthusiasm - you know who to call.

6. For real though, some of our best friends live half way across the world from us. If we can make those friendships last, and keep in contact with them across many different time zones, u know we loyal as heck. 

YUP thats my best friend who lives
in Boston but we still talk every day

7. You're in the last round of an intense trivia quiz... it ends in a tie break, the quiz master says "finish these lyrics" 

'I got tired of waiting,
Wondering if you were ever coming around,
My faith in you was fading
__________________'

oh, we gotchu.


8. We're weird. We want people to feel comfortable around us and are used to making absolute fools of ourselves for the benefit of a few laughs from 8 year olds. I've been covered head to toe with googley eyes, dressed as the bread roll from a meatball sub and I wear crocs on a daily basis. Nothing you do can surprise us and we can't judge you, because truth is, we've definitely done worse. 

9. You'll never struggle to find a baby sitter. We literally love kids. 

10. We're really good at looking at the bigger picture - nothing like a lil star gazing to put everything into perspective. Hit us up if you ever need a deep chat. 

So there you have it, next time you take your camp-obsessed friend for granted - just remember all the ways they might save your life xo

Impact

I don't think a single person who has been to camp, can say that they left as the same person they were when they first arrived. 2016 pre-camp Christy is nothing like the person I am today; and I think that's because, as a result of Burgess and Hayward, I actually know who I am. 

After my first week at camp, it was hard to believe I had ever lived anywhere else. It's easy to get caught up in the 'camp bubble' - you become so close with people in such a short period of time - it sounds cheesy, but it really feels like you've known them forever. Staff training was easily one of the best weeks of my life and it taught me more about myself than I'd ever thought possible.

During this week, each year, our Executive Director Bruce does a highly anticipated philosophy talk. He talks to us about our impact and inspires us to make a difference, to make the most out of life and to 'follow our bliss'. I really wish his talks could be televised for everyone to see, because I honestly believe that if everyone shared a little piece of Bruce's outlook, we'd live in a much kinder world. By the end of the talk everyone is crying and hugging, and you can literally feel the love in the room. 

... and to me, that's what camp is: love. Pure, unapologetic, unconditional love - for each other, for our jobs, for the moments we share and for ourselves.  

Imagine living in an environment...

- where you're surrounded by positive, creative, energetic, genuine people 24/7,
- where everyone builds each other up, and motivates one another,  
- where people actually want to get to know you,
- where everyone has your best interest,
- where people selflessly go out of their way to make your day a little brighter,
- where everyone shares a 'live life to the fullest' ideal;
- a place full of those people who describe every activity as an 'adventure'.
- a place that encourages you to embrace your weirdness and individuality,
- a place where you can literally look your worst but still feel entirely beautiful, loved and accepted,
- where you are built up for who you are on the inside,
- where CROCS, STAR GAZING AND COUNTRY MUSIC ARE NOT ONLY ACCEPTED BUT ENCOURAGED

..and tell me you're not going to grow into a better, more wholesome, person. 




And no, I'm not saying camp people are perfect, or that we're always happy, but its the intention and fact that we make a conscious decision to try and be the best versions of ourselves, that makes me proud. 

 Because of camp, and my BH family, I am now unapologetically myself. I am positive and extremely self aware; I know my strengths; I try, each and every day, to be kinder and more thoughtful; I believe in myself and in achieving my dreams; I'm confident enough to say I have dreams; I work to better myself and to do what makes me happy; I am confident, motivated, empowered and.. well, currently frustrated... because I know that no matter what I write in this blog, it will never be enough to fully capture the impact camp has had on me. It will never express how alive it makes me feel; how much it inspires me every day or how full my heart feels when it's time to say good bye each year. 


I know many people will read this blog post and think 'that's embarrassing' and that's fine. 2016 me would have probably thought the same, but that's the difference. I am comfortable enough in myself to express my feelings without caring what other people think. 

'Those that matter don't mind, and those that mind don't matter' so be yourself, do what makes you happy and follow your bliss.