Summer Camp
By: Caroline Hemphill
The weeks I’ve spent at summer camp have been some of the best weeks of my life. When I was 11 years old, I headed off to spend two weeks in the woods, and I knew absolutely no one. I was nervous beyond belief and honestly had no idea what to expect. I could say that the moment I got there, I knew it was something special, but I’d be lying. Girls who had been coming together for years seemed to have well-established groups, and I’m not the best at coming out of my shell during moments like these. But ask any camper whose gone through this experience, and they’ll say that it was one of the most rewarding experience of their life. I learned so much about myself and grew as a person in ways I never thought possible. Everyone should get the chance to experience this.
The whole point of summer camp is to get away from the real world and immerse yourself in the camp atmosphere. There’s something about waking up to the sound of a bell, sharing every meal around a table, not having your phone to hide behind. You’re making memories that last a lifetime, and whether you like it or not, they are so valuable.
My cabin mates and I all came from different states, different backgrounds, and different families, but the bonds I made with them were the strongest I had ever made. Everyone should experience the brotherhood or sisterhood that emerges when you're surrounded by these people for weeks at a time.
Sure, arguments and disagreements occur, but that’s life, right? Working through them without the help of your parents is a lifelong skill everyone needs, and you’ll learn a lot about yourself in the process.
If you still need a reason to go to summer camp, where else can you have the excuse to write letters every day?
The whole point of summer camp is to get away from the real world and immerse yourself in the camp atmosphere. There’s something about waking up to the sound of a bell, sharing every meal around a table, not having your phone to hide behind. You’re making memories that last a lifetime, and whether you like it or not, they are so valuable.
My cabin mates and I all came from different states, different backgrounds, and different families, but the bonds I made with them were the strongest I had ever made. Everyone should experience the brotherhood or sisterhood that emerges when you're surrounded by these people for weeks at a time.
Sure, arguments and disagreements occur, but that’s life, right? Working through them without the help of your parents is a lifelong skill everyone needs, and you’ll learn a lot about yourself in the process.
If you still need a reason to go to summer camp, where else can you have the excuse to write letters every day?