The thing about camp is it provides you with opportunities that you would never have the chance of getting otherwise. You can try countless new things. You can make amazing new friends. You can learn a lot. You can get away from all the troubles of “real life”. Most people just get the camp experience for a week. I get it for the whole summer.

In three days I applied, interviewed, and arrived for training to be a member of the rec staff at Lake Geneva Youth Camp. I literally packed my bags and left the day after my interview. I unpacked that next day into a house full of 25 other girls. 25 girls, two showers and one washer and dryer. Over the first week I was trained how to facilitate archery, the waterslide, and the camp’s 70 ft giant swing. I learned how to belay a person on the rock wall and zip line, how to program and run lazer tag. I was taught how to detect abuse and how to respond to an armed attacker.

The Shenaniganders following Mama Duck

Telling them what’s up

My new hairy friend.

It’s been over a month now. I’ve been pulled into hand-craft and taught kids how to make lanyards and paint. I’ve worked in the nature center and held a tarantula and 4ft snake. I’ve watched as kids overcame fear of heights and watched their faces light up when they got a bulls-eye in archery.  I’ve gained 15 pounds of muscle thanks to the intense rec life and camp food. I have a tan like I’ve never had before. I bought myself a harness and hope to join a climbing gym when I get back to Rockford. I’ve gotten cash back for the fist time at Walmart. I impulsed bought for the first time. (Strawberries and whipped cream. Worth it.) I’ve gone on several day trips to cities I’ve never been to before. I’ve watched a bunch of new movies, and met the most amazing girls.

Each one is so unique and so beautiful and have challenged me in so many ways. Their example and attitudes, their uniqueness and different personalities inspire me to become more myself somehow. I feel like I’m in Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood music video. Strong. And with a house full of B.A. women to back me up.

Chilling in the hallway