Blog
Experiencing the value of camp friendships.
Last week was a special week. It definitely had something to do with the fact that all three of my kids came to camp at the same time for the first time since I’ve been working with International Ivy, but it was more than that. There was a camaraderie this week that was great to see unfold, and as a bonus I got to see my kids be a part of it. I never went to any camps as a kid, I mainly rode my bike around with my friends all summer (I was an 80’s/90’s kid by the way) which for nostalgic purposes was awesome, but I never met anyone new, or looked forward to seeing my “camp friends”. That is what I got to witness first hand this week. I had one of our campers (Sahana) ask if my oldest daughter was going to be back. When I told her yes she was so happy to hear that. It’s a great feeling to know your own kids are valued by their peers and are building relationships.
Throughout the week the campers were excited when they saw their friends arrive, made room for them during snack and lunch, and that included my kids. This really struck a chord with me and was a great example of the value of friendship, camaraderie, and branching out beyond our normal comfort zones.
I hope that all the other campers are having similar experiences and that I (or my kids) are able to be a part of building those experiences for those around us.