Summer Camp!
I just finished packing for summer camp! Going to camp has always been one of my favorite parts of summer break, but this summer is going to be slightly different. For the first time in my life, I will be going to camp not as a camper, but as a counselor! That’s right, I’m essentially getting paid to go to camp for two months.
For the months of June and July I will be working at Camp Lakey Gap, which is located in Black Mountain, North Carolina. This camp is special because it is a camp for children who are on the Autism spectrum. As a Special Education major, I was instantly drawn to apply to this camp when I saw a flyer for it outside one of my classrooms. The camp seeks to provide a regular summer camp experience for children who may not otherwise receive one. Every day the campers do activities such as hiking, swimming, playing games, having campfires, and singing silly songs. There is a 1:1 camper to counselor ratio, meaning that each week I will have one camper who I get to hang out and bond with as opposed to other camps where counselors are often responsible for a whole cabin of campers.
I have attended various camps for most of my life, so I know the significant impact attending camp can have on a child’s life. For one, camp can be a great place to meet new people and make friends. I met one of my best friends at camp, and we are still close friends after 7 years. Camp can also be a big step for children because for some it may be their first time being away from their parents overnight. While I know working at Camp Lakey Gap will provide its own set of challenges, I am excited to be able to help kids create their own summer camp experiences and memories!
