What I Love About Summer Camp

As an adult who never went to sleep away camp, working at one has been an adventure and sometimes a major adjustment. In 1999, when the first Camp Art Director job was offered to me, I accepted with much hesitation. It felt a little like entering high school for the first time. Will I make new friends? Will people like me? Will I be able to do the job well?

Ten years and two camps later, I am in the groove. I have new camp friends whom I recently 'friended' on Facebook.  And while camp life has it's trials, as does any communal living situation, all in all the benefits outweigh any challenges. Today, I am focusing on the perks.

Ten Things I Love About Camp

1) Someone feeds me, plans my meals, and shops for me.

2) Other people take care of and entertain my child.

3) I get to be really creative for most of the day.

4) Every morning, I get to be around happy kids who love art and choose it as an elective.

5) As opposed to my everyday life, I am surrounded by diversity. It is refreshing to meet people from all backgrounds, including the young adults who come from foreign countries to work in the kitchen.

6) I get to travel to beautiful places on my days off. We are forty five minutes from Ogonquit, Maine, an hour and a half from Boston, and two hours from the New Hampshire White Mountains. Wow!

7) I don't need to drive anywhere.

8) I save tons of money on food, gas, and other stuff.

9) Absence makes the heart grow fonder. My older kids and I appreciate each other more and look forward to reuniting at the end of the summer.

10) I get to be a kid again!

Is there a challenging situation in your life right now? What positive perks can you list that you are currently benefiting from?