Program Director S

Program Director S (PDS) graduated from college in May and has spent the entire summer, every free moment she gets, applying for jobs. Her degree is in elementary education, and teaching jobs can be difficult to get as there is so much competition. She has literally applied for 10-20 jobs per week, all around the state, different grade levels. The summer is almost over and she has been getting more and more anxious about what she is going to do in the fall.

On Tuesday, she had an interview for a 3rd/4th grade combined classroom in a tiny private school in a very small town. When she got back to camp yesterday, she had just gotten a call from the principal and got the job! She was glowing. She couldn't stop smiling and I was so happy for her. Except that she starts Tuesday. So Friday is her last day.

Her leaving a week early isn't going to hurt programming- A and I can handle it. At this point in the summer, staff know what is going on, activities are planned and the last week will fly by. So it's not professional- I'm sad because she is so fun and I am going to miss her terribly.

PDS is one of the most wonderful people I know. She is kind and fun and a hard worker, one of the calmest people I know and sets the tone of camp in a very peaceful, kind, gentle, yet fun way.

At mid-summer staff reviews, we sat together and reminisced on the last 3 summers. I always try to give staff feedback and areas to grow. But with S, there was nothing to say. Organization? Yep, every building at camp has been personally organized and labeled by her? Programing? Um, she pretty much planned or had a hand in planning everything we do. Initiative? Considering she's 10 steps ahead of me on EVERYTHING, I would say she's pretty much got that mastered too.

Together, we have spent the last 3 years changing every single thing about camp and I could not have made it without her. The journey has been filled with high highs and low lows, but so much hope and progress that it's amazing to look back. It is difficult to say goodbye to someone who has played such a key part in my time at camp.

I am excited for her and happy for her getting a teaching job. She is going to rock that school. But I am very sad to say goodbye.