Camp Visit

Yesterday I left camp for the day to go to another camp to be an ACA visitor. When I went through the training to be a Standards visitor, I was excited to be able to tour other camps, learn about how they do things and see camp in action. But when it actually came time to drive 2 hours early in the morning, when my own camp was filled with kids and staff, I wasn't excited. The camp I was going to is the same camp where we have all of our ACA training and education events, but I've only ever seen the main conference center building.

The camp is a girl scout camp on 1200 acres of land, with horses, a pool, and beautiful shiny buildings. I expected to be blown away by the amazing-ness. But I wasn't. This camp is part of an association of camps and each has to follow the same programming and same standards. As we toured, the director even pointed out the archery range, which had recently been re-painted because the first time maintenance painted it, it wasn’t the right shade of green. I can’t imagine being that limited in creativity.

It was a beautiful camp and I’m sure that kids have fun and staff have life changing experiences, but as we toured, it just felt so generic and impersonal. I didn’t leave feeling like my camp is inadequate (which is sometimes how I feel when I tour really impressive camps), or inspired with great ideas to bring back, or hopeful that someday we can grow to be at that level.

I often say to people (usually when I am showing them around my tiny, falling down camp)- camp is not about the buildings or the activities, it is about the connections that people make when they are there. At our camp, our focus is on relationships- staff connecting with kids, helping build friendships between kids, and an overall focus on the community. I believe this statement, but sometimes I wonder if I really believe it or if I HAVE to believe it because we have such old buildings and limited facilities. But as I left the gleaming, beautiful, impersonal camp, I was eager to return to a place that might not be spotless, but welcomes everyone who walks through the door with open arms and warmth that comes from being truly cared for. I wouldn’t trade that for all of the shiny buildings in the world.