Sleeping out in hammocks, picking hooves, dressing up like a security guard, rolling sleeping bags, singing or rather screaming at the top of my lungs every day all day on top of rocks and barrels and tables in some instances, planning devious tricks in the barn that may or may not involve a harmless clear liquid, winning Golden Toilet Seat award for clean cabin several days (oh yah!), crossing the suspension bridge multiple times a day, forms forms and more forms, splashing at the lake and pool, telling campers for the umpteenth time that they need to just 'wait and see' what the schedule holds, planning lessons for my riding class, jumping in mud puddles just because we can, shooting arrows at the archery range, gathering around the ambiance of candlelight for cabin devotions, throwing ice cream bars in the trading post...the list is endless.
Camp is busy. I'm exhausted.
We're almost to the half way mark and it's really hard to believe because as one of my campers put it well: the days are long but the week flies! A new day begins and we hit the ground running, filling it with activity and adventure. When the weekend rolls around I wonder where the week went. It's already time to write parent letters, do laundry, catch up with the family, run errands, go to church, and maybe get a bit more sleep so I can start all over in...24 hours.
Why am I doing this? you may wonder. At times I do. But then there are those moments--and you know what I'm talking about--that remind me of why I'm at camp.
How about all the amazing, comforting songs I've learned in chapel, the times I see a child go out of his or her comfort zone and accomplish something great, the moments that I hug tearful campers farewell who are much more than teenagers staying in a cabin but rather friends that have cheered me up and made me laugh, the faith that is grown there, the love that is expressed there, the memories made there, the astronomical number of high-fives and I-love-you's shared there.
Yes, camp is exhausting. Yes, there have been children that have pressed my buttons and times in my weariness I've wanted to just leave it all behind. But then there's God and He always provides in such incredible ways, giving me the strength to take it one step at a time. This is no sprint, it's a marathon.
Week five has been particularly interesting so far as my co-counselor Lizzie and I have moved not only to a different cabin but to a different village. The equestrian campers are heavy on the young end this week so instead of being in Lake Village with the older kids like we usually are, we switched cabins with two lovely ladies from River Village and are working in a different unit with younger kids. I love our campers and it's great to experience a new unit and village but good to know I'll be returning to my 'home' in Lake Village next week.
Since we have a wonderful media team at Camp Tecumseh that captures a lot of the activities for us, I'm going to use some pictures off the website to give you a glimpse into camp life.
Starting the day with crazy songs at flagpole.
After breakfast we gather for chapel. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are separate between the villages and this one is in Lake Village.
All-camp chapel on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hundreds and hundreds of us!
The zipline across the lake!
One of the Crows ready to zipline in the woods.
Fun times during classroom session at the Equestrian Center!
Hopefully one of these days I'll maybe get around to posting more pictures and give a low down of what a day at camp might look like. For now, I'm going to somehow muster up the energy to get off the couch and head back to camp for the night cause we are having a sleepout!!!
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-HHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Good night ya'll. Stay safe. Enjoy summer :)
No wonder you are exhausted! I love you and miss you so much. I hope the rest of your time at camp is wonderful <3
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