Six More Days Until Campers Arrive!

Korrin B.

June 23, 2009 - 8:00 AM

Hello again from camp! I am handwriting this post from my tiny little cabin up in the woods. I'll have to type it up later when I get back to electricity! Last Saturday the rest of the staff showed up to camp. It had only been the program specialists (me) and the administration staff, but now with the addition of the general counselors, there are over one hundred staff members on the campsite. We are in the middle of a nine day long training. It has been very intense so far - packed with information and moments of physical endurance.

Before the rest of the staff showed up, we were living in the cabins that the younger campers (ages 9-10) will be in. They are closer to the camp's dining hall, are more modern, and have electricity. Now that everyone is here though, we are all living in the cabins for the older kids. These cabins are called the "birdhouses" because that's exactly what they are! They are truly the tiniest things you could ever fit four beds into. They're farther up into the woods and full of bugs! I am quickly learning to become one with the five spiders and grasshopper that have decided to make the area around the head of my bed they're home. As long as they stay in their webs, we can stay friends, I suppose.

However, there has been a lot more to this experience so far besides the bugs! This job is quickly revealing itself as one of the hardest, but most rewarding things I have ever chosen to do. Sometimes I feel like orientation is like going through boot camp. I know that by the end of it though, that I will walk away not only helping change the lives of over 1,000 inner city children, but also my own. This job is 100% out of this girly girl's comfort zone! But because of that, I am learning important lessons about pushing myself to achieve more and meeting new people from truly rich, diverse backgrounds. I am also learning how to overcome fears.

The day the general counselors showed up, I was on the verge of a breakdown. I missed home and I missed my original plan of relaxing in Eugene for the summer and maybe doing some leisurely travel toward the end of August. It was pouring rain as I was trying to haul my heavy suitcases up a hill and through the woods to my birdhouse where I would be staying with three new girls I didn't know. Earlier in the day, I had to help clean out the birdhouses - meaning spiders, mouse holes, darkness, and in one case a dead bird that had lived there during the off season. I was mentally drained from the experience. How was I to survive this rustic lifestyle all summer? I thought about how bad I wanted the opportunity to teach these children, but also of my longing for my shiny high heels and hair straightener. I went to bed with doubts and fears.

However, Sunday morning brought with it a new sense of hope and a greater inner strength. I have always had a certain fear of water. I love being in it and the ocean is one of my most favorite things in the entire world, but having to really swim and put my head under it has always brought me a lot of anxiety. When I found out that we all had to be swim tested in the lake that morning, I was petrified. First off, it was drizzling and cold outside. Secondly, swim?! Me?! In the lake?! We had to be given a colored wristband to wear all summer based on our swimming level in accordance with the Department of Health. When I saw many girls just getting the red ones because they didn't want to swim, I almost did it too. I almost just denied the fact that I knew how to swim because I was letting my fear win. However, right before I was going to get a red band, two other counselors told me that I should just try it and that the water wasn't even too cold. So, fears still present, but no longer in control of me, I did. Completely freaked out, I lowered myself from the dock, into the chilly water.

My initial instinct was shock. The water was cold and I was scared, so I had short breaths. I reached over to the dock to hold on while I gathered myself. Then, it was time to do my first lap to qualify for the blue band. With adrenaline, I did it and the lifeguard then asked me if I thought I could do another, but in a different style. I did the backstroke, then she asked again. I did the breaststroke. Then she asked me if I could tread water for a minute, so I did it. I left the lake qualifying for a yellow band, the highest swimming level! My legs were shaky with excitement when I left the lake and walked over to the shed to get my band. From that moment on, I knew that no matter how hard camp gets this summer, I can do it. All I have to do is look over to my wrist and see that yellow band to know that I can overcome my fears in this space.

My spirits were uplifted after my swimming experience. I am going to be one tough woman by the time this camp is over! I know that I will hate being here sometimes. I'm sure the humidity will be awful some days and the exhaustion will get to me. However, when I leave this camp and head back to the West Coast, I will have so much strength to take with me. It's going to be an amazing summer.

P.S. I'm so excited because there are a bunch of counselors here who wear UO t-shirts!! I guess a counselor last year was from Portland State, so she sent them some stuff this year. Represent! I yell out a, "Go Ducks!" whenever possible!