An Open Letter For My Summer At Camp
We know your final days before camp are emotional and full of mixed feelings. We wrote this letter for you to show anyone you are saying goodbye to this summer.
How quickly these things come around. With just a short time to go until I fly out to camp, it’s definitely starting to feel real now. It’s a strange mix of overwhelming excitement and nerves, but I can’t wait for my adventure. Some things are running through my mind - who’s going to give treats to the dog? Who’s going to leave their shoes in the hallway? How you will cope without me for the summer? I have no idea. (Although you’ll probably enjoy having Netflix to yourself and no one raiding the fridge every two seconds).
Soon, I’ll be getting on a flight to the USA by myself. I’m a bit nervous about it, but you taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to, so I know I’ll be fine. I’m going to spend the summer with complete strangers - strangers that will become some of my best friends for life. I will create amazing memories with these people, from watching sunsets by the lake to creating chants that we’ll teach to our campers. I’ll make new friends from all over the world. They will teach me about their culture, and I’ll teach them about mine (not just Nando’s and how to make the perfect cup of tea). It seems weird talking about it now, as I haven’t even met them yet. But in three months time, I’ll have some new best friends whose sofas I can stay on, all across the world!
And then there are the campers. I’ll become a role model for people who may have never even met someone from outside the USA before. In no time at all, they’re going to see me as a cool older sibling, someone who they trust. I’ll try to make their summer the best one yet. Some of these campers need a superhero in their lives, and I’ll do everything I can to be just that. From helping them complete their swim test in the pool to painting their faces for colour war, I will be there every step of the way. I will watch them grow and, in turn, I will grow myself - more than I could have ever imagined.
This summer is going to change my life forever, and I really mean that. I will come back with a better understanding of who I really am, and what I want to do in the future. You’ll see a real change in me - one that you couldn’t have imagined before the start of this adventure. I will become more independent, my confidence will grow, and I will have a deeper understanding of the world as we know it.
As I leave you now for the summer, just remember that when I return, I will return as a leader. I will have hundreds of stories to tell you that will last the entire car journey home from the airport. Over dinner, I will attempt to teach you chants (be prepared for banging on the table). And on your birthday, I’ll perform a full rendition of our camp birthday song.
So, for now, it’s a ‘see you soon’. Of course I will miss you - that goes without saying. But we both know that I’m going to have the best summer of my life, and I’ll be back before you know it!
Lots of love,
Your Camp Leader
