Dear Carol, Susie, Steve, David, Abbey, and Perky,
I went hiking this weekend and was inspired to write a letter reflecting on my experience of being a Wyo camper, and the immense influence it has had on my life. I hope I can find at least some of the right words to express my gratitude for you all, and my love for camp.
Camp has taught me so many things about life. From important life lessons, to love for the fun and magical aspects of life. I’m not sure that I’d have the same love and awe for the outdoors, if I had not been to camp growing up. Camping and sleeping in a tent now is such a blessing because it reminds me of cabin overnights, smores, crazy creek circles, and laughter. Wyo is such a special place, and I feel at home on the shores of Moose Pond even though I’m not there all that often. Camp feels that way because you all make it all happen, seamlessly.
I don’t have many vivid memories from childhood, but of the few I do have, most are from camp. I recall building fairy houses in junior camp, totally believing everything was real and fairies would sleep there that night. I remember playing greasy watermelon diaper polo in Inty. Something I think of often actually is this one rainy day, I may have been a senior (because by this point I knew all of the words) and we were singing California Dreamin’ in the Cobb. It was down pouring outside, and I was belting and stomping my feet hard at all of the right times, and it was the best thing ever. That memory makes me so happy.
My parents discovered that Ellie and I could sing because of camp plays. I developed so much self confidence by participating in those performances. The rehearsals always had the perfect mix of seriousness and fun. Music, singing especially, has been such a huge part of my life since that time, and camp is where it all started. Thank you for that.
Camp has taught me about long distance friendships. My best camp friend is one of the closest friends I have still, and our bond is what it is because of camp. She understands the camp magic, because she was there with me, making it all the more magical. Reconnecting each summer at camp showed me how, despite time and distance, with the right people, friendships persist. This has been a blessing in disguise that has helped me accept the distance I’ve come to know from my high school and college friends. It’s a good life lesson to have learned early on.
Returning to camp last summer was a monumental step for me and my life. Since I was 14 and stopped returning to camp, I’d always thought that I wanted to return. The thought of returning was frequent, it was something in the back of my mind that would swoop in sometimes. It felt like a dream. Then when I actually took the steps and made that dream a reality, it made life more vivid and gave me a real sense of autonomy. Acting on the thought to return to camp gave me the courage to act on the thought to go move across the country. I have plenty more dreamlike thoughts that I now see through a different lens, a more approachable and tangible lens. Like these wishes are things I can actually make happen.
I am so grateful for last summer being a counselor. I looked up to my counselors so much growing up, some of them especially so. The international staff at Wyo created my first exposure to people from different parts of the world. I’ve always been fascinated by people who are different from me, and I think the camp staff demographic played a large role in that. I now have a close friend in my co-counselor from last summer, who I visited in Ireland last spring, marking my first solo trip abroad. A first of many, I hope.
Some people make huge impacts in your life, and they never know it. The intention of this letter is to let you all know. Thank you for fostering the incredible environment that is Camp Wyonegonic. May camp never change.
Kiyi,
Gale
Camper 2008-2014, Counselor 2023