Camp.

This last week has been refreshing. I went to cancer camp.

Ok, but seriously, cancer camp is an unbelievable place. Going there as a camper, for eight years, I loved it. We ice skated, shot arrows, rode bikes, raided girls cabins, ate camp food, sang at campfire. . . it was perfect. It was all glittery and great, an all of the above. I came home every year from the week long camp talking about it the next following months and a card full of pictures and videos. You are given everything you want. It's free and transportation is provided and its not about cancer. It's for cancer survivors, children in particular...up to the age of 17. I grew up loving every bit of camp. So I'm eighteen (Heck, I'm almost nineteen. . .scary). . . so now what? I volunteer, a junior counselor is what I am. The best way to describe the transition from camper to counselor is the metaphor that follows:

Every kid that goes to Disney World loves it. Disney World is the happiest place on earth. Or is that Disneyland? Well, either way, kids love it. It's fun, positive, crazy and even magical. Little do the kids know all the work that is put into making Disney World a magical place. Underneath Disney Land there is a break room, offices and lockers. People running the shows, the lights and most importantly Mickey and Minnie themselves, are demanding hours. There are labor unions, people hate their boss, people call in sick and so on.

At camp, people don't hate or even have bosses, but it takes so much work to put on a week long camp with kids who have suffered mental a physical pain due to cancer. I'm fortunate to have not been as hurt as some other kids have been diagnosed with cancer. I never thought of camp as a week get away where I can get away. I just liked it. Camp was great. It still is. However, now that I am a junior counselor, my role at has changed dramatically. Instead of my every want being satisfied, I'm satisfying the kids needs. It's sometimes a pain and I find my self anxious for bed time. Some of these kids come from homes where attention and love is scarce. That itself give me motivation to give the kids a week long camp full of love. Camp was great. We wrote songs, played drums, trashed the girls cabins and watched stars 'til three in the morning. I'm tired, and I miss the kids, and even sad that they have to go back to their homes where some of them don't enjoy life. Not a lot of people can really comprehend what camp is until you experience it yourself. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to give a week of my time to kids who need it. I feel refreshed and most of all, blessed.