This was my first year...
... and this is the picture I took five minutes before leaving three years later.
It's been a good four years.
I've written about camp on the blog before, but it's been awhile. Three years, in fact. A life-changing experience, that summer was. For the first time, I really sat back and watched in awe as God weaved His glorious tapestry before me (read about it HERE). Every year, without fail, I've been able to see that tapestry grow in size and grandeur.
My first year I taught model rocketry... little children and explosives! w00t! That first summer was a huge growing experience for me which can be partially summarized in the aforementioned story (you really should click the link). I made friendships that are only second to those I made in college and learned that a "day-off" means DAY OFF... thanks Ray loljk. That can be a story for another time.
Actually, there's no time like the present. Storytime! So at my camp, a day off is supposed to be a DAY OFF. You shouldn't be seen working at your job location or helping out others. Since we are working constantly every day, your day off is your time to recharge and relax and fellow staff make sure you're not burning yourself out. So during cub camp, July 4th landed on a Thursday, my day off. I had planned to launch all the campers' rockets for flag raising that day because IT'S 4TH OF JULY. LET'S BLOW STUFF UP. Anyway, because it was my day off, I snuck into the craft building to check on all the rockets. I was caught by Ray, one of the admin staff. I said I was only supervising people working on the rockets (which I kinda was)... AND I GOT AWAY WITH IT. Ha. I won sorta kinda. In the end, I didn't launch any of the rockets and just instructed staff on how to prepare and launch them which thankfully let me film it, so you can see the launch at 0:16 in the video above. Okay, storytime over.
My second year working at camp, I had to leave early because of a summer class. I told God that I didn't want to leave, and He found a way to come back at the end of the summer, and not only that, I got to work at Forever Faithful International Camporee in Oshkosh which was a whole other sort of experience unto itself (note to self: Oshkosh blog post). When I was there, an opening for volunteering as a student mentor for the incoming college freshman opened up, a job I had been chosen for but had to turn down because of my Oshkosh commitment. Within 24 hours, I was cleared to go be a student mentor! I remember walking down the main road at Oshkosh late at night thinking How in the world is this happening? Everything is just falling into place! What the heck, God? You're pretty cool.
Also, check out me and my spear to the left of the door at 1:58:11! I know it's blurry. It's technically pirated. Deal with it.
Also, check out me and my spear to the left of the door at 1:58:11! I know it's blurry. It's technically pirated. Deal with it.
My third year, I became the camp videographer. While the job ended up robbing me of sleep and taking a toll on my health, every second was more than worth it. Most of that "toll on my health" thing was my fault anyway, haha. I would tell myself, "Eh, I can work through rest period and then I'll take an hour break during the afternoon to hang out with the campers" which would inevitably end up with me getting no rest and my "afternoon break" turning into three hours. Many late nights ensued, but again, it was totally worth it. Some videos I made that summer will be my favorites forever... I'm done talking... Just watch.
... and please, let's not forget the most amazing shot from that summer (@6:21).
ABSOLUTE BEAST!!! Am I right? ... Why do I ask rhetorical questions? I feel like I'm writing a Sabbath school lesson. Anyways...
This year, I was the Program Director. Writing plays and directing people aren't necessarily my forte but I enjoyed it immensely. We covered the story of Daniel with the theme of Practice Makes Perfect (you can tell I grew up in a musical Asian household). This was probably the summer where I had the most fun getting to know other staff, and the kids actually remembered my name this year, haha. But as with all things, life moves on, and I had to take the MCAT this summer which meant that I had to leave camp early. Have I mentioned how much I hate adulting? No? Well, I hate adulting. There ya go.
Making it all the more harder is that this was probably my last year unless something miraculous happens. I'll probably be busy with life the next few summers so this year marks the end of an era. The end of this era also marks the end of a larger era, an eon if you will. For me, my home has been Indiana. I lived there for nine years, then left for college. In going to college, I lost the part of "home" that was high school. Additionally, my parents moved to Colorado so no physical home existed in Indiana. My church has changed a lot since we left to the point where I am more of a visitor than a member now. Timber Ridge was my last stronghold, my last "home." But, life just keeps moving... Saying goodbye to TRC is the last of my leaving home experiences. Resigning to let elements of "home" become memories is a very hard thing, especially for a nostalgic person like myself who can be very attached to the past.
There are no words to explain how much I wish I was there to finish out the year with my fellow camp staff, but I can say this:
Camp is for everyone. Camp is for the campers to see God. Camp is for me to see God. My story may sound miraculous in some ways, but there are hundreds of other camp staff around that can resonate with every word here. There's something special about summer camp that can't be found elsewhere: an aura, a peace. Amongst the screaming children and the sleepless nights, a reinvigorating power can be found in every action-filled song belted out; every conversation shared with a camper, parent, or staff; every grin cracked by a child who's just learned that they can, in fact, ride a horse. God has a way of working there, and I hope I never figure it out. This is camp. This is home.
Thanks for a great four years.
Best Wishes!
~Richie
... and please, let's not forget the most amazing shot from that summer (@6:21).
ABSOLUTE BEAST!!! Am I right? ... Why do I ask rhetorical questions? I feel like I'm writing a Sabbath school lesson. Anyways...
This year, I was the Program Director. Writing plays and directing people aren't necessarily my forte but I enjoyed it immensely. We covered the story of Daniel with the theme of Practice Makes Perfect (you can tell I grew up in a musical Asian household). This was probably the summer where I had the most fun getting to know other staff, and the kids actually remembered my name this year, haha. But as with all things, life moves on, and I had to take the MCAT this summer which meant that I had to leave camp early. Have I mentioned how much I hate adulting? No? Well, I hate adulting. There ya go.
Making it all the more harder is that this was probably my last year unless something miraculous happens. I'll probably be busy with life the next few summers so this year marks the end of an era. The end of this era also marks the end of a larger era, an eon if you will. For me, my home has been Indiana. I lived there for nine years, then left for college. In going to college, I lost the part of "home" that was high school. Additionally, my parents moved to Colorado so no physical home existed in Indiana. My church has changed a lot since we left to the point where I am more of a visitor than a member now. Timber Ridge was my last stronghold, my last "home." But, life just keeps moving... Saying goodbye to TRC is the last of my leaving home experiences. Resigning to let elements of "home" become memories is a very hard thing, especially for a nostalgic person like myself who can be very attached to the past.
There are no words to explain how much I wish I was there to finish out the year with my fellow camp staff, but I can say this:
Camp is for everyone. Camp is for the campers to see God. Camp is for me to see God. My story may sound miraculous in some ways, but there are hundreds of other camp staff around that can resonate with every word here. There's something special about summer camp that can't be found elsewhere: an aura, a peace. Amongst the screaming children and the sleepless nights, a reinvigorating power can be found in every action-filled song belted out; every conversation shared with a camper, parent, or staff; every grin cracked by a child who's just learned that they can, in fact, ride a horse. God has a way of working there, and I hope I never figure it out. This is camp. This is home.
Thanks for a great four years.
Best Wishes!
~Richie