“My dream for the future is…”

Imagine entering a world full of tree houses that overlook lakes smooth as glass. Above loom old oaks like guardians. Loyal, lifelong friends surround you. These memories have lured me to my summer home, Camp Ondessonk. Being a camp counselor was a real life lesson, and I dream of working outdoors with youth in my future.

Camp made me an educator. First, I taught my campers basic survival skills: using a compass, and building fires. Secondly, due to my tendency to act goofy, my campers realized that it was okay to be different. Lastly, they picked up on wilderness tips, like knowing which leaf to wipe with. My campers ended their season with survival skills and more confidence. Witnessing the success of my campers drove me to be a diligent worker.

Being immersed in a natural environment made me realize our earth needs to be protected. There aren’t many forests left that are filled with lush flora, or breathtaking waterfalls. Camp taught me to respect our environment by doing something as simple as not littering, and how to be a low impact hiker. It is crucial we educate the youth on how to preserve the planet for the future.

My experience allowed me to work with children from diverse backgrounds. It gleaned skills as a leader. Youth must learn, just as I did, to respect both the planet and their neighbors. An occupation that involves the youth and the outdoors should not be called “work”, but exclaimed a “vacation”.