Dancing in the Hallway 08/11/2009
 This session in the Fox Cabin was a little more difficult than our previous weeks.Through the tears of some of the young teenage girls this week, I feel like I saw a little bit of the reality of what some of the kids endure outside of camp. At Double H, the kids are popular superstars and the centre of attention from the moment their car or bus pulls into our parking lot, lined with cheering counselors. Many of the kids have special routines that they follow every day-and that's normal here. There are the funniest kids here who say the most random but hilarious things,and those kids usually become camp legends.But at school this is hardly the case. Since these kids are different they are prone to ridicule, teasing and alienation. This summer I've deeply realized how much this camp means to the kids. For most of them, this is the only place where they could come and feel normal, accepted and loved. The campers can bond over having the same illness, and also over braving the zipline in the high ropes course. I can't count how many times parents have told me that their child talks about camp all year-even at Christmas! It has been such a treat to work here and share in the experience of creating big moments of victory and accomplishment to a child who can't even get dressed by themselves in the morning-yet they just went horse back riding, conquered the high ropes course and sang on stage at the talent show for a room full of screaming fans. For me a highlight this week came on departure day. Parents and buses had whisked all but 3 of our campers away. Me and a few other counselors were inside the cabin putting new linen on beds, sweeping floors and cleaning bathrooms in preparation for next week's camper. High School Musical was blasting out of the ipod into the hallway. Suddenly one of our campers: a 14 year old girl with cornrows dashed inside the cabin and changed the song to Michael Jackson. I had been making beds so I had an arm full of sheets and pillow cases, but that didn't stop the two of us from dancing wildly to 'black or white'. This of course followed an encore performance to 'I'll be there' sang beautifully into a broom handle. We plan so many events and activities at camp but sometimes it's just those random happenings that turn into the best times of summer. We only have one more session. You may remember that I was sick a lot last summer so I'm really glad that so far I have not been quarantined. I pray that this will keep up for one more week. Here comes Session 7!  'cuz I'm a foxy lady!' | About Me View past posts at: missionaryjenny.blogspot  ArchivesJanuary 2012  |
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