Camp,

It seems a little odd to me to write a letter to a place, but if there’s any place that deserves a thank you from me, it’s you. My home-away-from-home and my favorite place in the world. I only attended once as a camper for a week-long stay. I wanted to camp more in the years following, but I never did because none of my friends wanted to or could go with me. I regret that decision majorly, but I had an experience as a camper that made me want to sign up as a counselor once I was old enough. This turned out in my favor, because I ended up counseling for three years straight, and I hope those aren't my last. I’m not ready to let go of this place that has given me so much. Without having the opportunity to counsel for three years, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Those three years I will always hold close to me. You've taught me so many things, so I wanted to express my gratitude.

Thank you for showing me peace of mind. I never knew what inner peace felt like until I sat on the outdoor chapel benches at night and looked at the stars. While listening to our chapel story before bed every night, everything is silent, peaceful and at ease. In that moment, I can't help but feel peace inside of me. Numerous times, I've caught myself just sitting, looking up at the night sky and smiling. So, whenever I feel stressed or need a break sometimes, I try to contact that inner peace that I learned through chapel under the stars. Sometimes I even go outside to look at the stars, if the weather allows it, and try to recall that peacefulness that made me so happy while at camp.

Thank you for the memories. Cliché, I know, but there’s never a dull moment at camp. Whether it’s wearing our socks and sandals to swim time, crying during a talent show performance or when that camper clogged a toilet in his cabin, causing the toilet to overflow, and then proceeded to scoop up the overflow with his hands and carry it to the other toilet on the other side of the cabin (shout out week 7 2015). There are so many memories that I’ve made at camp that I'll hold with me forever. These are memories that make me smile when it’s hard to, and that’s something extremely special.

Thank you for teaching me the importance of a simple life. As a camper, it’s extremely easy to leave your life at home to come to camp for a week. As a counselor, not so much. We can counsel when we're 16 years old. Most 16-year olds have a summer job, athletic camps to attend and various other obligations throughout their summers. This is a big deal, because when we give one or more of our weeks to counsel at camp each summer, we're completely shut out from the world from the Sunday to Friday of those weeks. We don't have access to our phones or any way to communicate with others except for about an hour a couple nights each week.

And I'm not complaining, I love it. I've tried going on a phone detox every now and then and sometimes it helps, but nothing's as good as not even carrying it on my person for a whole week. This actually serves as a social detox. It's incredible. Most of the nights when I'm offered to use my phone, I choose not to, because using it seems to break my connection to the week I'm experiencing.

Not having connections to my world back home through my weeks spent here have also shown me the importance and simplicity of genuine time spent with others. I remember the second year I counseled, we were playing a camp-wide game of soccer. I remember at one point, I was hanging back, just kind of watching everyone down the field. Everyone was laughing, screaming and literally having the best day ever. I realized at that moment, really nothing else mattered to me except for that soccer game that I was playing with those people. I learned so much about all the campers playing that soccer game without even talking to them, which turns out to be more than I normally learn about people via social media or texting. While here, I can't help but connect with others in such a special and deep way.

All of this has helped me realize that we don't need technology in our hands 24/7. Am I guilty of it? Yes. Do I wish I haven't been? Of course. But I've learned when it's appropriate to use it, and I know when there are more important things happening in front of me than what's on my phone screen. Most of the time, there are more important things happening in front of me. If I ignore them, I'll probably miss out on getting to know a lot of incredible people.

Thank you for introducing me to some of the best people I'll ever know. Every week I counseled I made 10 to 20 new friends. And not just the kind of friends I say hi to occasionally and are mildly comfortable with: the kind of friends that make me a better person and that make me want to come home on the weekends just to see them. These people have been there for me more than I ever thought they could or would be. They've taught me so many things and are a large part of who I am today. The best part about my friendships with people from camp is that they were built on the foundation of God. Because of this, I plan on knowing these people until we're gone from this earth, and even after that. As I continue my life, I will continue to love them and pray for them on their life journeys.

Thank you for teaching me about the fragility of time. I like to describe camp as kind of similar to when I go on vacation. The night before, I can barely sleep because the week I've been looking forward to for the past year is finally here. Then before I know it, I'm on my way home. Like I mentioned, this is my favorite place in the world. It's the place where I'm happiest. If I could, I would spend all my days here. But my days here are limited, so I've learned to cherish them when they come. This also relates to time spent in other places I don't get to go often, as well as time spent with people I don't get to see often. I embrace those rare occasions more than ever before.

Thanks for showing me what true joy and happiness feels. Not only do I know what it feels like now, I know how to achieve true joy and happiness: through God. We celebrate Mass several times each week at camp, learn about the theme for that year and so many other things that help us to build our faith; this has all helped me to grow closer to God in order to achieve true joy and happiness. I will continue to grow with Him for the rest of my life and you've given me ways and the confidence to do that.

Thanks for teaching me who I'm supposed to be, and how to be that person. While here, the weirdest things happen. When those things happen, I've learned to not be scared or awkward when participating and instead, embrace it. It's a part of who I am and you've helped me become that person when showing that to others. Before coming to camp, I was always embarrassed of my love for "High School Musical" and my (bad) dancing. After being encouraged to flaunt those things in front of campers, I'll never be embarrassed of those things ever again.

Finally and most importantly, thanks for showing me how to live my faith and to put it into action. It's not the easiest thing to live our faith outwardly while in high school or while in transition to the first year of college. But while at camp, it was easy, because it was just in front of kids who were having fun in the name of God. You gave me the practice necessary to be able to live my faith in my social life. Not only did you teach me how to live my faith, but you taught me to live it boldly.

May God bless any and every camper or counselor that spends a week at the best place in the world: Catholic Youth Camp.