I strongly believe that sleepaway camp is a blessing in disguise that only the luckiest kids are able to experience. If you went to camp, like me, you know about the anticipation the week before you go away. There’s the packing, the excitement of watching the countdown go down, and the nerves all at once. Then there’s that feeling of driving up the camp road on the first day- it’s like butterflies in your stomach. Whether you’ve only been going for one year or ten years, seeing all of the smiling familiar faces as you pull in is when you know that you’re finally home.

With sleepaway camp comes camp friends, easily the best friends you will ever have. You go through everything together whether it be good or bad because you are literally stuck with them. Even your counselors become your friends, or even more like the big sibling you wish you had. Sharing all of the same experiences at camp only brings everyone closer. There are the nights where you’ll stay up past when you’re supposed to just gossiping and playing card games, and then there’s the nights where you’ll cry on each other’s shoulders because you’re a little homesick. They’ll be there for you when some of your most important “firsts” happen: first kiss, first boyfriend, and even first break up. You’ll have inside jokes that will barely even make sense to you but will have you crying laughing no matter where you are. The reunions outside of camp are also fun, but probably not as frequent as they should be. No matter what time passes between when you see them, camp friends are undoubtedly forever friends.

Even the “bad” parts of camp are just what makes camp special. Take the food, for example. It’s not the best, but you’ll always remember the scavenge that went on when it was pizza or grilled cheese day, or the days of Instructional Swim when you know everybody did not want to get into that freezing cold lake or pool, or even when you had to go on overnights and everyone just pretended to be sick to get out of it. Everything, whether it be good or bad at the time, is a memory you wouldn’t want to lose.

One of the best things about camp is the community. Camp feels safe, welcoming, and full of people that all take the same pride in camp that you do. When the whole camp is participating in something like Olympics or Color War, it’s amazing to see how it brings everyone together. Camp traditions are some of the most unique and fun things that you can experience, whether it be eating Chipwiches while sobbing the last night or wearing sundresses every Saturday. And when the whole camp comes together and sings the camp song; everyone just feels like family.

If I didn’t go to camp, I’m not sure I would be the person that I am today. Whether you go for the whole summer or even just a week or two, the impact that summer camp can have on a person is remarkable. Camp has made me more independent, responsible, and ready to take on things such as college (which can be a very similar environment in some cases) and the workplace. It forces you to go out of your comfort zone, be away from your parents, and unknowingly learn a whole lot about yourself. So no, I don’t regret giving up my entire summer to go to camp as a kid, “living ten months for two”, or constantly talking about camp things to people from home who I know don't understand what I’m talking about. I just wish I could be a camper again.