After that first summer, I had a lot of self-discovery to do. Even though I had spent an entire summer at a church camp, I still was no closer to God. Subconsciously, I was more open. It took a friend to invite me to a local youth group for me to truly open myself to God. From there I had to grow up, naturally as well as spiritually.
I was able to come back to camp zealous about my new life in God, yet unsure how to express it and how to properly maintain it at a healthy level throughout the entire summer. I left that summer burned out. Not really considering the average tenure of a summer staffer is only 1.5-2 summers, I still became hooked on working at camp. I returned for a third summer. Almost every summer I would feel the end has come and it was my last. I even took off one summer just to realize what I missed out on and came back the next year. After my sixth summer I was not offered a position to return. The assistant director at the time felt it was perhaps time for me to move on and pursue new horizons. I spent that summer at a large Atlanta-based day camp. It was a great experience, but not the same. I ended up coming back for a seventh and eighth summers following that year. Maybe people just understood and accepted that I was just going to be a part of this place.
During these last two summers I was able to become acquainted with the Development Director. He was able to show me the benefits of joining the annual donors club, Trinity Pines. During my last summer, I was able to work a little more closely with him, learning some development areas with my Bachelor's internship.
I went on from that summer to move only an hour away to pursue my Master's degree, The program was designed as a calendar-year in and out degree. This unfortunately limited my ability to work summer number nine (though I was tempted to somehow make it work). I settled to volunteer whenever I could and visit all the more.
I knew that camp ministry was something I felt called to do, probably from my second summer as a staffer. I had been trying to get my foot in the door to some full-time opportunity since that time. When I discovered I needed more education, I went and got it. When the doors weren't open, I kept myself busy and continued attending school.
A few opportunities were afforded me when I was about to graduate from my Master's program. I had a few phone interviews and was also invited to North Carolina for a program director position at a camp led by my camp's Assistant Director from the 1980's and 90's. No offers.
I ended up moving south to Florida to try and find new opportunities and a new home. I landed a job working for an employment agency working as an employment consultant and later a case manager. Though this job was not included my long-term goals, I was able to gather some very valuable knowledge through my associations with some amazing professionals. I was able to gain a lot of insight into the world of non-profit work.
In June of last year (2011) I flew up to volunteer another week at camp. I was able to work with the Staff-in-Training (SIT) program the previous two summers and was asked to come back to lead it once again. During that visit I found out that Jim, the Development Director was announcing his retirement to be early the next year. I asked who was possibly in line to succeed him. Hopefull, I suggested myself.
A month later I got a call from the executive director stating my name came up in a discussion concerning the Development Director position and he felt led to give me a call. I sent my résumé along with a cover letter and we were scheduled to get into discussions shortly. It wasn't until many delays and months before I was offered the position in December. So, not even moving to Florida could keep me away from camp!
I spent last month completing my affairs in Florida, packed myself up, and moved back to the north to begin my first full-time position in camping ministry.
It has been a wild ride and I am very thankful to God, for all the people I have crossed paths with, and experience I have had throughout the last eleven years that has been preparing me for this moment. I am very excited to move forward working for a camp that I love and cherish.
I pray that I can be a dynamic instrument in assuring the mission of camp is done and be an intergal part of the future for this amazing community of faith.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
The Road to Here (Part One)
Today, I sit in a all too familiar place that is completely new. Snow is falling softly on the ground outside the window to my right and I sit and contemplate how in the world I got here.
Thirteen months ago I abandoned Pennsylvania's bitter cold tendencies to start a new life in the warmer regions of Florida. There was nothing personal between Pennsylvania and I. Being persuaded by sunshine, opportunity, flexibility, and friendship I happily left for a new frontier the characteristics of which were all too familiar.
Perhaps the context for this first entry would be better served going back even further into the past. Perhaps 1991 would be a good springboard.
1991 was the year my parents thought I would be old enough to spend my first week away at summer camp. I was nine years old. I stayed in Cabin #10, a brown cinderblock rectangle-shaped room with two toilets stalls and two sinks in the back. The showers were provided at the "Upper Shower House" about 500 feet away. My counselor's name was Jason. He was a tall guy who always wore a blue baseball cap and seemed to perfect the "scruffy face" look. I remember being confused at how much stuff he had with him. His clothes were neatly stored in old plastic milk crates stacked one on top of each other. I was amazed to find out that he actually lived at the camp for the entire summer! Somehow I was convinced that he only existed to be my counselor for this one week in this one summer.
I later returned to camp for four more summers. My counselors were Lee and Drew, Tony, Jay, and John. My last three summers were in the program called the Night Owl Club. It was the best idea I have ever heard for a middle-school kid: stay up all night and sleep during the day! After those five years I felt I became too old for camp and my time was over.
Five years later I was a soon-to-be High School graduate. Looking to get away from home I found myself in frequent conversations with a long-time neighbor and fellow bus ride companion. She spent two summers working as a lifeguard at the summer camp I had long forgotten about. She convinced me that camp would be a great place for me to work. After much consideration I consented to apply. In the early spring of 2000 I drove down to camp to have my summer staff interview with the Assistant Director, Lee. I was surprised to find out later that this same Lee was my counselor during my second summer. After the interview I took a short tour of main camp, thinking about all the memories I had as a camper.
After completing my lifeguard certification through the Red Cross and receiving the thumbs up from Lee, I was set to graduate and immediately begin my unknown adventure as a summer camp staffer.
Being a staff member was totally different than being a camper! It was work! It was challenging... emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially. I was something I unfortunately was not mature enough to prosper in. I spent that summer continually wishing I wasn't there. Every chance I got to get out of something I would. I even missed the staff photo. It wasn't that I had somewhere to go. I remember getting picked up and driving away as I saw my fellow staffers gathering at the entrance sign not caring that I would be nowhere to be found in that picture. What a disappointment I had that summer. What a disappointment I was to myself. This realization hit me at the closing staff worship on the last night of the summer. I walked down Chapel Hill by myself crying in grief, knowing I completely spoiled the entire experience.
What a waste!
Thankfully I knew that it was my fault and it was my responsibility to take. My chances to come back were slim to none. Still, there was something I knew I missed.
Thirteen months ago I abandoned Pennsylvania's bitter cold tendencies to start a new life in the warmer regions of Florida. There was nothing personal between Pennsylvania and I. Being persuaded by sunshine, opportunity, flexibility, and friendship I happily left for a new frontier the characteristics of which were all too familiar.
Perhaps the context for this first entry would be better served going back even further into the past. Perhaps 1991 would be a good springboard.
1991 was the year my parents thought I would be old enough to spend my first week away at summer camp. I was nine years old. I stayed in Cabin #10, a brown cinderblock rectangle-shaped room with two toilets stalls and two sinks in the back. The showers were provided at the "Upper Shower House" about 500 feet away. My counselor's name was Jason. He was a tall guy who always wore a blue baseball cap and seemed to perfect the "scruffy face" look. I remember being confused at how much stuff he had with him. His clothes were neatly stored in old plastic milk crates stacked one on top of each other. I was amazed to find out that he actually lived at the camp for the entire summer! Somehow I was convinced that he only existed to be my counselor for this one week in this one summer.
I later returned to camp for four more summers. My counselors were Lee and Drew, Tony, Jay, and John. My last three summers were in the program called the Night Owl Club. It was the best idea I have ever heard for a middle-school kid: stay up all night and sleep during the day! After those five years I felt I became too old for camp and my time was over.
Five years later I was a soon-to-be High School graduate. Looking to get away from home I found myself in frequent conversations with a long-time neighbor and fellow bus ride companion. She spent two summers working as a lifeguard at the summer camp I had long forgotten about. She convinced me that camp would be a great place for me to work. After much consideration I consented to apply. In the early spring of 2000 I drove down to camp to have my summer staff interview with the Assistant Director, Lee. I was surprised to find out later that this same Lee was my counselor during my second summer. After the interview I took a short tour of main camp, thinking about all the memories I had as a camper.
After completing my lifeguard certification through the Red Cross and receiving the thumbs up from Lee, I was set to graduate and immediately begin my unknown adventure as a summer camp staffer.
Being a staff member was totally different than being a camper! It was work! It was challenging... emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially. I was something I unfortunately was not mature enough to prosper in. I spent that summer continually wishing I wasn't there. Every chance I got to get out of something I would. I even missed the staff photo. It wasn't that I had somewhere to go. I remember getting picked up and driving away as I saw my fellow staffers gathering at the entrance sign not caring that I would be nowhere to be found in that picture. What a disappointment I had that summer. What a disappointment I was to myself. This realization hit me at the closing staff worship on the last night of the summer. I walked down Chapel Hill by myself crying in grief, knowing I completely spoiled the entire experience.
What a waste!
Thankfully I knew that it was my fault and it was my responsibility to take. My chances to come back were slim to none. Still, there was something I knew I missed.
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