Fridays with Franky: Sharing Camp
Happy Friday everyone! February has been filled with lots of sharing for the WeHaKee team. We’ve spent more than a month traveling to share camp with future campers and staff! It’s a fun part of the year, but it will always take second place to the summer.
The summer has that certain magic about it. Memories are made and friendships forged that will last a lifetime. So how is it possible to share your thoughts and even your next trip to camp with someone from home?
Lots of campers consider camp their special place. They have friends that they only get to see at camp, and experiences you only get to have at camp! It’s so amazing, you are sure to want everyone you love to have an experience like you do every summer. But are you willing to share your special place? I have some advice, and I hope it will help you share camp in multiple ways with your friends and family!
Firstly, documenting your camp experience can be a really great way to share it when you get home. Try bringing a journal, a camera, or a notebook. Even a couple lines a day will help you create a picture of the day-to-day things at camp.
After camp, take some time to reread what you wrote. Make note of anything that comes up again and again, like time with your whole cabin at night, or looking at the lake, or a certain activity period. If you could tell your family and friends about ONE moment only, what would it be?
Then share to your heart’s content! Tell your friends about camp and why you like it so much!
You can feel comfortable telling friends and family about those moments that really made you happy and that you had the instinct to share. Then just let your friends come to you. Don’t feel pressure to try to persuade your friends to go or not go to camp with you. If they bring the topic up, you can use this handy-dandy guide:
“I’m so glad you are curious about camp. It’s been a great experience for me. I especially like {insert a favorite aspect of camp}. If you are thinking about signing up I am happy to answer questions!”
Maybe then you are super excited to share camp and your job is done. But maybe you are a little nervous about sharing camp with someone new. Here are a few reminders that always help:
- You share camp with new people every year, and you have learned how to be welcoming and open. Now you just have to apply that skill to a person you know in a place you cherish!
- Your friend will have their own experience, and it doesn’t have to be the same as yours. Don’t feel pressure to make sure everything is the same. Different is fine, and camp will make sure they are taken care of, just like camp took care of you!
- Talk to your friend beforehand about the times you may spend together, and the time you may spend with other new and old friends at camp. Talk about sharing a cabin or not sharing a cabin, or even going to the same or different sessions. Great experiences can be had either way, but it’s important to be honest upfront.
- Look forward to the summer, knowing it will be special but different, just like every summer before it!
If you have a friend who wants to come to camp and they have questions you can’t answer, feel free to send them our way! We are out in the world talking about camp all the time–it’s our job!
Can’t wait to see you at camp!
