I spent three summers working at two different summer camps with the help of CCUSA. Before going to camp, I had never travelled by myself and I hadn’t got much confidence in myself.
There are not many places in this world like camp. When I first arrived, I was completely out of my comfort zone. I was surrounded by a lot of new people who sang at the top of their lungs and danced on the benches during most meals. Everybody seemed so outgoing and it intimidated me a little bit as I wasn’t sure if I could be so outgoing. It didn’t take me long to find my place, as everybody does at camp.
I slowly felt myself growing more confident, speaking a bit louder and doing things I would have never done at the start of the summer. Spending every day being surrounded by new friends from all around the world, that quickly become best friends, being away from technology in the rustic outdoors was a breath of fresh air. I learned a lot about myself during my time at camp and I feel I have matured a lot in the process.
My favourite thing about camp is that everybody is there for the campers. My role at camp was to teach guitar every day. Getting to know each child with some just discovering their passion for music, some with a goal to learn a song to show their parents on visitors’ day or some coming to simply talk to somebody who cared. Every day I learned something about myself and every day I had fun. These unique experiences helped me to consider a career in music therapy, a career that I’m not sure I would have the confidence to pursue if it weren’t for my summers at camp.
Emer Kelly
The Irish Graduate 