Sitting at the campfire, hand in hand with a fellow counselor, I felt the tears fall freely—hot, quiet (or not so quiet) and unashamed. I wasn’t just crying because the week was ending. I was crying because this place, these people, this love—it all means so much more than I can ever put into words.
Camp isn’t just a place. It’s a heartbeat.
It’s the one week where the world fades, and what’s real takes center stage.
It’s where laughter is loud, hugs are tight, and you’re seen for who you truly are—not what the world expects you to be. Where I can be my crazy self, dress up weirdly and be insane without judgement. Where I can wear a two piece swim suit (first time in ever!) And not be ashamed of what people will see or fear being staring at me. Its the place of pure joy and endless memories.
And as the flames danced before us, I found myself mourning the goodbye I hadn’t even said yet. Missing the people who where around this camp fire for the last time of the year.
The weight of leaving this sacred space—of stepping back into the real world where things feel colder, faster, and less tender—was already settling on my shoulders. Knowing what was ahead in the next few weeks just made me realize the pure magic of camp and how much I needed it this year.
But then, as my tears fell, a few drops of water hit our hands. Maybe rain. Maybe holy timing. And he looked at me, smiled gently, and said,
"See? You're not alone."
And in that fragile, sacred moment—I believed him.
Because I wasn’t.
I was surrounded by people who saw me, held space for me, and loved me through it. Some who just met me and some who have known me for years. Some who have seen me grow up and others who grew up with me. And even some who barely knew me but loved me anyway.
And even when the campfire goes out and we all go our separate ways, that love doesn’t disappear.
It lingers. It carries. It sustains.
Camp gives us so much more than a week of memories.
It gives us pieces of ourselves we thought were lost.
It reminds us who we are.
And it teaches us that even when the world feels overwhelming—we are never, ever alone.
