Stories from 2007 WKLT Camp Counselors (Kid's Camp)

	Many of the children did not want to be at the camp, so it was especially difficult to gain their enthusiasm. As the days went by, a few of these youngsters began to enjoy themselves – a change that can largely be accounted for by the attention and concern of their counselors. These campers were especially fun to work with and observe because they changed the most over the week.   Personally, I found it to be an enriching experience from which I grew considerably. My ability to be assertive has improved considerably as has my level of trust in my ability to make good decisions. I feel as though I have truly accomplished something important through this camp. Crystal Kaya, 2007 Camp Counselor
	Sleep deprivation, achy muscles, and headaches—these were all things that affected me as a kids’ counselor during the Women & Kids Learning Together Summer Camp. Having said that, I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant reliving the experiences that I had with the children. [. . .] The day before camp began, I was nervous and stressed out because I was scared that I wasn’t going to be a good counselor, or something horrible would happen that would ruin the entire week. These butterflies grew even worse Monday morning [. . .] reaching an almost unbearable fear as I saw the kids and their parents make their way into Garret Ballroom. What I wasn’t understanding was that these women and children were just as scared and nervous as I, and 90% of these women had never set foot onto Western’s campus—or any other campus, for that matter.     I found out that [a 14-y-o camp participant] used to be a cutter, and she’s on anti-depressant medication. On Wednesday, I felt really uncomfortable talking to a girl this young about problems that I always associated with older people. As the rest of the camp went on though, and I had a shoulder there for her to cry on, she became a lot happier and really enjoyed the last two days of camp. On Thursday night she had cut herself again, and when she came in Friday morning, I caught a glimpse of her arm and saw what she had done to herself.
I talked to Crystal [WKLT Kids’ Camp Coordinator] so I could make sure it was ok to confront [the girl] about this, and once I had the all clear, I went up and had a heart-to-heart talk with her. I finally talked [the girl] into going up to the WKU Counseling Center so she could talk with Elizabeth Mohon, and once Friday night rolled around, I really felt like I’d helped heal someone’s torn scars. What really made me smile all weekend was when [the girl]’s mother came to me after the graduation, crying, and told me that I was an angel sent from heaven. I asked her what she meant by this, and she said that, because of me, her daughter had been happier than she had been in a long time and that she felt like her daughter was really going to turn her life around. I have never really thought that I could touch someone so deeply and, in return, have them touch me just as deeply. Scott Jaggers, 2007 Camp Counselor
	I was met with resistance and a sort of “too cool for school” attitude from my two assigned buddies. I did not, however, see this as something unusual or unexpected, but as a challenge to motivate two boys that weren’t used to being creative in any way….    Led by Sara Smith, the ballet dancing was the most difficult from which to muster any kind of participation, especially from the boys. I made the slightly inappropriate sarcasm by saying, “I don’t dance, I’m a man.” I was then ushered onto the dance floor and shown how physically demanding ballet dance is, even at the most rudimentary skill levels. [. . .] Most of the boys (especially older) saw ballet as a sissy activity, but once they saw that a male counselor wasn’t too cool to do it, they became less apprehensive about the activity. Each new activity, however, seemed to reset their uneasiness towards and kind of “off-limits” cultural reference….    How do we discourage people from exploring curiously? By disapproving and showing a lack of respect when a boy wants to play with Barbie dolls or even when he may like a “feminine” color. So by tagging activities to gender or race, thereby discouraging the opposite sex or foreign race to partake, we are degrading what is in our nature. Galen Olmsted , 2007 Camp Counselor
	I thought that I was most prepared for the camp because of my own experiences with my own two-year-old, as well as from all the (child psychology) classes I had taken and the many parenting and child discipline books that I had read. I thought I could handle anything! To my surprise, this was very untrue. Each day was so mentally and physically tiring that I would come home and just collapse from exhaustion. I am both grateful and sad that the camp is over . . . [. . .] It was education and opportunities like this summer camp that helped me overcome my life at home [poverty] and while looking at the kids’ pictures I really appreciated the camp and what we were doing for these women and kids. Jessica Bonneau, 2007 Camp Counselor
	Going into this week I was not expecting this experience to make a major impact on my life. I was expecting to have fun, share with the kids what I know about dance and get to know the other counselors. I like working with children anyway, but I knew these kids would be different. They come from homes that are not like my own but deprived of the comforts I have, until now, taken for granted. Their mothers worry about things like food and paying the rent; much different from any world I have ever been close to. During the week of camp I not only became close to the kids but felt that I was doing something to make their lives a little better. I did not give them $1,000 or offer to adopt them, but I did small things to make their week fun. [. . .] The stereotype that I have always had is that low income mom’s were drug addicts or alcoholics. This week has proved my stereotype to be wrong. These moms are doing the best they can with a bad situation. They came to camp wanting to change their lives around for them and their children.    [. . .] Camp was two weeks ago and I am still thinking about the lessons I learned there and how it has changed my life. My minor is Humanics, which is the study of non-profit organizations.
After working with these children I would really like to devote my time to the improvement of programming for low-income families. Through programs such as this one, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Club, who target low income families, women in Kentucky can be empowered to go to college and get good jobs.     All of these women have amazing children who are smart and full of personality but are not given the opportunities to do things I looked forward to as a child. I hope that my contribution to camp this year has made some kind of impact on the children’s lives. During my lifetime, I hope to have the opportunity to help women and children in outlets such as this again. I hope I can find a way to help single mothers who really want to change their lives around and make a real difference in their children’s lives. I very much enjoyed this week even with its tribulations. I will wear my bracelet as a reminder of the kids I met at camp and to continue doing things for children less fortunate than I. Sara Smith, 2007 Camp Counselor
	I had no idea that the experience (camp) would give me a different perspective on my life and the world around me. I would count those many hours of being under the hot sun, hustling kids from place to place as one of the best ones that I have ever had. . . . The main aspect that I appreciated about this camp is that it pushed me to my limits. It made me think outside of my immediate surroundings and care for these kids and the societal problems that affect them . . . [. . .] There was a pole you had to climb up to get to the top of the play pen. Chance and I climbed up it in a split second, but Montana was terrified, looking up the pole. He insisted on meeting us at the bottom and giving up, but with the two of us encouraging him, he was able to reach the top. He had a look of happiness that he had conquered this obstacle. We had conquered it together, and it made me feel like I had my own little team. Even though it was small, it made me feel like I could encourage people to overcome their obstacles. David Bishop, 2007 Camp Counselor
	Kids are always listening; even though you think they aren’t. This was one of the most rewarding parts of the whole camp [. . .] One day when were walking down the hill, Tharius asked me, “Sarah, when am I going to get a tour of Western?” At first I was stuck, because I knew with such a jam-packed schedule there wouldn’t be time. That, however, didn’t stop me; whenever we walked down the hill, I gave him a tour of campus, pointing to different buildings, telling what classes were in them, what the bleachers are from, why they are renovating Florence Snyder, what kind of money do you use in the Bates Shop, or even do you know what used to be in the library. While all the time, I thought I was wasting my breath, that he was not listening to me. . .   On the last day, Tharius proved me so wrong. It was our last walk down the hill so I quizzed him, and there was not a single question he didn’t know the answer to . . . and it was funny too because Tharius had acted like the “tuff kid” and never wanted to do anything, or who was just never listening but to me it was so rewarding to know that he remembered so much of what I had to tell him..
I think I could write about all the great experiences and how many wonderful people I met at this camp for weeks, maybe even write a book about it. In all honesty, though, I did this camp for no other reason than to see how much fun and how much of an impact I could have on a group of kids for a week at camp. Sitting here looking on my wall I see a picture that Tharius drew for me and I know I will always hold onto it . . . Sara Bly, 2007 Camp Counselor
Other Camp Counselors:
Ashley Burgdorf, Kid's Camp Counselor
Jillian Palovich, Kid's Camp Counselor
Casey Olmsted, Kid's Camp Counselor
Mary Ann Bokkon, Women's Camp Counselor
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