Thursday, October 17, 2019

In the Words of 2019 LIT, Dylan Goldman: Lasting Impressions

Dylan helping a camper at the Challenge Course
The community of camp is one that can stay closely knit together year through year. Everyone here has the same goal in mind which is to have fun. Through the diversity of the campers and staff a strong community is built where everyone works to achieve that same goal. During my experience at camp I have  seen how both the staff and campers connect to create bonds that go past the summers at camp.

During my sixth summer at camp I was able to connect with a staff member from South Africa. He and I had a common love for climbing that brought us together. I spent most of my free swims at the climbing tower so I could just hang out with him. The counselor's name is Kyle and he was the one who taught me everything I know about climbing now. At the end of that summer I was in tears because I knew that some of my good friends I had made that summer would not be coming back. Kyle came to reassure me that he would try his hardest to come back the next year. Unfortunately he wasn't able to come back that next summer. After a two year break Kyle decided to come back once again. When I walked into camp this year I was excite to hear that Kyle had come back. I immediately went around trying to find my once favorite counselor and now co-counselor. When I finally saw him the first thing he said to me was, “sorry”. He apologized for something that he said to me three years ago. It just goes to show how much he actually cared about some kid that he met at a summer camp that stuck to him like glue.

The bonds made at camp are ones that stick though the years. My experience with Kyle is something that I will remember for the rest of my life. Camp is able to connect people from all over the world that would never have met any other way. The people that camp has to offer are the ones that have the ability to make a lasting impression on each camper that comes through.

By,
Dylan Goldman