Summer Camp 2016

It's that time of year again! This will be my last summer as a camper at Camp Greystone A.K.A my little slice of heaven. I am leaving this Saturday and will be gone for 5 weeks starting Monday. Every year for the past 9 summers I have gone to camp. There is nowhere in this world I would rather  be for 5 weeks. I try to explain to people how awesome it is to spend practically a whole summer with all girls and no technology in the mountains of North Carolina. People who have gone to camp "get it" and are excited for me. Others, think it is some sort of cult and that I'm going against my will. Trust me, my dad has offered me many an amazing trip I could take or car I could buy as opposed to going to camp and I have never had to think twice before kindly telling him I'd rather go to camp. Some people think that because I go to camp I am missing out on what's going on at home and the camps that my friends go to for one week or less. I just tell them they've never been to my camp. Because the truth is, there have been times in the past where I have seen pictures of all my friends having a good time that summer and felt like I had missed out. But when I take a step back and look at all the doors camp has opened for me and the unbreakable bonds of friendships I have. I know I made the right choice and the right investment of my time.

Side story: When I went to my freshman orientation several weeks ago, we were put into fairly small groups with one group leader. We were all sitting in a circle and I knew no one. But, the girl sitting across from me looked very very familiar. After our leader was finished talking, I went up to the girl and flat out asked her how I knew her. She asked me if I went to Camp Greystone and we clicked. I don't even remember knowing her that well at camp but just having that one thing in common we had a special connection and were able to talk and catch up. These kinds of run-ins happen to me all. the. time. I even ran into a camp friend while I was in Grand Cayman! It is truly a wonderful thing.

Though it is bitter-sweet to think that this is my last summer as a camper, I am very sure that I will be back as a counselor or working at camp in some way. I like to joke that I'll marry into the camp family and live at Greystone the rest of my life. We'll see ;)

Here are a few throwback pictures from my earlier years at camp:

 

Thanks for reading! See you in 5 weeks!