One thing people always say when they find out I work at a summer camp is, “I bet you get to be outside all the time!” My knee-jerk response is always yes, because I immediately think about the summertime. What other job exists where you get to dress up in crazy outfits, play gaga ball, do several energizers, sing songs around a campfire while eating s’mores, capture chickens, go down the Shady Chute, and run around with a bunch of kids like a kid on a daily basis?
Of course, my job in the non-summer seasons is considerably different than my job in the summer. In the summer it’s easy to find opportunities for fun. Granted, I do have to spend quite a bit of time in the office, making schedules and assignments and preparing for the upcoming week, but I get to be outside for much of my day throughout the summer. I get to walk around site, participate in a lot of camp activities, hang out with kids at snack time, and enjoy meals with my weekly community of campers and staff.
In the “off-season” I’m much more sedentary. I spend almost all of my time in my office, often at my desk in front of the computer. Some weeks I don’t go outside at all except when I arrive in the morning and leave in the evening. And the worst part is that I don’t realize that’s what I’ve been doing! I’m usually not consciously aware of how much time I spend chained to my desk.
A friend of mine recently visited a very nice office building with beautiful views from all the windows. She said, “It must be nice to work somewhere so beautiful.” I told her, “Yeah, I’m really lucky I get to work at Ferncliff!” and immediately realized I hadn’t spent significant time away from my desk yet this week. Unacceptable!
Today I took a break away from my desk for a walkabout. I went up the hill to the Big Deck, looked out over Belden Pond, put away some crafting supplies in the Creation Station. I walked to the farm/garden and said hello to the animals. The goats really wanted my attention. The chickens were pretty indifferent.
I spent a little time on the porch between the tree houses in the Outback, kicking leaves off the picnic table and stairs. I walked back to Ferncliff Lake and stood on the boating dock, which will soon be replaced with a more easily accessible gravel beach. I took a seat on the fire pit swings for a few minutes.
I thought of how many kids have sat by this lake since 1937. I thought about how many more would come this summer. I thought about how different it looks around Ferncliff when there aren’t green leaves on the trees and a hot sun in the sky. I thought about how I’ve never really climbed John Mountain, but I’ve been on Matthew, Mark, and Luke countless times. I thought about my first summer on staff at Ferncliff and how I felt like I would never learn my way around. I thought about how the lake feels when you dip your fingers in from the side of a canoe. I thought about the view from Chiquita Rock at mid-day. I thought about the view from the J-Mo at dusk. I thought about all the construction Ferncliff has undergone to make it what it is today and how quickly I can’t imagine the site looking any other way. I thought about the animals I’ve unexpectedly encountered throughout the years. I thought about all the colors of sunsets I’ve seen, and the filter that seems to cover camp after rain. I thought about how quiet it always is around the Ramsey Chapel. I thought about how many times I have cried happy tears at camp.
I went back to work refreshed and rejuvenated and thankful for my beautiful camp.
-Emily
