Around Town

Why I work at summer camp

 

Wow! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m sure these nice ladies have been holding my spot down well for the past month or two, but I think it’s time to get back into the action on the Opinions page. 

I realize it’s been quite a bit since my last column, but I assure you, I’m still alive and well—just really busy. 

My most recent adventure was serving another summer as a Merit Badge Instructor at the McKee Scout Reservation in Jeffersonville. Since starting this summer job last year, many people have asked me: “Why do you do it?”

As far as summer camps as a whole go, most instructors aren’t in it for the cash. Sure, I could spend my summer flipping burgers or as a clerk at the grocery store, and probably make out with more money than I make in my five weeks at Camp McKee. But there’s more to it – there are more rewards to my summer job than the money. 

I work at summer camp because I once went to summer camp. Only a few years ago I was a Boy Scout, and I camped at Camp McKee. I remember the excitement of that one week, getting out of the house and getting to spend a week with your friends in the troop. I remember the instructors and how they encouraged us to try new things and complete our merit badges. I remember the glow that summer camp staff had about them: we thought they could do no wrong. When I decided to become summer camp counselor, I wanted to be the instructor that I had once looked up to, and give the kids the most fun they could have at summer camp. 

I work at summer camp because of the “eureka” moment. The second to last week of camp, I was teaching the Public Speaking merit badge, and had a scout that had a lot of trouble meeting the time requirements for his speech. I could tell he was knowledgeable about the subject, but just needed a way to organize his thoughts. So we sat down in class and worked on an outline that he would later use to not only meet the time requirement, but to exceed it. It was in that moment that my whole summer was worth it – that moment where a scout even achieves beyond their own expectations is priceless. The scout ended up getting the merit badge, and I’d like to feel like he became a better speaker in the process. 

I work at summer camp to give back. I often think about all the things that scouting has gave me: not just campouts, but the life lessons I have learned and the people that have influenced me through being a scout. If I had never worked at Camp McKee, I may have never met some of the people that I now value as close mentors and friends. It’s my job to do my part in giving back to the program that offered me so much. 

I work at summer camp because of the kids. Some people might thing that spending four weeks of your summer with a bunch of 11-17-year-old boys might be a little crazy, but I see kids from all different backgrounds and home lives, and it’s good to see that they can know that Camp McKee is and will always be a safe and happy place whenever they need it. 

I work at summer camp because it is my “happy place.” Camp McKee is and always will be one of my “happy places.” After all, “Every day’s a holiday, and every meal’s a feast!”

So when you ask me why I work at a summer camp, know it’s because I love it. Know that it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything. Maybe it’s not for you, and you’ll never understand, but just know that summer camp is right where I want to be. 

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And on that note, I’ll leave you!

Aug. 4, 2016

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Since you've been gone

Mom, 

It’s been a year ago today (Thursday) that you went on to bigger and better things than this little world, and to be honest, it’s just as hard now as it was then. We still think of you every day, and I hope you’re doing well up there. I just wanted to update you on what’s been going on with me. 

Let’s start with a few days after you passed away: I marched with the NCHS Band in the Pegasus (Kentucky Derby) Parade. Shannon gave everyone a grey ribbon to wear for you on your uniform. It was such a nice feeling, and I thought it was a great way to celebrate how much you loved that little band. 

I started my summer camp job at Camp McKee, and absolutely loved it. You didn’t have to handle all the stinky laundry this year; Dad took care of it. I’m going back there this summer, and hopefully it becomes an every year thing. The friends I made there will be some of my best friends for a while. 

I’ve been dating my girlfriend Holly for almost a year now. She’s pretty awesome, and I think you’d like her. She wants to be a nurse, and I think about all the time how much you’d probably like that, and want to have all of these nursing conversations with her. 

I started college at Morehead State University, your alma mater, and I really love it. I’ve been doing really well, and I actually made the Dean’s List last semester, and might this semester too. Having gone here for almost a year now, I think about all these questions I could ask you about your experience here. 

I finished my first season as a member of the MSU Marching Band, and it was a great season. We even did a performance in Paris, and Nana and Papaw got to come up and see me perform. I knew if you could’ve been, you’d have been right up there in those stands every game. 

We got a brand new preacher at the church, and he’s a really cool guy. Everyone really seems to like him, including me. We also got that new sound system that Dad wanted. And yes, I’m still giving him a hard time about it. 

I finally finished all the requirements to earn my Eagle Scout Award, and in January we hosted a huge Eagle Scout Ceremony at the church. You couldn’t be there to accept your Mother pin, but Nana wore it very well. 

Dad had a little scare in the hospital recently, but he’s home now, and recovering well. I’d just like you to know, for the record, that you are a much better nurse than I am. I could just imagine you telling everyone in that hospital what they were going to do, working at your orders. 

I’m almost done with my first year of college, and can’t wait for this summer. 

Nana and Papaw are doing pretty well. They’re still working hard as usual. They miss you a lot too, just like the rest of us. 

Oh yea, and Seth is okay too, I guess. 

Anyway, I just wanted to update you on some of the stuff that’s happened in the past year, but I’m sure you’ve been watching and know it all already. I hope it’s beautiful where you are, and I hope I see you again someday, so we can really catch up. 

Love, Ross

 

And on that note, I’ll leave you.   April 28, 2016

 

Look Up

Do you often find yourself staring down at your cell phone while in the presence of others? How about only making eye contact with your phone while someone is speaking directly to you? Or when someone invites you to lunch, do you pay more attention to Facebook than that person right in front of you? If you participate in any of the former or similar activities, you may suffer from something I like to call…being rude.

In my childhood household, when we were of age, our cell phones were not allowed out at the dinner table. My dad taught me it was rude to talk to someone with your head down in your cell phone. And although I rolled my eyes then, I now see where my old man was coming from.

Every Sunday, I sing with the choir at church, and face the congregation throughout the service just as the pastor does. Let me confirm your fears: Yes, I can see that you are on your cell phone during the service, or our anthem. And even if you don’t have a choir, I assure you that your pastor can see that phone too. If you’re going to completely ignore the church service – or any service for that matter – with your cell phone, just stay at home. Honestly, it’s more respectful to those preaching, performing, or presenting if you keep those cell phone shenanigans at home instead of during the presentation they have worked so hard to prepare. And at church, what could possibly be more important than worshiping?

And don’t get me started on talking to me while you have your head in your phone. Look at me! Whatever is on that phone is not as important as the living, breathing human being that is right in front of you. Not to mention that just looking at me while I’m talking makes me feel respected. Seeing you look at your phone makes me feel inferior to the cyber world, and are you really my friend if you do that to me?

Now, I’m a young person, and I know the stereotypes: Those youngsters are always on those phones. They never put ‘em down. But people, this isn’t just a problem with our young people, this is a problem with the people of our world. Whether you believe it or not, it’s not just the people of my generation with which I have this trouble. In the last few weeks, I have talked to adults the age of my parents that don’t have the common decency and respect to look at something other than their phone during church, or when someone is speaking directly to them. It’s rude, people. Don’t you understand that?

Now, this condition of being rude – it’s not that hard to fix. Just simply slip that cell phone in your pocket whenever you have the chance to experience the actual world. And then the next part – the most important part – leave that cell phone in your pocket barring any emergency. (Gasp!)

Look up from your phone, readers. I promise, there’s a life outside of cyber word. It’s your job to experience it – you just have to look up.

And on that note, I’ll leave you.