I sent a text to my best friend: “H, I am writing a blog about our camp friendship. Want to comment?”
Here’s what she wrote:
“When I sit down and try to articulate what my camp friendships mean to me now, I’m overwhelmed. I can’t even imagine how the last two thirds of my life would look. My camp friendships, beyond primary school or college friends, have shaped every piece of my life…My life without my camp friendships isn’t anything I can even picture, nor is it a life I would want. I’m forever indebted to camp for forging these lifelong relationships.” –Hollie Funk Scroggins
Now, my side of the story!
We met as 16 year old junior counselors at camp. All I knew about her was that she was a cheerleader. I had no idea how a cheerleader was going to fit in to our tight knit, hippie outdoorsy camp counselor culture. “Luckily,” I thought, “We’re not in a cabin together.”
So that was the first of many lessons she taught me. She fit in! We shared jokes and Clearly Canadians (the fizzy sodas of the early 90s, for those of you who haven’t tasted the deliciously refreshingness). We sang songs and played with campers. We were scared of thunderstorms and dirty and happy in the sunshine. We worked harder than we had ever worked before. And we were friends.
There is something about the atmosphere at camp that pulls people in, makes them feel alive, gives them purpose and hugs them. All kinds of people.
Now, more than 30 years later, things are different. Instead of giving each other friendship bracelets and mix tapes, we trade kitchen gadgets and novels. Instead of road trips to visit other camp friends in college, we take planes and visit camp friends who own houses and have families and careers. And since we can’t find Clearly Canadian anymore, we share an intense love for Dr Pepper.
And yet, things are the same. She knows my fears, my favorites, my stressors, and shares an understanding of the camp-centered world I live in. She knows when I need a pep talk and a cupcake. And I can always count on her to sing along with me to any song by the Eagles, Indigo Girls, Over the Rhine, or Steve Miller Band.
The thing about camp friends is that you get closer faster than anywhere else in the world. These are the people you wake up with, play with, work with, eat with, and brush your teeth with again at the end of each day. They see you grumpy, goofy, elated, hyper, devastated, frustrated, proud, comfortable…they see YOU. And they still love you. Every day.
This is the magic of camp! This is the accepting atmosphere of people focused on serving and encouraging others. The unconditional love of the camp community reminds me of God, welcoming in anyone and everyone, baggage and all, saying, “Come, be my friend. Have fun. Be yourself…your best self.”
Now you know one of my greatest camp friend stories. Send me yours! ecochran@myy.org
…and I hope I get to make friends with you at camp this summer!
Ernstlove,
