Something Important to Me By: Sarah Levine

 

                                                                         Summer Camp

    Getting away from reality and unplugging is extremely rare nowadays, everyone is always looking to rush their lives in some way or another. At camp, time just slows down and in the cheesiest way possible you get in touch with all your other senses and nothing is distracting you. Camp is a really fun and creative outlet that I feel everyone should experience, the freedom and independence and the bonds are uncomparable to any other. In fact, these friendships I've had for nearly 8 years and I wouldn't change anything about the time I spent there, they were the best summers of my life for the limited time we had together. If it wasn't for Covid-19, I'd go to that camp for as long as I could and become a counselor, the energy and family there was everything you could hope for.

    Since, camp couldn't occur this year or last year, I want to live vicariously through my memories. On a regular day, reveille(which is attached because if I had to hear it so should everyone else) at 8 am, a time every teenager loves to wake up at. Followed by shuffles down to the flag for announcements as well as the breakfast. And my least favorite part, chores and getting ready for the day. Next, activities, if your anything like me, then you stay away from horses, so that leaves only 5 activities left. My absolute favorites would have to be archery, swimming, and tennis, this camp was barely 60 girls so the activities were kept to a minimum. After the morning activities, it was time for dinner and rest hour. The hill has no electricity and we are not allowed to have phones, so I take this time out of my day to read. Then back to the activities, yet these last three are mandatory and vary for each week. Normally, they include, Games, Art and Crafts, and Swimming, but there are variations. Games is not traditional at Skyland. In fact, we train for a competition against each other called TNT and we play games such as ring tennis and volleyball. This is a very serious tradition and has been going on for over one hundred years.  And then we rest for a while, have supper and some more rest then clubhouse. Clubhouse is the most chaotic part of the day, fun activities and games that make us step out of our comfort zone and laugh and get to know each other better. By now its late, time to get ready for bed, because taps is at 10:30. Of course not before some late night talking and snacking. And finally, lights out. Hopefully, this ongoing day was a vivid enough picture, it made me smile writing it.

    Also, made me a little nostalgic knowing I'll never climb Mount Mitchell again(let me preface that I did choose the shortest hike available) or go white water rafting or watch another 4th July fireworks show with them, but I'll always have the memories. And that's what counts in the end. This place is important to me because it's my second home.