This is a guest post written by Emma Bradish, longtime family camper, camper, and member of the 2022 counseling staff.
At the beginning of 4th session, I wrote a letter to my mom in my journal. Nearing the end of the summer, I was feeling an immense amount of gratitude that she had brought Camp into my life. Just before sending the letter, I found one of the first bunk notes I sent home as a camper, ten years ago.
July 24th, 2012
Dear Mama,
Hi! I am so excited to be at Camp. I am on Tip Top with 6 other girls my age and our counselor, they’re really nice. So far I think I like kid camp more than family camp, but I still miss you. Today I got to visit the baby goats and they are so so cute. Also the hike to the river is still hard like last year but we get cookies because it’s kid camp. I’m making a lot of friends I think and it’s so so pretty here. I am happy that I get to be a camper here like you were. I am excited to see you at family camp.
Love,
Emma
July 25th, 2022
Hi Mama,
4th session has just begun – I’m on Tip Top with 6 adorable 10-year-old girls, and Georgia! It feels particularly special to be ending summer where the two of us started as campers 10 years ago and where I know you were a camper too. I’m writing to give you a little update, but also to say thank you. I cannot begin to describe how grateful I am that you brought this place into my life. Camp has, and continues to be a wonderful place to grow up, to learn, to unplug, and to reconnect. So thank you for sharing with our family this little slice of heaven that has given me more than I could have imagine. I can’t wait for you to come to family camp.
I love you,
Emma