This article was written by Kaelene Gustafson. She first attended in 2008 as an overnight camper, and then was a CIT in 2014 and 2015. She actually took her senior photos at camp because of how special the place is for her! Here are the Top Six Life Lessons she learned as a camper at MCC!
1 - EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Meeting new people and new friends is a way to test your communication skills. Communicating with others allows campers to find shared interests. Effective communication skills are a tool that will always benefit you.
2 - INDEPENDENCE
At camp, you need to take care of yourself (of course with the supervision of counselors). Parents are not at camp to tell you when to brush your teeth, or what you should be eating at dinner. It is the camper’s responsibility (with the help of counselors) to make these decisions for themselves. This teaches campers to be self-sufficient and independent.
3 - THE VALUE OF NOT BEING CONNECTED
One of my favorite parts about camp is being disconnected from the outside world - no Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, etc. Whether you go to camp for a week, or for all eight weeks, campers soon realize that being disconnected is satisfying, and something that they can easily live by. Not being connected with the internet gets your mind to soak up what is happening in the moment, allowing you to enjoy yourself…which leads me to my next life lesson…
4 - LIVING IN THE MOMENT
In the blink of an eye, camp is over. It is hard to believe that time could fly by so fast. By the end of the session, campers come home with a thousand memories that are irreplaceable and they do not take them for granted.
5 - THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING YOURSELF
As many know, camp is a place where you are accepted for being yourself. You will always find someone that will include you. Camp can also help campers find out who they are and what their interests are.
6 - THE BEAUTY OF DIVERSITY AND CULTURE
Camp is filled with people with different backgrounds, beliefs, and interests including the staff from all over the world. Camp allows for an opportunity to reach out to others that differ from them and to learn more about their differences. Having a conversation with one can teach you where they come from, what their culture is like, and even more about the world.