When I was a kid, I went to a summer camp myself. I had fun meeting other kids and goofing off. Yet one memory from my camp experience that stuck with me is when some boys were taunting me and my friends, and throwing rocks at us, and I got hit just below my eye. There were no adults in the vicinity to stop them, or witness what had transpired. I had to go find someone to get a Band-Aid and ice for my face. No one took the time to sit with me and make sure I was okay, or help me process my feelings of anger, neglect, or hurt. I didn’t feel safe. I didn’t feel loved or cared for. My physical injury was taken care of, but my emotional needs were neglected.
Alkulana taught me that camp life could be different than my experience. It should be a place that feels safe. We can’t always stop kids from getting hurt, but what we can do is help children process their feelings, and handle conflict in a healthy way. This is one of the reasons that Camp Alkulana has become my favorite place in the world.
It’s been six years since I excitedly applied to Camp Alkulana to be a counselor. I struggled with my own self-worth, and needed a distraction from my own anxieties. I came to Alkulana when I was 22, starved for community and a sense of purpose. I was insecure, and unsure if I would fit in with the other staff, many of whom had been coming to Alkulana since they were campers themselves, and had deep friendships with one another. I was an outsider, but not for long. At the end of the first day, we were all in a circle sharing our personal stories and crying together. Alkulana camp counselors go through extensive training that covers topics such as trauma, resiliency, and de-escalation. By the end of our ten-day staff training, I was fully equipped to meet my task head on because I wasn’t alone. I was a valued member of a team with a shared mission. I was comfortable with my co-counselors, knew that Beth trusted me as a valuable and competent staff member, and I felt empowered to tackle the difficult situations as they arise.
Every summer comes with its own challenges; however, I am continually surprised to find how much growth, confidence, and self-love I gain as a byproduct of teaching my campers to grow, be confident, and love themselves. What I wasn’t prepared for when I first submitted my application was how much my heart would ache saying goodbye at the end of each summer. Still, I always know that my Alkulana community is there for me, and that there’s next summer to look forward to.
Alkulana isn’t just a summer camp, it’s somewhere that feels like home.
by Lena Stone, Camp Alkulana counselor