This time last year I couldn’t have even imagined that I would have been doing the stuff I have been doing this summer.

I fancied a change so I took a shot in the dark and applied to camp America – although the process was long and didn’t hear anything for months after I passed my interview and got my VISA. But it all fell into place.

June 8^th – the moment my summer all came together. I got an offer to work on one of the most well-known and prestigious camps in the USA to teach fitness and I took the offer – throwing myself in at the deep end.

After travelling for over 24 hours, 2 flights, 2 bus rides and over 3,000 miles I made it to the wonderful land of Wico.

The first week was terrifying meeting over 150 other counsellors and constantly thinking what the hell have I got myself into the kids flooded into camp and the first 4-week session commenced. Living with one of my best friends, 2 other counsellors and 10 10-year old children for 4 weeks – who knew it could be so entertaining (not forgetting exhausting). Although each day was 16 hours long they were action packed and full of memories per minute which I will hold onto for a life time.

The kids have a huge impact on you as well as you do on them, the teach you so much about yourself, camp, the songs for campfire, songs for the dining hall and the traditions.

They said before camp even started you can’t even begin to explain camp to someone who has never been and they were correct – there are even adjectives that have been invented yet to explain camp and what happens in the land of Wico.

All I can tell you is that those first 4 weeks were so eye-opening to how the other half live, how children can be so different but so similar and who you are as a person.

With you learning who you are throughout the duration of the first session the leadership staff are learning all about you too! I noticed they saw me changing throughout the summer as for the second session of children whom were coming into camp the leadership believed I would be more suited to the older children on camp, and they were correct (although I wasn’t sure at the start – but they know what they’re doing) I was moved to upper camp to look after 14 13-year olds with 3 other counsellors.

Special event days, getting thrown into a pool and racing across with a raft made of floats and wood, dance shows, banquets, challenge cups, colour war, assassin games, climbing mountains on days of and thousands more memories (which i’m not going to bore you with) each camp is different and holds something special – you’ve just gotta find the one for you.

The laughs, jokes and memories made with these guys in upper camp – I talk about them everyday day and look back on the photos which were taken.

Like I said I can’t even begin to describe what happened on camp because it would make sense to anyone who hasn’t been!

But it was the best time of my life and who knows T19 – I could be coming for you…