The Service of a CIT

The service of a CIT (Counselor In Training) at Pfeifer Camp is not for the feign of heart. The expectations are high and the demands are physically, emotionally, and intellectually exhausting. Ask any CIT though and they will tell you the exhaustion at the end of the week is well worth it. It is well worth it because for most of them, they have been looking forward to this opportunity since they first attended camp; which for some could have been as early as nine years old. To be a CIT is a huge honor for anyone that knows the system of Pfeifer Camp. It requires a high school aged student to dedicate themselves to serving the kids at camp through the ups and downs alongside an AmeriCorps Counselor. As one of these counselors, I find each of these CITs to be amazing in the work they do. Not only do they sacrifice their summer and the possibility of having a job to earn some extra cash; they do so to come out into the mosquito infested woods, run around in 100 degree heat, and on occasion get some serious attitude from campers. On top of all this- they do it for absolutely free. This last year we had many of the CITs volunteer week after week. That is essentially volunteering Monday morning until Friday afternoon in some very stressful conditions for five weeks. What seems to draw these CITs back week after week is multifaceted. Not only do they get to give back to the place that for many of them they call a second home; they get to serve alongside their peers. Some of these peers they grew up with at camp. As they serve with the AmeriCorps Counselors that have travelled from all over the country they also get to learn about the culture and background they come from. They learn leadership skills as they are put in a position alongside the AmeriCorps Counselor and get to teach the kids the skills they grew up learning at camp. These skills include problem solving, outdoor living skills and team building. They get to meet, interact with, and positively influence kids from all over the city. Each week they come back with an unparalleled energy and a drive to serve together so as to continue the traditions that make Pfeifer Camp such a magical place. So when I think of success as it relates to summer camp here at Pfeifer Camp, I can’t help but acknowledge the huge success our CITs are because of their courage, intellect, and tenacity.

Fall

After a long hiatus from the blogosphere...

I was just on the phone with my nana yesterday and she asked if the leaves were starting to change. I thought about it for a second and told her that I thought it seemed to be just around the corner, but wasn't quite there yet. Well, guess what I woke up to this morning? Yup, as I started to look around today I noticed them changing. In fact, they seemed to be changing right before my eyes. Like all in one instant they were turning from green to red and falling to the ground.
As I sit and think about the day today I couldn't help but notice a parallel between the transformation of the season and the many significant transformations happening throughout camp. As we have started our third of five weeks in this first session, these kids have been pushing their counselors to the limits. Each week though, these new counselors come back to the group with new ideas and admirable resilience. I watch them take hit after hit of attitude and craziness... only to get back up with new ways of dealing with the same old behaviors. Because of their hard work and tireless efforts, changes are happening. They are working hard and are challenging the kids to work even harder to make the changes they need to so as to prove to us that they are ready and willing to be the best versions of themselves. This hasn't happened with all of the kids yet, but I have definitely seen the kids start to realize how much we care for them here. They are putting up with the creaky bunk beds, communal bathrooms, and being fussed at by the adults around them because they know that we only want the best from them. They could have given up and stayed home, but they just keep coming back. Dr. Glasser believes that everyone needs at least one person in life who genuinely cares about them and who they genuinely care about. Here at camp we hope that they can find that. Even more than that, we hope they find an overwhelming amount of people here care deeply about them and their future. This is often the most important part of the equation that helps them to change. So just like the season, changes are happening here at camp. Big surprise right? I don't think I would still be here if there weren't big changes happening every single day. I love this place and the people here. Here's to a great start to what I hope is another great year.

for.the.kids

Half Way There!

I just love froggies in the spring. This one is about 2 1/2 inches long!

   We are in full swing here at camp. The third graders have been here for two weeks now, and we have two more left! Third graders are always a fun bunch for many reasons. One way that they are particularly fun is that none of them have ever been through the ACE Program before. Often times, when we have the fourth and fifth grade sessions, some of the campers that have been at camp the previous year or even previous sessions create an atmosphere that just isn't quite the same as having a camp full of newbies. They know how things work (or at least they think they do), they try to manipulate the system (and most the time fail), and they often don't show as much growth because they have done it all before.

      Please please please don't get me wrong... I absolutely love all the children that come through these gates and graduate... but third graders are just so rewarding because you get to start from square one!

   Another reason they are so much fun is because they are not quite as tainted by the world as fourth and fifth graders. They are more imaginative, creative, and energetic. Along with those traits... they are also extremely emotional, irrational, and have tiny bladders (They literally have to go all the time. And when they have to go, they have to go that minute. On more than one occasion this session, a kid has peed their pants because they couldn't hold it). Whoops! Our counselors are working so hard though, and have shown their strength and passion throughout these past two weeks. They clean up after the pee, they stay up until all hours of the night with a kid doing homework, and they plan tons of activities to make their campers' time at camp the most memorable experience. 

   We are half way through, and yet, have much work to do. We have made great strides with many kids, and continue to struggle with others. It is so difficult because you deal with a behavior of a camper and think that you've finally gotten through to them, only to see them do the same thing that got them in trouble the next day. You pour your heart and soul and will into them, and they revert to what they know. The counselor mantra that keeps us as sane (as one could be doing this job) is... "They have had 8-10 years to develop these poor habits- we have four weeks- we will do the best we can and hope we see a change, whether that change occurs here or back at home or at their school, or even in the years to come." 

This is what drives us. What we see in the present, and what we know they can do. Most importantly, we know that they are important and worth our effort. And when the kids understand that- that they are important and worth it- our mission is complete.