SUMMER SCHOOL ZONE: Summer camp brings new experiences

When school ends, the first thing the average teenager looks forward to is sleeping in. From my perspective, summer is the best time to take advantage of opportunities for your future and to gain new, proactive experiences. An opportunity for me was to return to help my community as a third-year volunteer at Lake Cypress Summer Camp at Windermere Preparatory School.

My first two summers at Lake Cypress were spent with kindergarten and first-grade campers, helping them stay focused in the camp environment and engaged throughout the day. This year, I was moved up to the fourth-grade group. Although the campers are older and more aware of others, they still are younger individuals who need encouragement, guidance and someone to look up to. This four-day experience has given me a new perspective on leadership and reminded me how much I have grown since my freshman year.

Every day brought a new journey and learning experience. Campers would scramble in the circular gate during gaga ball, collaborate to build forts and chase the balloon rockets we would pump in the courtyard. One of the biggest highlights from my week was when the campers asked me to play gaga ball with them, and when I said yes, they were happy and cheering. It made me feel that I not only was a good volunteer but also a good role model. While these games are fun in all, they created an opportunity for collaboration, communication and problem-solving.

As a volunteer, my responsibilities go beyond just making sure one doesn’t break the rules during a game. I ensure all campers feel included and encouraged to go out of their comfort zone and to always be there if there are any problems. Now, some campers are naturally outgoing, while others would need some reassurance before meeting others their own age they don’t know. Learning how to use your voice with different personalities has increased my patience and my social skills. It also has taught me that the most important job during these types of situations is to just calmly listen.    

Volunteering at Lake Cypress has taught me to become more proactive with others as well. Instead of staying indoors all summer long, I have something to look forward to for a week: staying active, giving back to my community, and meeting new people and younger campers. Every day is different, which is a new opportunity for me to make experiences exciting and rewarding.

Since Lake Cypress is hosted at Windermere Preparatory School, volunteering here not only has allowed me to connect back with my school community but also to work with other peers of mine as well as teachers and staff members who all aim for the same outcome of the camp, which is creating a fun experience for the campers.

Looking back, I realize I have gained as much from this experience as the campers did. The social skills you learn from the counselors on how to talk to the younger campers and how to deal with certain situations have taught me these past three years how to become a better leader and communicator, not only at this camp but also as I go on in life. I also have learned that making a big impact on volunteering at a camp doesn’t require a big help or gesture; it’s really just inclusion. 

As I finished my third year as a volunteer at Lake Cypress Summer Camp, what always stays with me are the lessons and memories I have made. This volunteer opportunity has become one of the most meaningful parts of my summers, allowing me to be in my school community while getting to know other younger campers, creating memories of their own.