A Long Era Comes to and End

I just finished my last 2 weeks as an employee of Lutheran Island Camp. Yesterday I left the island with a feeling of contentment, accomplishment, and satisfaction that the blood, sweat, and tears I poured into that place over the last 10 years made a difference in the lives of the people I worked with and worked for.

Camp is such an amazing place. For many of my friends, its wonderful because that's where they met their current spouse. But for me it holds something different. In the past decade I've been able to watch and work with former JC's and campers of mine as the grow into young adults and become staff members at camp. It was a cherished memory to be part of the reason they wanted to work at camp, and it is a joy to see how much they have come to love the place. Watching camp become as important to them as its been to me for 25 years is an experience I wouldn't trade for anything.

As always, there are so many fond memories of camp, but I will share just one here from the past two weeks. It came from the mouth of Sarah Swanson, long time July Family Week camper. She and I are at the square dance one night during evening program and she turns to me and goes: "What kind of people do this - like farm people?" Rendered speechless at the voice of Sarah Swanson. To say this to me of all people - I don't even think she knows I live on a farm, but it was completely hilarious. :)