Camp counselors in 2021 had an enormous challenge: help campers connect with each other after most (both children and counselors!) had not been together in school in more than a year.

Weekly camper surveys consistently reported that campers’ favorite things about their week were the zipline, banana boat, and their counselors.

Positive comments from camp parents emphasized that this summer was a particular gift to their families. One parent wrote in, “Check-in and check-out were handled so smoothly and made us feel so comfortable leaving our kids with you for the week. Our 12-year-old daughter was really impacted by the evening activities that included reflection and sharing. Our 10-year-old daughter loved that her counselor sang to them each night at bedtime. (I teared up when she told me this because I expected her to be a little lonely at that time or have trouble falling asleep. This is such a loving touch.) I can't wait to send our girls back next year!”

Counselors were able to adapt to COVID protocols while maintaining beloved camp traditions. Campers enjoyed Opening Campfire with skits and songs, classic evening programs like CHAOS, Thursday night camp dance (now known as the “Camp Ernst Party”), and of course Closing Campfire on Friday nights.

Today I got asked to answer these questions for an upcoming magazine article about camp--sharing my answers here, too! (BRING ON SUMMER!)

1.     Sleep away camp is a great way for kids to meet friends and build independence - in addition, what is the BIG purpose behind sleep away camps?  

Overnight camping started in the late 1800s as a movement to get kids out of the industrial/city environment and back to the fresh air of nature. In many ways the purpose is the same today—unplug and connect with each other, oneself, and nature, while building leadership, friendship, and confidence.

 2.     Why do parents and kids choose sleep away camp over local camps or why do they choose sleep away in general (some do both!)

Going to camp really is the best way to get out of your comfort zone and into the “challenge zone”—while being supported by enthusiastic role models (cool camp counselors) to try new things and celebrate achievements in a community where you belong. Parents, too, need camp—as a break from scheduling, cleaning, driving, etc, and can benefit from the taste of independence their camper gains from camp.

 3.     What are some of the main reasons you find that kids love sleep away camp? How have you seen kids grow/change from when they came to when they left? 

Kids come for the first time for the exciting activities and love to return year after year for the friendship and acceptance. I have seen kids grow leaps and bounds in confidence, self-advocacy, leadership, self-awareness, curiosity, and so much more!

 4.     Name some challenges kids face in sleep away camp, and how have you seen them overcome them?

Most of the challenges come from having to navigate advocating for themselves. At home and at school they have their family and their teacher. At camp they have to quickly figure out how to find the trusted adult and let them know what problem they are having, from feeling a little homesick to getting annoyed with another camper, or simply not liking what’s served for dinner! This is a critical turning point in a kid’s life and so empowering—when they can learn to identify their needs and speak up for themselves and affect change on their own.

 5.     If you had to explain to a parent who is new to sleep away camps what they are and are REALLY about, what would you say? What other advice can you give to parents wanting to know more about sleep away camps? 

Camp is youth development at its finest and camps are ready to partner with parents in this great adventure of raising empathetic, curious, kind kids!

Horses have long been a part of the Camp Ernst experience. The connection between a child and a horse is amazing to watch. Working with horses can build confidence and mental muscle as well as improve balance, flexibility, and physical strength.

At Camp Ernst’s ranch, we rely on philanthropy in several ways to expand impact.

Last winter we launched an Amazon Wishlist where dozens of camp families purchased horse feed supplements, bridles, and other riding gear to benefit our ranch program.

We have several regular donors who make sure that campers who attend on fee assistance also get the chance to participate in ranch camp or a trail ride.

We also host a growing number of volunteers each year. Our beloved regular volunteer, Pat, spends 15 hours a week here cleaning stalls and feeding horses. Corporate volunteer groups have made a huge dent in our to-do list this year, having spent many hours clearing and painting pasture fences.

Against the odds, with great effort and support from a superior team, more than 3500 campers and 300 staff enjoyed a summer experience at Camp Ernst with no reported cases of COVID!

Throughout the spring, we worked with a Medical Advisory Committee led by our longtime camp physician, local pediatrician Chris Cunha. Our camp nurses and other medical professionals familiar with the camp operation joined the team to help shape our Camp Ernst-specific policies under the guidelines of the local Health Department and CDC. The result was a much-needed summer of reconnection for all.

Campers from all walks of life were thrilled to be back at camp, experiencing community in the outdoors, and playing together. Camp counselors embraced the challenge of constant hand sanitizing, mask reminders, and limiting group mixing. Food service changed from the traditional “family style” meals to more of a cafeteria-type serving line. Sunday camper check in was faster and more centralized, allowing parents to stay at the car to say their goodbyes.

The best news is that overall, the outcomes of the camp experience did not suffer! Campers still had fun, learned new skills, acted silly, made new friends, and felt a sense of belonging as they connected with their camp counselors and navigated the week of camp activities with their cabinmates.

We are so grateful for the hard work of our camp staff and the financial support of our camp donors who made summer 2021 another successful one!

dear ernst,

 there's something so magical about finally

pulling into the camp ernst property looking

across the lake at what will be your home for

the next week. you are ready to make

memories that will last you a lifetime.

 something so special about camp ernst is that

i never think a year can get better after the

last. but that is the complete opposite actually.

you are welcomed by so many friendly faces at

opening camp fire and you brace yourself for a

week that will fly by in the blink on and eye.

 i've always heard my counselors say that crew will

forever be their favorite year at camp and i

never understood why. all you do is clean

toilets and mop the floor. how could that be

fun?

 well week 5 of summer 2021 gave me the

answer to that question.

 it's sunday afternoon and you just finished

the hassle of making your

bed trying to stand on the ladder of your top

bunk. you take a deep breath and open the

door to your yurt ready to begin the best week

of your life.

 you gather on the pav to figure out

which kitchen you will be spending your week

in. you see your name under the valley

category and smile in relief that you got where

you wanted to be.

 When you are on crew you

will form strong bonds with everyone in your

kitchen by sunday night. When you are working

together with your kitchen you learn to use

each other to get the job done.

 when you are

on crew you gain respect from those who see

all the hard work you do. having a positive

mindset about the work you will do is so

necessary for a fun week.

 when you hear music you need to get up and

dance because the energy will bounce off your

fellow crewies and soon enough you will have the whole

dining hall on tables screaming taylor swift as

you laugh at all the pots and pans you still

have to clean.

 being on crew gives you responsibilities that

will test your hard work

and dedication.

 crew isn't all about work work

work because you also get to experience all

the traditional camp activities that you would

as a younger camper. whether it's playing tips

as the lake view pool or pushing each other off

the rocket on the lake.

 your kitchen will become your best friends

before you know it.

 as friday rolls around the tears begin to fall.

you wake up knowing this is your last year ever

being a camp ernst camper. the day goes by

quickly and soon enough your walking into the

dining hall to serve your last meal.

 you take a seat at the table just to hear your favorite

camp song come on. you find yourself crying

while staring at your shirt that is now covered

in wet tear marks. you look over to see one of

your new best friends crying as well. as

campers come to eat you continue to cry and

soon enough the whole crew is letting their

emotions loose.

 you have counselors and e-teamers giving you

hugs and telling you they

appreciate all that you have done for them all

week. your eyes now burn as you walk back up

camelback for the last night after a meal.

 You are now standing at closing campfire singing

"I will remember camp ernst for a long long time" you look

around to see the wonderful people you have

met. it's now time for the last crew devotion.

you sit crisscross applesauce as your body is

exhausted from a week’s worth of hard work

and a day full of tears.

 the counselors start

singing "today," "leaving on a jet plane" and

"never grow up." you sit there remembering the

week you just had and the memories that will

never fade.

 as you get into your bunk for the

last time you think to yourself "this is

goodnight and not goodbye" and you ponder

over the fact that you came to make friends and left with a family

                 -kenzie

The following is excerpted from Camp Counselor Barath Vrishabhendra’s recent paper for English class. Barath is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky.

“You should definitely sign up, it’ll be worth it”, my friends told me. 

Before then, I had done only day camps, or at most a single night stay. My older brother had never even done overnight camp. For these reasons and many more, I was extremely hesitant. But it seemed like such a good opportunity, and I suffered from F.O.M.O., or the “fear of missing out”, too much not to go.

I distinctly remember the thirty-minute drive feeling like hours. I started getting extremely nervous and told my parents I did not want to go anymore. We got to Cabin I, my cabin, a cool half-wooden, half-metal place where the older campers got to stay for the week. I unloaded my tub full of clothes and essentials, made my little twin bed, and got ready to endure the week’s festivities.

The next week, my mom and dad drove up at around 10am, looking for me in the mess of 14-year-olds running around everywhere. I ran up to them, looking tired, but high on the adrenaline from the past week. The entire car ride home I told my parents about all the new things I got to do: go ziplining, ride horses, go down a 100-foot water slide, along with an endless amount of other things. I made a hundred new friends, all from different backgrounds, from all different sides of the country. I remember the weather being perfect the entire week, which added to the euphoria.

Fast forward... (now as a counselor) I have had over 200 campers, ages ranging 6 to 14, from all different corners of the tri-state. I have worked side-by-side with amazing people from whom I have learned valuable life-long teachings, and people who have left a lasting impression on me. This is what made leaving this summer incredibly bittersweet. On one hand, it was very difficult to let go of the childhood memories I had created at this place. It had opened me up to new opportunities, growth, and friendship. On the other hand, I was eager to take the treasures I had gained and move forward in life reminiscing on a place I once called home.

I wanted to use my narrative and my years of experience at a summer camp to stress the benefits for children at these particular camps. The ACA, or American Camp Association, highlighted four “C’s” as areas of growth when in a camp community, these being compassion, contribution, commitment, and character.

 Kids learn compassion for other people, animals, and wildlife, being in a mostly outdoor space for over a week with their peers. This compassion is a cornerstone in their growth as individuals and will define their character for many years to come.

Regarding contribution, teamwork is a key aspect of childhood summer camp, and working as a cabin allows for collaboration from every team member. There is a sense of belonging on these teams and will show that every person has a contribution to a cause. 

Commitment is the third “C” and refers to the dedication a child has to a place and an activity. This helps children discover their love for the camp experience and drives them to become counselors and staff members. They become people who want to pass their positive childhood experiences onto children and want them to continue the cycle. 

And finally, character. Character is who we are to others. As children, we are not aware that the character we have represents us as a whole and can be perceived negatively and positively. At camp, we learn to interact with others, develop our character, and treat everyone with the kindness and worth they deserve. Character combines compassion, contribution, and commitment, as well as many other factors that give a summary of ourselves.

Every person who comes through a summer camp has something new to offer, and children are the greatest benefactors. Being in their formative years, summer camps allow for new and exciting experiences to help shape a child’s future and allows them to consider others in addition to themselves.

Parents sometimes do not have a full understanding of the benefits that a summer camp gives to a child. The old joke is that they are sending their kid away for a week so they can avoid responsibilities and relax. However, the advantages are vast. 

The Journal of Youth Development, or JYD, conducted a study titled “Understanding the Role of Summer Camps in the Learning Landscape”…to find attribution between experience at summer camp to development as an adult. Individuals who were in one of these (camp) programs at an earlier age reported a higher level of independence, responsibility, appreciation for difference, and teamwork. “This study reaffirms that camp is an important learning setting and that many of the outcomes associated with camp participation last into adulthood”. So, even according to scientific research and data collection from hundreds of unrelated people, the answer is always the same.

If I could sum up this essay with a letter inspiring parents to send their children to a summer camp for at least one week a summer, I think it would read something like this:

Parents, as a previous camper and staff member at a summer camp, I know first-hand that your child is the most important thing to you. It can be difficult to let strangers take care of your child for a week in the middle of the woods with 300 children they have never met before.

Additionally, it is hard to realize the true benefit of a summer camp before sending your child. I am here to tell you: it is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. 

Going to a summer camp gave me a sense of belonging and acceptance. It was able to broaden my horizons and allow me to try things I would never have dared to do. It allowed me to open myself up to new people, and realize they are not as scary as they seem. It gave me the greatest job I have ever had. 

Your child will be able to do all this, then continue to share it with future campers. They will carry the learning objectives of teamwork and contribution with them fully throughout their lives. They will develop an appreciation for nature, history, and sociology. 

Lastly, and most importantly, it will make them a better person, and teach them that one’s character is their greatest asset. 

With thanks to GoCampPro.com and Blacklivesmatteratcamp.com for organizing this event throughout the US and Canada and providing language, reach, and resources

Today, Camp Ernst stands with camps all over the country in affirming that Black lives matter. We are committed to the on-going work of eliminating structural racism and white supremacy within camping and Camp Ernst. We commit to advancing on this journey through action. We welcome and need the help of our community in our journey. See Eli’s reflection from June on the work ahead of us. Below are few steps that we are currently taking to do better as we prepare for Summer 2021.

 -      Collecting demographics and segmenting survey data to better understand how groups of individuals with different identities and races experience camp.

-      Continuous review of traditions and rituals at camp, adjusting programs and operations to better reflect the range of cultures present in our community.

-      Launching a Staff and alumni/volunteer collaboration to develop and implement strategies that more strongly support Camp Ernst campers, families, and staff of color for Summer 2021 and beyond. (This will include engaging community stakeholders with a broad range of skills, perspectives, and connections-- critical to strengthening camp’s impact, including our work to address structural racism.

Don’t All Lives Matter?

Yep. When we say proudly that “Black Lives Matter,” we are not diminishing the value of all lives. For all lives to truly matter, Black lives must matter. Long-term, meaningful, positive change requires actions and changes from as many people and institutions as possible.

Why this public announcement today?

Many of our camping colleagues around the continent are coming together on social media today to highlight our commitment to affirm Black lives. We know a social media post doesn’t equal action. We will continue to collaborate across camps, in the recreation industry, and in youth development to make a difference in the lives of our campers, staff, and families.

Why are people getting political at camp?

Not political— HUMAN.

Camps have the power to improve the lives of our communities. The Y has a long history of local, state, and national legislative advocacy. This work and affirming that Black lives matter is not a partisan message or in service to a particular political party. Working together towards justice and caring for others is something that all people- camp people especially- can and should engage in.

Ernstlove,

I sat down to write a blog entry about teenagers. I have started this paragraph eight times. I am struggling to find the words to express the awe and fascination I have with these young people who keep me going.

I even googled: “amazing quotes about teenagers.” Unsurprisingly, it yielded nothing useful.

Here’s the thing: I am simultaneously intimidated by, fascinated by, inspired by, motivated by, scared of, and proud of teenagers.

And this complicated feeling has been the driving passion behind the eighteen years I have spent as a camp director.

When I first came back to work at camp I had been a stay-at-home mom for almost three years to my twin toddler sons and my sister-in-law, a teenager. Despite having a teenager in my house, the thing I worried most about in coming back to camp was all the teenagers. I said to one friend, “What if they don’t think I’m cool?” She shut that right down: “Teenagers don’t think anyone is cool, Elizabeth. You’ll be fine.”

OH.

That didn’t keep me from purchasing a subscription to “TEEN PEOPLE MAGAZINE” from the fundraising sale of the (teenage) girl who lived next door.

Fast forward eighteen years to today, and I have not stopped being blown away by the genius, depth, creativity, passion, and heart-centeredness of the thousands of teenagers I have encountered at camp.

Sure, there is self-centeredness. There is rule-breaking and bad decision-making. There is heartache, pettiness, and even dishonesty.

But the positives FAR OUTWEIGH the negatives.

There is a clear desire to be recognized as having a meaningful contribution to the universe. And where better to receive that recognition than at camp?

I will never forget one conversation I had with a teenage staff member: “Eli, everywhere else in the world we don’t matter. At camp, we have a purpose.”

There’s beautiful magic when a formerly wily teenger, given a few “second” chances, turns into a highly-regarded twenty-something unit leader. Or when I watch a camp counselor lead a song to 500 campers and remember her from her crew year, timid and unsure whether she wanted to stay at camp.

And this past nine months of pandemic life have showed me some amazing resilience of the teenagers in my camp orbit.

This past summer we ran a small day camp to fill the child care void for the local community. Over the course of the summer, about 20 teenagers volunteered their time to help support the tired, overstretched camp counselor staff. These teens sanitized, wore masks, and helped the activities run. They saved our summer.

In August an especially impressive group of teenagers (about 50 of them!) formed the 2020-2021 Camp Ernst Junior Board. I have had the privilege of watching them create projects, committees, run meetings, communicate plans, and drum up volunteers for all kinds of random things I have needed help with these last few months. Each month I get on a zoom call with them and just watch them go! They are fun, funny, efficient, organized—just amazing!

So far this year they’ve written Thank you cards to the 500+ families who donated their camp fees in 2020, starred in a camp segment for a virtual YMCA Healthy Kids Day event, volunteered to clean the mountain bikes, volunteered at camp family days, raised more than $2000 in the fall merch sale, and much more. All their meetings have been online and they communicate using GroupMe. They work hard to distribute the work and make sure everyone is included.

These teenagers are going to change the world. Actually, they already are.

Join them on Saturday Nov 21 for their first LIVESTREAM “FALLING INTO FUN” on @campernst Instagram at 1pm.

And while you’re holiday shopping, be sure to check out the Camp Ernst Holiday Merch Sale, featuring the winner of the Junior Board’s Tshirt design contest and the holiday gift box full of their ideas.

Stay tuned for a video playlist they’re working on to highlight aspects of the camp experience and express their love for Camp Ernst.

Ernstlove,

eli

Follow the Junior Board on Instagram and twitter! @cejuniorboard