#ernstlove

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!

Some lyrics from a song we used to sing at closing campfires when I was a camper: 

“Memories that linger, constant and true...memories we cherish, Camp Ernst, of you.”

Pictured above is a memory stick I found when cleaning up from summer 2019. I love it for so many reasons! 

MEMORY STICKS are a #campernst tradition that dates back to about 1992 (which happens to have been my first year on camp staff!). Campers are given two sticks (ordinary popsicle sticks!) and invited to write the same memory on both. One is thrown into the fire at closing campfire to become part of Camp Ernst forever. The camper can bring the other home and keep with their camp stuff to remember that week of camp and their memories forever! 

MEETING NEW FRIENDS is a timeless memory stick memory. I actually have a little collection of memory sticks that I’ve found over the years. Among the classic ones:

-”The zipline”

-”the slide”

-”The counselors”

...and the entertaining ones:

-”when I laughed so hard I cried”

-”the VIP after party”

-”writing this memory stick”

-”Pooping”

...there are a whole lot about FRIENDS. 

Our camp property, activities, and even traditions have evolved over the years. But the friendships remain. My camp friends are who I want to celebrate exciting things with and also who help me through tough things. 

I wish lifelong #ernstlove and friendship to everyone who came to Camp Ernst this summer.

Be well,

Not only growing up living at camp, but growing up going to camp regularly of course, I have a favorite place at camp. People say that it’s not the place it’s the people, but I think moreso it’s the place that holds the people. The 365 acres make me think of the 365 plus people camp holds every week. Everyone is different, different backgrounds, different stories, and you only know as much as they tell you. 

For me, the valley, in specific center campus and the memorial, have my heart. I’m sure those spots hold countless people’s hearts and memories. Starting as a young, young child I can remember the walk across center campus with my mom and Megan to go to the campfire. 

I remember hanging out with cabins thinking how I couldn’t wait to be in one myself, then I was! I remember going to vespers with my mom looking at all the valley campers thinking they looked so old, then suddenly i was sitting there doing my own devotion with the 10 girls in my cabin who I still remember today.

When I was younger, I was full on camp girl, always. I took advantage of every single perk of that! Everyone knew me and I knew everyone. 

When I got a bit older I realized I wasn’t sure if I liked everyone knowing me. I started over-thinking everything, thinking that people just wanted to be my friend because of my mom. I felt like I had to make my own name for myself. When it was my crew year (last year) and it came time for me to go, all I worried about was people finding out who my mom was. Looking back I find it ridiculous that that was my main concern. 

When I finally realized at a weekend camp that no one cares who my mom is, they care who I am, that made me completely open up and make new friends that I now talk to everyday. I am back to the camp girl Kara that I was in my younger years. I always was her; she just went in hibernation for a couple years. 

I now am sitting here in my happy place thinking about how excited I am for this place I get to call home become home for all my new and old friends. I get that same giddy feeling I did when I was 6 with it being this close to camp. 

I have a necklace with the coordinates of center campus. I wanted the valley to be with me everywhere. When you stand at the memorial you feel on top of the world, you feel almighty. Sitting down in the center of the valley you feel hugged by everything around you, it swallows you up. So when I feel alone I think about my favorite 365 acres, my safe space, and carry my light everywhere I go.

See you soon! 

                          xoxo & ernst love, 

                                    kara jane

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

Dear every kid who lost their summer at camp, 

I see you.

I am as heartbroken as you are, but let me remind you of a few things.

Camp is so much more than the physical place you spend a week or more every summer. Camp is everywhere you want it to be. I have seen that so much more in the last week than ever.

Since I got the dreaded email, cancelling the summer, I have seen camp everywhere. Here’s just a few examples: ⁃ Watching TV, when they started to make up words ⁃ Coloring because I was so bored ⁃ Playing Uno with my mom ⁃ Opening the pantry and seeing a box of Cheez-it’s ⁃ The bottle of Lysol (to go) I had saved for this summer

These may seem like completely random occurrences, and they probably are, but deep down it has meant a lot more to me.

I was looking forward to this summer, more than I ever had before. I was working 8 of the 9 weeks, and I couldn’t wait to spend (virtually) my whole summer at my favorite place in the world. So many of my friends were going to be there all summer with me, and I was excited to see my campers from past summers. My friends and I had been planning our crazy outfits for opening campfire, and our trips to Rabbit Hash. We had been thinking about what units we were gonna work in, and so much more.

Most importantly, we were thinking about how to make this summer perfect for y’all. We do what we do for y’all. You are the reason we work so hard and love our jobs so much.

Now that all has changed. We can’t be together this summer, and I know it’s really hard to understand. I don’t know that I understand it fully either.

For now, let’s make our own “camp.” let’s all work hard to be our “camp selves” every day. Show off how awesome we are, practice all 4 of the core qualities of the YMCA, and make the most of this craziness.

Never forget how much your counselors care about you. We’re your biggest fans, and not just for the week you’re in our cabins. Even though we can’t always keep in touch after summer ends, we want to see you succeed. We’ll always encourage you to follow your biggest dreams. We can’t wait for you to tell us all about it next summer. Here’s to 2021!

Well, it’s APRIL! Typically things are frantic around here this time of year—but 2020 is different.

 …Much quieter!

 I’m grateful for the slower pace and the time to think about what makes camp…CAMP.

 Many times I have heard campers and counselors talk about the “camp magic.” And I have seen this magic in action, too, for many years! I have also learned that the magic is not in this property here in Burlington, although it is beautiful- –it is in YOU.

 All of our camp friends we meet here, the people we wake up and brush our teeth with, the campers who teach us new dance moves and talk about their best friend’s grandma’s cat, the unit leaders who sing the announcements song, the camp counselors who pour syrup on each other’s head during skit squad AND show us how to make friendship bracelets, the leader who inspires us to speak in front of a crowd about the meaning of camp, the ropes staff who encourages us to conquer our fear of heights, the camper who keeps us company on the long walk to ranch camp every day —YOU are the ones who hold us together and CREATE the magic every summer.

 Until the guidance from health officials changes, we’re working towards an awesome summer 2020. However, in light of the COVID-19 situation, we are working on lots of different “what if” scenarios for summer 2020, including smaller cabin groups, adapted meal times and procedures, new health checks and screenings, and of course, lots of handwashing.

 In the answer to each “WHAT IF…” question lies a constant. CAMP is not canceled. 2020 at Camp Ernst may look different than ever before, but the MAGIC that we know of as CAMP will continue. Because it is YOU.

 THANK YOU!

 Last week and already on Monday of this week we’ve seen some camp magic happening online on our ZOOM channel! Bingo, string tricks, dance club, Vespers…it’s been so fun to connect virtually with our camp family. Join us this week for more!

 As many of my camping colleagues around the world are saying right now, “FOR THE LOVE OF CAMP, STAY HOME!”

  Ernstlove,

Making your Mark

This winter we launched a very exciting capital improvement project in the valley: six new cabins and a remodel to the Rec Hall!

You can be part of this! Generous donors and family/community foundations have gotten us this far, but we still have a gap to raise in order to complete this project.

You, your family and friends are invited to make your mark on Camp Ernst by purchasing an Honor Brick. Honor Bricks, 8x8 and customized with up to six lines of 18 characters each, will be connected together to form a path at camp.

Don’t miss this opportunity to honor a loved one, commemorate a friendship, and leave your mark on the future of YMCA Camp Ernst!

Click this link to make your $250 Honor Brick donation now!

  Ernstlove,

A couple weeks ago Cam and I got to attend the beautiful wedding of one of Camp Ernst’s beloved past leaders, Kristin Locey. It was so fun to hang out with some Ernst alumni (we met the first Lakeview Legend!) and to celebrate Kristin and her new husband, Matt. 

OF COURSE I know firsthand the joys of meeting your best friends at camp! Cam and I met at camp in the 90s, and we met many of our closest friends at camp and have grown up with them throughout the past few decades. Here is a  pic of some of them from just last week--

But seeing these more recent camp friendships flourish was exhilarating! In a conversation with the Matron of Honor, Cara Hawkins, she asked about what was new at camp for this coming summer. I caught her up on the new cabins (more on that later!) and said, “But of course what really matters is that NO MATTER WHAT, KIDS ARE STILL BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND MAKING FRIENDS.” 

Cara said, “You should tell people about that more. Camp is, simply, WHERE YOU MEET YOUR BEST FRIEND.” 

(here they are:)

That brings me to GIVING TUESDAY. I’m asking our camp friends far and wide to please help us reach our goal of $1276 and help two more campers make new friends at #campernst this summer. 

HERE’S THE LINK TO GIVE: https://bit.ly/2DAXfj0

Or click “DONATE” on our homepage: myYcamp.org

THANK YOU! Ernstlove,