It has been so long since my last post, and there is what I think is good reason for that. I have spent the last two and a half months pouring my heart and soul into my job. As is customary for me, I returned to Orcas Island to work at Four Winds.
I know what some of you might be thinking, "Madeline why are you still working at summer camp after your Junior year of college?" The answer is simple: the community. I have never met another group of people who so genuinely cares about each other.
The tent mates that quickly formed a family
At this job you can pour your heart and soul into your work with no judgement, in fact with complete support. I worked a nontraditional job this year-I was the Special Projects Assistant to the Special Projects Manager (a mouthful). In this job I ran the camp store, drove laundry, and filled in wherever I was asked. This job was challenging for me, and I really struggled to find my place at times. However, there is no way I would change my summer.
Over the course of the past few months I have learned so much about myself and have learned the value of challenging myself whenever possible. Part of working at summer camp means giving yourself up for others, we are encouraged to be selfless to an extent that those who aren't there don't understand.
Sure, the choice to work at Four Winds (or really any other summer camp) does not make sense with my life plan. And, I feel drawn to work there. I feel that I have something to give to the community, just as the community has something to give to me.
It is the people I work with that make this place somewhere I want to return to. As we say at camp, "the magic is not in the dirt, it's in the people."
Specialist team
Madeline
