One of my favorite things to do growing up was to go to summer camp. I remember my parents would plan out where I was going to go, and I looked forward to it all school year long. I couldn’t wait to meet new friends, do camp activities, and have the time of my life! I went to many camps throughout life. From horse camp to church camp to outdoor camp, I had a blast each summer spending these weeks with new friends and camp counselors!
Little did I know that after I went to camp as a camper, I would get the opportunity to be a camp counselor. Spending a summer as a camp counselor was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I think everyone should be a camp counselor for at least one summer of their life. Living with 60 other camp counselors and spending your whole summer loving on the kids that come is a wonderful event to experience.
In the summer of 2019, I was actually able to be a camp counselor at a camp that I grew up going to. This place was located in South Carolina and held so many special memories for me. When I got the job that summer, I could hardly wait to start. Little did I know that I would meet my future husband during that summer of being a camp counselor.
I remember we arrived a few days before campers did, so that we could learn the ropes and set up the camp. One of the best days was that first day arriving at camp. It was on that first day of setting up that all the camp counselors began lifelong friendships and formed the most amazing staff team. It was also on that first day that I was able to have a normal conversation with an extraordinary guy named Jackson, who ended up capturing my heart and changing my life forever! I remember calling my family and telling them that I thought I was going to marry this guy Jackson that I had just met. A couple of years later, it came true!
After meeting Jackson, we fell in love throughout the summer of being camp counselors. From May to August, we were soaking up every second of each day together. When the camp season ended, real life picked back up. He was living here in Winston-Salem, NC and I was living back in Nashville, TN. We quickly became road trip experts and drove countless miles and hours to make it work after camp that summer. After two and a half years of dating across 430 miles of long distance, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. We were married last year and have been living the dream in Winston-Salem ever since.
The summer-camp relationships and friendships are so special. They are special because you have nothing else in the world to be worried about, other than having fun and getting to know the people around you. There are no tests or to-do lists to worry about, and you can be very present in the moment. Summer camp has always had a special place in my heart. Whether you are going to camp, sending someone to camp, or working at camp, soak up every second of the time you have this summer…you never know whom you’ll meet!
