5 Lessons I Learned as a Camp Counselor

Written by McKenna 'Fig' Runde

If there’s one thing I know from my time as a camp counselor, it is that camp changes you. It bolsters your confidence, deepens your laughter, breaks down your walls, creates forever friendships, and changes lives for the better (not just your own)! 

It also empties you of yourself. It requires more self-sacrifice than you may have ever given before. It pushes you past your comfort zone and encourages trust in the working of the Holy Spirit. It stirs a desire in your heart to serve and love boldly. It empties you of yourself and directs you toward something bigger. It’s the best job in the world, and it teaches you some important life lessons.

Here are 5 'simple' things I learned during my time as a camp counselor:

1. See the good in all!

Some campers have a fear of the dark, others have a rough case of homesickness. Some are self-conscious and others are loud and boisterous. We all have our ‘things’ (wounds and weaknesses), and we also all have an incredible innate goodness. After all, we were each created in the image and likeness of God!! Serving as a camp counselor showed me the patience necessary to meet each person where he/she was and see the good in all, regardless of the baggage they carry or the wounds they wear.

2. Really listen

Being a counselor gives you the unique opportunity to grow in relationship with your fellow staff members and the hundreds of campers you’ll encounter throughout a summer. Get to know them. Listen to their stories. Listen to their emotions. Hear them. Everything they’re saying and not saying. They will remember it.

3. It’s not about you

If you’re joining summer staff because you want to have the time of your life and the tan of your life, you might be in for a little perspective shift. This summer is not about you, but it IS about giving of yourself to those around you. You’ll sacrifice and ‘do it all for the campers’ and pour out your heart ... And you might just find that through your gift of self, you end up having the time of your life.

4. Flexibility is key

Very rarely do things go as planned at Camp. That’s part of the beauty and magic of this place! We fly by the seat of the Holy Spirit’s pants! Plans change, storms come, cabin 7 boys lose their camp tee right before the all-camp photo … we roll with it! The best memories come from the unplanned moments.

5. Camp friends are the best friends

Find your people and never let them go! The relationships formed at Camp can withstand any storm … heck, these are the people who have your back when you get 4 hours of sleep with a sick camper. They’re the ones who brush your teeth blindfolded as a fun skit to make the campers roar with laughter. They cry with you in the hard moments and in the moments when your joy is just overflowing.

There were more than a few times in my camp counseling career when I woke up in the back of cabin 3 to a camper knocking on my door and thought to myself, “Wow, I think this is the 16th time I’ve been woken up for a bathroom break tonight.” And there were even more times when I woke up to sunshine and chirping birds and thought, “Wow, this life is a beautiful gift. Thank you, Jesus.” 

Thank you for the time I was given to spend as a camp counselor. Thank you for the memories gained and the lessons learned. Thank you for the people I met and those I grew from. For the tears and the laughter and the songs and the stories. For Your presence, in all of it. Thank you, Jesus.

The Gift of Sunsets

Written by Kaitlynn 'Crayola' Kupsky

When I think about Camp Tekakwitha, so many memories come to mind.  Many of the memories involve the beauty of God’s creation.  One of the greatest treasures of nature at Camp Tek are the sunsets on Loon Lake as the waterfront gives a picture-perfect view of each sunset.  The sunset is a truly beautiful background for many important moments at camp.  Every Sunday, we end our first night together by singing “Day is Done” by the waterfront.  As we hold hands and swat away mosquitoes, we sing and pray together as one large camp family.  While we stare off into the beauty of the sunset, campers and counselors alike are anxious and excited to see what the week will bring.  On Thursday nights, we have a ceremony that honors the tradition of Camp Tek.  This ceremony begins by walking down to the waterfront on a path lit with tiki torches.  As campers approach the waterfront, they see the sun setting below the trees in the horizon.  This sunset is often full of color, from yellow, to orange, to pink, to blue.  As campers gaze upon Loon Lake, they also see a counselor arriving on a canoe portraying St. Kateri Tekakwitha.  As we pay tribute to our camp’s namesake, campers share their cabin-made Kateri crosses, many of which are adorned with memories from the week: memories that were only dreams on Sunday night.  

The most beautiful sunsets I have seen come after storms.  Only after the skies have let out the rain, thunder, and lightning can we see the beauty that lies underneath.  The sunsets that come after the rain are breathtaking.  This spring, our lives were turned upside down.  I had recently started my first teaching job in January.  I was just getting into the groove of things and really getting to know my students.  One morning, I received notice that the school would be closing and we would be closed for one month.  Of course, we know how that went.  I experienced many thoughts and emotions.  How are my kids going to learn?  How will I be able to support them?  When can we all safely be together again?  I had to rethink the way I teach.  Students had to rethink the way they learn.  Shortly after school shut down, I wondered about the status of camp.  Were we going to be able to hold summer camp?  How could we make summer camp work safely?  Of course, we also know how this turned out.  After all of these storms, there must be something positive and beautiful to look forward to.  There must be a sunset out there somewhere.  

How can we still make this summer a sunset summer?  Where are we able to see the beauty of God after all that has happened?  What are you grateful for and what are you looking forward to?  A few weeks ago, I was walking out of my job at a restaurant and was struck by the beauty of the sunset.  My first thought was: This sunset would look amazing on Loon Lake!  Then I thought:  It is so beautiful right here, right now.  There are little sunsets in so many moments already this summer.  Connecting with camp friends.  Finally being able to attend Mass in person.  Receiving letters from family and friends.  Later this week I am taking my youngest niece strawberry picking for her first time.  I am sure that will be a sunset moment.  This summer I have been able to slow down a bit, connect with family more, and prepare more for the upcoming school year.  We are able to stay connected with camp in new ways.  How are you able to slow down and see the little sunsets in your life?

Blessed are the Curious, for They Shall Have Adventures

Written by Anne 'Nala' Geenen

Over the past eleven years, I have spent approximately 5,000 hours at Camp Tekakwitha. 5,000 hours laughing, loving, and learning. 5,000 hours with God, friends, and family. 5,000 hours at the place that means the most to me in the world. 

I like to think there is an eleventh Beatitude: blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures. Every waking moment at camp is an adventure. As a camper, the counselors would never tell me what we were doing next (despite me asking every few minutes) so there were surprises around every corner. I always tried everything: archery, boating, swimming, field games, arts and crafts, and gaga ball. Days passed in the blink of an eye and I never wanted to leave when my parents picked me up on Fridays. When I turned 15, I graduated to LeaderQuest. This adventure was crazy awesome and exciting. We were given more freedom like a later bedtime and offsite trips, but with more freedom came more responsibility. We were put in charge of some activities for the younger kids. I had always considered becoming a counselor, but my two years in the LQ program solidified the idea for me. At 17, I became a junior counselor. I remember the day I checked in and got to pick my camp name. I had spent years debating, but I finally settled on Nala. Yes, from the Lion King. As a JC, I spent two weeks at camp helping the full-time counselors. The following spring, I applied and got accepted to be a counselor for Summer 2016. The summers of ’16 and ’17 have been the greatest adventures of my life. At camp, I am free to explore who I am, deepen my relationship with God, and become my true self. Working with kids has been incredibly rewarding. There are good days and bad days, obviously, but when I look back at my time spent at camp, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. 

I want to talk about names for a minute. Both my camp name and my confirmation name have great significance. In the Catholic church, when a follower of Jesus receives a new mission from God, he or she receives a new name. Like Saul becoming Paul, I have done this twice. When I got confirmed, I selected Saint Kateri Tekakwitha as my saint. In my mind, there was no other choice. Saint Kateri is the patron saint of children, ecology, and Camp Tekakwitha – three things I feel strongly about. When someone gets confirmed, they are sent out into the world to help spread the word of God. This was the mission for which I received the name of Kateri Tekakwitha. Then, when I was hired at Camp Tekakwitha, I received a new mission: to help my campers grow in their faith, realize their abilities and become more confident in themselves. For this mission, I received my camp name: Nala. Now, my full name is Anne Kathryn Nala Kateri Tekakwitha Geenen. And no, I don’t sign all six names when I fill out forms or credit card receipts. 

My time at Camp Tekakwitha has been the single most influential thing in my life. I made lifelong friends, learned real-world skills, and had boatloads of fun. Camp Tek will always hold a special place in my heart and I thank God every day for it.