Written by Adam A.
When I walk down to the boating dock every morning, sand is squished in between my toes and the smell of the lake water fills my nose. The morning chill makes everything so quiet before campers will come rushing down to the lake to go waterskiing, boating and tubing once the sun fully comes up. Seeing the excitement on their faces when they run to the boating dock to anticipate another fun day under the sun is why I believe I have the best job on campus as the Head of Boating and Waterskiing. With the sun shining on the waves of the lake as my permanent view, I look forward to working every single morning. The atmosphere is relaxing but at the same time so full of energy when the campers come down to play in the water. They are always happy to be here and eager to learn how to finally stand up in the water skis or properly sail out on the water and I have the opportunity to see that growth. It is so rewarding to see campers from my very first summer become advanced water-skiers and wakeboarders because they have mastered so much skill during my time with them. Their smile is so genuine when they truly master a skill on the water and it feels so rewarding to know I am the reason they are able to smile like that. There are so many possibilities in having fun on the water and so there are just that many possibilities for me to teach a camper something new and something they will remember for the rest of their life. Just as the water never gets old, neither does my passion for teaching campers new skills which is why I believe I have the best job at Camp Starlight.
One of the most exciting elements of Camp Starlight are the weekly stage productions among the different divisions, with the giant spotlights, intricate stage designs and lively singing and dancing, the theater produces a lot of entertainment. As the Theatre Specialist, I know my job is the best on campus because I get to go behind the scenes of all of this fun. I truly get to see what makes the show and how it gets better from start to finish. I see the best of the best. The director Jess Moss is a legend in itself and working besides him day in and day out makes my job the best. The ability to work with every single camper is so much fun too because often enough the campers that have never been a part of a stage production or in a theatre are the ones that get the lead role in the show. The looks on their faces when they find out the cast list is so great, whether it is shock or excitement. Each week I see so much growth in the campers becoming more confident with their roles or abilities on the stage. One of my favorite parts of the theatre is after the show ends and the campers will say “Yes! We did it!” They give me a hug of pride, joy and relief all at once and in that moment those campers feel like they are my own kids and I am so proud of them. Those moments, combined with all the amazing elements that go into producing a show every week, is what makes my job on campus truly the best.
Down at Outdoor Adventure, survival skills and the rush of adrenaline fill my day. With the ropes courses, zip line, rockwall and woods, everyday I help campers achieve new goals and help them face their fears which is why I believe I have the best job on campus. Every day I interact with campers who have never tried climbing a rock wall or building a fire and it is my job to teach them these survival skills and coach them through difficult tasks. I especially love teaching kids how to build fire because I get to see them create something out of nothing, sharing my knowledge with the campers and seeing the end result is a magical moment for me. A very unique thing about Outdoor Adventure is that all the goals we hope campers achieve are personal ones, something only they can accomplish on their own and for themselves. When campers complete a task, big or small, they exclaim “Look at this! Look I did it!” and it is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. Even though I am covered in dirt from the very start and end of my day, helping these campers achieve goals of reaching new heights or mastering a survival skill makes all the dirty work more than worth it. I feel very proud to watch my returning campers advance in skill levels or even when I notice the change in one day from a new camper. I absolutely love how these campers always want to learn more and put in the effort to achieve goals, and the satisfaction I feel when I know I’ve helped these campers grow in more ways than just one is why I know I have the best job at Camp Starlight.
One of the most special aspects of Camp Starlight is the fact that you will never hear the buzz of a phone, the ding of a notification or the click of a selfie. A major element of Camp Starlight’s philosophy is the belief that summer is the time to disconnect from the phone and social media to instead live in the moment under the sun with your friends. No Snapchat or Instagram post will ever capture the true beauty of a summer at Camp Starlight, so why waste the time trying with a cell phone? Without the burden of constantly checking for updates, everyone at Camp Starlight is able live in the moment, a time in one’s life that does not occur so often when there is a phone weighing heavy in hand. All of your worries regarding how many likes you get on a post or what happens in the next Netflix episode are melted away once you dip your toes into Starlight Lake. The summer is a time meant for experiencing life and celebrating the beauty of constantly trying new things with new friends–summer camp provides everyone with the opportunity to cleanse themselves and become truly aware of their surroundings. Instead of worrying about the past or the future as posted about on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, time at Camp Starlight is spent breathing in the moment. You don’t have to portray yourself through social media when you’re at Camp Starlight, all you have to do is be yourself, no filter necessary. On the first day when the campers hop off the bus into the grass, they feel the atmosphere of a real summer experience and are allowed to truly be kids again.
At the end of the day you can find me splattered in paint, tied up in string or caked in clay because I am the Arts and Crafts Specialist at Camp Starlight and I have the best job on campus. Being able to make a beautiful mess everyday with campers is one of many reasons I believe I have the best job at camp, and these messes look different every single day. I get to work with all campers from all divisions, boys and girls, and see how their varying ages and personalities affect their artwork during my time with them. Watching these campers explore their creativity with the almost endless amount of materials we have at the Arts & Crafts area is inspiring to say the least, especially when they get to play with all the paints—seeing what they design with a paintbrush in their hand is a magical moment for me. Another element I love about my job is that there is no wrong way for a camper to express their artistic side, unlike sports activities that have grounded rules; Arts & Crafts has no limits and no set rules to be creative. This space truly encourages the campers to embrace their art and whatever pops into their head when they hold a pencil, sculpt with clay or craft a friendship bracelet. Not to mention that the cool projects we give to campers always amazes me and it’s so fun to do a different project every period with the different divisions. What I love most about my job is that the only consistent aspect is change—designs, ideas and inspirations are always changing with all the different campers and their ability to keep me on my toes is what has me coming back for my third summer.
Gold streamers are littered all over the Rec Hall while music is being blasted through the giant speakers. Gold balloon arches are set along with a rainbow of lights swirling through the crowd: this is a Camp Starlight dance party. The magic is in the air for this 24K Magic themed dance party to kicks start the summer. Campers are clad with gold beaded necklaces and glitter is speckled on their cheeks to compliment their bright smiles as they dance the night away. Everyone is jumping up and down to the beat of the music and experiencing the celebration of this dance party because after a week of activities these campers are ready to have even more fun. These themed dance parties allow campers to get together in a large space and bond as a camp, the theme inspires all the campers to dress up and be silly. Dance parties are held to bring the camp together so that a cohesive blend of friendship can blossom, the campers can celebrate together the completion of the first week of summer camp. For first time campers this can be a big deal and so these celebratory dance parties really show how Camp Starlight appreciates their dedication to camp. This first dance party sets the tone for the rest of the summer and reminds campers to hold on to the magic they felt dancing all night together as a camp and as a new family.
Before you know it, campers and counselors are settled into the routines of camp life and then the 4th of July sneaks around the corner. One of the most fun holidays of the year, the 4th of July is celebrated in many specials ways at Camp Starlight and here are the top 10 ways to celebrate the 4th of July here at camp!
Tutus and face paint of pink, black, white and blue decorate all the Senior girls as they face off for the Powder Puff flag football game, a tradition no Senior is unprepared for in terms of accessories and costumes. The Seniors go all out for this flag football tournament, covering their entire body in beaded necklaces, headbands, face paint, stickers, tattoos, tall socks and gloves in their team’s color. The Seniors bring the intensity in dressing up but bring even more passion to the field. From the sidelines, the flag football tournament has the same amount of spirit and energy as the Super Bowl–everyone is chanting and cheering for their team, screaming their lungs out for every touchdown and turnover. The energy is simply electric and when the field lights turn on as the sky darkens, the intensity is amplified. This is when the finals start and the last two teams fight to the finish line for the champion title. Counselors cheer for the two finalists from the sidelines as the girls sprint down the field, cleats flinging up tufts of dirt and grass into the air. The spirit that is shared among the teams, counselors and flag football viewers is so mesmerizing to see, everyone is gathered down at this football field to cheer on their friends and watch goals become achieved. The camaraderie of all the Senior girls and everyone at the field shows how Camp Starlight really brings people together in a positive way. These campers show what it means to be a leader, to portray good sportsmanship and how to work successfully as a team when they get to play their hearts out on the field. With the opportunity of Powder Puff flag football, the real side of campers are shown when they get together, work as a team and achieve something they never knew they could