By Susan Miller

Here at camp, I’m the marketing/communications director – a job that entails lots of paperwork, meetings and behind-the-scenes stuff that helps support our operation year-in and year-out. But unlike other desk jobs, I get to walk through the glorious camp property to get to my office – and the journey is almost always a poignant, lovely one.

On a recent morning, I ran into Jim, a groundskeepers here, who was tidying up near the Trading Post (our camp store). Jim is hard-working and dedicated, like most people working here. He’s generally a quiet man, but once you get him talking, he’ll wax philosophical about life and all things camp. He knows every square inch of these 800 acres and all the camp lore from way back when. He’s also one of the least jaded people I’ve ever met; he’s been here practically forever yet he is touched by this place daily. During our recent conversation, he told me about a comment from a camper who said he was transformed by his camp experience. (More about this in a future blog!) Jim told me that working at camp, and interacting with so many campers and counselors from various cultures and countries, has made him look at the world – and at people – in a different way. It’s clear that this place has opened his mind and his heart. Jim teaches me so much every time we meet up.

Last week, one of our CIT (Counselors in Training) campers ran up to greet me. He’s a teen – about 15 years old – from Queens, New York and he sees me around camp a lot taking pictures, and knows my name from my camp ID tag. “Susan, it’s you!” he called out enthusiastically, and we spent a few moments exchanging pleasantries. He probably doesn’t know it, but he made my day. Later, a little girl camper – no more than 7 years old – encouraged me to try the “Chipwich” (a delicious treat made up of ice cream between 2 cookies) that they sell at the camp store. I took her advice, even though it broke my current diet plan. Sometimes you just have to go for it – and it was worth it! I don’t know that little camper’s name, but I can picture her sweet smile.

My own children (Matt and Kate) are grown up now and live far away, but lucky for me, camp is packed with kids from very little preschoolers to teens and young adults, if you count the counselors, cooks, village chiefs, etc. I’ve gotten to know so many of them now – Sofia, Izzie, Kaitlyn, Caitlin, Anna, Charlee, Calvin, Ryan, Paddy, Molly, Johnny, Lena, Matt, Michelle,  Trevor, Rico, Brandon, Melissa, Amanda, Kendall, Brendan, Chris, Marlana, Cate, Hannah, Corrine, Carly, Debbie, Evan, Ali, Logan, Camille, Dimitri, Nadia, Victoria, Fernando, Gustavo, Grace and so many others. I’m also working with amazingly talented young photographers – Aisha, Sarina, Ang, Krysts and Kat. (We’re so incredibly lucky to have them here, chronicling these summer days!) These beautiful, young enthusiastic people likely don’t know it, but they’ve sparked a joy in me that hasn’t been there since my own children moved off into their own adult lives!

As I write this, from the vantage point of my office at headquarters, I’m watching little 5- and 6-year-old campers playing with hula hoops on Bette’s Beach, while others are swimming in Lake Stockwell, under the watchful eyes of our dedicated lifeguards. Across the way, older Ocky campers are heading to one of their many activities – maybe martial arts or archery or boating or the challenge course. Wherever they’re headed, they’re sure to have lots of fun. Yesterday, my co-worker friends and I had lunch at Matollionequay, where it was music day. The happy Matolly girls finished up their lunches of chicken fingers and salad, and then got down to the busy business of dancing and singing like their lives depended on it. My friend Suzette and I almost always tear up at these Matolly lunches. We can barely have a conversation because of the noise, but that’s fine by us; it’s magical to be in the presence of such unadulterated happiness. And so very touching!

There are still a few weeks of summer camp left; I plan to savor every moment and all of the special people I encounter, every step of the way. It’s good to be at camp – even if you’re not a camper!