September 17thI'm back!
As a Valaqua Staffer, of 20 years now, summer means something different for me than it does for most people. Camp summers are intense, chaotic, and awesome. However, they hold very little time for sitting in the shade with a book or enjoying a quiet evening with friends.
Now, that said, I LOVE camp summers. It is my greatest joy to be amid the energy of the camp community. I love the intensity, the intentionality, even the friction and challenge of so many folks interacting so closely. Most summers I cross the finish line in August exhausted, often more than a little sick, and eager for a break. I love it all, but it takes a toll.
This summer was different. I am blessed, oh so very blessed, to be the beneficiary of some forward-thinking folks who wrote a sabbatical into my contract here at Valaqua. Every few years, I unplug from a summer and rest.
I’ll admit it’s hard for me to do this well. My heart of hearts believes that camp cannot operate without me, but it has been proven that Valaqua continues to be place of growth and love even when I am not here.
And so, I trust. I trust the amazing staff team that takes the lead in my absence and in good God who will continue to pour love out through them.
And I rest. I spend a summer reading books in the shade. I paddle a canoe and walk in the woods. I visit other camps and learn from them. I take courses that wouldn’t fit into a ‘regular’ year. I celebrate my children’s passions and cheer them on. I reflect on my time at Valaqua and on what is yet to come.
To answer the classic question “how was your summer?” It was good. Very good! I found I missed camp more than it missed me. Entering a fall season excited, rested, and well is a blessing that I do not take for granted and I am happy to be back.
It is also wonderful to hear about the exciting things that happened without me! Camper numbers were up year over year, and camp ran safely, with no injuries or illnesses that required medical attention. These are big blessings!
This is my twentieth year at Valaqua. Over the years I have been approached by church conferences and other camps to ask about the “secret” to our staff longevity. Part of it is that you have to love it. You have to look forward to the hard parts and the chaos and see them as growth opportunities rather than things to “get past.” Once you’ve got that figured out, you need to build in space to rest. Some forward-thinking folks did this for me when I arrived, and it’s a big part of the secret. You need to love it, but you need to find room for reflection and rest too. The sabbatical program allows for this, and I am very grateful.
I can’t wait to see you next summer under the tall, tall trees!
(The tall, tall trees. Photo credit: Sadie Heidebrecht, age 9)