This week’s blog was written by Dixie P., a first-year counselor from the UK. She is a recent graduate, having studied performing arts and drama.
As an international staff member who has never experienced camp before, I knew that choosing the right setting for me would be fundamental in my overall experience. After submitting an application through Camp America, one of the associate directors here at camp reached out to me to arrange an interview. After only a few minutes of conversation I could tell that Keystone was a place that I would thrive. The way that the staff here beam about our camp is so telling of the kind of environment that Keystone creates. I consider myself to have very strong personal values. At my core I am a person who values respect, kindness, friendship, and fun, so you can only imagine my surprise when I found a camp that nurtures those values in everything that they do!
Before I arrived at camp, I was excited to meet the rest of the team, but there was some anxiety in the back of my mind, unable to comprehend how such a large team would function. I worried if we would all get along. This was to be expected, as I hadn’t done anything similar to this before. When I finally arrived, I couldn’t believe how wrong I was in my doubts. Although there is such a diverse mix of staff here at camp from all parts of the world, every one of us shares a similarity, in that we all chose Keystone. Whether someone is a staff member returning for their 10th year, or a first-timer like me, our values all align with those we have here at camp. That has united me with people I would never have met if it weren’t for being here. I have found that the people at camp are kind at their core, and the same goes for the girls who come here too. Whether you are a camper or a staff member here at Keystone, you are guaranteed a memorable experience.
In the short time I have been here, I have realised that only rarely do people come to Keystone once. People continue to come here year after year, and that shows what kind of place camp is more than anything I could ever say. I have met people who grew up here as a camper, and now continue to grow here as staff members. We are spending our summers here not because we have to, but because we love to. I am grateful everyday that I am getting to call this place my home, and I can only hope to have many more summers ahead of me here at Keystone.
