I never knew that my summer camp experiences would shape my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and possibly give me a leg up throughout service at my site in a rural, remote mountain village. I realize now, a year of challenges in, that my years at camp prepared me for service in ways that I hadn’t expected.
Camp prepares kids for life! We spotted this story in the ‘stories’ area of the Peace Corps website. An exerpt from Alia Thorpe’s story. Alia is serving the Peace Corps in Armenia.
“From seven to seventeen, I was a camper at a rustic, outdoor camp in Idaho. Then for five years I was a staff member there, trying to recreate for others the experience that shaped me as a child.
While there, I learned an array of skills that (at the time) seemed pertinent to only camp. I learned how to shoot a bow and arrow, chop wood, and build shelters and fires. I learned how to safely interact with wild animals and keep calm in a situation that may be a little scary. I learned to cook on a fire, make food with limited ingredients, and get over a little ash in my desserts. I realized that life is still entertaining with the absence of technology. I learned that a long and difficult hike usually ends with a satisfying view. It turns out that some of these skills would prove relevant in my future.
I never knew that my summer camp experiences would shape my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and possibly give me a leg up throughout service at my site in a rural, remote mountain village. I realize now, a year of challenges in, that my years at camp prepared me for service in ways that I hadn’t expected.”
Camp! It’s good for all of us. Join us in 2017. A space free from technology, a space to explore nature and a space to discover who you are.
