Imagine that you had to go to a new place full of unfamiliar faces far away from any of your family or friends. Imagine that you were going to spend a whole summer living with these strangers. You are expected to teach boys who are only a few years younger than yourself about the nature around you. You have never taught before and you are in the middle of the mountains. Imagine a place where you are safe from the evil things and dirty ideas of the outside world. Imagine a place where you have good food and all the strangers become your closest friends to the point they are basically family. You learn new and wonderful things. You experience what few get to experience. You work, play, relax, learn, teach, and have the time of your life.
I don't have to imagine. I lived that. For two amazing summers I worked at Aspen Ridge Boy Scout Camp. And I believe that those were some of the best summers of my life.
When I was thirteen I didn't have very many friends and was having a tough time in junior high. I was constantly praying 'please just help me find one good friend' and 'what should I do?' Around December I got a feeling that I should get online. So I did and my brother walked in the door wearing his scout uniform. Two summers before I had gone to a boy scout camp for girls camp. I remember that there were girls working there because our camp friend Donell came to our campsite and brought one of her friends who also worked there. I found out that the council had a site and that they had job applications. I printed one off and filled it out. My parents said OK so I sent it in. A few weeks later I had an interview and after that I got the job as a C.I.T. (counselor in training) It was a non paying position but I didn't care. I had no clue what I was supposed to do. I went to the meetings and tried to figure it out. Then before I knew it school was out and I was heading on my way up to the camp in Idaho.
Everything went well and I got used to it. I made friends pretty quick. I had the best time of my life. So I applied again and got the job again. But this time I was going to get paid, which I guess was all that better. Every year I got more knowledge, friends and experiences. Some day I hope that I can return to my beloved aspen ridge. This coming summer I am going with Jess my cousin and her parents to tour Europe and I'm going to girls camp. I'm also going to be helping out my grandma Pam so I can't go back. My little brother just got the job as a C.I.T. and I hope he will have a great time. I did.
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