Garrett is back again with a description of life at Camp USA and the things he misses from camp. Garrett was placed at Camp Fairlee in Maryland, and was a camp counsellor for kids with autism.
By now I’ve been here a few weeks. Each week campers come and go, some stay for longer but generally in this camp we each get a new camper every week.
The experience is going great and the people are amazing. We come from 17 different countries, with our own cultures and beliefs about the world. It is great to live and work with so many different people.
The campers can be a challenge, as I work with children who have autism. One camper in particular comes to mind. Matthew loves to dance all day everyday. We danced all day, from the moment we got up at 7am, to the moment when campers go to sleep at 9:30pm. It is so nice to see campers have fun and do the things that they want to do. Some campers require a lot of personal care which is demanding but rewarding. When a camper has to leave, it is sad because the bond that develops is so strong. Some of the campers refer to me as being part of their family, I am their best friend, their positive role model and their understanding of what an Irish man is. Being here makes me represent Ireland, I’ve never felt so Irish in my life!
Today we got up and went rock climbing, my camper loves it! We eat breakfast at 8:30am, lunch at 12:30pm, dinner at 5:30pm, and on Wednesdays we have a staff snack after the campers go to bed.
Camp arranges weekend trips to visit places such as Washington DC, Virginia Beach and Ocean City. It is such a great opportunity to see the US.
Coming back to Ireland was difficult. I loved the US very much They have a different culture, different views on religion, and different views on sexual orientation that challenged my own beliefs. I am coming back with a deep desire to travel and see the world. It opened my eyes. The friends that I’ve made from all around the world: England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, the Netherlands; will be friends for life. We are already planning to travel together. I miss the American refill culture, all the soda! I miss the sunshine. I miss the campers. I miss the routine. There are a lot of things that I miss about camp. Perhaps I’ll go again!
If you want to have the summer of your life in Camp USA like Garrett, be sure to contact us today to find out more information!
