The Difference 5 Days Can Make
When Jess walked off the bus on the first day of camp, met with music, cheering, and a tunnel of high fives, it was painfully clear that she didn’t want to be there. Unlike most of the campers, she had no smile, no eye contact, and her replies were short and angry. The struggle continued into the day, with Jess refusing to be in any photos and expressing her distaste for other kids, including her own cabin-mates. She was carrying an unfathomable amount of pain and seemed to be coping the only way she knew how: by putting up walls and keeping people as far away as possible.
As the week continued and she was surrounded by patient, humorous, warm, fun counselors, she began to let her guard down. She quickly felt at home in the arts and crafts center, where she was able to build and paint two birdhouses and a treasure box. Under the gentle guidance and encouragement of the volunteers, in a safe space where she could express her individuality and artistic gifts, her confidence began to grow.
Though the daily song and dance session of the camp was most of the kids' favorite part of the day, Jess initially refused to engage, standing with her arms crossed. As she continued to form trusting relationships with the adults around her, who acted just as silly and fun as kids themselves, you could see her feeling freer to be herself. Whispering the words turned into foot-tapping turned into full-on choreography.
While the entire rest of the camp prepared for the big Talent Show, Jess was adamant: she would NOT be participating. Though she had shared with her counselors that she had dreams of being a performer and an artist, she thought the idea of the show was silly and had no interest. Wounds of not feeling good enough and being shamed were starting to surface. However, on the last day, Jess announced (to the shock of her counselors) that she would like to sign up as a late addition. This was a girl with a vision. She recruited a few of her favorite volunteers to perform a hip hop dance number, planned the group outfits, and put glitter on her face. She performed center stage, with all the confidence of a seasoned pro. After she ran off stage, to what sounded like a stadium full of cheering, she was overflowing with pure joy and pride. She could not stop grinning.
That night, as her counselors were putting together her scrapbook made up of photos captured throughout the week, they were moved to tears. There was a shot of first day Jess, stepping off the bus, expressionless and trying to be invisible. Next to it was a shot of last day Jess, front and center during her dance number, arms stretched out, beaming ear to ear. The transformation was almost unbelievable.
When her sweet new foster mom came to pick her up, Jess excitedly grabbed her by the hand and said “Look! Look at my scrapbook! I didn’t have any photos of me smiling before and now I have an ENTIRE BOOK FULL!” Both the pain and the hope in that statement really highlighted the importance of the camp, and the potential that even one week has to move a child’s heart toward healing.
- Sara (Camp Counselor)
