Back to Camp

Blog Post 4

A huge part of my childhood into early adulthood was formed by a summer camp deep in the pine barrens of New Jersey. I started out as a camper for the first ten years of my time spent, and eventually became a counselor for the other five. In college, this place became my second home, as I’d often spend full summers and weekends in the off-season here. It was at this camp where my life was filled completely with s’mores, sunset boating, trying something new at the challenge course, board games, session dances, musical lunches, dining hall singing (yes there is a difference), Candle, a not-so-exaggerated number of 500 kids singing Riptide on the ukulele for the talent show, and enjoying “the rollercoaster” over Senior Bridge. Camp is a place that brings so many people together from all over the world, and the friendships I’ve experienced at this one in particular have all shaped me into the person I am today.

Oddly enough, even my first day as a camper at the overnight camp shaped a big part of who I am, for that first day was the very first time that I ever decided to go as “Allie” instead of “Allison.” A little over a decade later, I’ve learned it kind of stuck. How I suddenly became “Allie” on a random Sunday in June, however, can remain an inside joke between my camp friends and I ;)

With graduating from college came graduating from camp, and the only things to take with me at that moment were the memories I had made over fifteen years. I hadn’t stepped back onto camp in two years - the longest period since I was six, to put things into perspective. I found myself feeling so many waves of nostalgia this September, and decided to take Boots out on a hike around camp. After texting a friend working a shift at camp to ensure I wouldn’t bump into any school or family groups enjoying camp, I proceeded to take a trip down memory lane.

With these photos, I’ve created a love letter to my camp; the playground of my childhood. For peak enjoyment, I highly recommend playing “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire in another tab.

To following the gleam.