It’s the middle of Session 3, which is themed Space Week here at Double H. I just returned to my office after an amazing cabin night in which campers participated in an activity planned just for them by their counselors. Some campers participated in Astronaut Training Camp and were able to safely return all planets to the night sky. Another group of campers transformed our van into a rocket ship and traveled to distant planets to defeat aliens. It was amazing to see how creative our staff and campers are and how they are all embracing space during Session 3!
I’d like to share with you a little moment I had at camp last week, so that you can experience for yourself what happens here at Double H. Last week was the 4th of July and we were lucky enough to have an amazing fireworks show put on for our campers. As all campers were arriving at the bottom of our ski hill to watch the show, a 13 year-old boy came up to me and started asking me all about the fireworks. Questions like, “Where will the fireworks be shot from?” and “Will we see them high in the sky or low?” I answered all of his questions and was curious as to why he had so many when he said to me, “This is the first time I have ever seen fireworks and I’m so glad I get to see them at camp”. I was so excited that we were providing this camper with the opportunity to see his first fireworks show and then I began thinking about all the other firsts he had experienced here at camp. It probably was his first time doing a ropes course, riding a horse, being away from home, shooting an arrow at archery or his first time feeling completely accepted by his peers.
I was reminded in that moment as the sky filled with light from those beautiful fireworks that summer at Double H is like a firework; very noisy, filled with color, a little scary, exciting, beautiful and fades quickly. While not my first firework show, it was my favorite and I’m so thankful I got to spend it with such inspiring children.
Magic exists here at Double H and I’m so glad to be a part of it!
Written by: Kate Walsh, Camp Program Director