I got a bit of a shock when I found out that as the only returning staff member, I was going to be the program coordinator and help Matt and Steve run the camp, as well as train all the staff. For my first night back at camp, there was just me and one other staff member. I decided to take a shower before going to bed. As I was undressing a mouse ran across the floor. Despite living with a next of them the year before, I still hated the things. I quickly got into the shower, washed my hair and hopped out. My feet were dirty again within two seconds. It's funny, I'd forgotten all the bad stuff about camp . . . the long hours, literally living with animals, being dirty, not getting to shower often, the rainstorms . . . it was coming back to me rather quickly though!!!
The staff for the summer soon arrive, and as an old hand, I take pleasure in seeing what I must have been like the year before. Matt, Steve and I laugh at the staff member who has brough eight pairs of shoes (including stilettos) for a summer in the woods, and try and convince the staff that there was no way they were going to shower twice a day (by week 2, when I asked them if they'd showered that day the response was "no, but I showered two days ago, so it's ok"). Yep, that's camp.
It was back to the long days . . . in the office by 6.30, do morning meds, breakfast, supervise morning activities, lunch, help run afternoon activities, dinner, help run evening activities, evening meds, be on call for patrol, then in bed sometime before midnight. Every day. Plus anything else that needed to be done.
I got to see all my favourite kids again, and got a huge shock when they all came running up to me with big grins on their faces saying "Tanya, you're back!". I didn't think they would remember me.
Camp is as crazy as ever, and the staff perform (badly) songs from the musical "The Sound of Music" and the Spice Girls (with the male staff taking the parts of Baby, Posh, Ginger, Sporty and Ginger) at the campfires. I add to my costume list by becoming a genie and an Olympic athlete.
I survive "black plague week", getting vomited on, and a bat infestation in my cabin. As well as every thunderstorm that could possibly hit Franconia.
I reluctantly leave camp, convinced that this is the last time I will see it . . . if only I knew!
