Camp Boggy Creek

Many of you may know that when you buy a Newman's Own product the label says 100% of the profits go to charity. But what charities is Newman's Own claiming to donate to? Well, one charity is a little summer camp in the middle of nowhere Florida.

 

This summer I had the incredible opportunity to go to Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, Florida. The camp is funded by the "seriousfun" network founded by Paul Newman. Not only is the camp an amazing place to volunteer, it also impacted me as a volunteer immensely. To stop myself from writing a novel on the camp and my experience, here are some numbered highlights.

1. Themed Weeks: Boggy Creek is a camp for seriously ill children between the ages of 7 and 16. Each camp session is a week long and is themed toward an illness. For example the week I went was Blood Disorders and Arthritis.  Many of the campers had arthritis, hemophilia, and lupus (among other ailments). This is a unique opportunity to see that they are not alone in their fight and that there are kids just like them. It also allows the councilors to be familiarized with the campers illnesses. We went through brief training on how to deal with each disease and what special measures needed to be taken to ensure maximum safety and fun.
2. The Kids: Many campers are returners however the cabin I was in had the youngest campers and so over half of them were experiencing their first time at camp. What truly struck me about these children was how completely normal they were. Often the kids with arthritis would jump off of the bunks with reckless abandon, not paying attention to how stiff their joints were or that the act hurt. While this caused a bit of an issue for us in charge trying to keep the kids safe, I was in awe of the strength and normality of every girl in my cabin and how they never let their illness define them. I have never been so inspired by seven year olds.
3. The Activities: At camp there are many activities that are active and outdoors, fishing, canoeing, swimming, and archery. Boggy Creek is no exception. The activities are monitored and in some cases tweaked so that an ill or impaired child can accomplish the activity. Sure it can be challenging for them, but it pushes them toward a goal and when they succeed, their victory is celebrated camp wide. Additionally there are arts and crafts, cooking, and woodshop activities where the kids make themselves and their camp friends gifts. I was lucky enough to have a camper make me a door tag in woodshop and it is the most beautiful red white and blue glittery piece of wood I have ever received.
4. The Tower: One camp activity that is extremely intense is the ropes course. For the oldest cabins, each take a turn conquering the high ropes tower together. Since I was with the youngest group, I didn't go to the tower, however each day in the dinning hall the group that conquered the tower that day is praised. They have special shirts with their cabin name and color on them. They run through the dining hall to intense music and thunderous applause. Every person in the hall creates a high five line for the triumphant climbers to run through. The whole camp appreciates their climb and is proud of them over coming fears and obstacles on the course. Watching these teens be praised and loved and feel so good about themselves and their accomplishments is amazing and I hope someday I get to be with the oldest campers to see them climb.
5. Prides/Cabins: Boggy Creek definitely feels like a family. As a first time councilor I was welcomed with open arms. There are four colored prides at camp (red, yellow, blue, and green) which have their own chants and cheers as well as meetings. I was in blue pride which that week was youngest campers. The youngest campers bond as a cabin more than a pride. They do everything together. They also get "buddies" which is someone in oldest pride who they are partnered with for the week. This buddy relationship is adorable because the kids look up to their buddies so much. They make each other gifts in woodshop and give each other notes wishing them a good day. The sense of community is so cool as the prides cheer together and sit with each other at meals and campfires. I had so much blue pride that week.

Overall camp was an amazing experience. All the wonderful movie moments of camp and it being a magical place are true. Camp Takota didn't lie to you, camp really will change your life for the better. If you are looking for somewhere to volunteer during summer or some weekends in fall/spring, check out boggy creek. It is an amazing place to be safe, respected and loved.

For more information about the camp, campers, and volunteering visit their site http://www.boggycreek.org/