Treesa Fountain
Counselor-In-Training
August 20th, 2004 – SJC Session 2

I was a camper who attended both sessions for five or six years, skipping year in between. My senior friends and I left our last year of camp telling each other that, “I’m going to apply for staff!” The next year, I was one of the three who actually did. Jeanah was my very first counselor, and now here I am working side by side with her.

When I was told that I was on the staff team I was thrilled! It was a lot of work going to the meetings, preparing lesson plans, and some nights staying up until 2am talking on the phone discussing classes, but in the end it was all worth it, even though after much struggling to escape, I was thrown in the lake twice. When campers come up to me and tell me their favorite class is identity, or they say that they think my dance class is so much fun puts a smile on my face. The smallest comments let me know that all my hard work has paid off.

I admit it was difficult transitioning from camper to counselor. I couldn’t be as close to my friends that were still campers than I used to be, but in the end, it was all right. I agreed to take on a different role by applying for staff.

I was originally going to attend Sae Jong Camp on staff for the second session, but I was asked to do both sessions. At first, I was a little hesitant, but I liked the challenge. At both sessions I had an amazing time for my first year on staff. Both campers and staff members made me feel more welcome than I could show for others.

It’s an incredible feeling knowing that the campers had a great time, learned from me, and were safe at camp. Now that all these three tasks are complete, I know that my role as a staff member for this year is also complete.