Mystic Lake YMCA Camp

Thanks To You

The holidays are a small slow down for Mystic Lake. We have wrapped an exciting fall season working with many schools and are now gearing up for our winter retreats and conferences all while we prep to do it all over again for 2018. During this season of gratitude I wanted to share with you a few of the things I am thankful for.

I'm thankful my job is camp. I'm thankful for the days going to work means I'm on my way to say hello to the pioneer girls, give elbow bumps to the challenge boys and then head to assembly after breakfast. I'm thankful I get to lead campers in the long version of Rise and Shine because its my favorite song and nothing gets me more excited for the rest of the day. I'm thankful campers trust me to teach them swim lessons in the cool summer mornings. Thankful that I get to share my love of synchronized swimming with campers and thankful they push through performances even when the speaker shorts out. I'm thankful I get to walk home each night to the sounds of laughter pouring out cabin windows. I'm thankful campers tell me this is the happiest place they have ever been and thankful they love their counselors. I'm thankful campers feel safe here and are able to be the most genuine versions of themselves. I'm thankful that being a goof is embraced, that you're encouraged to sing loud even if you think you're not good at it and that whoever you are is welcome here. I'm thankful for the slow songs and for the way camp feels when we sing them.

I'm thankful my job is camp. I'm thankful that I get to work with an inspiring group of people who put others before them, who allow giant bins of water to be dumped on them, who leave encouraging notes in my mailbox, who inspire me to be the best me I can be, who stay up late to take their kids stargazing and people who care about each other and are able to show it. I'm thankful that I always have someone to talk to about my struggles, that when I ask for 100 wood cookies to be cut by the evening program they are done, that I have a team who remembers the small details and makes sure they're completed and that whenever I ask for help I can always count on getting it. 

I'm thankful my job is camp. I'm thankful to finish my days knowing what my staff and I have done has made the world better. I'm thankful we help kids grow and teach campers honesty, caring, respect and responsibility. I'm thankful parents allow this team of young people to help shape their kids. I'm thankful I get to see campers turn into our staff. I'm thankful for the moments that seem small but are actually the biggest. Finally, I am thankful for each one of you who took time to read this and let me share this with you. 

Have a Happy Holiday season!

-Amiee