Lifelong Friendships Are Made At Camp!

When I talk to parents who are considering sending their children to camp, I often share all of the wonderful things that children get to experience while at camp including the dance classes with teachers and other dancers from all over the country and the world. I tell them about the outdoor activities like go-karts, ziplining, bungee trampolines, hikes, swimming and all of the beautiful nature that will surround them. I share about our life development workshops that remind our campers what it means to be a good person, not just a good dancer. 

I then tell parents about the friendships that are made that last well beyond the weeks of camp that go into the years that come. But, that isn’t just fluff, it’s real. 

In light of it being Valentine’s month surrounding love, I thought I would share a story that I learned about just this past weekend. I was at a dance convention in Arizona sharing with the families and dancers there all about Camp Telaphiba as an amazing summer option outside of the competitive dance world. Now, just like in many other cities that we have been in, I had past campers coming up and hugging me and giving me updates about their lives and bringing their fellow dancers over to chat with me about how they can come to camp too. The conversations always end with them telling me how excited they are to come this year and eventually how they hope to be considered for our CIT (counselor-in-training) programs so they one day can be camp counselors! It is magical and always puts a smile on my face to see our campers in their home environments. I even sometimes get to sneak in to see them dancing on stage too!

Well, this weekend, a dancer came up to the table and was so excited to see me! “Hi Miss Lisa!” to which I replied “It is so great to see you!” 

Very quickly, I realized that I was looking at Riley, now a lovely young woman who had come to camp years ago as a fifth grader who was now a junior in high school! I remembered her because she was such a joy at camp but she had not been back for a few years and had grown up in the meantime!! Well, after a bit of chatting, she shared with me that her life had gotten really busy but that she was really thinking about coming back to camp. Of course, I fully supported her coming back and talked her through how fun it would be and how it could lead to more opportunities for her in the future too! She then told me that she wanted to bring one of her dance friends with her who hadn’t been to camp yet. 

During this conversation, the friend came up and I was introduced to her as well! What Riley told me next made my heart so full! “Miss Lisa, did you know that I still keep in contact with Ava and Reece from camp when I met them 5 years ago? Did you know that Ava isn’t even dancing any more but we are such good friends!” Then, Riley’s buddy chimes in, “I didn’t even go to camp and I am good friends with Ava too!”. What is so cool about this is that Ava lives in Colorado and Reece lives in Minnesota!

We chatted some more before they had to go compete and we all decided that it would be great to have a reunion of all of the girls this next summer!

Now, I tell parents what I witness at camp. I tell them that I see great bonds form between what were total strangers before camp that turn into lifelong friendships and here that was confirmed once again. 

I see the love and hear the squeals of excitement that come from far away friends during the first day of camp when they reunite for the first time in a year. I see the tears of love and sadness when camp is over but am comforted to know that they will see each other the next summer and that in our age of technology, they can stay connected as Riley so kindly shared with me this weekend. 

So, for the love of camp, I ask you parents a question, “Can you think of anything better than broadening your child’s friend base with like-minded buddies all across the country for them to connect with outside of their immediate circle at home helping them to connect with people and create friendships that can last a lifetime?” Camp Telaphiba can provide that and so much more for your child this summer. 

PS — Thank you Riley for sharing your heart with me and I can’t wait for another reunion this summer!