Camp Shout Out!

I wish I had the right words for how my heart feels after spending the week at Camp Shout Out. I know that there is no way that I could put it quite as eloquently as the campers did throughout the week, but it’d be a shame to have the experience I had and not share it with you.

For seven days out of the year, the campers who come to Camp Shout Out are set free. Free from wondering if someone is judging their speech and in turn judging them, free from feeling like they are the only ones that have to explain themselves when people should just be a little more accepting without the explanation, free from wondering how long it will be until someone cuts them off or finishes their sentence, free to just be the amazing humans they are without the weight of their stutter. And also free from all the distractions that access to wifi brings too.  With the exception of very few people, everyone at camp stutters and the campers shared that this is a place that there’s just an understanding that all of the good things in life will come their way this week; the trust, the support, the friendships and love.  

Before Camp, I had been up north in Michigan and it’s always hard for me to leave Harbor Springs and my “framily” there. But after picking up two other trainees at the airport (one I knew and one I didn’t) I quickly started realizing I was going to be adding to my Michigan family.   Before the campers arrived, the other trainees and I were given our bunks, general camp knowledge, quite a few hours of guided educational practices and the sweet promise of “just wait ‘til the campers get here”, “You will see it, the magic”.

I can honestly say that it didn’t take long until I not only saw the magic but felt it too. I’d watch as kids ran screaming to embrace their friends, as a parent of another camper telling a camper that “they were an inspiration” and as the once-quiet campground turned into a beautiful musical of kids talking, playing and singing. At first, I felt a little like an outsider, but soon enough we were all teammates playing a gloriously messy game of shaving cream Capture the Flag. I’ve never been to camp and wasn’t quite sure if this is a camp thing to mix these two things or if this was exclusive to Camp Shout Out. Nevertheless, nothing seems to break the ice better than running around dousing each other with shaving cream and then everyone jumping in the lake after in their clothes.

I quickly got hip to the Camp Life scene. I was going to be singing repeat after me songs. I’d be trying to be the table that “made the best octagon” to get dismissed from a meal. My ankles would soon have more bug bites than freckles. I’d get excited for days that had “rest hour” (that was really only like 45 minutes.) I’d learn that a 4 o’clock snack every day is a game changer (especially when it’s cookies). I’d be fully on board with the fact that a jump in the lake at night was the equivalent of a shower. And I’d realize that sleeping in the same small space with four other sensational SLPs would lead me to some very fast friendships.

I had the honor of working with a group of tremendous high school students (who camp refer to as LITs or Leaders in Training), 6 other SLPs, two dedicated facilitators, one out of this world LIT leader and 1 amazing role model of an LIT counselor.  I was definitely aware that this was a privilege and getting to know this group has forever changed me for the better. When you work in an elementary school, your opportunities to work with and learn from young adults are almost non-existent. I was both excited and a little nervous at the same time. What if I wasn’t a good fit? Each day we’d learn a little bit more about each other whether it was through creative skits the campers put together on their own, stories shared while hitched up together down a lazy river, or just some quiet chats in moments of transition. I learned to put my trust in our team by doing many team-building activities. One that I’m particularly proud of is the trust fall off the table! Every moment of every day I witnessed these campers put their brave in front whether it was speaking in front of a larger group, advocating for themselves when it was not easy or absolutely crushing their performance at the talent show, they “just did it”. These teenagers were setting examples for the younger campers and quite honestly for the adults too. I told the campers that I worked directly with that if my 15 and 17-year-old self could have witnessed their bravery and learned by their examples I would have been a lot better off at that time in my life. They led with a quiet confidence, shared their journeys and smiles and just were all around rock stars! My time with them specifically will forever rent space in my heart

One thing I started noticing (and loving) was that you never heard another child put down another child. Not only do they not put each other down, they are constantly lifting each other up. In every speaking situation or risk-taking moment for both campers and adults alike you are cheered on and encouraged with words like “That’s my cabin mate.”, “You’ve got this.” and “we’ve got your back.”  It was so refreshing and humbling to see children from the ages 8 to 18 acting with more grace than a lot of adults do these days. It will serve the world a solid to take a lesson from the kids at Camp Shout Out.

A shared value of Camp is Holding Space and where every word is heard. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to say what you want to say or how you say it, everyone waits because what you have to say is important. If you’ve known me at all, you know that I am a talker and sometimes think that if no one else is going to answer I should probably say something to break the silence. While I’ve always considered myself a patient person when it comes to my students, CSO also taught me that the adults in my life deserve that same respect and sometimes sitting in silence can have more impact than any comment I was going to make. So on that note…

There’s so much more I could share, but selfishly for just a little bit longer, I want to keep some memories for my heart only and besides most of the stories that happen at Camp are not mine to share.  My path is forever entwined with so many thoughtful minds and hearts and I am excited to see what happens to the seeds that have been planted.