The Magic of  Camp: One Counsellor's Perspective

by Maria Rothenberg

The journey from my home in Washington, DC to Centauri involves either five hours of planes, airports, and connecting flights or nine hours of driving.  Still, I can’t wait to make the trek for the seventh time next June. 

 For some, it’s hard to understand what drives a camp counselor to return year after year.  We wake up every morning at seven and barely pause until after ten at night, when our campers go to sleep.  Our days are a frenzy of planning, problem solving, and teaching.  At Centauri  Summer Arts Camp , there is a certain magic that keeps us coming back.  As a former camper, I can tell you without hesitation that camp is a magical place.  As a counselor, I have a new appreciation of that magic, knowing what goes into creating it.

 There is no denying that a huge part of the Centauri magic comes from the artistic talents of everyone at camp.  Everything I have seen, both during the sessions and in final performances, reflects a depth of thought and talent which I cannot emphasize enough.  As staff members, we always have some idea of how an activity will go, but the enthusiasm and creativity of our campers ensure that the results will be beyond anything we could have imagined. 

 For me, however, the most magical moments at  any  camp are the small, day-to-day moments, during which we all have a chance to reflect on ourselves and on the people around us.  The magic   lives in the bedtime programs under the stars and the free times spent in discussion.   The magic also allows us to relax fully, to let our guard down, knowing that we’re safe, knowing that we can be ridiculous and silly and still be loved.  It allows an entire dorm—counselors included—to spend five straight minutes doubled over in laughter.  It allows an entire camp to stage a fake wedding for two counselors, with everyone from the youngest girls dorm to the oldest boys dorm contributing something interesting and unique. 

 We take it for granted that adolescence is a difficult time.  Sometimes, though, as a society we forget that this does not imply something negative about teenagers themselves.  In  my experience, it is quite the opposite: the campers at Centauri are all lovely people.  I spend the summer in awe of their talents, their ideas, and their compassion.  This past summer, my campers taught me about everything from competitive dance to the Jonas Brothers.  They are eager to learn as well, both from each other and from staff members.  I will never forget the enthusiasm with which one camper practiced a guitar chord and another attempted knitting.

 This is why I—and other staff members—choose to return each summer.  Our days are busy, but they are full of inquiry and discovery.  I, for one, cannot wait to see what my campers learn next summer, what they teach each other, and what they teach me.  I cannot wait to see what will make them laugh and what will bring out their silliness.  I cannot wait for those first few hours of camp, when the campers transform from total strangers to close friends before our eyes.  It is this passion and compassion, these magic moments that make Centauri what it is.  The magic is what makes Centauri more than just a fantastic arts camp.  The magic makes Centauri Arts Camp a second home.

 

 

Maria Rothenberg is a camp counsellor at Centauri Summer Arts Camp. Copyright Maria Rothenberg 2008/9