My AmeriCamp Experience

It’s seems like just yesterday I was frantically scanning the contents of my tightly packed suitcase, hoping that I had not forgotten anything of importance. I can remember feeling so anxious knowing that in just a few hours, I would have to say goodbye to my parents and fly to America for the first time alone. Flash forward two months and here I am writing this post from a hotel room in Baltimore. Having finished camp just two days ago, I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone by.

When I first arrived at camp I was extremely nervous for what to expect but soon found comfort in the warm welcomes and friendly faces that greeted me. I knew immediately that I was in the right place and I was going to have an amazing summer. Looking back now, this was certainly the case and I feel incredibly blessed to have been given the opportunity to spend my summer at Beber Camp. As cliché as it sounds, I mean it when I say that I will never forget the memories that I made here and the people I met.

Working at a summer camp is 100% an experience that I would recommend to others and I hope if you are reading this you will consider doing something similar yourself. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my time at camp, I would be lying if I said that it wasn’t one of the hardest things that I have ever done. I’m going to be completely honest and tell you that there were times when I really struggled with homesickness and wanted nothing more than to be back home snuggled up on the sofa with my dog. Days are long and often very tiring but you soon learn to manage your free time wisely, whether that’s for a quick Skype call home or a much needed power nap.

It’s not until you leave camp that you realise just how much you miss the place. I was adamant that I would not cry when I had to leave because I was too excited to begin my post camp travels to feel sad. However when the time came to say goodbye and hop on the bus to the airport, I found myself unable to hold back the tears. Saying goodbye to everyone was hard but knowing that I had something to look forward to after camp made me excited.

Although camp has officially finished, my time in America is not quite over. In just a few days I will be heading to New Orleans to begin a thirteen day travel programme with TopDeck. Having visited Chicago and explored a great deal of Wisconsin, I cannot wait to get to see more of America.

If you are considering applying through AmeriCamp or want more about what I did as a specialist or what to expect at camp, then please don’t hesitate to ask. As I said before, I would recommend the experience to everyone. I am most likely going to share a few more posts about camp when I return home, so if you are toiling with the idea then perhaps I can persuade you.

Best Wishes,

Hollie