Home Sweet Home

The last exam has been written, the final school bell has rung, and our trunks and duffel bags are all ready to go. We see the big white buses, waiting to take us to our beloved summer home, and we get that feeling of excitement, mystery and eagerness mixed with a touch of butterflies in our stomachs. Then we recognize some familiar faces, and as we run to greet and hug our summer friends, the butterflies disappear, and all we are left with is excitement, happiness and joy.

For myself and for many other kids, camp is our home away from home; a place where memories are made and friendships last a lifetime. It is a place where love is all around us, where traditions are made and kept, and where all our problems seem to disappear  deep in the heart of Algonquin Park.

     Camp is where real learning takes place, where children learn life lessons and fun things like sailing, sterning a canoe and building a shelter, just to name a few.

     It is at camp where I journeyed on canoe trips in Algonquin Park, which I will remember for the rest of my life. In particular, I was very fortunate to have gone on a two-week canoe trip last summer. It truly was an unforgettable life experience in which I learned a lot. Just imagine peacefully paddling through still waters, surrounded by forests and mountains all around, and a great blue never-ending sky overhead; portaging a canoe through graceful forests; building a campfire; setting up tents; roasting marshmallows on a hot fire beneath the moon; swimming in clear, dark blue waters; watching the sunrise at early dawn; paddling at sunset; camping beside waterfalls and on beaches; and laughing with friends.

     Going to camp has helped me mature into the person I am today, and has made me realize how much more there is to life than one could possibly imagine. The friendships I have made at camp are so precious to me, and are the reason I keep returning to camp every year.

     I have attended camp for the past five years, and I plan to return as a staff member in two years. I feel that all children deserve the opportunity to experience summer camp and have the chance to spend their summers in a place where they will grow, learn and love. Camp is something they will never forget, as it is truly a home away from home during the summer.

by Mina Tzenova, 16



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