TGFC: Thank Goodness for Camp

June is a crazy month.  With end of year school work piled on, recitals, playoffs and camp packing, even my lists have lists!  It really is the single most crazy month of year, at least for me and I am sure most of you can agree.  As I keep telling myself, this is all the “good stuff” so I try not to stress because it really is true.  How lucky we and our children are …to be wrapping up another successful school year and now they get to go to CAMP!!  Lucky ducks.

Last week, I had the good fortune to be up at camp for New Camper Weekend with my son who is about to start camp.  While there, my daughter, who has been already been at camp a few years, called me, stressed about her finals and things going on at home.  All I could say to her was “don’t worry, it’ll be over soon and you’ll be here at camp before you know it. Camp couldn’t look more beautiful and it’s waiting for you with open arms.”  She replied in four simple words,“I can’t wait, Mom.”  Her reply brought tears to my eyes.  It perfectly sums up why we do this.  Yes, to have our children learn independence, make new friends, try new things, etc.  But, my daughters words made me think even deeper.  

Camp provides an escape for our kids…a place to truly get away from it all, and, purely and simply, just relax.  In this modern age, I can’t imagine anything being more needed and important.  For 10 months out of the year, our kids run around like crazy, live on their phones, engulfed by social media and technology.  I am so thankful for Pine Forest and for the opportunity it provides to leave all that behind for 7 weeks.  PFC is my daughter’s happy place on earth.  I don’t know what she would do without it.  She has grown to need camp, to work all year to have camp and to cherish camp all year long.

I share this story with you because my hope is that every child who steps foot off the bus on June 24th can exhale like I know my daughter will.  I hope they truly feel that PFC is their home away from home and the place that they look forward to returning to and getting away from it all summer after summer.

T.G.F.C.

Hillary, PFC Mom