Changing Perspective

Lake Noah at YMCA Camp Y-Noah

With the summer camp season coming to a close, I found myself visiting just two more camps, YMCA Y-Noah and Akron Rotary Camp, both part of Ohio's Akron Area YMCA. At YMCA Y-Noah, I was greeted by Mike Ohl, Camp Y-Noah’s Director who shared his passion for summer camp. The serenity of Lake Noah on the warm summer morning created a strong sense of place and provided me with a feel for the long tradition of camping at YMCA Resident Camps. Just down the road, the Akron Rotary Camp provides the camp experience for children and adults with special needs. Dan Reynolds, the camp's director of 14 years, shared his continued mission to meet each campers unique needs.

Once again each camp was a place where kids can have fun while developing lifelong skills.  So what do all of these camps have in common?... they are places where kids can be the best version of themselves. My summer camp adventures have changed my own views on summer camp for life. 

Just before I started touring camps, I was a bit of a skeptic. I remember reading an article by Pamela Paul in The New York Times, "Not a Happy Camper, Summer Camp Is Remembered, Sometimes Not So Fondly," and identifying with the "non-camp people" side of Paul's so bluntly-drawn line of division between people who love and those who despise it. 

"The world divides into those people who despised camp and those people who loved it. What about those who never even went? They would probably fall into either camp if they had."

It is now, however, the end of summer and I find myself wishing for that missed camp experience. At least, as Paul concludes, there is always Family Camp. 

When I first started this summer camp tour adventure, I had notions of stereotypical camp activities: bonfires, campfire songs, friendship bracelets, and the like. And, while I did see many of these things, I also found so much more. Camp is hard to explain, and I don't think I can adequately describe the essence of camp, but here are a few things that I learned: Camps- big and small- are making a positive impact on the lives of youths. The activities, the camaraderie, and the facilities are just the right tools to create a meaningful experience in a young person's life. Thank you to all of the camps who participated in tour; you have shown me many glimpses of the magic of camp.

-The Girl With The Red Umbrella