What’s this camp thing all about anyway?

I didn’t know where to start. I wasn’t sure what to write first. But maybe the answer is there in the name. I mean really, what’s this whole camp thing about anyway Kari? If you’ve never been to camp, I’d like to paint a picture for you. Imagine a lake with a dock you can dive off of and a large open field full of games, giant twister boards, hula hoops, and face painting. Imagine the anticipation of nights filled with glow in the dark tag and hikes to a look out point to gaze at the stars. Imagine pulling up and arriving at this remote location in the woods where you don’t know anyone. And no one knows you. As you haul your duffle bag off of the bus, and the warmth of the sun hits your face, you have this feeling that things might be different here. Maybe you’ll get to finally let loose. Maybe you’ll get to be whoever you want to be. Maybe you’ll create something new here. You proceed to have days upon days of games, swimming, campfire songs, talent shows, human knots, and enough s’mores to fill your soul to the brim with happiness. But, why does this kind of thing happen at camp? What is it about the s’mores? Or is the magic in the place itself? Maybe it’s something implied in it all....like there is this reckless abandon and nothing is expected of you other than tapping into your inner child. The only expectation is to channel that freedom. A freedom to be the silliest, opennest (is that a word?) version of you. 

So that’s what the whole “camp thing” is about. I experienced this “camp magic” growing up as a camper, again as a counselor in college, and even yet again as a camp attendee and camp creator in my adult life. And I’m here to offer you that same space and that same camp magic in coaching. The magic of realizing you can be whoever and do whatever you want. We won’t play color wars together, but we will play a game called, “what if?” What if that dream could become a reality? What if that idea could actually be a thing in the world? What if you could say yes to that new adventure? Because maybe what we all need is a little more reckless abandon and the freedom to believe again. As a coach I find that people just take themselves too damn seriously. So, let’s play a little. Let’s bring some camp into our lives and into our ideas. See you out there.