This summer, I was fortunate enough to travel and slightly explore the United States as I traveled to Naples, Maine, to work as a lacrosse counselor at Camp Skylemar. During my time in the 04055, I introduced hundreds of kids between the ages of 7 and 15 to the beautiful game of lacrosse and further increased the skills of those who had already played the sport. At the beginning of the summer, I was assigned a bunk full of kids around fourteen years old. My co-counselor and I have eaten, slept, cleaned, and lived with these kids for eight weeks. When not working with kids on the field, I forged solid relationships with kids off the field in many ways. There was never a dull moment, whether that occurred through their hobbies or interests, various card games, or just having fun in the sun (or rain). Just like Wabash College, traditions reign supreme here at Camp Skylemar. One of the most significant traditions is Color War. Color War consists of all the campers being split into two teams, red and gray, while each age group goes head-to-head in every primary sport across five days. Another cardinal tradition occurred between numerous camps. These competitions, called intercamps, took place every couple of days, and age groups 10u, 12u, 14u, and 16u would all get together for certain sports to compete against surrounding camps. I was honored to coach the 10u, 12u, and 16u lacrosse teams against other kids in a competitive but safe environment. Many other
traditions and unique escapades filled my summer, which continued to make each day better and better than the previous. As I reflect on my experiences and memories made this summer, I can proudly say that Camp Skylemar has deeply influenced me and changed me for the better. From developing my conflict resolution skills to increasing my flexibility to changes in a work environment and increasing my patience and stress management, I have grown not only as a man but as an employee and role model for others. Working with children for the summer has also given me first-hand experience with a type of audience I can potentially work with in my desired career path as a physical therapist or athletic trainer. I would like to thank the Shepard family for their generosity in hiring me and providing me with a home for the summer. I would also like to thank Emily Hall and the WLAIP program for allowing me to become a summer intern!
