Week 1 at Camp: Adults with Cognitive Disabilities

First week as a camp counselor! It was wonderful :) I didn't realize how much hard work it requires to be someones caregiver; I also didn't realize how much love I could hold in my heart. From the moment our campers were dropped off on Monday, we spent every waking moment with them: we woke them up, dressed them, changed their briefs, helped them brush their teeth, made sure they got their medicine, fed them, took them to all the activities, prompted them, encouraged them, initiated conversation with them, and made sure they were enjoying themselves. It's totally exhausting, especially when it requires pushing wheelchairs up and down a mountainside all day long or changing a grown man's diaper! But the little moments we have with our campers make it all worth it: when R got up off her wheelchair and walked along the swinging log while we all helped her and cheered her on, when C climbed up the pole on the ropes course when no one else in our group could do it, when K got up in front of everyone and did her Michael Jackson dance with a huge smile on her face, when D got up off his wheelchair onto a horse and lit up every time we called him a cowboy, or when B was able to float in the pool and I saw him get excited for the first time ever. Plus, our campers are hilarious, and laughter is never in short supply! D called me his girlfriend/sweetheart/future wife all week long, B always grabbed my hand while we were walking even though he wasn't my camper, we would always tell R "Don't grind those teeth, buddy" and he'd say "Ok, nope. Not gonna do it no more. Not anymore." and then start grinding them again 3 seconds later, D called himself the ladies man ALL the time, D was usually straight faced until the most random things would make him bust out in laughter, like seeing a cat or a horse or me (haha), C was so quiet and out of nowhere he'd say something like "Well, on February 6, 1902, my grandparents were married.", and R made up funny nicknames for all the counselors and was always cracking sassy jokes all week long. I could go on forever- it honestly feels like my campers are like my kids for the week! They go from names on a piece of paper to people who will always hold a special place in my heart. Although it is a TON of hard work, it is an absolute privilege to get to spend the week with them fishing, canoeing, dancing, climbing the ropes course, playing silly games, making s'mores and singing camp songs around the campfire, swimming, riding horses, getting to know them individually, and building that special bond between camper and counselor. It is so rewarding! I love my job, and I am thrilled that I get to spend all summer working at Camp Kostopulos working with these wonderful people :)