You Just Finished Camp. Now What? (for cabin and activity leaders)

 

Inspriational thought I found on the interwebs.

Camp is all about beginnings and endings. 

 

You arrived unsure. Unsure of the kids, unsure of your co-leaders, unsure of yourself.  

 

But you kept showing up. 

 

You learned names. You led games. You cleaned up messes—literal and emotional. 

 

You made it through homesickness and rainy days and lost water bottles. 

 

And now, it’s over. 

The bunks are empty. Your hoodie smells like campfire. Your emotions are all over the place. You're proud, relieved, tired, and maybe a little heartbroken. 

 

You did something that mattered—and it mattered more than you know. 

 

AND, here’s my message to you:  

 

Don’t rush to conclusions about your summer. Not yet. 

 

Give yourself 30 days before you decide what it really meant. 

 

Why wait? 

 

Because endings are emotional. And reflection takes time. 

 

Right now, you might be thinking:  

 

“That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I can’t do it again.” 

 

“I crushed it. I’m definitely coming back!” 

 

“I wish I’d handled that one camper better.” 

 

“I miss my campers already.” 

 

All of those thoughts are valid—but they’re raw. And raw doesn’t mean wrong—it just means unfinished. 

 

“Keep showing up doesn’t just mean showing up for others. It means showing up for yourself—with honesty, patience, and grace.”— alFerreira coaching 

 

So, here is what I suggest: 

 

Step 1: Rest. No joke—sleep. Hydrate. Stretch. Watch a dumb movie. Let your brain and body recover. 

 

Step 2: Reflect. Ask yourself:  

  What am I most proud of? 

  What was harder than I expected? 

  When did I feel like I made a real difference? 

  What feedback did I get, and how did I respond? 

 

Step 3: Record it. Write it down. Journal. Voice memo. Whatever works for you. You’ll thank yourself later. 

 

Step 4: Reconnect. Talk with a fellow staff member who “gets it.” Camp friendships are gold. Don’t let them fade. 

And you have to let go of this past summer.

 

Then, after 30 days—when your sleep debt is paid and your heart has settled—you’ll be in a better place to decide: “What did this summer teach me about myself?” 

 

“Do I want to do it again?” And if so, what kind of leader do I want to be next time? 

 

Camp changes people. 

 

Sometimes you won’t even realize how much until you’re standing in a very different place—school, work, home—and a moment from camp shows up in your leadership, your patience, your confidence. Let it all land. 

 

Camp gave a lot to you. 

 

And you gave a lot to camp. 

 

So, before you move on too fast, take the time to really see it. 

 

You showed up. And that mattered. 

 

See you down the path, – al