Mountain Camp

As a GEAR UP student, I have participated in many field trips and programs including the UCLA’s Peer Academic Leadership Residential Program, which consisted of a three day intensive training on college knowledge. The information I learned in that training, I have implemented at my school as a Peer College Counselor where I help my peers apply to college. I also tutor children at the Delhaven Community Center but the most meaningful experience was as a special needs camp counselor for the Delhaven Community Center in the "Mountain Camp" week at Pathfinder Ranch, August 17 to August 21. A week prior to the camp, we had a meeting with the camp director, Bobbie Seal. During our training we were informed about our role. Due to the campers’ bipolar condition, we were told to expect the unexpected. Many suffered from schizophrenia, paranoid, cerebral palsy, and Down Syndrome. As a camp counselor, I was responsible for seven female campers. My group of campers and I shared a cabin. I put them to bed, showered them, and groomed them in the morning.

The first day I saw them, I was very nervous to work with them. As the campers arrived, I needed to get them into a single file line. I felt like I did not belong there because I never had the power to command my elders. After all the campers checked in, we loaded them into the bus. On the way to the camp, I was observant and tried to get a feel for the campers. They all interacted with each other in their own way. They did not act like adults nor children, but like teens, having regular conversations. I overheard one of the campers saying that they were excited about camp and that canoeing was the best activity when she came last year. One thing for sure, was that all the campers were excited to arrive at the camp.

This was my first experience being with a group of special needs individuals from ages 19 to 50. Honestly, I was uncomfortable because I did not know how to act around them. I did not know when they needed help because some would mumble and yell. I thought they needed help but that was how they tried to communicate with you. The majority of the time I would know what they were trying to tell me. Even though it was a challenge, I got the hang of it. I soon found out that they were like any other people. The main difference was that the campers needed step by step instructions on how to do what you and I take for granted. When we got to Pathfinder Ranch, I helped them open their lunch bags. As I was helping, I noticed that many had manners. They said please and thank you after I opened their soda or a bag of chips. While I ate my lunch, I wondered if they knew about their life, knew how to read or write, had any children, and if they were comfortable being here.

Throughout the day I would prepare activities to keep them active and engaged. On some days I would take them around for a hike, take them swimming and horseback riding. In the evenings, we had a campfire and on stage we sang songs, made skits, and contests. During breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we would go to a cafeteria and workers they would have our food ready, I sat down with a group of campers and it was my responsibility to give them medication and serve them their food. Most of them needed help cutting up their food in pieces. At last, I could sit down and eat my food. Something that I never experienced to see was somebody choking on food. This scared me very much because I did not want that to happen to my group of campers so I would continuously remind them to chew slowly.

One of the turning points and learning experiences for me was the unforgettable karaoke night. I was picked to sing in front of everyone! This would be the first time I would even attempt karaoke. I was so nervous that my legs started to shake. When I was up on stage, I thought to myself, "It cannot be that bad". As I sang the first lines, I heard my voice squeak. Soon my campers started cheering and yelling my name. This motivated to keep singing and sway along with the music. Although I knew I had sounded horrible, all of my campers were giving me high-fives. It was the campers’ encouragement and upbeat attitude that overshadowed my shyness. I signed up to be a camp counselor to help others; however, I soon realized that my campers were actually my teachers too. They provided courage to help me try new things I would not have normally tried on my own. Most importantly, they were caring individuals with a heart and soul so much more profound than anybody I had ever met. During our free time in the cabins, I learned the most from my campers. I learned that they worked and some had children they rarely got to see. One thing everyone had in common is that they looked forward to their annual mountain camp week. At times I forgot that they were special needs individuals.

On my last day there, I was full of sorrow. I was not ready to apart from them. I never thought I would get so attached to them. It was like having a slumber party. I have never been around the mentally challenged population and this experience made me find out how I care about others and I like making a difference in theses campers’ lives. I would like to do this as a career in the future. I truly enjoyed caring and helping my campers. I discovered my desire to become a doctor to help those in need. Even though I was scared to work with them in the beginning, I know that this will help me when I am a doctor, I know that with any other population that I work with, they might be different but deep inside we are all the same.