With camp right around the corner, I wanted to write something about what made Starlight a special place–something that I felt would really express what camp is all about. When I sat down to write, my daughter Gracie was right under my feet and made the task a real challenge. And then it hit me; it’s the people stupid!
Camp Starlight is an amazing place: beautiful, scenic, immaculately landscaped, state of the art facilities. But none of that is what makes Starlight my 2nd home. It is the amazing talented, selfless people that give “my camp” its soul. I started my journey to Starlight some 13 years ago, I was a 20 year old kid looking to spend one summer having a great time teaching basketball and golf, meeting amazing people and hopefully making a small impact on a group of kids. I had no idea what was in store for me.
Over the next 13 summers I would meet countless friends, watch 13 groups of Upper Seniors “graduate” from camp, get engaged, get married, spend my daughter’s 1st summer at camp, work 10 years with my wife and sister, take part in another Starlight couple’s wedding, participle in 13 Olympics– from coach, to officer, to judge, to the person that oversees the event–watch my Star hung on the dining room wall, and countless other amazing memories.
So my 1st thirteen summers have been full of a lot of great things and I am looking forward to the next 13. I am the luckiest guy in the world. I get to work with 150 college students, 500 campers, and 50 professionals every summer who have enriched my life more than they will ever know.
Thanks Camp Starlight!
Kyle
Tags: camp memories, camp professionals, Camp Starlight, camp traditions, summer camp, what makes camp special
