It’s National Camp Day! Here’s Why We’re Celebrating...

I have to confess something to you guys: I love camp. Now, you may think that goes without saying because I work at Camp Huawni, but seriously, camp rocks and I love admitting that. My time at camp has been filled with belly laughs, good food, and crazy fun activities. And odds are, if you’re reading this, chances are you would say something similar.

But why camp? One big part of what makes camp special is the people. It is a cliche to say that the people you meet at camp will be some of your best friends, and I can say that it is totally true. Not only did I meet some of my closest friends at camp, I even met my wife there. And at our wedding, at least half of our guests and wedding party were camp friends. (Side note, camp weddings are a lot of fun, especially on the dance floor.) For the past six years I have had the privilege of going on a reunion trip with some of my camp friends. Even though a lot of us are married and have kids now, we still do this trip each year and will continue to do so.

In addition to the awesome people that we meet, I believe that camp is special because of how needed it is. Not only is camp great fun (seriously, it’s a lot of fun), but I firmly believe that camp is especially needed today, even in a pandemic. So many of us spend so much time indoors and on screens that to get away from the city and go to the Piney Woods of East Texas and stay in an open-air cabin is a treat you really can’t get in most places. When was the last time you or your kids got to look up at the stars without a ton of artificial lights? When was the last time you or your kids spent a week, two weeks, or a whole summer away from phones and computers and were just asked to play outside?

One of our beliefs we have at camp is that we were made to play outside, and I genuinely believe that. I find that through camp, when I get away from the distractions of technology and go play outside with people or even spend some time alone, my overall level of happiness goes up and my interactions with people improve. (I am not saying that technology is evil. In fact, I love technology. But I believe that taking time periodically to spend time away from it is helpful and good.) And when we go outside, especially at camp, we get to do some really fun activities that are not just fun (have I emphasized the fun yet?), but can grow us and stretch us as well. We get to conquer our fears and try new things in a safe place.

Lastly, and most importantly, camp is a place where we can truly be ourselves. At camp, we get to come meet new people – as well as see old friends – at a place that allows us to be who we were designed to be. Our desire is for Camp Huawni to be a second home for anyone who comes through our gates because they are loved. No matter who you are, you can be a part of our Huawni tribe and be yourself. Is it always easy and fun? No, there can be some hard days at camp, but those days are eclipsed by the good that camp has done in my life.

With that being said, Happy National Camp Day, everybody! Take some time today to wear your favorite Camp Huawni shirt, think of Ms. Ada’s Famous Fried Chicken, and remember that you have a place in the hearts of those that care for who you truly are – ‘cause you’re pretty great! And we hope to see all of y’all in Summer 2021, pandemic or not!