Be Prepared for AYC 2012!

As I end my last year as a camper at AYC, I look back to my first camp experience. While I believe the 2007 camp was one of the most beneficial for me, I rarely spoke unless someone asked me a question. Even then, I mostly replied with stilted yes-or-no answers. I threw myself into sports, where I felt comfortable, and did not try to extend beyond this.

This year, a young girl at AYC reminded me of the girl I was five years ago. She was scared to express herself or give opinions. Sensing this, I tried to open her up and be a positive influence on her in the same way others did for me in past years. Some attendees may think I am crazy because of how overly energetic I am while at AYC, but I have found that it makes new campers feel more comfortable coming out of their shells. I act this way because of the examples of others from my first camp experience in 2007.

Over the past few years, I have grown to be a senior camper, which means I am able to help guide younger girls, and answer their many requests for advice. I have freely done this, and want to share some of that knowledge with potential campers, or those who are already planning to apply next year.

The general theme throughout camp is that it is a life-changing experience. Since my first AYC, this has certainly been true for me. Camp is special, and youth looking to attend for the first time certainly need to come prepared!

Get ready to sing LOUD. This means you will have to lose some of your inhibitions. An integral part of camp is the competition between the boys’ and girls’ songs, especially the night of the bonfire. It unites campers and introduces some friendly rivalry. But beware! If you do not sing out, you will be last in line for dinner! Do not forget to bring your creativity because campers are responsible for writing most—if not all—of the songs they sing.

There will be bugs! And spiders. And mice…and probably bats. Potentially even raccoons, and bears. But that is okay! They will not eat you. And the bug situation is not that bad. You get used to it, and after a few days you will not even notice they are there. They may even bring you closer to your cabin mates.

I look back fondly on some bonding experiences I had with fellow roommates over unwanted creatures. One year we had a bat in our cabin. A young girl started screaming and basically jumped from her bed to the other side of the cabin to get out the door. With each such encounter, your confidence and ability to confront such unexpected situations grows.

To use the cliche, step out of your comfort zone. This really cannot be stressed enough. If there is something you are unsure about, for example, if you have never played soccer before, that is all right! You will receive instruction about how to play correctly, and staff members will be there to answer any questions you have. Just give it a try!

Last year, a young girl came to camp having never played volleyball. Having had much experience from school and previous camps, another experienced camper and I showed her the ropes, taking her aside when we could to give her pointers. With this, and the encouragement from others, she soon became a proficient player—even one of the best! The key was that she gave it her all.

Stay motivated. Some days you may struggle to get out of bed. You may miss a serve in volleyball, but you will get another chance. Just look forward to what is to come. Keep your chin up and enjoy every opportunity presented to you. Live in the moment. Do not let the two weeks pass you by without grasping every opportunity.

Also, do not be shy! Campers are guaranteed to like you for who you are so do not be nervous. Help others out, and if someone asks a question, give a detailed response. No one will laugh at you.

There is a schedule. You will be told where to be and when. While there is plenty of free time for study, play or fellowship, you do need to be aware of time limitations. Try bringing a watch. Many people find this is somewhat comforting. In addition, it can serve as a wakeup call if it has an alarm.

Most important—prepare yourself for the best two weeks of your life! You will come back home a different person. The fun and supportive atmosphere will help you grow in confidence and as a person.

If you follow this advice when preparing or arriving for camp, you need only relax. Camp will do the rest. Sports, whitewater rafting, high ropes, fun and friendship all guarantee the best two weeks ever. In the end, you will be counting down the days until the next camp. I always find myself at the final banquet wondering where the time went.

With each year under your belt, you will be able to pass on similar words of encouragement and wisdom to new campers attending their first AYC.