Harbour.
It seems like yesterday that Savannah Hodge and I loaded up our sticker covered trunks onto our pontoon boat and made our very first trip to the beautiful waterfront of High Harbour. As 7 year old Cabin Sunshine campers, we had no idea just how much this place would mean to us.
We made our way from the air conditioned Cabin Sunshine, spent two years in "haunted" Cabin 1, rounded out our time as pathfinders in Cabin 2, and moved on to bigger and better things in Watersports and Trailblazers. Our moms thought we were crazy when we asked to spend more than a week at camp as 10 year olds. But it wasn't us that were crazy. It was camp that was crazy. And we loved it.
I can't even begin to describe what makes camp so crazy awesome. It could be the Malibu boats that we get to go wakeboarding and bunbusting on every single day. It could be jumping and singing to "Prince of Peace" on repeat for 10 minutes straight without a break. It could the joy of every Wednesday's ADVENTURE DAY complete with a coke and a candy bar. It could be the competition for the Spirit Stick whether that's painting up at every event we go to, screaming our lungs out before meals, spending too much money on bribes, or waking up at 6AM only to make all of our campers jump in the lake. It could be the delicious dining hall meals, especially the taco salad and cinnamon toast. It could be a lot of things and I think it is, but the main thing that makes Camp High Harbour so crazy awesome is the people.
Little did I know that I would meet some of my biggest role models, mentors, bridesmaids, and best friends at camp. Where do I even start? Two words: DYKE SQUAD. No, we did not come up with the name. It evolved from the "bros" realizing our obsession for each other. We couldn't deny it. They were right.
It all started when I called Savannah on the phone in my playhouse when I was two years old. We were attached at the hip. Fast forward 18 years later and not much has changed. There was no way we were not going to camp together. You couldn't split us up even if you tried. After a few great years, Savannah and I, feeling adventurous, decided to leave the not so adventurous side of pathfinders and join the best side of camp: Watersports and Trailblazers.
I remember our first day in Watersports like it was yesterday. We didn't fit in with anyone in the cabin. We wanted to go back to pathfinders. Then the carry over campers from the week before returned. One blonde girl walks into the cabin with the biggest smile on her face, enthusiastically says hello to the 10 unfamiliar faces staring at her, gives the counselors the biggest hugs, and then introduces herself as Brittany Longosz. We thought she was the coolest. Savannah and I instantly knew we had no chance at winning "Camper of the Week." By the end of the week we realized that the friendship between the three of us was not about to end.
On closing day of session 7, Savannah and I hiked our trunks up Kill Hill to the world of Trailblazers in the gym. Sad about leaving Brittany and life in Watersports, we were terrified about not knowing anyone in our new cabin. We joined a cabin full of the typical campers who were too excited for their own good. Realizing we were nervous, this calm yet bubbly blonde reassures us that the life of a 'blazer was the best. Kate Rounds, the bubbly girl that made us feel at home on our first day, ended up being our best friend by the end of the week. Naturally.
Friday night of session 8 rolled around and Savannah, Kate and I were enjoying our last night as trailblazers. We ran into Brittany and her cool new Watersports friends in the middle of the dance and you would've thought that we hadn't seen each other in years. It was extremely dramatic and completely necessary. We introduced Britt to Kate and Britt introduced us to Caroline Young, her new best friend. We hardly even knew each other, but the level of obsession was high and it has yet to decrease.
We were the "Fantastic 5" and there was no possible way that anyone was cool enough to join our group of friends. Then we met Margaret Story and everything changed. Miss priss ended up being in our LIT group 7-9. Everyone loved her- from the Cabin 8 guy counselors to our LIT PD's. Leader In Training year was one of the hardest years at camp, but it was also my favorite year and I have these girls to thank for that.
The six of us made it past LIT year and we were big, bad Counselors In Training and we thought we were the cream of the crop. On the first day we were greeted by the biggest smile and sweetest personality. We knew this girl wasn't a Burton girl. For some reason, the Lord moved Shannon Dooley from her home at Rabun Gap to the better site at Burton and we are SO glad He did.
There you have it. The Dyke Squad. It's hard to believe that it's been six years since the first time I met these girls. I love that it's been that long and I can say without a doubt in my mind that they are some of my best friends. We have a Facebook thread that's been going on for about four years now called "Marge's no good very bad day." I think that sums up our friendship perfectly.
It doesn't stop there though.
As the years at camp went on, the relationships at camp were much bigger than the silly group name of the Dyke Squad. Around our assistant counselor year, the guys finally started hanging out with us. Thank the Lord. As fratty and ridiculous as they are, they became our best friends. These friendships go way past the gate of Camp High Harbour. The group kept multiplying and as cheesy as it sounds, we became a family. We have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. We have been through the hardest times and some of the best times. We have fought over the Spirit Stick, shared tears about family problems, rejoiced with college acceptances, spent numerous nights at Ryan's cabin, and celebrated UGA victories and it will only continue.
I am thankful. I am thankful for camp friends. I am thankful for divine appointments. I am thankful for a boss that cares about his staff. I am thankful for the 14 summers I spent at camp.
It's hard to believe that this summer will be my first summer since I was seven years old not going to camp. Am I sad? Extremely. But the memories trump the sadness any day. The Lord has used camp to shape me into the person I am today. There is no chance that I will forget about my times at camp. The memories and friendships that I have because of camp go with me wherever I go.
On May 25, Shannon will be in South Africa, Brittany will start nursing school in Tuscaloosa, Margaret will hold down the fort in Athens, Kate will be playing her role of "Momma Bear" in Suwanne, I will jet off to Africa, and Savannah and Caroline will head up to Camp to help change the lives of campers who have no idea just how much their time at camp will eventually mean to them.