The Value of Adventure Camp

 The Value of Adventure Camp

I just returned from a five day excursion with my two kids and our school group, Conejo Valley Homeschoolers, to the Catalina Island Marine Institute. I was one of five chaperones and I was ready to take part in the adventure. Here is my summary of the highlights of our trip.

There is nothing like the adventure camp experience you have when you’re a kid. You’re away from home, without your parents, and under the care of chaperones. You’re expected to eat unfamiliar food, withstand extreme temperatures, and layers of dust and dirt. You endure rustic sleeping arrangements and strange animal sounds that keep you awake at night, and you’re expected to get up early every morning and begin that cycle over and over again. But all of that work, all of those discomforts, add to the charm and uniqueness of the adventure camp experience, and because you’re in it with your peers, you try your best to be strong and rise to the occasion. 

Adventure camp, however, delivers high moments and character building opportunities that make all the grunge and sweat worthwhile. I was one of the chaperones for the younger group - CVH kids I have known and loved for many years and consider my own - and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a witness to the profound experiences these kids had this week. This is not a complete summation of what we did together, but a description of what I consider to be the highlights.

 The first time we snorkeled, our camp counselor Chad dressed up as “Larry Rubbish,” a homeless surfer, and proceeded to show us all how to get into the tight-fitting wetsuits we’d wear in the ocean. He was hilarious, and had us all laughing, before we grabbed our garb and suited up in the 85 degree heat. The memory of all of us tugging, laughing, and falling over while putting these outfits on (be sure you ask one of us for a picture), was one of the highlights for me, as it unified us as a group that had successfully overcome the first of a series of unpleasant (yet rewarding) challenges. Our other counselor Nicola, worked with the youngers to ease them into the water, paying extra attention to my daughter Summer who was crying because she was uncomfortable in the gear. It was one of the first magical moments, to see her transforming my daughter, to see how much Summer already trusted Nicola after being at camp for only one day. 

We kayaked that afternoon, and Sandra invited the olders to be leaders and pair a younger CVHer. It was wonderful to see the youngers and olders paddling together and getting to know each other more, all while experiencing the beauty of the open ocean. It was invigorating out there, and to look around and see all of my friends smiling and working hard together.

 Wednesday was our “Day Trip” where we kayaked out to a beach called Little Fish, most of the youngers once again paddling with an older buddy. I enjoyed riding with Sandra as I’ve always respected her but don’t get to talk to her very often, so sharing that time with her was special for me. While on these adventures, I always felt safe under the competent guidance of our two counselors as you could sense their love of kids and their enthusiasm for teaching us about the ocean. 

Another high point was suiting up for night snorkel on the dive deck under multi-colored swirling party lights and pop music, all of us laughing and pulling on our gear, a bit nervous about getting in the dark waters. It was a beautiful sight, seeing 14 glowing snorkels bobbing in the water, and hearing the excited squeals the kids piped through them as they looked underwater. We gathered around and shut off our lights, and Nicola invited us to look down, swirl our hands and feet, and in a glorious instant, a million bioluminescent algae particles lit up like little stars all around us. Many of the kids said that night snorkel was the highlight of their camp experience.

Thursday, regardless of the heat, we hiked up a rugged creek bed to cliff side overlooking a million dollar vista. I don’t recall any of the younger kids issuing a single complaint, as at this point our group was a solid unit, and none of us were coming down off of the high that was filling us up and bringing us deeper into the magic of this overall experience. 

That afternoon we geared up once again for snorkeling, and hiked to a somewhat rugged but incredibly scenic beach entry point. This was when Nicola and the chaperones really earned their keep, helping the youngers stay together and acclimate to the rougher water, and working to keep track of the gear (that for some reason was refusing to stay put on some of those little bodies). After we rounded the point and got into the calmer and shallower areas, the kids really began to settle in and enjoy the pleasures of the sea below them, experimenting with diving down to see deeper creatures, and experiencing the surreal wonders of swimming through schools of shimmering fish. This was a huge high point for me, as again, these young kids had overcome a difficult beginning and were reaping the rewards of the adventure. They looked incredible in those moments, and we were all overflowing with a pure and exhilarating high.

That evening we walked to the cliff side overlooking Cherry Cove, and performed skits around a glowing camp fire. The cove below us was buzzing with the lights and excitement of another group’s night snorkel, there were palm trees around us, and we were all “the good kind of tired” you feel after four days of making memories. The atmosphere was cozy and tropical, and I really felt like I was on a vacation with my best friends. After the skits we each, one by one, shared our highs, our lows, and our “heroes” (the people we felt made camp extra special for us). It was a wonderful time to reflect, and to hear how this camp had moved each one of us. The counselors, Chad and Nicola, both said we were a very special group, one of the best they had ever had, and we all felt the same about the two of them. They were incredible mentors who truly cared about us and I am certain that the chaperones and kids will never forget them.

We each got to say goodbye to Nicola and Chad right before boarding our ferry home. My daughter cried as she hugged Nicola, and I saw Nicola shedding some tears as well. They had grown so much together that week and they both knew they’d never see each other again. It’s like when you fall in love with someone on summer vacation, in an idyllic atmosphere, but you must eventually return home to your normal life. My daughter had been in awe of this warm and caring person, had come to see her as a hero, another mother, who had shown her she could do things she’d never thought possible. Summer cried for a solid twenty minutes as we sat on the boat, and I hugged her and cried too. I told her how I had cried when I left sixth grade camp, and for the exact same reasons. I had had a counselor - I still remember his name, Sage - who had taken me to find fossils, and taught me about the stars, and sang songs and told me new stories. I had bonded with him, just as these kids had bonded with Nicola and Chad, and to this day I still remember him, and my incredible adventure camp experience.