A friend of mine knew I was an advisor for Tips on Trips and Camps and came to a camp fair I sponsored a few years ago to see the directors of the wilderness camp she attended 28 years ago. She feels that experience impacted who she is today, and she shared her thoughts with me.

She writes, “Attending your camp fair and seeing Doug and Bev was just such a special connection after all of these years.  It was as if I was visiting my past life, in the very best sense.  It was like visiting me when I was 14 and insecure about stupid things but, after that special summer, I learned that I could literally climb mountains. And today, grown and the mother of 3, that experience connects me to my younger self and also to my father who has since passed away. His love of summer camp was passed on to me and I mentioned it in his eulogy. I talked about his countless summers in Maine.  He loved camp, he loved camping and he loved Maine.  He loved talking about taking the train to camp when he was 6 and how the campers always had to give the counselors the cream off the top of the milk.  They bathed in the lake and went hiking.  One year, he even led the hiking trips. It’s from my dad that I got my love of the outdoors and adventure that led me to an amazing teen wilderness trip. When my kids are older I hope they too will attend a wilderness experience. It changed me and I think will do the same for every teen.”

I could not have said it better.