A Letter to a Wanakee Counselor

A Letter to a Wanakee Counselor

As the calendar flips to the new year, much of my focus turns to recruiting, selecting, and training the best summer staff possible. In the camping world, a common staff training exercise is to imagine a letter from a camper [or camper parent] addressed to their camp counselor. The goal is to inspire staff to meet and exceed the highest standards of support and safety, and to gain awareness of the perspective of the youth we serve and the adults who trust us with their care.

Fortunately for me, I don’t have to imagine this letter! One of our 2017 campers mailed us a note for his counselor, and though I’m not sure what inspired it, I’m truly grateful to have received it, and equally excited to share it with you. This camper’s experience captures what I know your child will find in the Wanakee staff in 2018. I’m so excited to watch thousands of nurturing and empowering relationships form this summer, and so grateful to the Wanakee staff of 1999 to 2004, who influenced my life in countless positive ways. -James Tresner

Dear [Counselor],

Thank you for being my camp counselor for adventure camp. You taught me how to respect the environment, how to work together with other people even when it wasn’t my favorite person, and how to work well with my group. [...] You were there when I fell and by my side when we were in the environment. You encouraged me when I felt down. You were great at singing camp songs and always positive when someone [was] mad at you. You were the best camp counselor at Camp Wanakee.

You taught me how to start fires and what is the best fire starter (birch wood). You were always excited about the next thing we were going to do. You did the talent show that was too funny and everyone laughed at the end. My favorite time with you is when we went on a scavenger hunt on the mountain. You showed us where the top of the mountain was and the fastest way to get to the top and bottom. You were always careful with the environment around you.

You were always the best joker in the cabin and everyone loved your jokes. You loved rest hour, you would always say “Isn’t rest hour the best, where you can just lay down and take a nice breather?” That was your definition of rest hour. You made the cross the road song, always making sure everyone sang it.

Thank you for being my camp counselor. I don’t know what it would be like if you weren’t my camp counselor. I had a blast at camp with you and with all the adventure.

From, [an Adventure camper]