Life to the full

It is extremely daunting to try to put into (less than 3,000) words the experience I had up at Camp Wojtyla this past week. For those of you that don’t know (pretty sure everyone who reads this knows), Camp Wojtyla is a Catholic outdoor adventure camp for middle school and high school youth, where young people learn how to restore and strengthen their relationships with God, themselves, others, and nature through rock climbing, archery, rafting, hiking, camping, etc. I have been on call as their medical consultant for staff training and the middle school camps, but this week was able to be a part of the high school girls camp. Almost 60 girls from across the state and country were captive for 8 days in Teepee Village (or out backpacking), along with the 34 counselors and staff, the camp directors, and me, Doctor Laura.

 

I had NO idea what to expect when I got there Sunday around lunch time. I knew that I would be sleeping in a tent and that was about it. My tent was christened the “Siena Sick Tent” and had an easily identifiable sign complete with a red cross, although on occasion I was asked to sleep elsewhere to help with staffing shortages and sick campers. I had no idea that the person who has been doing my job for the last few years would be departing Monday morning with the backpacking crew, leaving me by myself to deal with camper medications, injuries, illness, HAFE (high-altitude flatulence), etc. By “etc” I mean that I also got roped into driving a 12-passenger van through mountain dirt roads to take the girls rock climbing, finding my way into town to prescribe and fill meds for the staff and campers, getting up at 3 o’clock in the morning to head out on a summit hike, meeting up with an injured hiker on the trail and being part of an evacuation and then sitting in the ER waiting room all afternoon, and participating in “Silly Songs with Sherpa” version of “His Cheeseburger” (yes, I was on my hands and knees in the dirt).

Home Sweet Home

It was slightly overwhelming to be at the beck and call of the camp at all hours, especially since no one seemed to remember that I had never been at camp before (they forgot to give me a schedule and a walkie-talkie, tell me when meals were so I could give meds, and wake me up in the mornings when we had to leave early for excursions) and considering that they had never had a doctor before, so most of the time no one knew quite what to do with me.

 

But it was also incredible to witness the love that the counselors had for each other, for God, for the campers, and for me, who just showed up and was thrown into the middle of things. The girls were welcoming and selfless and encouraging and so invested in their mission. The boys (who spent all week as behind-the-scenes “sherpas”—filling water tanks, cleaning bathrooms, cooking food, driving vans, setting up for Mass) were so humble and genuine in their service of us, and so encouraging of the girls. I have truly never been a part of such an incredible group of young witnesses of the power of our faith and of our God. They were able to handle with grace the unexpected challenges of camper meltdowns, bus breakdowns, flat tires, missing food shipments, late nights and early mornings, hail storms, no showers, and physical discomfort; and because of that, the girls were able to handle it as well, along with the challenges of rock climbing, difficult hikes, being uncomfortable and in pain and out of their elements. Through all of that, they were able to grow in friendship and unity with each other, trust in God, and confidence in themselves. It was an extremely convincing demonstration of the mission and pedagogy of the camp.

 

We also had a ton of fun—watching sherpas painted like trolls tramping through the woods throwing “stun powder” at the girls, Kelly Clarkson sing-alongs during breakfast dishes, song parodies and skits, the best campfire party you could imagine, extreme s’mores (because having life to the full should not exclude culinary experiences), and Italian night complete with checkered tablecloths, serenading, and life-sized Mario Kart races. There were also a few tears—as one of the staff told me, “Welcome to Camp Wojtyla, where you can’t hide from your feelings”—but they were accompanied by hugs and fervent prayers and were definitely outnumbered by laughter.

Sing along time with the sherpas

Meanwhile, I was able to remember that I don’t have to compare myself to others to affirm my worth, that I need to depend on others for support, that it’s important for me to do things that scare me, that my God loves me beyond all belief, and that I am the crown of creation (still having a hard time believing that last one after being surrounded by the beauty of the created world). I am so grateful for the challenge and the opportunity, and I look forward to being a part of high school boys week, which will be very different I’m sure.

This absolutely scared me