My experience at a special needs camp was one that I’ll never forget. Southampton Fresh Air Home was my home for the summer, for two summers actually! My adventure began at a Recruitment Fair when I was recruited by David, camp director of SFAH.

I had received an invitation to the Recruitment Fair from Camp America and thought this seems interesting so I rocked up to the fair and in a matter of minutes I was amongst hundreds of people trying to find my place. I had no idea there was a variety of camp types and positions to apply for and there I took a seat, in front of David.

I always had an interest in volunteering or giving back to the community but never any formal qualification or experience but while speaking to David it became clear that none of those were required. All I needed was the willingness and motivation to work at a special needs camp for physically challenged children. Months flew by and there I was boarding the plane, the doors closed and that’s when it sunk in I’m actually flying to the States for a 3 month adventure.

Next stop, New York!

Before I knew it we were being driven up the path leading to the camp, my home for the next 9 weeks! Let the games begin! Within hours we were being shown around camp, introducing ourselves and playing getting to know games. We spent a week getting to know each other, setting up camp and most importantly going through training - let’s not forget I and 59 others was at a special needs camp for physically challenged children and the majority of us had no previous experience.

We were shown how to do everything you can think of and I mean EVERYTHING! We were shown how to feed, bath/shower, lift, diaper, clothe, clean, toilet, brush…you name it! Although there were some funny moments there were moments when I thought what have I got myself into? This was all necessary, we had to be prepared and believe me it was very useful!

Two days before the kids’ arrival we had a camp meeting and this is when we were told which bunk we were going to be in…YOUNGER! BOYS! YOUNGER! BOYS! YOUNGER! YOUNGER! YOUNGER!!! BOYS! BOYS! BOYS!!! If you hadn’t guessed already, I was in the Younger boys bunk. The kids in my bunk were aged from 7 to 13 years. Before I knew it the kids arrived and all off a sudden I was in counsellor mode, the things I’ve learnt in the past week are now actually being put into practice –WHOA!!!

For the first two weeks of the kids being there I was still getting used to the fact that I was lifting, wiping backsides, feeding, bathing, cleaning, brushing and much more! I’m not going to lie, it did take getting used to and it wasn’t only me, I was in a bunk with others who were in the same situation but we supported each other, helped each other and did our work with an open mind and before I knew it all this cleaning, wiping, feeding was second nature, I didn’t look back and just did what I had to.

Being at a special needs camp I thought the activities would have been limited but noooooo, we had a wide range of activities to name a few, Archery, Arts and crafts, Horseback Riding, Sailing, off-camp trips including celebrating 4^th July and another trip to a fun fair and many more!

To sum up my summer I made life-long friends and I’m talking campers as well as fellow counsellors. I had an eye-opening summer with great experiences having worked counsellors from all over the world (South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Hawaii, South Korea) but most importantly the campers who made camp what it is! I returned to camp for a second summer to find myself as the head counsellor of the OLDER! BOYS! OLDER! BOYS! OLDER! OLDER! OLDER! BOYS! BOYS! BOYS!!! Where it all started again!