To get us started off, I’d like to share some of my own camp memories. My second last summer as a camper (just before I became a LIT) was in 1999. I started the summer at Girls Camp and ended the summer as one of the first-ever Pre-LITs. While at Girls Camp, my counsellors, Zazoo and Pyra, made everyone in my cabin a notebook so that we could write notes to each other and exchange addresses, emails and phone numbers. 11 years later, I still have my notebook. Here’s what it looks like:

It was an amazing week and although I no longer understand all the inside jokes written by my cabin-mates, I still remember most and find myself smiling when I read through them. Especially the parts about swing dancing. Karen and Holly taught us how to swing dance and I think that’s all we did that week. We had to be asked to stop swing dancing in the evenings because all the bouncing around in Whispering Pines kept other cabins up–even if we didn’t talk and only danced!

Later in the summer, when I returned for Pre-LIT, I brought this notebook along and asked my Pre-LIT pals to write notes in it, too. I also asked my Pre-LIT directors to write something. Here’s part of what Leaf wrote:

Interesting how what your counsellors say can absolutely come true… Thanks for the confidence, Leaf! And really, thanks to all of my past counsellors, cabin-mates, directors and campers; they’ve all helped guide me from Becky, the eight-year-old at camp for the first time, to Palais, the Cairn Co-Director. And I certainly cherish all the memories I’ve gathered along the way!

So, what are your camp memories? What have your counsellors said to you along the way that helped you out or made you more confident? When were those moments where you laughed so hard you cried or when everyone sang so sweetly it sent shivers up your spine? Let us know! Add your comment below.