In Appreciation of Counselors

For many of our future MHKC counselors, today marks the last official day of class of their undergraduate careers. Next week they will take their last finals—I express my congratulations and jealousy—and be on their way toward career hunting, graduate school, or maybe a nice break from it all. Most importantly, though, they will be on their way to Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp! This post is to you, future Kiwanis counselors—all of you, whether you're just getting ready to graduate or if you're well on your way forward. Thank you for sharing your time with us at MHKC.

It is cram time for finals, so I'll keep this post short, but as camp is fast approaching for those in session one, I thought now is the time to express my gratitude to all of you who help keep Kiwanis alive.

Yeah it does.

As some of you already know, I am fairly new to the Kiwanis family, having joined at the end of October, 2012, and, like many of you, I have not yet been to camp. I don't know firsthand the wonder and fulfillment I've heard about from others who have already completed their capstones through MHKC (and even come back again after fulfilling their capstone requirement). I do, however, have confidence that there is some kind of strong magic at that campground just off Highway 26. You can see it in former counselors when they talk about their experiences at camp; you can see it in the MHKC staff as they put their hearts and efforts into keeping the camp alive and growing; and you can see it in the campers. They overflow with the magic of camp, the prospect of new friendships, and the promise of a good time, and they bubble with freedom, unbound by what “can't” be done.

I am inexpressibly happy and thankful that soon you will get to experience this for yourselves, because even though I am somewhat new here, I have rapidly gained a deep affection for Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp and what it does and stands for. So thank you, and congratulations. I am certain you will create new friendships and change someone's life, if not your own, and I am so excited for all of you.

This is the final stretch, counselors! Summer and camp are fast approaching. You can do this.