Over the last five weeks, I’ve had the joy of organizing and directing four completely different camps… each one unique, each one magical in its own way. This is the part of the year I look forward to all year long. During the rest of the year, I plan… I market… I research… I explore… and I promote these camps. I educate parents and prepare teens… but the camp itself is what I really live for.

There’s something truly magical about being able to create and hold spaces for teens to show up as their authentic selves… to let go of the masks that protect them, that present a version of themselves they think the world wants to see… and instead just be who they really are. Watching this happen is incredible… and it happens so quickly.

I’ve seen it across all the camps this summer… from our Tween Day Camp Explore, where kids aged 9 to 13 adventured to new locations every day and ended with a weekend campout… to our Life Skills Camp, where teens learned to make their own sunscreen, cook meals, practice first aid, self-defense, and even dive into financial literacy… to Musical Theater Camp, where the teens put on a full show… and our two-week Adventure Camp, blending volunteer projects with immersive travel across Central Mexico.

In every single camp, the moments that struck me most were the ones that weren’t necessarily planned… the small conflicts, the disagreements over which song to play, or who got to decide a group activity… these were opportunities for teens to practice empathy, social skills, and conflict resolution… to navigate differences and work through frustrations in a safe, supervised space… something so rarely experienced in their daily lives.

And the friendships… wow… there’s nothing like seeing connections form between kids who might never have chosen each other outside of camp. Sleeping in a tent next to someone, collaborating on a project, hiking together up a mountain while carrying each other’s water and snacks… these are moments where you see people fully… when they’re happy, goofy, sweaty, tired, or excited… and those deep, authentic connections are formed. For many teens, this is the first time they’ve been truly witnessed outside of their families… and it’s a profound experience.

The contrast with social media and everyday culture couldn’t be clearer… in the world online, the rules are: be prettier… be skinnier… be funnier… be smarter… be perfect. Teens absorb this pressure and show up as anything but themselves. At camp, it’s exactly the opposite… show up as you are, and you are accepted… deeply and unconditionally. The teens notice it, too… they’re often surprised at how quickly they form friendships, and that sometimes their closest connections aren’t with the people they expected.

I’m still in awe of what these past five weeks have held… the magic, the connection, the growth, and the joy… and I’m so grateful for every teen, parent, and counselor who made it possible. This is what camp is all about: creating spaces for teens to thrive, be seen, be challenged, and build friendships that can last a lifetime.